Distractors: when speakers change their minds
Learn the tricks IELTS uses to catch keyword-spotters, such as corrections, changes of plan, rejected options and negatives. Then train yourself to wait for the speaker's final answer.
By the end of this lesson you will be able to:
- Recognise the eight most common distractor patterns in IELTS Listening
- Use signal words (actually, in fact, on second thoughts, the thing is) to identify the speaker's final answer
- Apply the hold-it-lightly method so a correction never costs you the next question
- Handle multiple-choice options that are all mentioned but only one is confirmed
The first thing you hear is rarely the answer
Imagine this on the recording:
“The trip leaves on the fourteenth. Oh no, sorry, that was last year's date. This year it's the sixteenth.”
A candidate who writes 14 and relaxes has just lost a mark. A candidate who keeps listening gets it. That is the whole lesson in two sentences.
IELTS Listening does not test memory or word-spotting. It tests whether you can follow meaning as it develops. Real speakers correct themselves, change plans and reject ideas all the time, and the test-writers build these moments in on purpose. They are called distractors.
Why this matters for your band: band 7 needs about 30 correct answers out of 40, and band 6 needs about 23. That gap is only seven questions. For many band 6 candidates, distractors cost more of those seven marks than difficult vocabulary does. If you fix this one habit, half a band is realistic.
The anatomy of a distractor
Almost every distractor follows the same four-step pattern:
- A first candidate answer is stated clearly. It fits the gap perfectly: right word type, right topic, often said slowly and clearly.
- A signal follows: sorry, actually, but, originally, no, wait.
- The real answer is given. It is often said more quickly, almost in passing.
- Sometimes there is a confirmation: “So that's Thursday, then?” “That's right.”
Here is the key insight: a distractor is designed to match your prediction. If you predicted “a date”, both dates fit. If you predicted “a place”, both places fit. Your prediction can't separate them. Only meaning can.
That's why the strongest listeners don't just ask “Did I hear a word that fits?” They ask: “Is this still the speaker's final decision?”
The eight classic distractor patterns
| Pattern | What you hear | Distractor | Real answer |
|---|---|---|---|
| “It's 24 Hill Road. Sorry, I mean 42.” | 24 | 42 |
| “We were going to meet in the library, but it's closed for repairs, so we'll use Room 6 instead.” | library | Room 6 |
| “The class was originally on Tuesdays, but it's been moved to Thursdays.” | Tuesdays | Thursdays |
| “It's not the main hall you want. It's the studio next to it.” | main hall | studio |
| A: “So that's fifteen pounds?” B: “Fifty, actually. Five-oh.” | 15 | 50 |
| “I wouldn't bother with the bus. The train's much quicker.” | bus | train |
| “Some guests bring a tent and a few have caravans, but most of them rent one of our cabins.” (Q: Where do most guests stay?) | tent, caravan | cabins |
| “Most people pay by card, but for the workshop you'll need cash.” (Q: How do you pay for the workshop?) | card | cash |
Signal words: which side of the switch are you on?
| Signal | Function | What usually comes next |
|---|---|---|
sorry, I mean… / no, wait… / hang on… | Self-correction | The real answer. The earlier one is cancelled. |
actually / in fact / as a matter of fact | Correction or contrast | The true information, replacing what was assumed or said earlier |
on second thoughts / come to think of it | Change of mind | The speaker's new, final decision |
originally / initially / at first / it used to be / we were going to | Past plan | Usually the DISTRACTOR. Expect a “but now…” next. |
but now / these days / it's been changed to / instead | New plan | The real, current answer |
the thing is… / the problem is… / to be honest… | Real reason or real situation | Often the answer to a “why?” or “main problem” question |
I tell a lie (informal, British) | Self-correction | The speaker corrects something they have just said |
That's a good idea, but… / I'm not sure that would work | Rejection | The option just mentioned is probably NOT the answer |
Exactly. / That's the one. / Let's go with that. / So that's settled. | Confirmation | Locks in the answer. Very useful in Part 1 and Part 3. |
unless / except / apart from / although | Exception | The exception may be exactly what the question asks about |
Hear the switch: five short distractors
Questions: Course start date: ________ Day of the week: ________ (ONE WORD AND/OR A NUMBER)
Woman: So the photography course starts on the third of October?
Man: That was the plan, yes. But the tutor's away that week, so we've pushed everything back a week. It'll be the tenth now.
Woman: The tenth. And is it still on Wednesday evenings?
Man: Yes, Wednesdays, seven till nine. We did think about Thursdays, but the room's booked.
Answers: start date = 10th (or 10 / tenth); day = Wednesday (or Wednesdays).
- “That was the plan”“The plan” refers to the past, so the third is about to be cancelled. Note it lightly; don't commit.
