If you are reading this right now then it can be assumed that you are looking for tips that can guide you answering completion type questions in the IELTS listening test. Now that you have found this article, you can put an end to your search and relax because here you are going to get all the required answers that will help you boost your IELTS band score.
Here is this article, you will find 5 super easy steps to solve the completion type IELTS listening test questions.
Completion Type IELTS Listening Test Questions
One might wonder why this particular type of question requires so much attention. Well, in all honesty, it probably doesn’t but knowing the trick to solve each question type in the IELTS listening section makes all the difference between a band 9 and a band 8 or 7.
In this article, we delve deeper into why the completion type questions are something that requires immense attention and knowledge.
The last section, a monologue by a lecturer or professor on an academic topic, will generally have the completion type questions.
IELTS Sample Question
Let us look at these questions from a sample paper.
Complete the sentences with not more than 2 words:
- Common levels of fluorescent lighting in offices are sufficient to elevate …………………… (blood pressure)
- Lengthy daily exposure to moderately ……………… (high lighting) leads to diminished sexual performance.
- Several studies suggest a link between exposure to light at night and risk of ………………. (breast cancer)
- The risk of breast cancer increases due to ………………. (suppression) of nocturnal production of melatonin.
This particular audio clip is about light pollution and the effects of it on human health. The instructions are short and crisp here but essential. We’ve included correct answers to help you understand paraphrasing which we will talk about below.
Also Read : IELTS Writing Task Essay Evaluation by an Expert: Guide to Improve Your Writing Score
Tips to Solve IELTS Exam Questions
Scan the IELTS Listening Test Question
It is essential to get an idea of what to look out for in the audio clip once you begin. Before you begin, scan the IELTS listening test questions for keywords, the words before and after the gap and make a note of it. This holds true for not just this section but for your overall IELTS band score.
For example, This particular question clearly suggests that the answer is going to be a human condition which isn’t favourable, most likely disease. In this case, the correct answer is breast cancer.
Several studies suggest a link between exposure to light at night and risk of …
Paraphrasing is Essential
When you are instructed to keep to a word limit there are no exceptions. If you exceed it, it will lead to deductions in listening score.
For example, in the above question, the correct answer is ‘breast cancer’ even though the audio may say ‘breast cancer in women’.
You have to make such decisions all the time in the sentence completion type of questions. Make sure that you are answering the question correctly and paraphrasing where needed.
Learn to Focus for Longer Periods of Time
The answers are sequential and will be heard in gaps of 40 seconds. This isn’t an absolute but more or less the case. So, when you start audio make sure you click in whenever you start to faze out.
It is very common to miss essential information when you aren’t completely focused. In case you are unable to answer a question do not panic as this will only lead to you missing out on more information. For practicING IELTS exam questions, listen to podcasts or BBC radio and try to memorize the essence of each piece by remembering keywords.
You Don’t Need to Understand Everything
it may happen that you come across a topic that you have no idea about or cannot understand. This happens more often than not and it is no reason to panic.
You should only be able to answer the questions, this isn’t a vocabulary test where you need to understand each word. So, keep calm and keep hunting. There is no negative scoring luckily. For example, this sentence may not make complete sense to you but what you need to look out for is what increases the risk of breast cancer.
So, the moment you hear the speaker talk about breast cancer perk up those ears and tune in immediately.
The risk of breast cancer increases due to … (suppression) of nocturnal production of melatonin.
Make Rough Notes
A common mistake is to transfer the answers straight onto the answer sheet without taking time to cross-check instructions and the spelling of your answers. BIG mistake! Always dedicate 5 minutes to revision for all the sections.
Especially for the listening section, it is essential as you cannot revisit the clip and make sure you got it. You get only one shot at it. Make sure you note down the answers against the correct question number so that you don’t forget the random jumble of words in your rough copy.
Performance Review
The above-mentioned tips will definitely help aspirants get a good listening score thus improving the overall IELTS band score. But to achieve even better scores, one has to practice on different IELTS sample questions and should also review his/ her performance.
Reviewing the performance is very important as this is the only way to understand the strength, weakness and the ability of the students. The result will be even better if the student can get his/ her review done by some expert mentors.
Conclusion
Hopefully, this article will help you to solve the completion type IELTS exam questions properly. Do share your thoughts about this article by commenting in the below box.
Also Read : How Much Time is Required to Prepare for IELTS? Here’s a Guide for IELTS Test Preparation
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It’s true that making rough notes and marking keywords is essential to differentiate the correct answer from the others. I used the same tip and it helped me get a 7.6 band score!
Thnk you for providing this wonderful blog to boost your listening scores, this was very helpful and the tips were useful, what do you guys think?