Introduction :
The CAEL Listening section challenges you to understand academic lectures and use that information later in writing or speaking tasks. Taking clear, organized notes is key to remembering details and improving your score.
Here’s how to do it the smart way:
1. Focus on Main Ideas First
Don’t try to write everything. Instead, listen for:
-
The main topic
-
Supporting arguments or reasons
-
Any conclusions or summaries
🗒️ Write short, clear points like:
“Global warming – caused by CO2 → ice melting → rising sea levels”
2. Use Abbreviations and Symbols
Save time by shortening words. Example:
-
govt = government
-
ex = example
-
→ = leads to
-
↑↓ = increase/decrease
🗒️ This helps you keep up with fast speech.
3. Number the Points
Use bullets or numbers to track the order of ideas.
This helps later when you’re asked to summarize or compare.
🗒️ Example:
-
Climate issue → CO2
-
Ice melting
-
Sea level ↑
4. Listen for Signal Words
Speakers often use phrases like:
-
“Firstly…”, “In contrast…”, “To summarize…”
🗒️ These help you mark shifts in ideas or key moments in the talk.
5. Practice Active Listening
The more you listen to lectures and take notes, the better you’ll get.
Use YouTube academic videos, TED Talks, or podcasts.
🎧 Pause, note, play again — and check if you caught the key points.
6. Don’t Stress About Spelling or Grammar
Your notes are just for you — they don’t get scored.
Focus on capturing ideas, not writing full sentences.
Final Tip :
Right after the audio ends, quickly scan your notes. This gives you a few seconds to mentally organize them for the next question or task.
