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IELTS Listening: gap-fill about population

The following video comes from the Economist magazine's multimedia library (click here to watch and listen to some more useful videos and audio).

The gap-fill exercise comes from the introduction at the beginning of the video.

Fill the gaps:

In 1950, the world’s population was around ______ billion. It more than doubled ______ the next 50 years. In the mid-80’s, the ______ ______ slowed. By 2050, the world’s population is ______ to stabilise at around 9 billion. According to the UN’s population division, between 2010 and 2015, around half of the world’s people will live in countries with fertility ______ of no more than 2.1, the replacement ______ of fertility.

If you can't see the video, listen to the recording below.

Click here to listen

IELTS Listening: globalisation

Several students have asked me about globalisation recently. Here's a video I put on the site nearly 2 years ago. I think the speaker presents some useful ideas about the positives of globalisation.

I've summarised some of the benefits of globalisation below. Use the video to help you fill the gaps.

1. Globalisation extends cooperation across ______ boundaries.
2. Trade increases, and growth can extend to all ______ of the world.
3. People are raised out of ______.
4. Larger markets increase the ______ to produce new ideas.
5. There is a greater ______ for new ideas.
6. Investments in education are increasing the ______ of new ideas.
7. Education systems are open to students from ______ ______ the world.

Note:
The speaker says that "walls have come tumbling down". This phrase is fine for speaking, but I wouldn't use it in the writing test. 'Tumbling' means 'falling'.

IELTS Listening: multiple choice exercise

Listen to the recording about study skills, and answer the questions below.

Click here to listen

What are the TWO main reasons why students have trouble remembering information for tests?

A) stress
B) nerves
C) lack of time in the test
D) lack of planning
E) lack of preparation

Which TWO relaxation techniques are NOT recommended by the speaker?

A) breathing deeply
B) counting backwards
C) closing your eyes
D) visualising a relaxing image
E) counting slowly

Which TWO habits can parents help their children with?

A) eating properly and getting enough sleep
B) organising their study schedules
C) buying the right study guide
D) breaking the exam down
E) cramming

IELTS Listening: test your spelling

An easy way to test your spelling is to use the answers at the back of the Cambridge IELTS books. Ask a friend to read the answers, and try to write them down. Then check to see if you made any spelling mistakes.

Here's an example using some answers from Cambridge book 7:

Click here to listen

Note: you might need to stop the recording after each word.

IELTS Listening: more practice

The link below takes you to some more official listening practice exercises on the British Council website. Start with some simple multiple choice questions:

Click here

Note: To hear the recording, click on the blue writing above the clock pictures.

IELTS Listening/Writing: advice about spelling

Some of my students have problems with spelling. Spelling is important because it can affect your score in the listening and writing tests.

If you have a problem with spelling, here are some tips:

1. Type your essays: your computer will find your spelling mistakes.
2. When writing by hand, use a dictionary to check difficult words.
3. Keep a list: write down any mistakes your computer/teacher finds.
4. Memorise: learn difficult words by heart.
5. Test yourself on words you previously spelt wrongly.
6. Never give your teacher an essay that you haven't checked.

If you find that spelling is a big problem, you should work on it every day. Keep a notebook or put posters on your walls. If you do nothing, you will not improve; there is no secret rule that will suddenly solve the problem!

IELTS Listening: multiple choice practice

Here's a multiple choice question from the official IELTS website, ielts.org. The transcript and correct answers are below the questions.

Click here to download the questions

Click here to listen

IELTS Listening: gap-fill about goals

Many people set themselves goals at the beginning of a new year. Watch the video about this topic then fill the gaps in the summary below.

Summary:

When you talk to others about a goal, you already feel one step ______ to achieving it. However, that good feeling actually makes you less ______ to achieve the goal. Telling someone your goals makes them ______ likely to happen because the mind is ______ into feeling that the goal has already been achieved. This goes against conventional ______. In one study, people who announced their commitment to a goal tended to ______ earlier than those who kept their mouths ______.

