15 Listening Tips & Tricks for IELTS Band 9

• Hi there! In this lesson, we're going to look at 15 tips for the listening section of the AL exam.
• This video is going to be quite long, but stick around because we're going to get into a lot of detail.
• We're going to look at example questions, listen to sample audio, and deconstruct the transcripts of sample conversations.
• If you're wanting to improve your listening score, this is the video for you.
• Let's begin with a quick overview of the listening section.

Hi there! In this lesson, we're going to look at 15 tips for the listening section of the AL exam. Now, this video is going to be quite long, but stick around because we're going to get into a lot of detail. Throughout the lesson, we're going to look at example questions, listen to sample audio, and deconstruct the transcripts of sample conversations.

If you're wanting to improve your listening score, this is the video for you. Let's begin with a quick overview of the listening section. This part of the test takes approximately 30 minutes and is made up of four sections. There are six main question types. Overall, there are 40 questions, each with one mark, and your band score is determined by your raw score out of 40.

Here’s a list of the raw scores. You can see how they convert into an overall band score for the listening section. So, if you're aiming for a band score of 7.5 or higher, then you'll need to get a score of 32 or higher.

Now, as I mentioned, there are six question types in the listening section. These question types are:

• Form, note, table, or flowchart completion
• Multiple choice
• Short answer
• Matching
• Sentence completion
• Plan, map, or diagram labeling

Learning how these six task types work is essential to getting a high score in this section. And guess what? This is the first of the 15 listening tips.

Tip number one: Know the task types. Here are those tasks again. If you prepare with expert AL teachers, they'll explain exactly what you need to do for each question type, and you'll learn what the potential pitfalls are and what strategies you can employ to maximize your efficiency and effectiveness in producing the correct answers.

I cannot stress enough how important it is to be familiar and confident with all of these question types. If you subscribe to this channel, you'll see when we release videos covering each task.

Tip number two: Check the instructions. Even if you're familiar with the question types, you always need to check the instructions of the task on test day. Why is that? Well, it's because the instructions always differ slightly between tests, even if it's the same task type.

Instructions that vary include the number of words and/or a number that you're allowed to use in an answer in multiple-choice questions, whether you can use a letter more than once, and whether your answer should be a letter or a word. Also, with a short answer question, when you use a word from the audio, the word must remain unchanged.

Let's look at these one at a time. Very specific instructions are given on the maximum number of words and/or a number that are allowed for some answers. The instructions before a group of questions will look like this:

Let’s work with an audio recording talking about a college open day and fair. Here’s an example of some questions: Complete the notes below: write one word and/or a number for each answer. And the title says Evening Events. Look at these questions here.

Later in the video, we’ll talk about the importance of speed reading and predicting answers, but for now, let’s focus on the answers and following the instructions. Take a moment to read the questions, and the audio will start soon.

Okay, here we go. This is just a short extract of the audio to demonstrate this type of question. Listen carefully and write down the answer to questions 3 to 6.

Which brings us to the evening events, the highlight of the college's big day celebrating with the community. We have a number of exciting activities happening in and around the campus. The main performance event is the dance club putting on a demonstration of two contemporary dancers, one hip-hop and one jazz-based. These are choreographed by the students themselves. I was lucky enough to rehearse yesterday, and I think you'll be very impressed by their talent. Because we are expecting a large audience, the performances will take place in the Community Hall located at 67 Main Road. There will be two performances at 6:00 and 7:30. The plight of the Penguins is a project put together by the students on the documentary video production course. It will be shown in room 13 at 8:00 p.m. To book seats, you'll need to ring 337 3136. As a culmination of the official events of the day, we are very lucky to have well-known actor and local celebrity Ruth Davidson open the new reading deck outside the main library. It is a beautiful location with fabulous views of the harbor and mangroves. We'll be serving finger food and celebratory beverages courtesy of the catering course students immediately after Ruth formally opens the deck by cutting the red ribbon. I hope you can join us and that the rain holds off.

Okay, let’s check the answers. Remember, the important point here is to make sure we follow the instructions. The answer for these specific questions can be one word and/or a number. So, here are the answers:

• For number 3, we can write either contemporary or two contemporary because we are allowed to use one word and/or a number.
• The answer to number 4 is 67 Main, which is a number and a word. It would be wrong to write just the word Maine because the question says Community Hall at. We can say the hall is on Main Road or in Main Road, but not at Main Road. We need the street number and the street name.
• Number 5 is room 13; the correct answer is a word and a number. We need to listen very carefully to determine whether it is room 13 or room 30.
• Question 6 is a phone number 337 3136. That counts as one number, and the answer can be one word and/or a number.
• The answer to number 7 is ribbon; it can't be red ribbon because that is more than one word and/or a number.

