15 IELTS Listening Tips to Get Band 7 and Above

Band 7 in IELTS Listening means about 30 correct answers out of 40. That leaves room for ten mistakes, but most candidates who score 6 or 6.5 lose their marks in the same few places. These tips focus on exactly those places.

Before the test: how to prepare

1. Practise dictation, not just listening

Watching films and podcasts improves your general understanding, but IELTS tests whether you can catch exact words. Dictation, where you write down every word of a sentence and then check it, shows you precisely what you miss: plurals, small words like a and the, and words that sound joined together.

Fifteen minutes of dictation a day is more effective than an hour of passive listening. Try our free IELTS dictation exercises to start.

2. Practise with different accents

The test includes British, Australian and other English accents. If you only listen to American English, Australian vowels may surprise you on test day. Practise with a mix of accents and at different speeds.

3. Learn the four parts

Each part has a different style:

• Part 1: an everyday conversation, usually completing a form. Lots of names, numbers and dates. Practise Part 1
• Part 2: one speaker talking about a place or event, often with a map. Practise Part 2
• Part 3: students and a tutor discussing an assignment. Practise Part 3
• Part 4: an academic lecture with no break in the middle. Practise Part 4

4. Build a list of your own mistakes

Every time you get a word wrong in practice, write it down. After a few weeks, you will see patterns: the same spellings, the same sounds, the same small words. Review the list every week.

5. Master numbers and spelling

Numbers, dates, times and spelled-out names appear in almost every test. Practise until writing them is automatic. Our numbers, dates and times drill is a good place to start.

Just before each recording

6. Read the instructions carefully

Look for the word limit: ONE WORD ONLY, NO MORE THAN TWO WORDS, or ONE WORD AND/OR A NUMBER. An answer that breaks the limit is marked wrong, even if the right word is in it.

7. Predict the type of answer

Before the audio starts, look at each gap and ask: is it a number, a name, a date, a noun or an adjective? Is it singular or plural? Knowing what you are listening for makes it much easier to catch.

8. Underline key words

Underline the important words in each question. Then listen for them, or for synonyms. The recording rarely uses exactly the same words as the question.

During the recording

9. Answers come in order

In almost all question types, the answers come in the same order as the questions. If you miss one, move on immediately. Don't let one lost answer cost you the next three.

10. Wait for the final answer

Speakers often change their minds: "The class is on Tuesday. Oh, sorry, it's been moved to Thursday." The correct answer is Thursday. Read more about IELTS Listening distractors and practise with our Part 1 traps lesson.

11. Listen for signpost words

Words like however, actually, but, the main reason and finally tell you an important point is coming. In Part 4 especially, they help you follow the structure of the lecture.

12. Keep track of who is speaking

In Part 3, questions often ask who holds an opinion. Pay attention to names and to phrases of agreement and disagreement, such as "I'm not convinced" or "that's a good point".

After the recording

13. Check spelling and plurals

Use any checking time to read your answers again. Is the spelling right? Should it be plural? Does it fit the sentence grammatically?

14. Never leave a gap empty

There is no penalty for wrong answers. If you missed something, make your best guess.

15. Write clearly

On the paper test, an answer the examiner can't read is wrong. Capital letters are accepted, so if your handwriting is unclear, writing in capitals can help.

The bottom line

The difference between band 6.5 and band 7 is only about four correct answers. You don't need a dramatically better ear; you need fewer small mistakes. Daily dictation practice is the most direct way to get there.

Want to know where you stand? Use our IELTS Listening band score calculator.