Write From Dictation: a memory method

Why this task deserves disproportionate attention

Write From Dictation contributes to both Listening and Writing, it is scored by an exact word-matching rule rather than a judgement, and the sentences are short. Point for point it is the most improvable task in the exam.

The method

1. Do not write during the audio. Splitting attention costs you the second half of the sentence. Listen to all of it.

2. Hold the sentence as a shape, not as words. Most WFD sentences are one of about six grammatical patterns. Recognising the pattern lets you reconstruct words you half-heard.

3. Write the content words first. Nouns and verbs carry the marks. Fill in articles and prepositions afterwards.

4. Write something for every word you think you heard. There is no penalty for a wrong word, only a reward for a right one.

Practise with your own recordings

Record ten academic sentences in your own voice, leave them a day, then transcribe them. Self-recorded practice removes the excuse that the speaker was unclear.