Note:
I thought this was quite interesting. Do you agree with the speaker?

IELTS Listening: nuclear power debate

Watch this interesting debate about nuclear power. It's good listening practice, and the arguments are really useful for IELTS writing and speaking. Use the subtitles and note down the vocabulary for each opinion.

IELTS Listening: diagram gap-fills

Sometimes you have to label a diagram in the listening test. For example, the diagram below comes from Cambridge IELTS book 7.

Many students miss the answers for this type of question because they get "lost" on the diagram. They don't know where to look.

There is one simple technique to avoid this problem: whenever you see a diagram, look for the question numbers. You will always hear the answers in the correct order, so your eyes should go to the first question number first, then move around the diagram following the numbers.

For the question above, your eyes should be looking at the bottom of the picture (question 11) when the recording starts, and your ears should be listening for "stop B".

IELTS Listening: spelling

A good way to improve your spelling is by keeping a "mistakes and corrections" list. Here's an example with some real mistakes that one of my students made:

Every time you make a spelling mistake, write the word on your list, and learn the correct spellings by heart.

IELTS Listening: watch short videos

If you watch a 2-hour film in English, your aim should be to understand the general idea or the story. Don't worry about understanding every word!

However, if you watch a 2-minute online video, your aim should be different. Watch the video several times, look up new words or phrases, and take notes. You could even try to write your own subtitles for the whole video.

The Economist website has a great selection of short videos that you could study in this way. Click here to go to the site, or watch the example below.

IELTS Listening: gap-fill about innovation

Listen to the following excerpt from a talk about innovation, and fill the gaps in the summary below.

Click here to listen

Are we getting overwhelmed with an always-connected, ______-______ lifestyle, and is that going to lead to less ______ thoughts as we move away from the slower, deeper, contemplative state of reading?

The great ______ of scientific and technological innovation has been the historic increase in ______, and our ability to reach out and exchange ideas with other people, and to borrow other people’s ______ and combine them with our ______ and turn them into something new. That has been the primary ______ of creativity and innovation over the last 600 or 700 years.

It’s true we’re more ______, but what has happened that is really miraculous and marvelous over the last 15 years is that we have so many new ways to ______ and find other people who have that ______ piece that will complete the idea we’re working on.

IELTS Listening: 'mathematics' topic

Watch the following presentation by a mathematics professor, and answer the questions below.

1. Which verbs does the speaker use with the following nouns?

- suggestion
- trends
- the future

2. What words or phrases does he use to express the following ideas?

- improve a lot
- put into effect
- cheap
- every day

IELTS Listening: one word or two words?

Several students have asked me this question:

Is it acceptable to write words like "bookshop" or "seafood" as two words (book shop, sea food)?

To answer this question, you need to look at the question instructions.

• If the instruction says you can use two words or three words, "book shop" and "sea food" would be accepted.
• However, if the instruction tells you to use only one word, you must write "bookshop" or "seafood". If you write two words, it's wrong!

Note: When doing practice tests, always look up words that you are unsure about in a dictionary.

IELTS Listening: how to use practice tests

It's a good idea to do practice tests (e.g. using the Cambridge IELTS books) in preparation for the listening exam. Here's some advice to help you benefit from doing practice tests:

1. Your score is not the most important thing
The important thing is what you have learnt by doing the test. Were there any new words or phrases that you can learn? What did you find difficult? Did any of the questions trick you? In other words, what do you need to do to improve your score?

2. Check how accurate your answers are
Be strict with yourself; every grammar or spelling mistake is important. For example, if the speaker says "The library has a collection of newspapers", you must not write "collection of newspaper".

3. Get into the habit of moving on
If you missed something, forget about it and move on. Always prepare for the next question rather than worrying about a previous question. When you are given 30 seconds to check your answers, use the time to look at the next section instead.

