As an IELTS instructor with over 20 years of experience, I often get asked by my students about the nuances of the IELTS Listening test. One common query is, “Are hyphens considered a word in IELTS listening?”. This seemingly simple question actually touches upon a crucial aspect of the exam – accurate answer transcription.
Understanding the Importance of Accurate Transcription
In the IELTS Listening test, every word counts. Your ability to understand spoken English and accurately note down what you hear is being assessed. This means paying close attention to not only individual words but also to elements like hyphenated words.
Hyphens: One Word or Two?
Here’s the simple answer: For the purpose of the IELTS Listening test, a hyphenated word is considered one word. So, for example:
- “Well-being” is one word.
- “State-of-the-art” is one word.
- “Self-employed” is one word.
How Hyphens Can Trip You Up
While the rule itself is straightforward, hyphens can still pose challenges in the IELTS Listening test. Here’s why:
- Pronunciation: Native speakers often pronounce hyphenated words smoothly, making it difficult to distinguish the individual components.
- Speed: The audio recordings in the IELTS Listening test are played at a natural pace. This means you’ll need to process information quickly and accurately identify hyphenated words.
Tips for Handling Hyphens in the IELTS Listening Test
- Practice your listening: Regularly listening to English language materials, especially those with academic or conversational themes, will help attune your ear to the rhythm and intonation of hyphenated words.
- Focus on meaning: Instead of getting bogged down trying to identify every single hyphen, try to grasp the overall meaning of the sentence. This context can often help you correctly identify hyphenated words even if you miss the hyphen itself.
- Don’t panic: If you miss a hyphen or aren’t sure if a word was hyphenated, don’t let it derail you. Keep listening and move on. You can always go back and review your answers later if you have time.
Example from IELTS Listening
Let’s look at a potential IELTS Listening scenario:
Speaker: “The company is seeking a highly motivated self-starter for the marketing assistant role.”
Possible Answers:
- Self starter (Incorrect – two words)
- Self-starter (Correct – one word)
Conclusion
While seemingly insignificant, understanding how hyphens are treated in the IELTS Listening test is essential for accurate answer transcription. Remember, a hyphenated word is considered one word. Practice your listening skills, stay focused during the exam, and don’t let hyphens throw you off your game.