IELTS LISTENING: Short Answer Questions

Short Answer Questions

IELTS LISTENING

Disclaimer: The material herewith is slightly adapted from the excellent website: www.ieltsjacky.com

Short Answer Questions

• These come up regularly in the exam and can appear in any section of the test.

• They are particularly common in Section 2 which will be a monologue set in an everyday social context, for example, a welcome talk for new college students.

• You must listen to the recording and write a short answer in each blank space provided. Sometimes, more than one answer will be required

Example 1

Example

Strategy & Tips

You will have a short time to prepare before the speakers begin talking. Use this time to familiarise yourself with the question and focus your mind on what you need to listen out for.

Read the instructions

• Read the instructions carefully, paying particular attention to how many words you are allowed to write for the answer as this does vary from question to question.

• Instructions do vary and the limit could be TWO WORDS AND/OR A NUMBER or ONLY ONE WORD, so make sure you read.

Answer order

• The answers will come in the same order in the recording as they are listed in the question.

• This makes it easier to pick out the answers than if they were in a random order.

Predict the answers

• Try to predict what the answers might be. This will focus your mind on what to listen out for in the recording.

• Occasionally, you’ll be able to predict the actual word

• Think about: the type of information required, e.g. name, date, time, phone number, address, price.

• Think about: the type of word required, e.g. noun, adjective, verb.

Synonyms and paraphrasing

• Synonyms and paraphrasing will be used throughout the recording

• You will not only be listening for the exact words that are used in the questions but also, different words and phrases that have the same meaning.

• In your preparation time, scan the questions and underline keywords that are likely to be replaced by synonyms or paraphrased.

• Quickly think of words that might be used instead.

Problematic vocabulary

• Time

• Numbers

• Prices

• Dates

• Letters

• Addresses

Watch out for distractors

• A distractor is a word or a phrase that changes or corrects the original piece of information given.

• So, you may be given an answer and then have it taken away again.

• The use of ‘but’ and ‘however’ are particularly common distractors but there are many different words and phrases that can be used to change or correct a piece of information so be alert for them.

Guess if necessary

• Never leave a blank space on the answer sheet

• If you miss an answer, take an educated guess.

• Remember - NEVER LEAVE BLANKS SPACES