Okay, hopefully you see how important it is to pay attention to the instructions, most importantly the limitations on the number of words for these tasks.

Some other instructions to be aware of are whether you can use a letter more than once in a multiple-choice question and for some questions whether to write a letter or a word. Finally, it is important to know that for short answer questions, you will hear the word in the audio, and the answer will be the word in exactly the form that you hear it – the same type of word (noun, verb, adjective, and so on) and with the same ending – no alteration for tense or number.

Let’s take a quick look at an example and listen to a short extract of audio to show you what I mean. Follow along and write down the answers to questions 33, 34, and 35. We’re going to listen to part of a lecture on the effects of rising water temperatures on marine life.

You have some time to look at the questions before listening. Have a skim through now. Ready? Let’s listen.

Our main research has been conducted in latitudes above 45° South in the Pacific Ocean, and we have been able to make some general observations on changes to behavior in higher water temperatures, which seem to apply broadly across groups of marine life. Firstly, we’ve noted that the rate of movement of teleost or bony fish that live in a pelagic environment has slowed down. They appear to swim at lower speeds than in more normal temperatures. Meanwhile, larger cartilaginous species of fish, including sharks, chondrichthyes and other shark-like species and rays are predating with less expenditure of energy or apparent enthusiasm than usual. However, they are eating more often. Marine mammals, on the other hand, seem to have responded quite differently to the higher ambient temperatures. They are carrying less body condition than previously and are less interested in courtship or mating as well as being much more inactive. They are definitely on average much leaner and nowhere near as bulky as they normally would be at this time of year.

Okay, how did you go? If you're finding the questions difficult, I'd recommend signing up for one of our courses at E2 test prep.com. We have classes with experts and ex-examiners.

Let’s now look at the answers and I’ll show you what we mean when we say that you cannot change the word type or word form from what you hear in the audio. Here are the answers:

• 33: swim
• 34: rise
• 35: bulky

For question 33, move would also make sense as an answer; however, in the audio, we heard the movement of teleost or bony fish that live in a pelagic environment has slowed down. On the audio, we heard the noun movement but not the verb move. The answer to the question has to be a word from the audio that has not been changed in any way, so move would not be an acceptable answer.

The answer to question 34 is rise, the plural form of the noun ray, a type of fish such as sting rays, electric rays, or manta rays. You might have written chondrichthyes or shark-like species, but those answers are wrong. What we heard on the audio was, “Meanwhile larger chondrichthyes species of fish, including sharks, chondrichthyes and other shark-like species and rays are predating with less expenditure of energy…” The word chondrichthyes only appears as a singular form of the noun on the audio, not as chondrichthyes. You can’t change the word by adding an s in order to fill in the gap in the question.

Shark-like species is incorrect because you have to write one word only for each answer. For question 35, the correct answer is bulky. Marine mammals appear to be less bulky. You might have written interested or active; those answers are wrong. The audio said marine mammals are carrying less body condition than previously and are less interested in courtship or mating as well as being much more inactive. They are definitely on average much leaner and nowhere near as bulky as they normally would be at this time of year.

We can’t use the adjective interested by itself; we need to say less interested in courtship or less interested in mating. The answer has to be one word only, so that is not an option. The audio says more inactive, it doesn’t say less active. We can’t remove the prefix from inactive. The answer to this kind of short answer question has to be a word from the audio script that remains unchanged. Active is not an option; the only correct answer is bulky.

Okay, that's enough time spent on tip number two—let's move on!

Tip number three is speed read. In many ways, the most valuable time in the AL listening test is not the time that you spend listening, but the time you spend reading before you listen. This is enormously important. At the beginning of the test, the audio states there will be time for you to read the instructions and questions, and you will have a chance to check your work.

Throughout the test, there will be times when the audio says, First, you have some time to look at questions 1 to 4 or questions 17 to 20. You need to use this time effectively and efficiently. Times spent reading ahead is time very well spent. You need to utilize the same reading techniques that you use for the I reading test: skim and scan, search for keywords, so you can better prepare yourself to listen for and predict specific topic-related vocabulary.

