In the listening exam it’s important to use the breaks well. There are breaks between the four sections of the test, and there are breaks in the middle of sections 1, 2 and 3 (there is no break in the middle of section 4). You will hear instructions like this:
- First you have some time to read questions 1 to 5.
- That is the end of section 1. You now have half a minute to check your answers.
1. ‘Some time’ means about 20 seconds, or up to 40 seconds before section 4. It’s important to use this time to read the questions, make sure you understand them, underline key words, and think about what kind of answer is needed (e.g. number, name, noun, verb, singular, plural).
2. Ignore this instruction – don’t check a section that you have just finished. It’s much more important to be ready for the next section. If you’re not ready when the recording starts, you will find it very difficult to read the questions and listen to the answers at the same time. So use this time to read ahead.
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Related IELTS Resources
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