Be Aware of Distractors

The IELTS Listening test is not just about understanding the words; it's also about understanding the speaker's intent and final decision. A key challenge is the use of "distractors"—information that seems like the correct answer but is quickly corrected or changed. The test writers include these to see if you are paying close attention.

How Distractors Work

Distractors often appear early in a statement, followed by a correction. This is designed to catch listeners who only hear the first piece of information and stop listening. For example:

• Question: "What time does the lecture start?"

• Audio: "The lecture was originally scheduled for 3 PM, however, it has been moved to 4 PM."

In this example, "3 PM" is a distractor. The word "however" signals a change in the information. If you write down "3 PM," your answer will be incorrect. You must listen for the final, correct time, which is "4 PM."

Listen for Signal Words

To avoid falling for distractors, you need to pay close attention to certain signal words and phrases that indicate a change of mind or a correction. These include:

• But

• However

• Actually

• Although

• On the other hand

• I mean...

• I thought... (followed by a correction)

Example:

• Question: "What is the new address of the office?"

• Audio: "The old office was at 122 King Street. The new one is actually at 155 Queen Street."

Here, "122 King Street" is a distractor, and "actually" signals the correct address.

By training yourself to listen for these clues, you can avoid the most common traps and ensure you write down the final, correct answer. Always listen until the speaker finishes their complete thought before committing to an answer.