With tasks ranging from summarizing lectures to filling in blanks, it’s crucial to stay focused in this section. Here are some practical tips to help you ace the listening section:
- High Weightage Task: This section carries significant marks, so performing well here is critical for your overall score.
- Aim for Fluency: Even if you cannot repeat the sentence perfectly, deliver it fluently. The software values clear pronunciation and flow.
- Strive for 50-60% Accuracy: For longer sentences, try to capture at least 50-60% of the content accurately.
- Practice Daily: Train your memory and fluency by practicing with sample audios.
- Use 4-5 Word Phrases: Instead of focusing on individual keywords, opt for phrases that summarize key ideas.
- Fluency Over Grammar: Don’t worry about grammatical or logical accuracy. Speak confidently and maintain a steady pace.
- Stick to a Template: Use any of the templates available online. For example: “The lecture is about [topic]. The speaker discussed [key idea 1], [key idea 2], and [key idea 3]. Overall, it emphasized [general takeaway].”
- Low Priority Task: This section carries minimal weight, so don’t stress about it.
- Repeat the Question if Unsure: If the question is straightforward, answer quickly. If you don’t know the answer, simply repeat the question. This keeps your fluency score intact.
- Ideal Word Count: Your summary should ideally be between 60-65 words. You can include short phrases that make your sentence more meaningful within this range.
- No Spelling Errors: Spelling is critical in this section. Even a minor mistake can affect your score.
- High Weightage Task: This section is crucial for scoring well. Take it seriously and prepare as much as you can.
- Grammar Is Key: Practice basic grammar concepts like articles and subject-verb agreement on a regular basis.
- Top Priority Task: This task carries significant marks, so prioritize it in your preparation.
- Add Extra Words: In cases of doubt, include both singular and plural forms of nouns, as well as both base and past forms of verbs. For example, if unsure, write both ‘study’ and ‘studied’.
- Don’t Overthink Word Order: You don’t need to match the order perfectly. For example, if the audio says, “He went to India, Japan, and Brazil,” you can write, “He went to Japan, India, and Brazil.”
- Include Small Words: Add articles and prepositions like “a,” “an,” “the,” “to,” and “of” so that your response doesn’t lose unnecessary marks.
Additional Tips
- Practice Active Listening: Watch English shows, podcasts, or lectures and focus on understanding the main ideas.
- Adapt to Noisy Environments: The test room might be chaotic, so practice retelling lectures in a noisy background.
- Note-Taking Is Crucial: Practice taking quick notes with shorthand techniques. This skill will help in tasks like ‘Summarize spoken text’.
- Be Mentally Present: Listening tasks require full concentration.
