International English Language Testing System, or IELTS, is a well-known English exam that tests language skills in writing, listening, reading, and speaking. Over 3 million individuals prepare for it because its scores can help them to get admission at top colleges or a work permit for leading countries. However, they struggle with the map tasks in the IELTS listening section. Therefore, they choose to take regular classes from trainers at the best coaching centre. They guide them to use IELTS practice test listening papers to prepare for it. Now, you might be thinking, why so? Well, this article answers all your questions related to this task.
A Brief on Map Questions in the IELTS Listening Section
The Map question is the trickiest task in the listening section of the IELTS exam. It asks the test takers to listen to audio recordings and fill in the correct information on the map. However, it is not easy to find the answers because there are three different types of map questions highlighted below.
Direction-Based Questions
In such questions of the IELTS listening section, test takers have to listen to the audio and answer the questions by providing the correct directions, like left, right, north, and so on.
Labelling Locations on a Map
Test takers need good memory power to answer questions related to labelling locations on a map. In this question, they have to listen to the recordings carefully and mark the location on the map.
Identifying Routes and Landmarks
In such a question of a map task in the listening section, test takers have to mark the specific landmark or follow the route discussed in the audio recordings.
Test takers need several skills to find all the correct answers from the recordings. Let's know about them in detail.
Skills for IELTS Listening Section
The listening section is a skill-based and one of the most challenging parts of the IELTS exam. Aspirants willing to appear for this test need to master several expertise mentioned below to find the correct answers to the map question.
Active Listening
Firstly, test takers must know that the audio recordings in the IELTS listening section can not be paused or replayed once played. Moreover, they need to focus on each and every detail discussed in the exam. Therefore, experts advise them to work on active listening. It will help the test takers to focus on every detail and provide correct answers for the map task.
Note Making
Secondly, as you know, you have to provide specific details in the map question of the listening section. Therefore, it is advised that they should practice to note down crucial information like places, directions, and more while listening to the audio. It will help them save time and provide correct answers.
Time Management
Lastly, time management is the key skill to ace the listening section. Test takers have to listen to three to four recordings. These are taken from speeches, conversations between two or more people, and academic lectures. However, they have approximately 30 minutes to listen to the recordings and answer 40 questions to showcase their listening skills. Therefore, they must learn to manage their time to complete the task.
Developing the above skills can help the test takers secure good scores in the map task of the listening section. Test takers follow many practices to master and polish them. Due to this, new aspirants get confused to follow the right part. So, on that note, let us move to the next part and look at some of the best practices.
How to Prepare for IELTS Listening?
The score range for the IELTS listening section is between 0-9. It is the dream of every test taker to achieve the highest band. However, there are many practices to develop several skills to achieve their desired scores. Thus, they are mentioned below.
- Understand the Paper Pattern- Firstly, test takers should understand the exam pattern for the listening section. It will help them to know what types of questions they will encounter on the exam day.
- Take Practice Tests- Secondly, aspirants should take the IELTS practice test listening. It will help them to know the exam pattern and practice with different accents to develop every possible skill.
- Work on Vocabulary- Thirdly, the audio used in the listening section uses a high vocabulary. Due to this, test takers may find it difficult to catch the words. Therefore, they should learn new words daily to improve their vocabulary.
- Get Help from Experts- Lastly, they should take regular sessions with experts because they will help in clearing all the doubts related to tasks.
Conclusion
The map question is a challenging part of the listening section of the IELTS exam. Every year, many test takers face challenges in solving such questions. So, they join the best IELTS coaching. Experts not only help them to prepare for the map task, but also, assist in preparing for other sections by providing study materials such as the IELTS reading practice test papers and more. Due to this, test takers build confidence for the test and get their dream scores.