After each of the four sections, the audio tells you that you now have half a minute to check your answers. You should also maximize your use of this time. Don’t look back; there is plenty of time at the end of the test to check your work. Use the time to look ahead and prepare for the next section of the test.

Speed reading helps with tip number four: predict the answer. Let’s try predicting the answer with some example questions.

The audio will always give you some background information about the context of the section of the listening test. Let’s have a look and listen. You will hear a woman inquiring about day trips on an island.

First, you have some time to look at questions 1 to 6. We are going to use this time to speed read and to make predictions. We're going to predict the type of word and make a few intelligent guesses at what the answer could be. I’ll give you 10 seconds. Great! Now that you've had a chance to quickly read the first part of section one, let's look at each of the questions and predict the type of word and hazard an educated guess at what the answer might be. This will really help us to focus when we are listening for the answer. It will mean we will be ready for the answer, and we will hear it when it comes in the audio track.

Okay, let’s start with the first two questions. Question one has to be a...the question says private boats with driver and something available for up to six passengers. Driver is a noun, so any word linked to it by and has to also be a noun. Let’s think about what it could be. It could be the name of a job like chef or crew. It could be an onboard facility like cabin or toilet. It could be something like refreshments or ice.

What about question two? It has to be a number. If private boats are available for up to six passengers, then larger boats must be for a number considerably higher than six. It might be 20 or 30 for example. In this case, we'll have to listen carefully to distinguish between 30 and 13.

Let’s look at the next two questions and make our predictions about word types and possible answers. The answer to question three is to something, so it has to be a plural noun like beaches, bays, or caves. With question four, we know from the capital letter at the beginning of the word Beach that this will be the name of a beach and will start with a capital letter.

It could be an adjective like Sandy Beach or Shelly Beach, or it could be named after a person like Cook Beach. It is unlikely to be named that is difficult to spell like Columbus Beach or Shakespeare Beach. If it is, they will spell the name out: "C-O-L-U-M-B-U-S" on the audio track.

Okay, moving on to questions five and six. The boat tours feature whale watching. The information tells us to be something by these giant marine mammals. The missing word has to be an adjective, and most likely one ending in ed, something like astounded or impressed, or perhaps an irregularly formed past participle compound adjective like awed. We know what kind of word to listen for.

Question six also has to be an adjective as it comes before the noun opportunity. It could be a very positive advertising word like fantastic or wonderful, or it could be something more factual like seasonal. We'll be listening for an adjective at any rate.

Right! Time to do the actual listening. Get ready to write down the six answers using our predictions and calculated guesses to help you. Here we go! Listen closely.

Hello, tourist information center, can I help you? Hi, yes, I’m ringing up about day trips. I’d like to find out about how we can visit the northern side of the island, please. Certainly, the northern coastline is very spectacular and well worth the effort of getting there. Actually, there are a number of ways to reach the beaches on the northern coast of the island. Basically, the transport options are either by boat or by four-wheel drive vehicle. If you choose to go by boat, which I would recommend, you can either charter a private boat or join one of the larger tour operators. Obviously, the private option is a bit more expensive, but everyone says it's well worth the extra cost. You get your own driver and guide, and you can take anywhere from one to six people. The larger boats are a bit more comfortable and probably better if you're worried about getting seasick. However, they can get a bit crowded depending on the day as they’re licensed to carry as many as 40 passengers. And what about the driving option? The four-wheel drive tours, while a little bit bumpy and involving more transport time, are particularly good value as they include a lot of extras in the package. There’s a delicious buffet-style lunch at the top of the mountain in the middle of the island, so you get to enjoy spectacular views while eating. The trip includes stops at two waterfalls, and you also get the opportunity to go kayaking in either tandem or single Canadian-style canoes. When you arrive at Green Beach on the trip back, you can enjoy an evening cocktail while watching the sun sink into the ocean. It's a real highlight of the day.

That sounds good! I do like the idea of a boat trip, though. What do they include? There are a couple of top features that you can only enjoy from a boat. If you’re a lover of wildlife, then one of the boat tours will be ideal for you. In the morning, you’ll pass by the migration path of the humpback whales, and you’re virtually guaranteed to see several of these beautiful creatures. Nothing compares with this incredible encounter with these oceanic mammals; you’re sure to be amazed. Lunchtime is spent at North Beach, where there are two first-class seafood restaurants available. On the return journey, your boat will pass close by the rocky shoreline, and you’ll almost certainly be able to observe the very cute little penguins. It's a rare chance to see these birds in warmer waters. You’re sure to be able to capture some brilliant photos of the penguins. I'm sure you won’t be disappointed.

