Review of Basic IELTS Listening Book for Beginners

For those just starting their IELTS preparation journey without a strong English foundation, setting up an effective study plan and understanding the IELTS Listening section can be challenging. To help you confidently achieve a high score in the Listening test, this article from IDP explores the Basic IELTS Listening book, its content overview, and how it can support your IELTS Listening skills.

Author

Basic IELTS Listening is part of the Basic IELTS series, focusing on the Listening skill. The book was written by Li Ya Bin and was first published by Beijing Language and Culture University Press in 2010. It was later distributed in Vietnam in 2014 by Ho Chi Minh City General Publishing House.

Who is this book for

If preparing for the IELTS test is like climbing a mountain, then Basic IELTS Listening is your essential tool for the very first steps. This book is suitable for beginners who are just getting familiar with IELTS and have a general English level around band 3.0 to 3.5. After completing the book’s content and exercises, learners can aim for band 4.0 to 4.5.

It is also a useful resource for students who want to improve their listening comprehension skills through simple conversations and short news stories that can be practiced with teachers or peers.

The book consists of four key sections:

• Overview This section provides an introduction to the structure of the IELTS Listening test. It explains the different types of conversations and question formats, along with practical tips for using your listening time effectively.

• Main content Basic IELTS Listening contains five units, each centered around common social and cultural topics from English-speaking communities. These include:

• Names and Places

• Numbers

• Survival English

• Popular Science

• Academic English

Each unit features a wide range of listening formats such as conversations, news, reports, stories, and dialogues. Exercises progress from beginner to intermediate level.

• Vocabulary and Phonetic Symbols This section highlights the vocabulary used in each unit. Words are underlined in the listening scripts, and phonetic transcriptions are provided to help learners pronounce them correctly.

• Scripts and Answer Key The final section includes full audio transcripts and answers for all exercises.

The book also comes with an audio CD that supports pronunciation and listening practice.

Strengths

• Clear layout: The book presents information in a well-organized format. Important sections are bolded or boxed for easier reading and recall.

• Beginner-friendly: Exercises are designed for those starting from scratch and gradually build up to common IELTS topics.

• Realistic questions: Practice tasks are similar in format to actual IELTS Listening questions.

• Visual support: Each lesson includes illustrations that make the content more engaging.

Limitations

• All-English content: The book is written entirely in English, which may pose challenges for absolute beginners. A dictionary may be needed to understand test instructions and strategies clearly.

• Limited accent variety: The included audio focuses only on British English accents. In the real IELTS test, you may hear accents from different English-speaking countries, so the book may not fully prepare you for that variety.

When using Basic IELTS Listening at home, consider the following tips for effective learning:

• Review old lessons before new ones: Reinforce previous knowledge to improve memory and connect topics across units.

• Build your vocabulary: Take notes of new or useful words that you can apply in different contexts. Writing vocabulary in a notebook is a helpful method to retain difficult terms.

• Avoid over-listening: Repeating the same sentence many times can slow your test pace. If you cannot catch an answer after two attempts, move on and come back later.

• Use transcripts wisely: After completing a test, use the transcript to check your answers and understand your mistakes.

Prepare for IELTS Listening with IDP

We hope this detailed review of Basic IELTS Listening helps you decide if this book suits your IELTS preparation journey. It is a valuable starting point for beginners aiming to strengthen their listening skills.

To practice more with this question type, you can access free resources from IDP, including method articles, expert video tutorials, and the IELTS by IDP app, allowing you to study anywhere at any time.

You can also register for free mock tests at IDP IELTS test centers or attend IELTS events and workshops led by IDP professionals to understand common mistakes and learn effective strategies through real examples and video lessons.

Ready to take the IELTS test? Register with IDP today!