Top 8 Tips for IELTS Academic Listening Task 2: Matching

Do you want to get a 9 band score in the IELTS Academic Listening Test? Aside from maximizing your IELTS course preparation and attending a group study, it is also essential to look for various test-taking strategies that you can apply in your exam preparation. For instance, read and follow these practical tips for the IELTS Academic Listening Task 2: Matching.

Top 8 Tips for IELTS Academic Listening Task 2: Matching

Matching information is one of the trickiest tasks in the IELTS Academic Listening Test. For this listening task, you will be asked to match a numbered list of items from the audio recording to a set of options on the question paper. This listening task measures your ability to understand the main idea and supporting details of a given audio recording.

In order to successfully accomplish the second task of the listening test, below are the top 8 tips that you can utilize in your IELTS training.

        1.    Examine the listening text

The listening text consists of critical points about the audio recording. It will also serve as your guide when answering each question.

        2.    Listen carefully

As you listen to the audio recording, pay attention to the critical points indicated in the listening text. Don’t skip any parts of the recording as it might cost you to lose some information about the audio clip.

        3.    Use a note-taking technique

Write all the ideas and concepts you heard from the audio recording. Use a note-taking technique to organize your notes properly. During your IELTS course sessions, practice using different note-taking techniques before taking this listening task.

        4.    Compare the listening text to your notes

Once you have organized your notes, compare it to the ideas and concepts indicated in the listening text. Underline all the similar words/phrases from the listening text and in your notes.

        5.    Analyze the numbered list of items and the set of options

The items from the numbered list are the supporting details about the audio clip, while the set of options are the main ideas discussed in the recording.

        6.    Prepare your responses

When preparing your answers, consider the following points:

§  Use your notes as your guide when answering each question.

§  Keep in mind that the order of the information in the audio recording is the same as the order questions in the listening task 2.

§  Answer the easiest questions first.

§  If you still can’t figure out the answer to a specific question, skip it and come back to it later.

        7.    Use the process of elimination

Because there are many options to choose from, use the process of elimination to remove an option that is not related to the question.

        8.    Review your answers

If you still have some time, review your answers before you proceed to the next part of the IELTS Academic Listening Test.

Need more test-taking tips? Check out our blog now and get the best IELTS training tips, exam strategies, and even note-taking techniques!

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REFERENCES:

"How to Do Matching Heading Type of Questions in IELTS Listening?" IELTS Online Tests. Accessed May 29, 2019. https://ieltsonlinetests.com/listening-tips/how-do-matching-heading-type-questions-ielts-listening.

“IELTS Test Format.” IELTS.org. Accessed May 29, 2019. https://www.ielts.org/about-the-test/test-format.

"Matching-Tips––IELTS Listening Test." IELTS answers.com. Accessed May 29, 2019. https://www.ieltsanswers.com/matching-tips-ielts-listening-test.html.