Okay, how did you go? Did you get all six answers? Can you see how predicting and making sensible guesses before you listen helps you to focus and makes it easier to catch the answer, because you're mentally prepared for it?

Let’s look at the answers:

1. Private boats with driver and guide available for up to six passengers.
2. Larger boats carry up to 40 passengers. (40, not 14. Being prepared and listening out for a number would have helped you to hear that it was 40, not 14.)
3. Waterfalls. (The plural s is essential.)
4. Green Beach.
5. Amazed. (There were other adjectives like beautiful and incredible, but they wouldn’t make sense in the same way as be amazed, be beautiful, be incredible. They don’t make sense in the context.)
6. Rare. (Makes sense. Other adjectives like cute or disappointed don’t, so again to recap that tip: predict, predict the type of word, predict the answer, make intelligent calculated guesses. Sometimes your predictions will be closer to the answer than other times, but it always helps.)

Let's move on!

Tip number five: Highlight or underline keywords. Underlining or highlighting makes that word stand out for when you look at the questions both before listening and while the audio is playing. Also, the process of underlining or highlighting, the physical action of doing it, helps to cement the keyword and ideas in your mind.

If you are doing a paper-based test, you will have a pencil with which you can write on the question paper. You can underline, you can double underline, you can circle, you can jot down notes, you can draw little pictures—whatever you want! The question paper is collected at the end of the test and destroyed—the examiner never sees it. It is your working space; use it in any way that works for you.

You will, however, only have a pencil; you cannot use a pen or a highlighter. If you are doing a computer-delivered test, you have a pencil and paper. You can make notes on the questions themselves that will appear on the screen. There is a highlighter function on the computer that will be shown to you before the test, so you can highlight keywords before you listen. There is also a notepad function on the computer which you can use if you want.

Whether you underline or highlight, the purpose of the exercise is to help you focus on the crucial information, the keywords that will help you to make your predictions and to listen out for the relevant information while the audio is playing. Underlining or highlighting is particularly useful for multiple choice questions.

So, which words should we underline or highlight? Let’s look at an example. Here’s an example of some multiple choice questions. Read through it quickly and make a mental note or jot down which words you would underline or highlight. Which one or two words in each question and each answer option carry the most meaning?

Feel free to pause the video now so you can quickly read through!

Okay, which words did you choose to highlight or underline? Which words are most important to focus on while listening to the audio?

For question 21, next semester are the keywords. All of the options refer to Polynesia, so we don't need to highlight that. The different keywords in each of the three options are:

• A. astronomy
• B. navigation
• C. food gathering

Question 22: decided, because all of the options mentioned Tonga, the key words in each of the three options are:

• A. visited
• B. spoke
• C. relatives

Question 23: graduates; wants, and in the options, postgraduate, interpreter, and media. For question 24, the important words to be highlighted or underlined are agree and essay.

All of the options are two words long and all of the words are important because we need to distinguish between Samoan, Mai, and tahan and also between stories, carving, and songs. These are the key words, the ones to focus on in order to be ready to hear the answer in this case. We need to underline all of the words in the three A, B, C options.

This might seem pointless, but the act of underlining or highlighting fixes those key words in our mind so we are ready to listen for them or for words with similar meanings.

For question 25, the keywords are essay and should, and in the options, it's a good idea to highlight or underline historical overview, in-depth, one artist, and social background.

So, that’s how you should highlight or underline on test day. Remember you can practice this technique with our practice questions at E2 test prep.com.

Tip number six: Think of synonyms and parallel expressions. Synonyms and parallel expressions are the key to all four parts of the AL test, not just listening. AL is a very well-researched and carefully constructed test that accurately assesses how well a candidate can understand and use English.

One way it does this is by employing synonyms and parallel expressions. It tests that you can understand an idea expressed one way and match it with the same ideas that are expressed in different words.

Let’s quickly recap on what synonyms and parallel expressions are. A synonym is a word that has the same or nearly the same meaning as another word. Beautiful and attractive are synonyms; car and automobile are synonyms; reply and respond are synonyms of answer; simple, effortless, and straightforward are synonyms of easy.

A parallel expression or synonymous phrase is two or more words that have the same or nearly the same meaning as another group of two or more words. Beautiful view and attractive outlook are synonyms; small car and compact automobile are synonyms; reply swiftly and respond promptly are synonyms of answer quickly.