- “pushed everything back”To push something back means to postpone it. You won't always hear the word postpone; recognising the paraphrase is the skill.
- “Yes, Wednesdays”Here the FIRST mention is correct. A direct “yes” confirms it. Don't assume the earlier information is always wrong.
- “We did think about Thursdays”Thinking about something is not choosing it. Thursdays was considered and rejected (“the room's booked”), so it is the distractor this time.
The hold-it-lightly method
- 1
Predict, but stay open
Before the audio, predict the type of answer: a date, a number, a place, a plural noun. Remember that the distractor will fit your prediction too. Prediction tells you what kind of answer to listen for, not which one is right.
- 2
Note the first candidate lightly
Paper test: jot it small beside the gap. Computer test: type it, or hold it in your head. You can edit typed answers at any time while the recording plays and during the two minutes of checking time at the end.
- 3
Listen for a switch signal
Sorry, actually, but, originally, instead, the thing is, on second thoughts. When you hear one, your candidate is probably about to be replaced.
- 4
Replace quickly. Don't erase and panic.
On paper, draw one quick line through the old answer and write the new one. Don't waste three seconds rubbing out, because those are the seconds when the next answer arrives.
- 5
Confirm with the move-on
Once the speaker moves to the topic of the next question, the candidate you are holding is your answer. Lock it in and look at the next gap.
- 6
Check at the end
In the paper test you have 10 minutes to transfer answers. On computer you get 2 minutes to check. Use that time to check spelling, plurals and the word limit. Don't change answers you were sure about during the recording.
Same extract, two listeners
Band 5.5 listener
- Hears “the third of October”, writes 3 October and looks at the next question.
- Misses “pushed everything back a week” entirely.
- Hears “Wednesdays”, then hears “Thursdays”, panics, and writes Thursday because “the later one is right”.
- Result: 0/2.
Band 7.5 listener
- Notes 3rd? lightly. The word “plan” makes them suspicious.
- Hears “pushed back a week… the tenth now”, crosses out the first answer and writes 10th.
- Hears “Yes, Wednesdays”, which is a direct confirmation. Thursdays was only thought about and then rejected.
- Result: 2/2.
The stronger listener isn't hearing more words. They are tracking decisions. Signals like the plan, pushed back, yes and we did think about tell them which information is still current and which has been cancelled.
Check your understanding
6 questions- 1
You hear: “The meeting's in Room 14. No, wait, they've moved us to Room 40 because 14 hasn't got a projector.” Which room do you write?
- 2
You hear: “The tour originally cost twelve pounds, but they've reduced it to nine for students.” A student pays £.
- 3
Which THREE phrases usually signal that the speaker is about to give a corrected or final answer?
Select 3.
- 4
Receptionist: “Most of our members pay monthly by direct debit, but for the summer course we need the full amount in advance.”
People on the summer course can pay monthly.
- 5
Match each extract to its type of distractor.
“It was in March. No, sorry, May.”“We were going to drive, but we'll take the train.”“So that's thirty?” “Thirteen, actually.”“I wouldn't recommend the north beach. Try the south one.” - 6
In a Part 3 discussion a student says: “Interviews would give us richer data, but we just haven't got time to transcribe them, so let's stick with the questionnaire.” Which method do they choose?
Answer every question to check.
Distractors in multiple choice: everything gets mentioned
In multiple choice (very common in Parts 2 and 3), the test-writers usually make sure every option is mentioned. So the question is never “Did I hear it?” but “What did the speaker say about it?”
Each option usually gets one of these treatments:
| Treatment | Sounds like |
|---|---|
| Rejected | “We looked at that, but it was far too expensive.” |
| Past, not present | “It used to be the biggest problem, but not any more.” |
| Someone else's view | “My tutor thinks it's the main cause, but I'm not convinced.” |
| True, but not the answer to this question | “The food was good, but what I'll remember is the people.” (Q: What will she remember most?) |
| Confirmed | “That's what really made the difference.” |
Watch the negatives
Negatives are short, fast and easy to miss, and they reverse the meaning:
- “It wasn't the price that put me off.” → price is not the reason.
- “I wouldn't say the staff were unhelpful.” → a double negative, meaning the staff were fairly helpful.
- “Hardly anyone turned up.” → very few people came, even though you heard “anyone turned up”.
- “Not until the end of the month.” → the answer is the end of the month, not now.
If you only catch the content words (price… put me off), you will get these questions wrong. Train your ear for wasn't, wouldn't, hardly, never, not until, no longer.
Practice: Booking a walking club weekend
10 questionsA student phones a university walking club to book a place on a weekend trip. Almost every answer has a distractor, so listen for the speaker's final decision.
Recording
🎧 Read the questions first, then play the recording once — just like the real test. You can replay it after checking your answers.
Questions 1–7
Complete the form below.
