IELTS Listening Distractors

Listening Distractors are an important part of the IELTS Listening test. Distractors in IELTS listening are necessary as they stand between the candidates getting a perfect score or a low score. The IELTS test writers include answer options that are tempting that they might be right but are instead incorrect. These incorrect options are called distractors. The speaker might give out a piece of information and then correct him/herself, or the other speaker will correct them. This new corrected piece of information will be the right answer.

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Distractors in IELTS listening Overview

It is common to get wrong answers in the IELTS listening test primarily because of distractors. IELTS test takers can however avoid making such mistakes by following the pointers listed below.

• While listening, jot down all possible answers to every question and cross out the distractors.
• Also, before listening test takers may predict when a question might include distractors.
• After listening, analyse the distractor ( when and why you chose a distractor) that you have chosen so that there is a slim chance of repeating the same mistake.

Let us look at some of the examples below:

Example 1:

B: Would you tell me, please, how I can join the library?
A: To join the library you need an ID card, two passport-sized photos along with a small fee. It costs Rs 3.00. But if you are a student, it will cost Rs 2.50. No, sorry, Rs 2.00.

Question: If you’re a student, what is the fee you’ve to pay to join the library?

1. Rs 2.00
2. Rs 2.50
3. Rs 2.80

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Example 2:

Speaker 1: Okay, so you have three options for freight.
Speaker 2: Could you please explain that to me?

S1: Sure, so you can select to have your goods sent by plane, which is the quickest and safest but also the most expensive. Or you can choose to have them sent by train, which is safe and less expensive. And finally, you can send your things by truck, which is less safe but much cheaper.
S2: Ah, yes, sending by truck can take far too long. I’m in a bit of a rush, so I’ll go for the fastest option, please…

Type of delivery chosen:

• Plane
• Train
• Truck

So, here the speaker says: “Sending by truck can take far too long…”
So is this the right answer? Well, no… because then he says: “I’ll go with the fastest option.”
And the fastest option is ‘plane’. So here we have an example of an answer option that is mentioned but is incorrect. This is a really common way to lose a point.

Example 3:
In this situation, a woman is booking a journey into town for when she arrives at Toronto Airport. You have to note down the distance of the town, Milton, from the airport.
Take a look at the information you have to find in the question. Below that is a copy of the listening script that you would hear.

Question: Distance ….. miles

MAN: Hello, this is Land Transport Information at Toronto Airport. How may I help you?
WOMAN: Oh, good morning. I’m flying to Toronto Airport next week, and I need to get to a town called Milton. Could you tell me how I can get there?
MAN: Milton, did you say? Let me see. I think that’s about 150 miles south-west of here. In fact it’s 147 miles to be exact, so it will take you at least – say, three to four hours by road.
As you can see, you will likely at first think that the answer is 150 miles, but it is actually 147 miles.

Example 4:

The advisor is trying to find out the student's room number.

Question: Room number _____________

STUDENT: I’m in one of the Halls of Residence for postgraduate students, you know, International House.
ADVISOR: OK – that’s easy. What’s your room number there?
STUDENT: Room B569 – no sorry B659. I always get that wrong. I haven’t been living there very long.
ADVISOR: Do you have any other skills? Typing , languages, that sort of thing?

Example 5:

Here is another example, further on in the same listening when the woman is arranging to book a hire car to make the journey when she arrives.

Question: Date of booking _____________

MAN: OK, I just have to fill out this form for you. So what date do you want to book this for?
WOMAN: The 16th of October – oh, no, sorry, that’s my departure date. I arrive on the 17th, so book it for then, please.
Again, you will likely at first think the answer is the 16th and start to write that down, but she corrects her mistake and confirms the date she needs the car for is the 17th.