How to Improve IELTS Listening Band Score from 6.5 to 8

Kasturika Samanta

5 min read

Updated On Sep 13, 2024

To improve IELTS Listening band score from 6.5 to 8, focus on active listening, familiarize with different accents, practice long audios without help, expand vocabulary, deal with distractors, and use practice tests to enhance accuracy and comprehension.

Difference between IELTS Listening Band Score 6.5 and 8
Strategies to Improve IELTS Listening Band Score from 6.5 to 8

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Achieving an IELTS band score of 8 in listening can be a challenge for many non-native candidates. As a result, many look for strategies to improve their IELTS Listening band score from 6.5 to 8 in the IELTS exam to fulfill the requirements of premier institutions or professional opportunities abroad.

In this blog, we will not only explore various ways to improve IELTS Listening band score from 6.5 to 8, but also learn about the difference between these two band scores for the listening module to work from the root level.

Difference between IELTS Listening Band Score 6.5 and 8

The difference between an IELTS Listening band score 6.5 and a band 8 primarily reflects the test-taker's ability to understand spoken English with increasing complexity, detail, and meaning. The table below provides a breakdown of the key differences between these two IELTS band scores.

Factor	IELTS Listening Band Score 6.5	IELTS Listening Band Score 8
Accuracy in Listening	The candidate can understand the main ideas and some specific details in familiar situations but may miss out on complex and more subtle points. There may be mistakes in comprehending fast speech, accents, or complex information.	The candidate can understand detailed information, including implied meanings and nuances. They can follow fast speech, different accents, and complex information with a high degree of accuracy, rarely missing key points.
Understanding of Vocabulary	The candidate can understand the meaning of most common words but may struggle with less frequent or idiomatic expressions. They may also misunderstand words in complex contexts or complicated sentence structures.	The candidate shows strong command over a wide range of IELTS vocabulary, including less frequent, idiomatic, and topic-specific words. They can understand complex phrases and distinguish between formal and informal language with ease.
Handling Different Accents	The candidate may struggle to understand unfamiliar accents and might miss details in speech that involve fast pace or varied pronunciation.	The candidate is proficient in understanding a range of accents and dialects (e.g., British, Australian, American) and has no trouble following fast-paced speech.
Dealing with Complex Information	The candidate can follow simple and straightforward conversations but may have difficulty understanding lectures, discussions with multiple speakers, or highly detailed talks with complex arguments.	The candidate can effortlessly follow extended talks, multi-speaker discussions, and understand implicit meaning, even in complex or unfamiliar topics.
Listening to Detail	The candidate can pick up the main ideas and some specific information but may miss subtle details, especially when speech is fast or packed with information.	The candidate accurately identifies fine details, including specific facts, numbers, and names, even when presented quickly or in a complex format.
Overall Performance	The candidate demonstrates good comprehension of basic and familiar content, but their understanding may break down when facing more challenging speech or unfamiliar topics.	The candidate performs confidently in almost all listening situations, with a high degree of consistency, understanding complex material in detail.

Strategies to Improve IELTS Listening Band Score from 6.5 to 8

When a candidate gets a band score of 6.5 in IELTS Listening, it means they have got 26-29 correct answers in the module. On the other hand, to achieve a band score of 8, a test-taker has to get 35-36 correct answers out of the total 40 questions. It is quite clear that to bridge the gap between these band scores, they have to answer at least 6-9 questions correctly.

So, let us list down the strategies based on the above differences between these two band scores and get ready to achieve that much-desired Band 8 in IELTS Listening.

Practice Active Listening

When candidates are asked to practice active listening or listen to various English resources to improve their listening skills, all they do is just listen passively.

However, to achieve a Band 8, they have to go the extra mile and practice active listening. In other words, they have to focus on what they hear in the audio, make notes, pick up unfamiliar vocabulary, listen to the pronunciation of words, etc.

In order to listen actively and be prepared for any kind of audio in the listening exam, candidates have to:

Pay attention
Reflect on what is said
Take notes
Summarize or paraphrase main idea/s
Test your understanding

In this way, they develop an attention to detail which will increase their accuracy in listening as well as enhance their focus on essential information.

Listen to Native English Accents

One of the important differences between a Band 6.5 and a Band 8 is the inability to understand fast speech or unfamiliar accents. Being a non-English speaker, it is a common hurdle for most candidates.

The solution is to get acquainted with British, Australian, American, and other accents since the IELTS audio can feature any of these. They can use audio materials at different speeds (start with 1.25x or 1.5x). Listening to faster speech will train their brain to process information quickly.

Moreover, candidates can imitate what native speakers say and how they say it. This will help them get used to the accent variations and the natural flow of speech, improving their listening comprehension.

Take Long Listening Tests without Help

Sometimes, students complain of a low band score even after listening to podcasts and songs and watching English movies. What they fail to realize is that these podcasts or audios are mostly supported by subtitles or visuals, are shorter and can be repeated when they miss any information. Since these features are unavailable in the IELTS Listening audio, candidates often lose focus and tend to miss key information.

So, it is essential to listen to long audio in different accents, without the help of subtitles or visuals. This will improve concentration and help them stay focused throughout the 30-minute IELTS Listening test.

Expand Vocabulary and Contextual Understanding

Since IELTS listening covers a variety of topics (education, health, technology, etc.), candidates should make it a habit to study vocabulary for different common words in IELTS Listening and recognize how these words are used in context.

Moreover, while practicing active listening, they can use real-world materials like news reports, lectures, or documentaries to expand their understanding of how words are used in natural contexts. This will make it easier for them to grasp meanings during the test.

Sharpen Skills in Dealing with Distractors

IELTS listening sections often include ‘distractors’ where the speaker provides extra information or changes their mind. Test-takers should practice recognizing when answers are corrected mid-sentence or when multiple options are mentioned to avoid confusion.

In most cases, IELTS Listening multiple-choice questions are filled with IELTS Listening distractors. So, examinees should work on identifying the main idea while tuning out unnecessary information.

Use Practice Tests Effectively

Finally, nothing can beat the power of regular practice. However, candidates have to keep in mind certain factors while practicing the IELTS Listening practice tests while preparing. They are:

Candidates should always practice with real IELTS tests under exam-like conditions (timing, no pauses). It will help them get comfortable with the pressure and IELTS test pattern of the listening module.
After each test, they should review the transcripts to understand why they missed certain answers.
Next, they should focus on the parts where they misunderstood or missed key information and work on improving those areas.

To conclude, consistent practice using these strategies, along with a focus on building vocabulary, attention to detail, and stamina, will help IELTS candidates make the jump from a band score of 6.5 to an 8 in IELTS Listening.