The IGCSE listening test is on May 17th, 2013 so let's review some main points about the exam:
1. Pre-listening is important! Before you listen take advantage of the time allowed to read the introduction to each question. This will give you a clue on the topic of the recording. Highlight keywords as shown in the example below including question words so that you know what to listen for. Remember, part of the skill of listening is to predict what might be said next.
Example:
Listen to the following interview about a recent motoring expedition and answer the questions below:
"Man and Machine for Nature" is the motto of the challenge. What is the aim of the challenge?
Ideally, you should provide the exact spoken words and the correct spelling. Remember that you can use the blank area on the paper to make notes while you are listening. You are allowed to use your own words provided you communicate the point / idea clearly. Yet, the listening exam is a test mainly of your ability to write down what you have heard. In case you fail to get the point, take a guess and provide an answer. But this should be your last resort!
In the example above : Protect nature by organising a motoring expedition is much better than leaving it blank as you may eventually get your mark.
2. You can make spelling mistakes and still get your mark if the misspelt word is close to the correct word.
Examples:
chanse instead of chance / realy instead of really / carefull instead of careful / theater(correct in American English) instead of theatre
But even though you provide the correct answer, you won't get your mark if the misspelt word:
- is very different from the correct word
bioutifoul instead of beautiful / rialli instead of really / tsianse instead of chance
- forms another recognised English word
plane instead of plain / site instead of sight / heals instead of heels / who's instead of whose
3. Bear in mind that where two points / answers are required for one single mark you will get your mark only if you provide both points correctly.
4. Pay attention to plurals! Thousands is not the same as thousand!
5. Answers concerning the cost of an item should provide the original currency spoken not just the numerical amount. And remember that £ (pounds) is not the same as $ (dollars)!
Example:
-How much did Nuria pay for the CD?
- five (wrong)
- 5 (wrong)
- five paounts (wrong)
- $5 (wrong)
- £5 (correct)
- five pounds (correct)
6. Answers concerning the time should also specify whether it's in the morning / afternoon / evening.
Example:
- What time does the train leave the station?
- at 6:00 / at six (wrong)
- at 6:00 pm (correct)
- at six in the afternoon (correct)
- at 18:00 hours (correct)
7. Review and Practice. Many candidates wrongly believe that there is nothing to review for the IGCSE listening test. You should thoroughly review vocabulary and spelling paying close attention to the spelling of homophones or semi-homophones. Here are a few examples:
heard and herd
hare and hair
peace and piece
who's and whose
site and sight
brake and break
brash and brush
track and truck
mite and might
new and knew
tones and tonnes
fur instead of fair
And don't forget that practice makes perfect. In the remaining few days before the listening exam, take the good habit to listen to an English radio station for twenty minutes every day. Listen to interviews, talks, the news and make some notes while you are listening. In this way, you will train your ear to become more familiar with spoken English.
Good Luck to you all!
This post (edited) was originally published on May 16, 2010
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