Understanding IELTS: Listening
Find out what you need to know about the IELTS Listening test and learn techniques to improve your test performance.
- Duration3 weeks
- Weekly study3 hours
Understanding IELTS: Listening
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Prepare for success in your IELTS Listening test
The British Council’s four Understanding IELTS courses will give you a complete guide to everything you need to know as you prepare for the IELTS test.
This course focuses on the Listening test. You’ll explore the format of the test and develop learning strategies to help you tackle the different types of tasks you’ll meet.
You’ll also look at general English listening strategies that will help you cope with the kind of complex texts on unfamiliar topics that you’ll meet in your IELTS studies.
Syllabus
Week 1
Writing what you hear
Listening and me
Different ways of listening
Essential information
Getting ready for IELTS listening.
Filling in the gaps
Some task types you might see in section 1 of the Listening test
Task type: form completion
Form completion tasks in IELTS Listening.
Listening for key information
Some task types you might find in section 1 of the Listening test.
Task type: short answers
Information on how to approach another kind of IELTS Listening task.
Over to you
A look back at what we've learned this week.
Review of the week
A look back at what we've learnt in this week of the course.
Week 2
Listen better
Widening your range
Listening to a range of different sources can really improve your listening skills.
Task type: sentence completion
Find out about sentence completion tasks.
Understanding maps, plans and diagrams
Find out about the language of location and direction.
Task type: labelling a map, plan or diagram
Find out about labelling tasks.
Staying focused
The importance of concentrating throughout the listening test.
Task type: matching
Find out about the matching task type.
Over to you
Your chance to practice a part of the IELTS Listening test.
Review of the week
Highlights of Week 2
Week 3
Putting it all together
Getting ready for the test
Think about what's been the biggest help for you this far as we look ahead to the rest of the week.
Listening to conversations
Be ready to hear conversations in two parts of IELTS Listening.
Task type: multiple choice
An overview of this task type that is likely to be familiar to you.
Lectures and presentations
Some tips for and practice of listening to lectures and presentations.
Task type: note/table/summary completion
We take a look at the final task type you need to be ready for.
Exam day
Find out exactly what it's like when you take the IELTS test.
Over to you
Your chance to take a full IELTS Listening test.
Round up
After three weeks it's time to wrap up the course.
When would you like to start?
Date to be announced
What will you achieve?
By the end of the course, you‘ll be able to...
- Explore the IELTS Listening test and learn how to improve your test performance
- Develop learning strategies to help you tackle the different types of tasks you’ll meet
- Apply general English listening strategies that will help you deal with the kind of complex texts on unfamiliar topics that you’ll meet in your IELTS studies
- Develop confidence and feel fully prepared on the day of the test
Who is the course for?
This course is designed for anyone preparing for the International English Language Testing System (IELTS) test. IELTS teachers will also find it useful.
This course is part of the program Understanding IELTS, you can sign up here
Who will you learn with?
I have been working in English language teaching for over twenty years in Europe and Africa, teaching a wide range of classes to everyone from 5 years old and up!
Who developed the course?
British Council
The British Council is on the ground in six continents and over 100 countries connecting the best of UK culture with a global audience and providing high-quality English language courses.