Parallel expressions and synonymous phrases are themselves parallel expressions. Okay, let’s listen to the audio track about Polynesian studies that we used as an example for underlining and highlighting. Listen out for synonyms and parallel expressions for the highlighted keyword. This will help you to choose the correct answer; let's do it!

You will hear Mary, who is in the Polynesian studies department at her university, talking to her tutor Tom. First, you have some time to look at questions 21 to 25. Now listen carefully and answer questions 21 - 25.

Good morning, I'm Tom McFallen, your tutor. You must be Mary, please call me Tom. Hi Tom, nice to meet you. Before I forget, I must tell you that there’s been a late change to the program for this semester. You will still be studying the Polynesian interpretation of the stars and planets. This ties in closely with our course looking into the way our ancestors found their way back and forth across the ocean using the stars to guide them. We usually teach those two courses in conjunction with our study of food sources and the hunting and gathering practices and traditions that were followed. However, P. Karana, our expert on all aspects of food is on an extended field trip to Niue, so that course won’t start until the second half of the academic year. It will swap with POLY 107, the impact of colonization, and of course your final course for this term is Polynesian arts and culture, which I’m teaching. Thanks for letting me know. Well, as this is our first meeting, it would be good to find out a little bit about you. Why did you choose Polynesian studies? My mom is Tongan; she talks about her village and island a lot. I have been there once, but I really want to spend more time there. That’s great! Do you speak Tongan? I can understand quite a lot. We always had cousins and aunties from the islands coming and staying, and I listened to them talking a lot. I guess that’s what really created my interest in the language and the culture. I want to learn more. I like the enthusiasm! Do you have any plans for after you complete your bachelor’s degree? Well, it is early days yet, but I do kind of have a plan. I might continue on to do a master’s or a PhD, but probably not. I feel like I need to get out in the real world; I can always come back to it later. I’m really interested in reporting on Pacific affairs, either in print or on radio or television, so I’m going to aim for an entry position in that area. I toyed with the idea of getting into translation work, but I don’t think I have the necessary level of fluency. Very good! It’s good to have plans, but it is also good to stay flexible. Getting back to the present, have you had any thoughts on the topic of your term paper for Polynesian arts and culture this semester? You might find the oral tradition of storytelling interesting. I thought about that, but I think I’ll wait until next year. It’s such a rich area. I’m also interested in the woodworking traditions of Samoa and in Maui performing arts, but my real passion is traditional music. I’ve always really loved the traditional singing from French Polynesia and from Tahiti in particular. I’d really like to write my essay on the French influence on the vocal music tradition. That sounds like an interesting angle! Often, students opt to take a generalized look at the history of Polynesian visual and performing arts, but I think it sounds like you already have a good handle on that and can do something more specialized. However, I always advise against focusing on the work of a particular creative individual at this stage. A broad look at an area of performing arts within the context of the society in which it was produced is ideal. Why don’t you put together an abstract of about 50 words? If it’s clear, I can approve it, and you can get started. That would be great! I have a heavy workload next month, so it would be cool to be able to get a head start on this essay now. Thanks! Very good! I look forward to reading it.

How did you go? Did you notice that we heard almost none of the key words that we had highlighted? What we heard were synonyms and parallel expressions.

Let’s have a look! Here are the answers and some of the phrases from the audio that were synonymous:

• 21: The question referred to food gathering, whereas the audio spoke about food sources and the hunting and gathering processes.*
• 22: Mentioned that many relatives from Tonga visited while the audio spoke about cousins and aunties coming and staying.
• 23: The media appeared as in print or on radio or television.
• 24: Option C was tahan songs; the audio never referred to this in so many words instead saying from Tahiti in particular and talking about singing and the vocal music tradition.
• 25: Finally, while question 25 mentioned social background, on the audio, Tom spoke about the context of the society in which it was produced.

Synonyms and parallel expressions appeared right throughout the audio not only in the correct answers. For example, next semester was the second half of the year, navigation was the way our ancestors found their way back and forth across the ocean, and postgraduate was a master’s or a PhD.

In the AL listening test, you are being tested on your ability to understand concepts that are written about using a particular collection of words and are spoken about using different vocabulary and grammatical structures.

Okay, here’s tip number seven: Focus and follow with your eyes and your ears. In AL listening, apart from one kind of multiple-choice question where you have to choose from up to eight options, the answer always comes in order. You can answer the questions as you hear them. In other words, you will hear the answer to question number six after the answer for question number five and before the answer to question seven.