IELTS Listening: the effects of inequality

Last week's writing task 2 question was about equality. I'll share my full essay about that topic tomorrow, but first you might be interested to watch the following video about the effects of inequality.

Feel free to discuss any ideas or opinions you have in the "comments" area below this lesson.

IELTS Listening: how to use the breaks

There are breaks between the four sections of the listening test, and there are breaks in the middle of sections 1, 2 and 3. You will hear instructions like this:

1. First you have some time to read questions 1 to 5.
2. That is the end of section 1. You have half a minute to check your answers.

1. 'Some time' means about 20 seconds, or up to 40 seconds before section 4. It's important to use this time to read the questions, make sure you understand them, and think about what kind of answer is needed (e.g. number, name, noun, verb, singular, plural).

2. Ignore this instruction - don't check a section that you have just finished. It's much more important to be ready for the next section. If you're not ready when the recording starts, you will find it very difficult to read the questions and listen to the answers at the same time. So, use this time to read ahead.

IELTS Listening: more practice!

Listen to the information about driving tests, and answer the questions below.

Click here to listen

1. Fill the gaps below with no more than 3 words.

On the day of your test, you need to take the following with you:
- both parts of your ______
- theory test ______
- appointment letter or ______

2. What two things will the examiner do before the test?

A) Ask for a paper driving licence
B) Check your paperwork
C) Speak to your driving instructor
D) Give you the option of bringing your driving instructor with you
E) Give you and your instructor some feedback

3. Which two of the following statements are true of the test?

A) An eyesight check is not part of the test
B) You can ask the examiner questions about safety
C) You have to drive in a variety of traffic conditions
D) The test lasts about 10 minutes
E) You will be asked to follow signs or spoken instructions

IELTS Listening: multiple choice

Listen to the following talk about unemployment, then answer the multiple choice questions below.

Click here to listen

1. A year from now, the unemployment rate will be

A) fairly good
B) not as high in California
C) very high for the country as a whole

2. One problem is that

A) employees cannot work for more than 33 hours per week
B) employers will extend working hours instead of hiring new staff
C) there are too many part-time workers

3. If the economy begins to improve

A) more people will be discouraged from looking for work
B) people will think that there are more job opportunities
C) there will be an expansion of the workforce

IELTS Listening: tips to improve your spelling

Many students get low scores in IELTS listening because they make spelling mistakes. Here are some tips to improve your spelling:

1. Make a spelling list
Every time you make a spelling mistake, write the correct spelling of the word on a list. Hopefully the list of words that you can spell correctly will grow and grow.

2. Learn by heart
The only way to make sure that your spelling improves is to learn words by heart. Learn the words on your spelling list, and test yourself once a week.

3. Rules don't help very much
You could easily get lost in the labyrinth of English spelling rules. It's easier to remember the spelling of individual words than it is to remember all the rules.

4. Get a dictionary 'app' for your phone
Do you look up words in a dictionary at least once a day? Having a dictionary application on your phone makes it easy. The Merriam-Webster dictionary app for the iPhone is a good one (and it's free).

IELTS Listening: obesity problem

Today's video contains some useful ideas for the 'health' topic. The presenter speaks passionately about the obesity problem and how to solve it.

Fill the gaps in this summary of the first 5 minutes of the talk:

The speaker claims that many American children will have a ______ ______ than their parents. Two thirds of Americans are statistically ______ or obese, and ______-______ disease is now the biggest ______ in the United States. Obesity costs the country 10% of ______ ______ bills, or $150 dollars a year.

IELTS Listening: job satisfaction

Watch the video and fill the gaps in the summary below.

Americans are apparently becoming more dissatisfied with the daily ______. A survey has found that worker dissatisfaction has been ______ ______ ______ for more than two decades. In 1987, about 60% of workers said they were satisfied, but today the figure is ______ to 45%.

