Imagine starting your IELTS Listening test with a perfect score of 10 out of 10. How much would that boost your confidence for the rest of the exam? How much would it raise your overall band score?
This isn’t just a dream. For the smart test-taker, it is a realistic and achievable goal.
The first section of the IELTS Listening test almost always features a Form, Note, Table, or Sentence Completion question. This is, by far, the easiest section of the entire test, and it is your single biggest opportunity to build a high score right from the start.
But “easy” does not mean you can be careless. The test sets clever little traps, and a single spelling mistake or a moment of lost focus can turn a guaranteed point into a zero.
This guide will give you the exact strategy to turn Section 1 into your personal point-scoring machine. We will break down the format, show you how to predict the answers, and highlight the common traps you must avoid to secure those crucial first 10 points.
What to Expect in Section 1 of the IELTS Listening Test
Section 1 is always a conversation between two people in an everyday, social context. Think of it as a real-life transaction. Someone is trying to:
- Book a hotel room or a holiday.
- Sign up for a gym membership or a library card.
- Inquire about a job or a course.
- Report a lost item or a problem.
Your job is to listen to this conversation and pull out specific, factual information to fill in the blanks on a form, in a set of notes, or in a table. The information you are listening for is almost always things like:
- Names
- Addresses
- Phone numbers
- Dates
- Prices or costs
- Times
- Reference or policy numbers
Mastering this section is not just about getting 10 points; it’s about building the confidence and momentum you need to tackle the harder sections of the test.
4-Step Strategy for Acing Form & Table Completion in IELTS Listening
Success in Section 1 is all about what you do before the audio begins. Use the short preparation time to follow this proven, four-step method.
Step 1: Understand the Context (5 Seconds)
The moment you see the question, your first job is to read the title of the form or notes.
- Example Title: “Midbury Drama Club – Membership Form”
This simple title gives you a huge amount of information. You now know:
- The Topic: It’s about a drama club. You can expect to hear words related to acting, plays, schedules, and costs.
- The Goal: Someone is trying to become a member.
This immediately puts you in the right frame of mind.
Step 2: Predict the Answer Type (15 Seconds)
This is the most important skill for a high score. Go through the questions one by one and, for each blank, predict the type of information you need to listen for.
Let’s look at a sample form:
Name: (1) ____________
Address: 15, (2) ____________ Road
Postcode: (3) ____________
Telephone: (4) ____________
Membership Fee: (5) £____________
Your mental predictions should be:
- “I’m listening for a name. It will probably be spelled out.”
- “I’m listening for a street name. This will also likely be spelled out.”
- “I’m listening for a postcode, which is a mix of letters and numbers.”
- “I’m listening for a phone number.“
- “I’m listening for a number representing the cost.”
By doing this, you transform yourself from a passive listener into an active hunter. You are now searching for specific data, which makes it much easier to spot.
Step 3: Identify Keywords and Look for Signposts (10 Seconds)
Quickly underline the keywords in the questions that will help you keep your place. The questions on the paper will always follow the order of the conversation, so you can use the questions to guide you.
Example:
6. Club meets on ___________ evenings.
The keyword is “evenings.” When you hear the speaker start talking about the time of day the club meets, you know the answer to question 6 is coming.
Step 4: Listen, Focus, and Write
Now that you are fully prepared, you can listen with confidence.
- Focus on one question at a time. As you hear the answer for question 1, write it down and immediately shift your focus to the keywords for question 2.
- Write down exactly what you hear. In Section 1, there is very little paraphrasing. If you need to write a name or a number, the speaker will usually say it clearly.
- Be careful with spelling. For names and places, the speaker will often spell out the word. Write it down carefully. A single wrong letter will cost you the point.
Common Traps in Section 1 and How to Avoid Them
Even though Section 1 is the easiest, the test makers still set traps to catch careless students. Here are the ones you must watch out for.
- Trap #1: The Spelling and Number Nightmare.
This is where most points are lost.- Similar Sounding Letters: Be careful with letters that sound alike (e.g., “E” and “I,” “G” and “J,” “M” and “N”).
- Similar Sounding Numbers: Listen for the word stress to tell the difference between “thirTEEN” (13) and “THIRty” (30).
- The Letter “W”: Remember that “W” is pronounced “double-u.”
- Strategy: Practice writing the alphabet and numbers while listening to random recordings online. This simple drill builds the muscle memory you need.
- Trap #2: The Distractor or Self-Correction.
The speaker will say one thing, and then immediately correct themselves.- Example: “My postcode is CB2… oh, sorry, it’s actually CB3 9PL.”
- Strategy: Never write down the first piece of information you hear. Always wait for the speaker to confirm it. Listen for words like “sorry,” “no,” and “I mean.”
- Trap #3: The Sneaky Plural “-s”.
The answer needs to be plural, but you write the singular form.- Example: The question is Types of membership: Adults and ___________
- The speaker says, “We have memberships for adults and for children.”
- The correct answer is “children,” not “child.”
- Strategy: Use your 2-minute review time on the computer-based test to check for this. Does the grammar of the sentence require a plural?
- Trap #4: Not Following the Word Count.
The instructions might say “NO MORE THAN ONE WORD AND/OR A NUMBER.” If you write more than that, your answer is automatically wrong, even if the information is correct.- Example: The answer is “12 weeks.” The instruction says “ONE WORD AND/OR A NUMBER.” Your answer is correct.
- If the instruction was “ONE WORD ONLY,” you would have to write “twelve.”
- Strategy: Read the instructions for every set of questions with extreme care. This is a simple rule, but breaking it will cost you easy marks.
By mastering this four-step method and being aware of these common traps, you can turn Section 1 of the IELTS Listening test into a guaranteed high-scoring start. A perfect 10/10 here provides a huge psychological boost and a solid foundation for your overall band score.
Ready to put this strategy into practice and aim for that perfect score?
👉 Take a full, computer-based IELTS Listening Mock Test and see the difference it makes.