OET Listening Practice

Many non-native speakers often struggle to understand English audios because spoken language is very different from written text. Native speakers tend to speak quickly, use connected speech, contractions, and slang, which makes words blend together and harder to recognize. Accents and pronunciation variations also add difficulty, since learners may have studied “textbook English” but not been exposed to diverse accents. Background noise, fast pace, and unfamiliar vocabulary further reduce comprehension. In short, listening requires not just knowing words but also training the ear to catch natural rhythm, intonation, and cultural references, which takes time and practice.

1. Listen daily: short practice every day.
2. Start with slow audios: easy pace builds confidence.
3. Use subtitles: read while listening.
4. Repeat listening: play the same audio again.
5. Focus on accents: train ear for different styles.
6. Learn common phrases: recognize patterns quickly.
7. Shadow speaking: repeat after the speaker.
8. Take notes: write key words you hear.
9. Practice with short clips: avoid long, complex audios.
10. Stay patient.