Analyze your performance

Analyze Your Performance

After completing the test, go through each section carefully.

Common Mistakes to Look For

1. Missing Keywords:
   • What happens: You might miss key words in the audio, leading to incorrect answers.
   • Example:
     • Audio: “The museum opens at 9:30, but the guided tours begin at 10:00.”
     • Question: “What time do the guided tours start?”
     • Common mistake: Writing “9:30” instead of “10:00.”
   • Solution: Train yourself to focus on key phrases like “but,” “however,” “starts,” or “after.”
2. Spelling Errors:
   • What happens: Spelling mistakes can cost marks, even if your answer is correct.
   • Example: Writing “enviroment” instead of “environment.”
   • Solution: Make a list of commonly misspelled words from practice tests and memorize them.
3. Misunderstanding Accents:
   • What happens: Words or phrases might sound unfamiliar due to British, Australian, or American accents.
   • Example:
     • British: “Car park” (parking lot), “flat” (apartment).
     • Australian: “Cheers” (thanks), “bush” (forest).
   • Solution: Practice listening to diverse accents daily (BBC, ABC Australia, NPR).
4. Incorrect Word Form:
   • What happens: The answer might require a specific word form (e.g., singular/plural, adjective/noun).
   • Example:
     • Question: “What type of accommodations are offered?”
     • Audio: “We offer apartments and single rooms.”
     • Mistake: Writing “apartment” instead of “apartments.”
   • Solution: Double-check the grammar of your answers.
5. Not Following Instructions:
   • What happens: Exceeding the word limit or format rules.
   • Example:
     • Question: “Write no more than two words.”
     • Your answer: “Guided tour starts” (incorrect, as it’s three words).
   • Solution: Pay close attention to instructions and practice adhering to them.

Step 3: Review Each Section

1. Check Your Answers:
   • Use the answer key provided in the practice book.
   • For incorrect answers, compare what you wrote with the audio transcript to see what you missed.
2. Understand Why You Missed Answers:
   • Re-listen to the audio for incorrect questions.
   • Identify whether the issue was:
     • Not recognizing paraphrasing.
     • Missing key information.
     • Confusion due to distractors.
3. Identify Patterns in Mistakes:
   • Are you consistently missing certain question types (e.g., multiple choice, fill-in-the-blank)?
   • Are you struggling with specific sections (e.g., Section 4’s monologue)?

Step 4: Take Action on Mistakes

1. For Missing Keywords:
   • Practice active listening by focusing on specific details.
   • Use mock tests to train yourself to anticipate the type of information required.
2. For Spelling Errors:
   • Create a personalized vocabulary list.
   • Practice writing answers multiple times to build accuracy.
3. For Accents:
   • Listen to resources with varied accents and practice transcribing short passages.
4. For Word Limit Errors:
   • Make note of the word count in every practice test.
   • Train yourself to spot and avoid unnecessary words.

Step 5: Track Progress

• Raw Score to Band Score: Use the IELTS Listening Band Score table to track improvements.
  • Example: If you scored 27/40 in the first test, your band score is 6.5.
• Set a goal: Aim for small increases, such as moving from 27/40 to 30/40 (Band 7.0).