It is very important to be aware of this; with just one exception, you always hear the answers to the question in the same order as they appear on the question paper or screen in front of you. So that is the first thing you need to know to focus and follow throughout the listening questions: The answers come in order!

What’s also important to know is that you should stay alert throughout the introduction. The intro is the lead-in time at the beginning of the audio that helps you become accustomed to the voice and accents of the speakers. The answer to the first question in each section won’t come at the very start of the audio but up to 20 or 30 seconds later.

You also need to switch off and divert your attention to the next section during the outro. The outro is more speaking at the end of each audio section after you've heard the answer to the final question. We call this outro time the opposite of intro time.

Now, another important point is to look for signposts. Signposts are headings, subheadings, and words that stand out from the text, particularly proper nouns (names of people, places, months, etc.) that are written with a capital letter. They can also be the key words that you have highlighted or underlined.

Basically, a signpost is any word that helps you track where you are on the paper in relation to the part of the audio track that is playing. Following the signpost with your eyes will help your ears to follow the relevant information in the audio track.

Let’s take a look at an example. Here’s the transcript to the audio about day trips we listened to earlier. See how there is quite a lot of text before we get to question number one? This additional text provides us with signposts through the intro, guiding us to where we will begin to hear the information to answer each of the questions in turn.

The heading and subheadings are very obvious signposts. Notice how these and the other words on the page come in the same order on the audio track. A phrase like can travel by four-wheel drive vehicle or boat doesn’t give us the answer to a question, but importantly it shows us where we are on the audio and alerts us to be ready for the questions coming up.

Let’s listen to the beginning of this audio again whilst following the signpost. Listen particularly for the words private and driver because they will come just before the first answer.

Hello, tourist information center, can I help you? Hi, yes, I’m ringing up about day trips. I’d like to find out about how we can visit the northern side of the island, please. Certainly, the northern coastline is very spectacular and well worth the effort of getting there. Actually, there are a number of ways to reach the beaches on the northern coast of the island. Basically, the transport options are either by boat or by four-wheel drive vehicle. If you choose to go by boat, which I would recommend, you can either charter a private boat or join one of the larger tour operators. Obviously, the private option is a bit more expensive, but everyone says it’s well worth the extra cost. You get your own driver and guide, and you can take anywhere from one to six people. The larger boats are a bit more comfortable and probably better if you're worried about getting seasick. However, they can get a bit crowded depending on the day as they’re licensed to carry as many as 40 passengers. And what about the driving option? The four-wheel drive tours, while a little bit bumpy and involving more transport time, are particularly good value as they include a lot of extras in the package. There’s a delicious buffet-style lunch at the top of the mountain in the middle of the island, so you get to enjoy spectacular views while eating. The trip includes stops at two waterfalls, and you also get the opportunity to go kayaking in either tandem or single Canadian-style canoes. When you arrive at Green Beach on the trip back, you can enjoy an evening cocktail while watching the sun sink into the ocean. It's a real highlight of the day!

That sounds good! I do like the idea of a boat trip, though. What do they include?

There are a couple of top features that you can only enjoy from a boat. If you’re a lover of wildlife, then one of the boat tours will be ideal for you. In the morning, you’ll pass by the migration path of the humpback whales, and you’re virtually guaranteed to see several of these beautiful creatures. Nothing compares with this incredible encounter with these oceanic mammals; you’re sure to be amazed. Lunchtime is spent at North Beach, where there are two first-class seafood restaurants available. On the return journey, your boat will pass close by the rocky shoreline, and you’ll almost certainly be able to observe the very cute little penguins. It's a rare chance to see these birds in warmer waters. You’re sure to be able to capture some brilliant photos of the penguins. I'm sure you won’t be disappointed!

Okay, moving on to tip number eight: Focus on two questions. For example, if you have just heard and written the answer to question number six, shift your focus to question number seven and question number eight. Always try to keep an eye on the question ahead just in case you miss the answer to a question. You don’t want to be left behind and miss more answers. Think of it as an insurance policy.

Again, this takes a bit of practice but it is well worth doing in order to avoid one tricky question or a momentary lapse of concentration having disastrous consequences. Answers can come very closely together, and also there can be long gaps between answers. Be prepared for this; the signposts will help.

This technique requires practice, so I definitely recommend accessing our AL listening practice questions or mock tests at E2 test prep.com. You can sign up for free today!

