IELTS Listening Multiple Answer Multiple Choice Questions
Join my IELTS telegram channel
Multiple choice questions tend to be one of the tougher question types on the IELTS listening test. To make matters harder, there are in fact two types of multiple choice questions. The first type, which require you to choose one answer from three, are dealt with in a different guide which you can access by clicking here.
In this guide, we are concerned with questions which provide more then three choices and require more than one answer.
Typically these questions provide five or six choices, of which you must select two or three answers. However, it is possible for a question to have more choices and require more answers accordingly.
Strategy
As with other multiple choice questions, these can be tricky. Fortunately we can use some familiar strategies to help us.
Step 1: Read the Questions
The only thing you need to read in the instructions is the number of choices you should provide. Otherwise you can skip directly to reading the questions.
When reading the questions, it is important to highlight key words which will tell you to start listening for the answers to the next question. Remember that you don’t need to identify any keywords in the first question. You should be listening for the answers to this question from the beginning.
Practice
Read the questions below and identify the key words. Then check the answers below.
Questions 1 and 2
Which TWO changes have been made so far during the refurbishment of the theatre?
Questions 3 and 4.
Which TWO facilities does the theatre currently offer to the public?
Questions 5 and 6.
Which TWO workshops does the theatre currently offer?
Questions 1 and 2
Which TWO changes have been made so far during the refurbishment of the theatre?
Questions 3 and 4.
Which TWO facilities does the theatre currently offer to the public?
Questions 5 and 6.
Which TWO workshops does the theatre currently offer?
Step 2: Listen and Write the Answers
The next step is to listen to the recording and attempt to answer the questions. Remember to move on when you hear the key word you have identified.
In these questions it doesn’t matter which order you write the answers so long as you write them next to the correct question numbers. For example, let’s say that the answers to questions 1 and 2 are C and E. You can write “1 C, 2 E” or “1 E, 2 C.” However, you will be marked incorrect if you write “1 C/E, 2 C/E.” Ensure that you only write one letter in each question box on the answer sheet.
Dealing with Distractors
Just as with other multiple choice questions, you are likely to hear something about most (or all) of the possible choices. This is done deliberately to distract you from the correct answer.
Sometimes it is very easy to get the correct answer. Sometimes it is easy to hear which answers are definitely wrong. We therefore suggest using the following system:
If you hear an answer you are 95% sure is correct, circle the letter.
If you hear an answer that is clearly not correct, cross out the letter. Keep listening for the right answers. If you have to guess at the end, at least you can eliminate these answers.
If you hear an answer but you are not sure, underline the letter. Keep listening. There is a good chance you are right, but you have not committed to it yet in case a better answer comes up.
Practice
Listen and answer the questions:
Questions 1 and 2
Choose TWO letters, A-E.
Which TWO changes have been made so far during the refurbishment of the theatre?
A Some rooms now have a different use.
B A different type of seating has been installed.
C An elevator has been installed.
D The outside of the building has been repaired.
E Extra seats have been added.
Questions 3 and 4.
Choose TWO letters, A-E.
Which TWO facilities does the theatre currently offer to the public?
A rooms for hire
B backstage tours
C hire of costumes
D a bookshop
E a café
Questions 5 and 6.
Choose TWO letters, A-E.
Which TWO workshops does the theatre currently offer?
A sound
B acting
C making puppets
D make-up
E lighting
1 and 2, in either order:
A
B
3 and 4, in either order:
B
D
5 and 6, in either order:
C
E
Step 3: Check Your Answers
Once the recording finishes, check you have enough answers to each question. If you don’t, make sure you guess an answer.
If you used the tips above, you will have already eliminated answers that you think are wrong.
Once you have an answer to all the questions, start reading the next set.
Acknowledgement
The listening audio and multiple choice questions used here are taken from Cambridge Academic IELTS 11, which can be purchased here.