Dissatisfaction is growing in relation to all aspects of jobs, including job security, ______, ______, bonuses and potential for growth. Some economists believe that this dissatisfaction could ______ innovation, and hurt ______ and ______.

IELTS Listening: multiple choice

Multiple choice questions can be difficult, especially when the speaker mentions all of the possible choices. Look at this example (Cambridge 7, page 15):

Janice thinks that employers should encourage workers who are

A) potential leaders.
B) open to new ideas.
C) good at teamwork.

This is what Janice says:

"Well, currently teamwork is in fashion in the workplace and in my opinion the importance of the individual is generally neglected. What managers should be targeting is those employees who can take the lead in a situation and are not afraid to accept the idea of responsibility."

As you can see, all three of the choices are mentioned. You really need to concentrate for this kind of question - don't just write the first thing you hear.

So, which answer is correct, and why?

IELTS Listening: 'vegetarianism' topic

Do you have an opinion about vegetarianism? Could you write an essay about the arguments for and against a vegetarian diet? Today's video will give you some ideas.

Fill the gaps in the following summary.

The speaker states that eating a hamburger every day can ______ the ______ of dying by a third, and that the meat we eat comes from animals raised in ______ ______ ______. He argues that meat production causes more ______ than ______, and beef production uses ______ ______ the water that it takes to produce most vegetables.

IELTS Listening: watch Harvard lectures

There are some great Harvard lecures on YouTube. The example below comes from a series of lectures on political philosophy. I found the series really interesting, and it's fantastic listening practice.

To watch other lectures in the series click here.

IELTS Listening: section 4

IELTS Listening section 4 is the most difficult section:

• There is no break in the middle of the 10 questions.
• You will hear only one person speaking.
• The language used is usually more difficult.
• The speaker tends to speak quite quickly.

Listen to the following talk about mistakes to avoid when writing a CV (curriculum vitae = a document that summarises your education and work experience).

Click here to listen

Fill the gaps below with a MAXIMUM of THREE WORDS.

Common mistakes when writing a CV:

1. Having a ______ CV without a good structure.
2. Writing ______, with long paragraphs or sentences, will lose people's ______.
3. It's often hard to spot your own ______.
4. Unexplained gaps in the dates on your CV will raise questions about what you might be ______.
5. A gap in the dates could cause an employer to think ______.

IELTS Listening: watch TV programmes

Watching TV programmes is a good way to improve your listening. The video below is a clip from a TV programme called "Dragons' Den".

If you live in the UK you can watch Dragons' Den on BBC 2 tonight. Otherwise, you can find clips on YouTube.

IELTS Listening: nature or nurture?

The "nature or nurture" topic has appeared in different parts of the IELTS test. Do you know what "nature or nurture" means?

Watch the video and fill the gaps in the summary below.

We are all born with certain physical characteristics ______ by our genes. But does our DNA ______ how we act? Researchers say that genes help control how we ______ our environment, but can environment influence which genes are ______? That leads to debate over the role parents play in ______ their children. Some believe the stronger ______ influences happen outside the home. As scientists study DNA, they are starting to understand better what makes us ______.

IELTS Listening: great videos

You should definitely check out the videos from RSA Animate on YouTube. The video below is a good one to start with.

IELTS Listening: tips for multiple choice

Multiple choice questions are difficult because there is more to read, and the speaker often mentions more than one of the choices (to trick you).

Here are a few tips:

1. Try to read the questions and choices before the listening starts.
2. Don't check your answers to the previous section; use the breaks to read ahead.
3. Underline key words in each choice. The key words are those that make the difference in meaning between choices.
4. When listening, only look at the words you underlined. Don't read everything again.
5. Expect the trick! They often mention more than one choice, so be careful.
6. If you're not sure, make a good guess, then move on to the next question.
7. If you don't have time to read everything (tip 1), don't worry. Prepare as many questions as you can, then do your best on the others.

Note:
These questions are supposed to be difficult. The IELTS people don't want everyone to get band 9!