How to Deal with Different Accents in IELTS Listening Test

Among the four modules in the IELTS exam, listening is considered as the most scoring and easiest section. However, most IELTS aspirants who find it challenging or score less in this module have a similar problem - they don't know how to deal with different accents in the IELTS Listening test. 

Unfamiliar accents in the listening test can get in the way of scoring that perfect score of 9 as the audio is played only once. But the important thing to be noted is that you can easily solve this problem by training your ears to different accents during practice. In this blog, we will acquaint you with the types of English accents in the exam but also share how to deal with different accents in the IELTS Listening test. 

Common English Accents in IELTS Listening

While there are around 160 dialects of the English language, the IELTS Listening accents focuses on the standard ones only. So, don’t worry, you won’t have to learn regional accents like Cockney, Texan or Tasmanian. 

The English accents that you need to familiarize yourself with for IELTS Listening are divided into three regions. They are:

• UK (Southern England, Northern England, Scotland, Wales)
• North America (Northern USA, Southern USA, Canada)
• Southern Hemisphere (Australia, New Zealand, South Africa)

 It is also important to remember that you will hear two types of conversations in the listening audio - monologue and conversation among multiple speakers. While monologues are easier to follow (since it has one speaker), you need to watch out for the conversations as they tend to switch accents among the speakers. 

How to Deal with Different Accents in the IELTS Listening Test?

The IELTS Listening Test is designed to evaluate your ability to comprehend spoken English in different real-life contexts. So, to get a high IELTS band score on the listening test, you have to understand the audio recordings and learn how to deal with different native accents in the IELTS Listening Test. 

Given below are some powerful strategies that will help you to understand the different English accents in IELTS Listening. 

Identify Key Pronunciation Differences

Since the IELTS Listening test features British, American, Australian, and Canadian accents, recognizing the differences between them will help you avoid confusion and improve your listening comprehension.

Let’s explore some key pronunciation features of each accent, including vowel sounds, consonant usage, stress patterns, and intonation.

Use Various Media Options to Learn Active Listening

Active listening is a crucial skill for the IELTS Listening Test, and using a variety of media can help improve your ability to recognize different accents, tones, and speech patterns. Here are some effective media options that will enhance your active listening skills.

Check Out - Get 7 or Higher on IELTS Listening Using TED Talks

Practice with IELTS Listening Tests

Use official IELTS practice materials to get accustomed to exam-style recordings. Some excellent sources include Cambridge IELTS Listening Tests, IELTSMaterial’s IELTS Listening Practice Tests and British Council’s IELTS Listening Practice Tests. Taking timed practice tests will improve your speed and accuracy in understanding different accents.

Improve Your Concentration 

IELTS Listening lasts for 40 minutes, with 30 minutes dedicated to listening to the audio and the remaining 10 minutes to transfer your answers onto the answer sheet. If you struggle to remember key details or lose concentration, you may lose the flow of the audio as well as some crucial marks. This is why you should ensure that you should have enough time to practice and strengthen their listening skills before the exam.

Don’t Panic If You Miss a Word

It’s normal to miss a few words in the listening test. Instead of stressing, focus on the overall meaning of the conversation and follow these pointers:

• Guess from Context – If you hear ‘doctor’ and ‘prescription’, the topic is likely about healthcare.
• Look for Keywords – Focus on important words like names, numbers, and locations.
• Move On Quickly – Don’t dwell on missed words; keep listening.

Develop an Exam-Day Strategy

Besides familiarizing yourself with various accents, it is important to have some exam-day strategy to maximize your performance on the test day. Some of the pointers are:

• Read questions before the recording starts to know what to listen for.
• Underline keywords to focus on important details.
• Stay calm even if you find an accent challenging.

Fun Ways to Learn How to Deal with Different Accents in the IELTS Listening Test

Who said learning and preparing for an exam like IELTS can be boring? Since knowing about the different IELTS Listening accents and mastering them will help you beyond the exam preparation, let’s check out some fun ways to learn how to deal with different accents in the IELTS Listening test.

Watch Movies and TV Shows with Subtitles

Watching English-language content with subtitles can improve your accent recognition skills. Start with watching the show with subtitles. Once you are done, try listening without subtitles to test your understanding. Some of the interesting movies and tv shows are:

• British Series – Sherlock, Downton Abbey
• American Series – Friends, Breaking Bad
• Australian Shows – Neighbours, Kath & Kim
• Canadian Series – Schitt’s Creek, Anne with an E

Check Out - 3 Brilliant English TV Shows for IELTS to Improve Your Speaking, Listening & Pronunciation

Tune Your Ear with Accent-Specific Podcasts

Podcasts are an excellent way to immerse yourself in different English accents. It will train your ear to understand various pronunciations naturally. Some English podcasts you can try are:

• The British Council Podcast (UK)
• The American English Podcast (US)
• Aussie English Podcast (Australia)
• The Canadian English Podcast (Canada)

Practice Shadowing for Better Pronunciation Recognition

Shadowing is a technique where you repeat after a native speaker, mimicking their pronunciation, intonation, and rhythm. This method will train your brain to recognize and process different accents faster. The steps to practice are:

• Listen to a short audio clip (30-60 seconds).
• Pause after each sentence and repeat exactly what you hear.
• Compare your pronunciation with the original speaker.

Take Dictation & Transcription Exercises

Taking dictation and transcription exercises will not develop your active note-taking skills but also enhance word recognition under different accents and improve grammar and sentence structure awareness. Some common exercises are:

• TED Talk Transcriptions
• BBC English at Work (with scripts)
• ESL Dictation Exercises

As you prepare for the listening section, be prepared to hear a lot of standard British English. However, listen to other accents as well and be ready to quickly switch between accents. Additionally, listen to two or three diverse accents simultaneously if you want to perform well on the IELTS Listening test without getting caught off guard or distracted. With regular preparation, following the right strategies, you will learn how to deal with different accents in the IELTS Listening test as well as achieve your desired band score. 

Important Links:

• How to Improve Your IELTS Listening Skills? 
• Top Resources & Websites for IELTS Listening Practice
• 1200 Common Words in IELTS Listening to Boost Vocabulary
• How to Improve IELTS Listening Section 3 and 4?
• Top 5 IELTS Listening Tips for a Band 9: Strategies for Different Question Types