Alright, next tip number nine: Beware of distractors. So what are distractors? Distractors are words or phrases that have been designed to lead you away from the correct answer. The writers of the AL listening tests insert distractors to make sure that you fully understand the meaning of the language you hear rather than simply recognizing familiar words or sounds.

There are some good examples of distractors in the audio we heard earlier when Mary was talking to her tutor Tom about her Polynesian studies course. Let’s take another look.

In question 21, we have to identify which course will begin next semester. All three multiple-choice options: astronomy, navigation, and food gathering are mentioned, but only one of the courses is starting next semester. Identifying the other courses from the use of synonymous phrases in the audio can distract us from choosing the correct answer.

Notice how the audio used parallel expressions for the distractors as well as for the correct answer. Instead of astronomy, the audio said interpretation of the stars and planets. Instead of using the phrase navigation methods for the second distractor, the audio said the way our ancestors found their way back and forth across the ocean.

The correct answer was also presented using synonymous phrases as was the information in the question stem. A little later, Mary mentions that she has visited Tonga and that her mother is Tongan. These are distractors for the next question.

The audio contains some of the same information as options A and B but not all. Listen carefully.

Well, as this is our first meeting, it would be good to find out a little bit about you. Why did you choose Polynesian studies? My mom is Tongan; she talks about her village and island a lot. I have been there once, but I really want to spend more time there. That’s great! Do you speak Tongan? I can understand quite a lot. We always had cousins and aunties from the islands coming and staying, and I listen to them talking a lot. I guess that’s what really created my interest in the language and the culture. I want to learn more.

Looking at the audio script, we can see that there are distractors involving partial information. Mary relates that her mother is Tongan and that she has been to Tonga only once. The information in options A and B is only partially correct; she hasn’t visited Tonga often, and there is no mention of her mother usually speaking to her in Tongan.

These distractors are tricky beasts! Let’s look at one more example from the same audio. Question 23—remember how Tom asked Mary if she had any plans for the future after completing her course? B is the correct answer. There are distractors employed for both option A and option C with regard to postgraduate studies.

Mary says, I might continue to do a master’s or a PhD, but probably not, and when she talks about the possibility of becoming an interpreter, she says, I toyed with the idea of getting into translation work, but I don’t think I have the necessary level of fluency.

The words and phrases might, probably not, and toyed with undermine the information, making those options incorrect. These distractions are everywhere!

Let’s now move on to some less complex and perplexing elements of AL listening. The next tip is much more straightforward.

Tip number 10: Spelling matters. If an answer is not spelled correctly, it is wrong—simple as that. That said, the answers to AL listening questions won’t be weird or difficult words; they will be everyday words that you would be expected to be able to spell. They will be words like walk and doctor, not words like perambulate or anesthesiologist.

If the answer is a person's name or the name of a place, you will hear it spelled out letter by letter on the audio. For example, in section one, often one of the speakers will give their address. They will say something like 21 Riverlet Street; that's R-I-V-E-R-L-E-T Street.

Be sure to use a capital letter for the beginning of the word Street or Road as well as the first letter of the street name like this: 21 Riverlet Street.

Sometimes in section one, you might have to write down a phone number or a postcode. It’s good to be aware that British postcodes include letters as well as numbers. So you may have to write something like SW11 3P. If you do have to write a word and you are not sure of the spelling, just write it down quickly and use the extra time at the end of the test to experiment with different ways of spelling it. Write it down a few times and see which one looks right.

Even native English speakers do this sometimes! Which one looks right? The second one? Trust your gut feeling; very often your first attempt will be the correct one. Don’t overthink it.

Do pay attention to spelling; take time to proofread and double-check. It's a real shame to get a question wrong because of the spelling. One wrong answer can mean the difference between 6.5 and 7!

Let’s move on to tip number 11: Check grammar. Let’s take a look at some examples, paying close attention to articles a and the and singular and plural forms.

Listen to this audio and try answering the questions. You will hear a student inquiring about accommodation options at a university. First, you have some time to look at questions 1 to 4.

