Listening comprehension makes up 10% of your GCE O Level English exams and contains a score of 30 marks in a 45 minute segment. And scoring as perfectly as possible in this area will help you tide over the other sections of your paper. Here are a few simple tips to ensure you score well in this 45-minute paper.
8 Practical Tips To Score Well In O Level English Listening Comprehension
1. Expand your vocabulary
I am sure you have heard this many times before and you are probably wondering how you are supposed to expand your O level English vocabulary in the fastest and best way.
It’s actually not as difficult as it sounds. One of the best ways is the traditional way. If there is not much time for you to read novels and biographies, then read the newspapers.
I have often found that the news editorial sections contain the highest form of O level English vocabulary for students striving to hit the mark. Editorials usually have high content and target world news, current issues and opinions on ongoing problems. If you do not have time to keep up with the entire newspaper, then just read this section.
And for lighter reading, there is the lifestyle section that dwells on recreational interests and current fads. They are lively and appealing in nature.
Of course, I will have to return to the most important aspect of all. Reading. Just reading the newspaper is not enough. Try to aim for meatier stuff and read a bit of short story collections. Some of them are anecdotes or simply colourful accounts of personal experiences.
2. Write down important points
While actually sitting for the O level English listening paper, write down important points when you are allowed to write. Remember, you will have a deluge of information when you listen to the speaker. These could be random information or facts pertaining to dates, days and places. Jot down these first.
Then recall the main themes. What was the information about? It may have sounded as if it was nothing more than an account of the bad weather or someone trying to mention what they felt about something. Write it down the minute you can do so.
If there are 2 or more points of view, write down the main ideas. It may be difficult for you to recall everything when attempting the O level English questions so this early start in jotting down will be a great help.
3. Listen to more audiobooks when reading
I am used to reading books the traditional way while I made up images in my mind but if you have audiobooks, go for it! Audiobooks can be fun. There are intonations, inflections, and pauses in the reading that shed more light on what the content is all about.
Moreover, the best part of all is that they are usually narrated by well-known actors, and celebrities who are trained in the art of creating the right mood for the topic. You will get more as you travel in the audio book’s world of content. Whatever you are listening to, you will feel transported to that time, place, and depth of knowledge.
Audio books help you to become aware of the words in a totally different way. If you are weak in O level English vocabulary, the way the word is pronounced will indicate what the word could mean. It gives you clues and drives you in the right direction so you will get more when you ‘read’ this way.
And of course, it is similar to the listening comprehension itself as you become used to the tonal inflections. This may be a guide in helping you to get used to someone talking rather than reading in print. Oh yes, I left out the best part. You can multitask when you listen to audiobooks!
4. Watch more shows
Sounds like fun doesn’t it? Watch English shows with lots of conversation, not those with action-packed adventures with nary a word in between. And when they do speak, it is usually not the kind of English you should be learning. 😊
Ok, aim for those shows that are full of conversation between characters. Sitcoms or serials are good. Make sure it is entirely spoken in English and not with subtitles.
Shows make it easier for you to become aware of phrasal expressions and rebuttals in arguments. This is similar to the O level English listening text where the speaker sometimes shares a personal view or two.
Shows are also entertaining and aim for a certain structure where the content reveals the target or what the theme is all about. You will digest quite a bit of words and far more importantly, understand how people converse.
Shows incorporate the style of modern communication. This is different from just reading. And you will have a better way of approaching your O level English listening conversation.
5. Do not lose focus
The focus is all about following the main thread of the conversation or the view of the speaker. Keep up with ‘what’ the speaker is trying to say. Do not listen to the voice alone.
Aim at what the speaker is really trying to get across. What is the subject about? Is it about the weather? Is it about traffic conditions? Is it about his view of the city/ people crossing the road/ response to something?
6. Check your answers when you listen to the recording for the second time
When the recording is repeated, check all your answers. Make sure you have no blanks and that you have answered the O level English questions according to what the text is about.
7. Read questions in advance
You may read the questions in advance so long as you do not write. Just scan through the questions to make sure that you know what the text may be about when you listen to it later. These precious few minutes will help you a lot.
8. Check that you have shaded the right answer
Finally, make sure that you have shaded the correct answer especially when the recording is repeated. This is your final chance to rectify earlier mistakes in the O level English paper.
By this time, you would have come to the end of your O level English Listening Comprehension Paper and if you have followed all the tips mentioned above, you would have done a good job. Good luck with your listening paper!