5 Common Mistakes in IELTS Listening

Here you'll find five common mistakes made in the listening part of the test and how you can avoid them.

1. Not Using the Reading Time

Many learners don't use the 30 seconds provided.
 

Use it to:

• Underline keywords

• Predict vocabulary you might hear

• Notice question order

This alone can raise your score.

2. Getting Tricked by Distractors

It isn't uncommon for infomation to change mid-sentence. 

Example:

"The meeting was originally planned for Thursday… actually, let’s move it to Friday."

Always listen until the speaker finishes the idea.

3. Spelling and Grammar Errors

If the answer is correct but misspelled, it is marked wrong which is such a shame when you have heard correctly and then lost the mark due to spelling.
 

Focus on:

• Days of the week

• Common place names

• Numbers and compound nouns

4. Writing Too Soon

Sometimes the first thing you hear is not the answer.
Stay patient — wait for the full context.

5. Stress and Losing Focus

It’s a long test. Practice listening for 30 minutes straight without stopping.
Build stamina the same way you would for a marathon.

Now that you know the five most common Listening mistakes, take time to reflect on which ones affect you most. Identifying your personal weaknesses is the fastest way to improve—and the foundation for targeted, effective practice.