How to Do MCQs in IELTS Listening? Mastering the IELTS Listening Strategy

The IELTS Listening test is conducted in 4 parts, with 10 questions each, making a total of 40 questions. These questions are based on various types, and multiple-choice questions are one of them. Read along and find out some crucial tips on how to do MCQ in IELTS listening and make your preparation game stronger.

Other than the MCQs, there are other types of question formats in IELTS listening. These are related to MCQ based tasks and should be known as well:

• Two different matching tasks
• Plan, Map, Labelling, Diagram
• Sentence Completion
• Short Answer questions
• Form, Table, Note, Flow-chart, Summary completion

Multiple Choice Questions can come as matching, sentence completion, and short answer type questions as well. These may differ in stages like easy, moderate and advanced.

How to Solve MCQ in IELTS Listening?

The total duration of the IELTS listening exam is 30 minutes, an additional 10 minutes are provided to copy answers on a separate sheet in case of the paper-based test. It is important to focus on the next MCQ questions whenever there is a break, rather than going through the previous answers again and again. The exam is tricky and the candidate should not straightaway pick the first option they hear. The key to this is highlighting keywords, which will help in differentiating the meaning between the options.

Also, it is important not to spend too much time on a specific question. In case of any doubt, just make the most appropriate and educated guess and move ahead. It is important to take note of any contrasting linking words like however, moreover, or but since they may be emphasizing a particular statement.

IELTS Listening Strategy- Gear Up the IELTS Listening Score

It is important to make a strategy for the IELTS Listening exam to ensure that the score is better. Here are some tips to make a solid strategy:

• Go through the initial instructions properly.
• Carefully comprehend what is asked in the question. Mark the important keywords.
• Marking keywords in each option helps in determining the difference between each one of them.
• Stay alert for any kind of paraphrases or synonyms that you might hear
• If an answer looks correct, then mark it and keep on listening ahead until it is confirmed.
• Some statements may be retracted by the speaker and it is important to take note of such sentences. These are to add trivia.
• It is wise not to choose the first answer you hear. The whole audio should be listened to first so that no important point is missed out
• Lastly, don’t spend too much time on one question.

Also Read: Can We Use Capital Letters in IELTS Listening? Check to Clear all Your IELTS Listening Doubts

What Else can assist to Improve IELTS Listening MCQ Part?

When listening to the audio, the speaker might talk about multiple options at once. It is to note that if an option is heard, it does not mean that the option is correct. It is important to well understand the question. If the answers do not match the exact options, then one should look for any synonyms or paraphrases.

The only way to differentiate between similar-looking answers is to look for keywords and mark them beforehand. The exam also involves reading skills, as one has to keep an eye on all questions and their options, and what keywords make them stand out from the others. It is very important to note that the answer will be a letter like a,b,c,d, and not the words against it. While writing the answers, the letter should be written as the answer and not the word that corresponds to it.

IELTS Listening Score Process

IELTS Listening exam is for a total of 40 marks, the scores obtained out of 40 are converted to the 0-9 band scale. MCQs are an important part of the exam and they can fetch you a great band score if all monologues and conversations in the exam are carefully heard, and the answers are properly marked. A correct answer awards one mark and there is no negative marking for a wrong answer.

For both IELTS Academic and General Training, the listening score process is the same. Once the total marks have been calculated, they are converted in a band score. This is the band score for one out of four skills in IELTS (Listening, Speaking, Reading, Writing). The overall band score is the average of band scores in all these skills.

The following table shows the conversion of obtained marks into the band scores:

Conclusion

After learning how to improve IELTS Listening MCQ and strategy, the only thing left is to practice more and more samples. Repeated familiarization with exercises is essential for obtaining a decent IELTS Listening score. Drop a comment below to share your strategy or what you wish to know about the IELTS MCQ part.

Also Read: 19 Essential IELTS Listening Tips: Here’s All You Need to Score Higher