After Listening: Checking Answers

The strategies you need after you have listened to each section.

I’m sure you've tried not to make mistakes while you were listening, but if you have, you still have 30 seconds after each section to check.

During this time, you should ensure that you have followed the instructions, used good grammar, and spelled correctly. Let’s examine some examples of these types of mistakes.

Firstly, you need to ensure that you've followed the instructions on the question paper. Let’s revisit the first example concerning 'BCD.' You can see that there is a clear word limit indicated. This means that the answer must not exceed three words, including any numbers written as figures, which are counted as one word.

For question 11, answers such as 'This is one number,' 'This example is two words and/or a number,' and 'This is three words and/or a number' would fit the word limit. However, an answer like 'This would not' would exceed the word limit and be marked wrong. It's crucial to adhere to instructions to avoid losing points.

Another aspect to check in your answers is grammar. Using incorrect grammar in the Listening Test can also result in a lower score. Consider an example where the candidate wrote 'overseas' as the answer for question 13. This is incorrect because the phrase 'sometimes work in overseas' is grammatically wrong. A better fit would be 'other countries.'

Additionally, ensure that you haven't written unnecessary words in your answers. For instance, if a word is already provided in the question paper, repeating it in your answer is unnecessary and wrong.

Now, let’s discuss checking for spelling. Spelling mistakes are common and can significantly impact your score. Even if your answer's meaning is clear, spelling errors make the answer entirely wrong. Therefore, it's crucial to check and correct any spelling mistakes. During the test, if an answer requires a number, write the figures instead of the words to avoid spelling mistakes.

Before concluding, let’s address two important questions about this strategy. Firstly, how should we correct mistakes? Corrections should be done quickly and clearly. When you find a mistake, cross out the incorrect word with a single line using a pencil and write the correction next to it.

Secondly, how should we handle missed answers? Remember to write something, even if you're not confident it's correct. Making a reasonable guess based on what you remember from the listening section is better than leaving the answer blank.

Checking answers can be easily forgotten under test pressure, but making a conscious effort to remember can improve your IELTS Listening score.