Many students tell me they can answer 30+ questions in IELTS L | The INTELLECTUALS
Many students tell me they can answer 30+ questions in IELTS Listening while practising AT HOME. The problem is that some of them get a lower score when they sit a mock test, let alone the IELTS test itself. There is nothing surprising as the reason of this problem is tension, which affects mental processes of candidates.
Emotions are often underestimated, and if one gets a lower score in IELTS Listening, this person may blame himself/herself for not being smart. In fact, some candidates achieve less than they've expected because they can't control their emotions. Intellect isn't the only factor that contributes to failure.
Few people feel disappointed if some questions remain unanswered in the Listening test when practising at home. They simply continue working without negative emotions if something goes wrong. But everything changes in the real exam. If one answer isn't found, candidates start panicking and often miss the following answers as a result, constantly thinking about that damned answer. All they need is to let it go and focus on the remaining questions. Emotions can be very destructive if they aren't taken into account during the IELTS preparation course. One missed answer can seriously demotivate a candidate.
To sum it up, I recommend to imagine that the IELTS test is just another practice test done at home, and if some question turns out to be too hard, one should carry on listening and find the rest of the answers.
@ieltsboyko