Write ONE WORD AND/OR A NUMBER for each answer.
Kingsbridge University Walking Club: Weekend Trip Booking
| Name: | Daniel |
| Student number: | |
| Dates of trip: | Saturday May and Sunday |
| Coach leaves from: | the on Mill Road |
| Departure time: | a.m. |
| Cost (members): | £ |
| Food allergy: |
Questions 8–10
Choose the correct letter, A, B or C.
What is included in the price of the trip?
Which walk will the whole group do on Sunday?
What does Fiona say Daniel must bring?
Answer review: where the traps were
| Q | Distractor you heard first | Signal that cancelled it | Final answer |
|---|---|---|---|
1 | Pryce spelled P-R-I-C-E | “No, that's the usual spelling, but mine's…” | Pryce |
2 | four six one, eight two… | “hang on, that's my library card” | 4678273 |
3 | the fourteenth | “the poster's out of date… we've moved the whole trip” | 21st |
4 | the library | “We normally… but there's building work” | gym |
5 | half past seven / seven | “That was the original time” / “be there by seven” | 7.15 |
6 | fifty-five / eighty | “It used to be…” / “Non-members pay…” | 62 |
7 | nuts | “I'm fine with nuts… The thing is…” | eggs |
8 | packed lunches / equipment | “Lunch isn't” / “We used to lend…” | B (evening meal) |
9 | forest trail / mountain route | “That's fixed” (Saturday) / “we'd planned… but” | C (lake path) |
10 | sleeping bag / torch | “you don't need” / “useful, but” | C (rainwear) |
Final quiz: distractors
10 questions- 1
You hear: “The deadline's the twentieth. Sorry, I've just checked, it's the twenty-second.” Deadline:
- 2
Which phrase usually introduces a DISTRACTOR rather than the final answer?
- 3
Tour guide: “People often think the castle was built by the Normans. In fact, the oldest part dates from about two hundred years earlier.”
The Normans built the oldest part of the castle.
- 4
“I wouldn't say the lectures were boring, exactly. They were just a bit long.” What is the speaker's criticism?
- 5
A speaker says: “We considered Lisbon and Prague, and we nearly booked Vienna, but Budapest was cheaper, so that's where we're going. Prague next year, maybe.” Choose THREE correct statements.
Select 3.
- 6
Put the steps of the hold-it-lightly method in order.
Drag the cards (or use the arrows) into the correct order.
- 1Replace the candidate if it is corrected
- 2Predict the type of answer before the audio
- 3Confirm when the speaker moves on to the next point
- 4Note the first candidate lightly
- 5Listen for a switch signal
- 7
Match each signal to what it usually tells you.
originallythe thing isI tell a lielet's go with that - 8
Receptionist: “Tuesday's fully booked, I'm afraid. How about Thursday?” Caller: “Hmm, Thursday's tricky. Is there anything on Friday?” Receptionist: “Yes, Friday at ten.” Caller: “Perfect.” Which day is booked?
- 9
Complete the rule: don't automatically write the first answer you hear or the last one. Write the speaker's decision.
- 10
Volunteer manager: “Most of our volunteers are students, although on weekdays we rely mainly on retired people.”
On weekdays, most volunteers are students.
Answer every question to check.
Key takeaways
Language of changing plans
Saved as flashcards with a free accountpostpone
verb/pəˈspəʊn/
To move an event to a later time.
স্থগিত করা
The match was postponed until the following Saturday because of the rain.
reschedule
verb/ˌriːˈʃedjuːl/
To change the time or date of a planned event.
সময়সূচি পরিবর্তন করা
The dentist had to reschedule my appointment for Thursday morning.
fully booked
adjective phrase/ˌfʊli ˈbʊkt/
Having no places, seats or rooms left.
সব আসন পূর্ণ
The Tuesday class is fully booked, but there are still places on Thursday.
originally
adverb/əˈrɪdʒənəli/
At first; before something was changed.
মূলত / প্রথমে
The bridge was originally planned to open in 2020, but it opened two years later.
alternative
noun/ɔːlˈtɜːnətɪv/
Another thing you can choose instead of the first one.
বিকল্প
If the coach is full, the only alternative is the late train.
confirm
verb/kənˈfɜːm/
To say or show that something is definite or true.
নিশ্চিত করা
Could you confirm the booking by email before Friday?
on second thoughts
phrase/ɒn ˌsekənd ˈθɔːts/
Used when you change your mind about something you have just said (American English: on second thought).
আবার ভেবে দেখলে
I'll have tea. On second thoughts, make it a coffee. It's going to be a long night.
in the end
phrase/ɪn ði ˈend/
Finally, after a period of time or after considering other possibilities.
শেষ পর্যন্ত
We looked at five flats, but in the end we took the one near the station.
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