IELTS Listening Test- Tips And Tricks For Diagram Based Questions

IELTS listening test is a hearing test to check your ability to answer questions out of the audio in the English language. It can be trickier but with practice, it can be completed. In the previous articles, you can read about all the types of questions that are basically asked in a listening test of IELTS.

In this article, you will get to know the idea about tips and tricks to solve the diagram, plan, layout or map-related questions. Along with this, some sample questions will be given.

Diagram Based Questions

Diagram based questions can be asked in any section of the test. It is basically a sub-type of fill ups where a layout or a plan will be given and you will be expected to label it or either complete the sentences asked in it.

The diagrams from the past papers have included a beehive, a solar system, a soda can, a fire distinguisher, a Ferris wheel, a zip fastener, a solar heating system, soil layers etcetera.

Some important points to remember:-

• As mentioned always, the audio will be played only once and there will be no pause button. So listen carefully.
• Read the questions carefully before listening to the audio as if you will mark the keywords first, then only you will be able to spot them while hearing. Thus, lead to answers.
• Take care of the word count mentioned in the instructions given. Do not exceed the limit of writing the words in the answer box.
• Again, take care of the spelling and grammar mistakes. Do not write wrong otherwise, the correct answer will be marked wrong if a spelling error is there.
• The information in the audio will be in the order of the questions given. Follow the order by listening carefully.
• Prediction should be done beforehand, meaning, that you can check what kind of answer is demanded. Whether it is noun, adjective, verb or adverb.

How to make use of the gap time in between the previous section and answering the new one?

• First of all, utilise your 20 seconds wisely. Write about the directions and read out the questions and information/ instructions given, make predictions about the questions and mark the keywords.
• Reading and listening should go hand in hand means, you should be actively involved in reading as much as you hear the answers. Along with it, keep the pace of writing good.

How To Answer Map/Diagram/Plan Based Questions?

1. Read the instructions

The first and the foremost step of answering any question type is reading the instructions.

• What to read?
• How many words are required?
• Whether numbers are allowed?
• If both can be written?

2. Read the questions and mark the keywords

Another major step is to read the questions. While reading the questions, do not forget to mark the keywords as you will be expected to hear them while listening.

Also, after reading each and every question, predict about the answer.

For whole of this process, you will be given 20 to 30 seconds and make best use of the time.

3. Pay attention to directions

In map or diagram type questions, Directions will be needed much. In the planning time or the gap time, you should be required to draw the directions around the diagram that is, north, South, East or West. It is required to write, right, left, up or bottom also. It is for your own help and knowledge and it makes your ability to find answers easy.

There will be some more hints regarding directions which can be as follows:-

• On the far side means the speaker is talking about the opposite side and you should immediately switch to another side of the diagram as per the speed the speaker.
• In the middle of or in the centre of clearly means that you should be at the middle of the diagram.
• Inside or outside means the speaker is talking about the areas which are inside the boundary or outside the boundary. Here, the building plan or any layout or a map will likely to occur more.
• Also in between the audio you can hear the hints as in the South East, in the South West, in the North East, in the North West. So you can go as per the directions written by you in the planning time.
• Clockwise or anticlockwise. Clockwise means to the right of the layout and anticlockwise means to the left of the layout.
• Before or after is spoken when the speaker is talking about any area That is before or after any another area. For example, the children’s park is before the museum room in the lobby.
• Runs alongside is also a word which can be used in between the Speaking of a layout where runs alongside means that's something or some area is parlour to another area. For example the river runs alongside the park.

Sample Questions

Answer script

Let’s take a look at the equipment. The bows are fairly heavy – you might be surprised. We’ll spend a moment practising holding the bow properly before we load one up. I’m holding it now in the position in which you’ll hold it. The drawstring is here and again you might be surprising at the tension. You’ll need to practise drawing back the string. Just above the middle of the bow here is the 16 *sight*. You look through this as you would with a rifle. Using a bow and arrow without a sight is perfectly possible – most master archers do this – but having one will certainly help you to start off with.

Now I’ll put the bow down and show you an arrow. The 17*shafts* of our arrows are wooden but fibre glass arrow shafts are now common too. Traditionally, as I’m sure you’ll know, the 18*fletching* at the top of the arrow – I mean not the tip end of the arrow – was made of feathers. We have some arrows with feather fletching but we also have some with what we call vanes. That means the fletching is made of solid plastic. All of you have a 19*quiver* with six arrows in it. You should tie the strap of the quiver around your waist like this. As I’ve said, you take an arrow from your quiver when I say so – when it’s your turn and not before. Oh, I nearly forgot – protection. Everyone has a chest guard and hand guard like those that I’m wearing – I’ll show you how to put the chest guard on in a moment – and a 20*bracer*. The bracer’s a smaller arm pad that protects the inside of your arm from the string. For those of you in a T-shirt today that’s important but the bracer will also stop the string catching on the sleeve of a jumper or jacket. Right, so before we pick up the bows, let’s have a look at these chest Guards

Answers

16. Sight

17. Shafts

18. Fletching

19. Quiver

20. Bracer

Diagram related questions can be trickier but it is not impossible to answer them. Keep practicing for it and take care of the directions in the layout or map-type questions. Follow the order of the answers as you hear the audio. I hope that the above article will work for you in a better way.

Best of luck!