Hello, accommodation office, Karen speaking. Hi Karen, my name is Jack; I’m ringing to find out about the accommodation options on campus. I’m due to start next year; am I too late? Hello, Jack, no, you’re not too late. We’re accepting applications right up to the end of the month. Are you interested in the halls of residence or the self-catering apartments? The halls of residents. Can you tell me if the rooms are furnished? Yes, all the rooms are fully equipped with everything you need, including bedding and a bed, of course, built-in cupboards and storage space and a desk. That’s great! It’ll make moving into the city from my parents’ farm much easier. What about the food? We provide full board; the food is very good. We know the importance of a good nutritious meal to young people, especially if you’re studying for long periods. We provide breakfast, lunch, and dinner 7 days a week; our students love the meals, not only for the food but also for the socializing. We’re all set up for anyone with a special diet. Diets we cater for include vegetarian, vegan, and gluten-free, and there’s no additional charge for these. Okay, is there any help provided with the studying side of things? Yes, there is. Professional advice is available to all our students. Appointments with academic and pastoral counselors can be made at the front desk, and the staff there can help with everyday matters too.

How did you go? Let’s look at the answers. Remember, the focus here is on how grammar can determine the correct answer.

The answer to number one is bed. The audio also mentioned bedding, cupboards, and storage space, but because they are uncountable or plural nouns, they can’t be the correct answer. The sentence with a gap for the answer to question one says all rooms are furnished with a, because of a, the indefinite article, the answer has to be a singular noun: bed, not bedding.

Number two has to be meals, not meal. Both words were heard on the audio, but because of number three, the answer has to be plural. The answer for number three is diets. It has to be diets, not diet, because there is no a before special.

Although Karen first of all mentions professional advice, the answer is counselors, not advice. Professional counselors are available. If we write advice, then the sentence would be grammatically incorrect. Advice is an uncountable noun; to put it in a sentence, we would need to say professional advice is available, not professional advice are available.

Grammar can be an important clue to the correct answer. When you have time available at the end of the test, it’s a good idea to read back through the answers and check on the grammar, particularly plurals and the use of articles.

The next tip is number 12: Write notes. In a paper-based test, you can write on the question booklet. In a computer-delivered test, you are supplied with pencil and paper. Mostly, it is easier to type directly onto the screen while you are listening, but some test takers find it easier to write down long numbers, such as telephone numbers and postcodes.

If an answer is quite long, it can be useful to either type in or jot down a short form or abbreviation, which you can go back to later and write in full. If the answer is psychology department or environmental studies, for example, it’s a good strategy to just write or type psych dept and fill it completely in at the end of the test.

This can help you keep looking ahead, ready for the next answer. Also, it’s important not to get bogged down in worrying about spelling at this stage—there is time at the end to focus on this.

Tip number 13: Leave no blanks. If necessary, leave a question blank, but be sure to come back to it at the end and fill it in. A blank answer cannot score a point, and there’s no penalty for an incorrect answer. If the answer is a word, sometimes a calculated guess might hit the mark, and if it’s a multiple-choice question, there’s a good probability that you could guess the correct answer.

Remember that the difference between band scores is only one question; an intelligent or lucky guess for a question that you left blank while the audio was playing can be the difference between a 6.5 and a 7. So don’t leave anything blank at the end.

Let’s take a moment to recap the AL listening tips so far:

• Know the task types
• Check instructions
• Speed read
• Predict
• Highlight or underline keywords
• Think of synonyms and parallel expressions
• Focus and follow with your eyes and ears
• Focus on two questions
• Beware of distractors
• Spelling matters
• Check grammar
• Write notes
• Leave no blanks

These are important to be aware of and keep in mind while you are doing the test.

The final two tips are for before test day. Being prepared is very important, not only for the listening test but also for reading, writing, and speaking. The most obvious way to be prepared is to have practiced a lot.

That’s tip number 14: Practice. I know that’s pretty obvious, but knowing how to prepare efficiently is a skill that will save you time before test day. My advice is to practice using authentic tests and audio. When you come to mark your practice test, ideally get someone else to check your answers for you and get expert feedback.

A great place to go for authentic preparation materials is E2 test prep.com. We have mock tests, practice questions, live classes with ex-examiners—everything you need to help you get the score you’re aiming for.

Now finally, tip number 15: Have the basics covered. It's easy to go into test day focused entirely on the specific details of the AL test, but preparing properly requires effort in other ways. For example, eat, drink, rest, and sleep well. Arrive early on test day and constantly immerse yourself in English in the days leading up to the test. All of this helps.

So once more, here’s a list of all 15 tips from this video. Hopefully, some of these were helpful for you. I’d recommend testing these tips out on some of the AL practice questions on E2 test prep. You can get access to a bunch of them for free.

Thanks for watching! Don’t forget to subscribe to this channel for more AL videos. Good luck with your preparation!