IELTS Listening is always a challenging skill for many candidates. However, just listening and understanding is not enough, taking notes accurately and quickly is also an important skill. So how to take notes effectively in this part of the test? This article will help you understand what take notes are, and at the same time guide you on how to take notes effectively to help you easily find the right answer and save time in the IELTS test.
1. What Does “Take Notes” Mean?
“Take note” or “note-taking” refers to the practice of writing down important information you hear. This skill helps you retain information more effectively in various situations, including lectures, group work, or meetings at work.
In the IELTS Listening test, note-taking is not about transcribing every word you hear. Instead, it is about capturing key ideas in a structured and logical way. Keywords should be organized clearly to help you grasp the overall meaning when reviewing your notes.
Common Note-Taking Methods:
Outlining: Similar to planning an IELTS Writing task, organize your notes with main ideas, supporting points, and examples in a logical order.
Mind Mapping: Use visual maps by placing the main idea in the center and drawing branches for key points and sub-branches for examples or explanations.
Column Method: Ideal for conversations, especially when comparing two speakers' opinions. Create two columns—one for each speaker—to easily track and contrast ideas.
Common Challenges When Taking Notes:
Not fast enough: IELTS recordings are fast-paced, making it hard to capture all information.
Overwriting unnecessary details: Writing too much irrelevant information can distract your thinking and waste time.
Lack of clarity: Writing only isolated words may confuse you later.
Too many abbreviations: Overusing shortcuts can make your notes hard to understand later.
2. Why Note-Taking Is Important in IELTS Listening
Using effective note-taking techniques offers many benefits:
Helps you focus: Writing notes forces you to concentrate and avoid distractions.
Improves memory retention: Focusing on keywords helps you build a clear mental structure for remembering details.
Speeds up answer finding: With well-organized notes, you can quickly locate information during gap-fill or summary tasks.
3. How to Apply Note-Taking in IELTS Listening
Follow these steps to take effective notes in IELTS Listening:
Step 1: Underline Keywords in the Questions
Before the recording starts, read the questions carefully and underline important words—especially nouns, verbs, numbers, or connectors (and, but, although, because). Highlighting 1–2 keywords per question helps predict what to listen for.
Step 2: Listen and Take Notes on Key Points
During the listening:
Use symbols: Arrows, equal signs, and dashes can represent relationships between ideas.
Use abbreviations: Create your own shortcuts for faster writing.
Pay attention to signpost words: Words like “firstly,” “then,” “finally” indicate structure.
Focus on listening rather than looking at the answers. Often, the exact words in the question will be paraphrased in the audio.
Step 3: Compare Notes with Answer Options
Use the final 30 seconds after each section to match your notes with the answer choices. If your notes align with the meaning of a specific option, select it. If there is no exact match, eliminate clearly wrong answers and choose the closest meaning.
4. Tips for Effective Note-Taking in IELTS Listening
Even though note-taking is common, it requires balancing your ears, brain, and hands at the same time. Here’s how to master it:
Summarize ideas: Do not try to write everything. Focus on summarizing the main idea using English or your native language to highlight the important parts.
Focus on relevant information: Skim questions first to know what to look for. This helps avoid writing irrelevant details.
Compare notes with answers: Match your notes to the closest answer choice.
Use abbreviations and symbols: Save time with common abbreviations or create your own. For example, "dict" for "dictionary" or arrows ↑ ↓ for increase and decrease.
Improve Your IELTS Listening with IDP
Note-taking is an essential skill for scoring high in IELTS Listening. Make it a habit to practice regularly. Joining IELTS courses or mock tests can improve both your listening and note-taking skills.
At IDP, you can choose between the IELTS Academic and IELTS General Training Listening tests. If you want to get familiar with the exam format, register for a free IELTS mock test at IDP and learn how to manage your time effectively.
Register for the IELTS test with IDP today!