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STRATEGYLISTENING
Lesson #8•5 Practice Exercises Included
Prediction in Listening: Word Class, Grammar & Context Signposts
How to use the 30-second pre-audio reading window to predict missing gap answers.
## The Pre-Audio Prediction Protocol
In IELTS Listening, success is decided in the **30 seconds BEFORE** the recording plays.
```
┌─────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────┐
│ 30-Second Pre-Reading Window │
└──────────────────────────────┬──────────────────────────────┘
│
┌──────────────────────────┼──────────────────────────┐
▼ ▼ ▼
[ 1. Part of Speech ] [ 2. Grammar Plurality ] [ 3. Semantic Type ]
• Noun, Verb, Adj? • Is 'a/an' present? • Name, Number, Date,
• Number / Postcode? • Plural 's' expected? Object, Location?
```
Interactive 5-Question Strategy Quiz
0 / 5 Answered
1
In the note 'Booking reference: [gap]', what type of answer is expected?
2
In the note 'Requires a valid [gap]', preceded by 'a', the answer must be:
3
When a speaker in Section 1 spells a surname: 'H-A-R-T-L-E-Y', what is the biggest mistake candidates make?
4
What signposting phrase indicates the speaker is about to change topics to question 4?
5
If a speaker says 'It costs twenty pounds... no, wait, sorry, twenty-five pounds', the answer is:
Apply This Grammar in Writing / Speaking
Train in Dictation Gym