Exam Skills: 4 tips for listening exams

As with other exams, preparation is important. One of the best ways to prepare yourself for a listening exam is to listen to as much spoken English as possible, as often as you can.

Transcript
Rob
For all exams, preparation is important. And one of the best ways to prepare yourself for a listening exam is to listen to as much spoken English as possible, as often as you can. That's what this student does…

Student
I think that one of the best things is watching TV because even if you don’t understand it, you can understand it from the picture, but your listening skills are improved. But even better, I think, it’s radio, listening to the radio, because you have to concentrate only on sounds, not on the picture.

Rob
So TV or radio are great places to listen to authentic English. Don’t forget that you can also practise your listening skills by watching movies and listening to music. If you listen to something that you find interesting, you are more likely to enjoy the experience and as a result improve your listening.

Also, get hold of some practice tests on CD or as mp3 files and listen to them often. As well as giving you further practice in listening, these tests allow you to become familiar with the format of the exam and let you know how many times you’ll hear the listening text in the real test.

There’s no need to be in a quiet room to do the practice tests. In fact, it’s often better if you’re not – this forces you to focus on the key speakers, with background noise and distractors going on. Language teacher Margaret John says this will help…

Language teacher, Margaret John
Some examinations deliberately put distractors, such as noisy environments like Tube stations and bus stations and airports, behind the speakers. If you’ve been practising listening that way, you will be in a much better position in exam conditions to be able to handle this problem.

Rob
When you're finally in the real exam, make sure you can hear properly. If you have a problem, tell the examiner right at the beginning - after the exam is too late!

These tips will hopefully get you going in your listening exam. Good luck!

[Logan-qinx]

Shout-out to people learning English as a second language. I've known it my whole life and still mess up here and there.

[dylanamiinn]

Thanks for tip number 4, my plan was to cover my ears throughout the exam.

[sharlenechen]

BBC learning English programs have been helping me hugely on my listening ability in the past year thanks to 6 Minute English, News Review and Lingohack. Takeaway English is another brilliant one as well.
Your programs make me never feel bored in learning English.

[SergioA]

My tips:
- Listen to your favorite songs while reading the lyrics.
- Listen to podcasts (about English or any topic you find interesting)
- Watch movies or TV series with English subtitles first, and then without them.

[martymitch]

when it comes to both entertaining and learning, nothing beats your podcasts, guys. thanks for all your work and dedication to us.

[CarolaAmmirabileIT]

Great tips for the listening I tested during my IELTS preparation. Thank you BBC Learning English.

[dawstudies]

I just enjoy BBC Radio and it really helps me. I imporve my listening as well as my vocabulary of spoken english. Also, I love reading books, but now I'm simply listening audiobooks, of course it's kinda tough but really effective.

[xylu]

ah I'll have a listening task in class this Friday ... good luck to myself

[paramjitsingh]

bbc is the best show to improve my listening skill

[jeffrey]

I'm so happy that I found this ! ( Taiwan )

[AbdullahAlayed]

Great .
Watching 📺 is more benefit than listening 📻

[chubequay]

i often listen to program bbc news review to improve my listen english skill and extend my vocabularis. But the program does have sub so that i can know exaclly what the program saids.

[_Guiturami]

Dictation is one of the best methods as well.

[MrPerfomix]

Great Channel it's helps me a lot💯

[littlesnake]

I don't have trouble understanding spoken English, but in exams I find it hard to keep concentrating for an hour or so.
My attention drifts to other things and I end up missing details.

[eco]

but i live in a peace area .but can i do .i mean which is the better way for me.plz

[natsnetzerezghi]

Which english radio can i lisning to improv my englisk skill?can you please rekommendera me? I need Some tips from you good peoble.

[waseemahmed]

What is meant by "after the exam is too late" ?

[teo-medesi]

Listen to enough metal songs to reach the level of understanding everything they say. C1 level guaranteed!

[dearhhook]

Hi bbc, i am in a little confused that the word often. In a pronounciation tip, the "t" is silence but in this video, it doesnt. So the "t" can be silence or not. Or base on the situation.
P/s my english is bad (^_^)