Video summary

Proven Strategies to Get Band 9 in IELTS Listening

Main summary

Key takeaways

Educational

Main ideas / lessons conveyed

  • Goal-focused reading: For IELTS Listening, especially Parts 2 and 3, improve accuracy by reading the questions and options twice to build familiarity and memory.
  • Use time efficiently with navigation jumps: When the test plays, short preparation windows appear on screen. Use them to read the next section rather than the current one.
  • Read at an effective pace (not too fast, not too slow): Experiment to find a speed that supports quick reading plus rough retention.
  • Don’t over-highlight: Highlighting wastes time. Instead, mentally remember keywords (or key phrases).
  • “Keywords first” strategy, with exceptions:
    • Usually remember keywords only.
    • If keywords alone make meaning unclear, remember more of the option for clarity.
  • Keyword memory improves through practice: Train at home by attempting to remember options/questions without fully relying on rereading.
  • Guessing tactics using paraphrase vs exact words:
    • Correct answers are often paraphrased.
    • Wrong answers may use exact words from the audio (especially in multiple-choice).
  • Part 3 is hardest → reading twice + listening skill training:
    • The method still uses reading twice, but you also need stronger listening ability to follow conversations.
  • Train listening beyond test practice:
    • Sentence-by-sentence practice with IELTS materials builds vocabulary.
    • For higher scores, listen to news podcasts to learn spoken flow and general meaning.
    • After acclimating, increase difficulty by using faster speeds.
  • Part 4 reading approach:
    • First read: quick overview for general understanding.
    • Second read: slower focus on words around blanks and proper nouns to find answers.

Methodology / instructions (detailed)

Overall structure: prioritize Part 2 & Part 3

  • Read Part 2 and Part 3 two times each.
  • Part 1:
    • Typically easy and short.
    • Read only once (little text exists to pre-read—often just one or two words per gap).
  • Part 4:
    • Enough time to read twice, with special focus on blanks and key keywords.

How to read Part 2 (multiple-choice / multiple-answer)

During the start of the test

  • When the test says you have time to view Questions 1–6, do not use it to read Part 1.
  • Instead:
    • Use the screen navigation bar to jump to Part 2
    • Start reading Part 2 questions/options

Reading technique for each option

  • Read both the question and the options.
  • Don’t read too quickly (memory fails) or too slowly (you may not finish).
  • During practice, experiment to find a pace that supports rough memory.

Keyword memory rules

  • Avoid time-wasting highlighting.
  • Mentally remember key parts (examples include: purpose, welcome new members, 10th anniversary, recently, etc.).
  • If options are too long/unclear using keywords only, remember more information that clarifies meaning.

First and second readings

  • First reading: remember enough for rough familiarity.
  • Second reading: trust intuition about what matters; also focus on:
    • Time expressions (e.g., recently, next year)
    • These often determine the correct option.

How to “toggle” between Part 1 and Part 2 for correct reading order

  • Do not use Part 1 checking time to review answers.
  • After finishing Part 1:
    • Go immediately to Part 3, not Part 2.
    • Reason: Part 2 was read once already; Part 3 will be read again later.

How to read Part 1 (short form / gaps)

  • Read Part 1 only once.
  • While reading and listening:
    • Focus on the word(s around the blank (e.g., hostel, age, near, paid, problem, medical, license, close).
  • Listening tip:
    • The audio usually either rephrases or uses the same proper noun/term around the blank.

How to read Part 3 (two-speaker conversation; hardest section)

During the first Part 3 reading

  • You may ignore speaker mapping (don’t try to remember who says which question).
  • Better approach:
    • Look at the person only while listening, not in advance.

Second Part 3 reading

  • Optionally pay attention to the person if it helps.
  • Still target: remember keywords, not everything.

Keyword prioritization

  • Remember essential parts that help you locate the option when it appears (examples):
    • can borrow extra books
    • staff helpful
    • loans reliable
  • Relative clauses / extra detail:
    • The main clause usually matters more; don’t over-prioritize less critical parts.

Finish reading as much as possible twice

  • If time is limited:
    • Start from the very beginning (e.g., question 21 rather than 24) so most questions get two reads.
    • Sacrifice one question if needed.

Ruling out options (paraphrase vs exact wording)

  • Correct options are commonly paraphrased or clearly matched by meaning.
  • Wrong options may be presented using exact words that don’t align with what the speaker says.
  • If unsure, use this rule to eliminate options.

Listening-skill training beyond reading tactics (for higher bands)

  • If your listening foundation is weak (e.g., 5.5–6):
    • Listen sentence-by-sentence using Cambridge IELTS Books.
    • Make sure you understand each word (as much as possible).
    • Benefit emphasized: builds IELTS-related vocabulary.
  • If targeting band 8+:
    • Testing-only practice isn’t enough because tests train you for “specific answers,” not conversation flow.
    • Instead:
      • Listen to news podcasts (recommended: The Wall Street Journal)
      • Start with subtitles if needed (YouTube subtitles help), then gradually remove them
      • Goal: understand the general message (you can’t catch everything in real listening)
  • Add speed training:
    • After acclimation, listen at faster speeds so test audio feels slower/easier.

How to read Part 4 (ten questions; blanks and proper nouns)

Two reading phases

  1. First reading: quick scan for overall meaning
    • Don’t over-focus on blanks yet.
    • Read context that doesn’t involve blanks to follow the speech.
  2. Second reading: slower and more careful
    • Focus on:
      • Words around blanks (audio will use the same word or a synonym)
      • Other keywords, especially proper nouns (e.g., company/firm names)

Keyword examples given

  • firm, Foster and Partners, shape, carbon, pass through, heating costs, exterior, fresh air, eco-friendly, etc.

Speaker / sources featured

  • Primary speaker (YouTube instructor): “I” / narrator teaching IELTS listening strategies (no name provided in subtitles).
  • Referenced external sources (for practice/training):
    • Cambridge IELTS Books (sentence-by-sentence listening practice)
    • The Wall Street Journal (news podcast recommendation)
    • YouTube (subtitles support)
    • Spotify (news podcasts listening option)
  • Course/offer referenced:
    • “3-Day Writing Task 2 Challenge” (mentioned as having feedback; link in pinned comment)

Original video