Before you listen: Predicting answers

One of the most powerful strategies in the IELTS Listening test is knowing how to predict answers before you actually hear the recording. This is especially important for Multiple Choice, Completion, and Short Answer questions.

By predicting, you’re training your brain to listen with purpose. Let’s explore how this works and how you can apply it effectively.

Understanding Key Words in Multiple Choice Questions

Before the audio begins, take time to identify key words in both the questions and answer choices. These words help you focus your attention while listening.

What are Key Words?

Key words are typically:

  • Nouns (e.g., city, jacket)
  • Adjectives (e.g., warm, popular)
  • Verbs (e.g., decide, bring)
  • Adverbs (e.g., quickly, usually)
  • Question words (e.g., who, what, when, why)

Words that are not usually considered key words:

  • Articles (a, an, the)
  • Conjunctions (and, but, or)
  • Prepositions (in, at, on, with)

Example:

Question:

What is Jane worried about happening in the city?

Key Words: What, Jane, worried, happening, city

These words help you understand what to listen for: a concern or problem Jane expects in an urban environment.

Predicting the Answer: Strategy 1 – Similar Answers

Once you’ve highlighted key words, study the answer choices. Look for options that:

  • Sound similar
  • Have small word differences
  • Refer to different times or tenses

Example – Similar Sounding Words:

Question:

In what year was the school founded?
A) 1940
B) 1914
C) 1932
D) 1910

Prediction Tip: Options A and B sound very similar when spoken aloud:

  • Nineteen forty vs. Nineteen fourteen

This tells you to listen carefully for pronunciation, especially with numbers, prices, or quantities.

Other tricky examples:

  • $70.10 vs. $17.10
  • Fifty cups of coffee vs. Fifteen cups of coffee

Strategy 2 – Identifying Less Likely Answers

Before the audio begins, use logic and context to eliminate or flag options that are less likely.

Example:

Question:

What does Jane bring on her sightseeing trip?
A) Her swimming costume
B) A warm jacket
C) A guidebook
D) An umbrella

A swimming costume is unlikely for a city sightseeing tour, so A is probably wrong. But don’t rule it out entirely—you still need to confirm it through listening.

Another example:

Question:

What does Tony want to do in the city?
A) Go to the museum
B) Visit Chinatown
C) Go to a popular nightclub
D) Go shopping for shoes

Since the trip is in the morning, a nightclub visit (C) is unlikely. Predict this as a distractor, and focus more on the other choices.

Predicting Answers for Completion Questions

Completion tasks ask you to fill in missing words from a summary, notes, or tables.

There are two key strategies to predict what kind of answer to expect:

1. Identify the Part of Speech

Look at the words before and after the gap. This helps you predict if you need a:

  • Noun
  • Verb
  • Adjective
  • Adverb

Example:

Salinity is the greatest _______ facing Western Australia.

Here, you’re likely missing a noun (e.g., “challenge”).

2. Predict Based on Context

Use the surrounding content to guess the type of word you’re listening for:

  • Is it a time, place, name, or object?

Example: Karate Class Timetable

Name of InstructorType of LessonDayTime
Robertprivate?7.00 – 9.00 pm
Danielgroup for adultsThursday?
Bruce?Wednesday6.30 – 8.30 pm
Sophiespecial training groupSaturday?

From the table headers, you can predict that:

  • One answer will be a day of the week
  • One will be a type of lesson
  • One will be a time

Use these clues to actively listen for the relevant information.

Predicting Answers in Short Answer Questions

Short Answer questions test your ability to listen for specific factual information.

Look for question words—they tell you exactly what kind of detail you need:

  • Who → a person
  • What → an object or action
  • When → a time
  • Where → a place
  • Why → a reason
  • How many / much / often / long → a number, quantity, or frequency

Examples:

Question:

Who is responsible for organizing the event?
→ Listen for a name or title

Question:

When will the next seminar take place?
→ Listen for a date or time

Question:

Why did the company cancel the meeting?
→ Listen for a reason or cause

Final Thoughts

The IELTS Listening test isn’t just about understanding English — it’s about being strategic. By learning how to:

  • Spot key words
  • Predict similar or unlikely answers
  • Anticipate parts of speech and content type

…you’ll improve both your accuracy and your confidence.

Take advantage of the short pre-listening time. Think critically, and train your ears to detect what really matters.