Pass 1
Blind listen
Listen without subtitles and only catch the big idea, topic, and main information.
🎧 IELTS Listening & Speaking Practice
0:00 / 0:00
Five-Pass Listening Method
Turn one listening piece into reusable English input
Do not stop at one play. Split the same episode into five passes: gist first, then language support, shadowing, dictation, and a final replay without subtitles.
Pass 2
English subtitles
Clear up unknown words and hard sentences. Use a dictionary and short notes if needed.
Pass 3
Shadowing
Repeat line by line and imitate pronunciation, rhythm, stress, and intonation.
Pass 4
Dictation
Pick a few key sentences and write what you hear to train form and structure.
Pass 5
Replay without subtitles
Listen again with no text support and notice what is now easier and clearer.
After Training
Share and retell
Share notes, new words, or one useful concept, then retell the episode in your own words.
Next Step
From intensive to extensive
Recycle intensively studied episodes as background listening and scale volume with familiar material.
Pass 1Pass 2Pass 3Pass 4Pass 5
📝 IELTS Speaking Dialogue Transcript
I visited a small contemporary gallery last week to review a new show. The whole exhibition felt like a pastiche of styles. Each room stitched together different movements. One piece was almost pure pastiche, and that was deliberate. The curator tried to exculpate the artist from accusations of copying. He issued a statement to exculpate him and asked critics to withhold judgement. Yet no single document seemed able to clear the question entirely. The opening night was memorable. It rained heavily that evening. The show was scheduled to run for six weeks, although some press reports claimed eight. The most striking thing was an injection of bright colour in several works. At times the artist used a literal injection device to push pigment into layers of canvas. That technique gave the paintings a stained look. The sculptures often featured scabrous textures. Some pieces used horribly scabrous humour to shock the audience. Many images were mildly suggestive in theme. Other works were strongly suggestive of earlier masters. I should add that lighting was dim on purpose. The dim light created intimacy. Overall, the exhibition was provocative but uneven. It raised questions about originality, taste, and whether controversy can exculpate poor craft.
📝 📚 IELTS Practice Questions
1
How did the critic describe the overall style of the exhibition?
Wrong Answer
Correct Answer:
A
Explanation:
Correct: The critic explicitly said it 'felt like a pastiche of styles.' B is wrong because the critic did not describe it as minimalist. C is wrong because 'classical revival' was not mentioned. D is wrong because there was no reference to the exhibition being purely digital.
2
What did the curator do in response to accusations against the artist?
Wrong Answer
Correct Answer:
A
Explanation:
Correct: The passage says the curator 'tried to exculpate the artist' and issued a statement. B is wrong because the curator did not accuse the artist. C is wrong because the exhibition was scheduled to run for six weeks and was not said to have closed early. D is wrong because there is no mention of removing works.
3
Which technique did the artist use to apply pigment, as mentioned by the critic?
Wrong Answer
Correct Answer:
A
Explanation:
Correct: The critic stated the artist 'used a literal injection device to push pigment into layers of canvas.' B is wrong because spray paint was not mentioned. C is wrong because traditional glazing/varnish was not described. D is wrong because there was no mention of digital printing.
4
Why can the humour in some pieces be described as 'scabrous' according to the passage?
Wrong Answer
Correct Answer:
A
Explanation:
Correct: 'Scabrous humour' in the passage refers to humour intended to shock and be coarse. B is wrong because while 'scabrous' could be mistaken for medical, here it refers to crudeness, not medicine. C is wrong because 'scabrous' is the opposite of subtle and polite. D is wrong because there is no mention of ancient texts as a cause.
5
In this context, what does the word 'pastiche' most nearly mean?
Wrong Answer
Correct Answer:
A
Explanation:
Correct: 'Pastiche' refers to a work that blends or imitates different styles, matching the passage's use. B is wrong because pastiche implies borrowing rather than pure originality. C is wrong because it is not a medical term here. D is wrong because pastiche has nothing to do with lighting.
6
What can be inferred about the result of attempts to clear the artist of wrongdoing?
Wrong Answer
Correct Answer:
A
Explanation:
Correct: The critic notes the curator tried to exculpate the artist but 'no single document seemed able to clear the question entirely,' implying suspicion remained. B is wrong because he was not said to be fully cleared. C is wrong because there is no mention of an admission. D is wrong because there was no definitive proof provided.
7
How long was the exhibition scheduled to run, according to the critic?
Wrong Answer
Correct Answer:
A
Explanation:
Correct: The passage states 'The show was scheduled to run for six weeks.' B is wrong because eight weeks was mentioned as a press claim, not the critic's stated schedule. C and D are wrong because they were not mentioned.
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