Download the latest version of Tactics for Listening - 3rd edition in PDF format, with audio files attached

Tactics for Listening is a classic book widely used by many test-takers to improve their listening skills. This material has been reprinted for the third time with many interesting updates. Let Prep provide you with a detailed review of the book. And don't forget to download the latest version with complete PDF and audio files of Tactics for Listening at the end of the article.

I. Introduction to Tactics for Listening 

1. General information

The Tactics for Listening book set consists of 3 levels, ranging from easy to difficult, with numerous listening exercises for effective at-home practice. The book set has been reprinted for the third time with interesting and practical updates for learners.

2. Targeted learner

The material is divided into 3 learning levels. You can refer to the table below to choose the book that suits your needs:

II. The content of Tactics for Listening

The Tactics for Listening book set consists of 3 books. Each book is dedicated to different target learners and covers different topics. In terms of layout, Tactics for Listening focuses on 3 main sections:

• Topic
• Listening Skills
• Pronunciation & Dictation

Let Prep delve into each book in detail so that you can have a clear understanding of the book set and choose the most suitable book for yourself!

1. Basic Tactics for Listening - Third edition

• Content: This book is designed for beginners learning English. It is the first book in the author C. Richards' series. By studying this book, you will practice and gradually understand basic dialogues. The book consists of 24 units divided into smaller lessons. The units cover topics closely related to daily life, such as Name, Spelling, Family, People, Clothes, Time, Date, etc.
• Difficulty Level: The listening exercises in the book are quite simple. The pace is slow, the speech is easy to listen to and understand. You will hear numbers and single words. These types of exercises are similar in structure to those found in the IELTS exam.
• Skills you will learn in Basic Tactics for Listening:
• Developing listening skills for keywords, details, and main ideas.
• Listening and inferring skills.
• Predicting the speaker's attitude.
• Listening to questions and responses.
• Enhancing the ability to recognize and access information.
• Recognizing pronunciation phenomena for effective listening, such as the pronunciation of plural nouns with "s," word stress in numbers, etc.

2. Developing Tactics for Listening

• Content: Developing Tactics for Listening consists of 24 lessons with common topics such as the Weekend, City transportation, Renting a car, etc. However, this book differs from the Basic book. The units in this book are presented in the form of a test, with each test comprising 2 sections. Learners can practice while receiving detailed scoring, making it easy to track their progress and increase their interest in learning.
• Difficulty Level: Compared to Book 1, the passages and structures in this book are longer and more complex. The grammar in the book is also more challenging. However, the topics covered in the book are still common and not unfamiliar.
• Skills you will learn: The skills you will learn are similar to Book 1. Additionally, the book helps you practice and understand everyday communication language, such as intimate conversations, instructions, describing directions, making requests, apologizing, and giving suggestions, among others.

3. Expanding Tactics for Listening

• Content: The book consists of 24 units with topics such as Successful Businesses, Gadgets and Machines, Character Traits, etc. These topics have been elevated to a higher level, but they are still common topics encountered in daily life. Each unit will have 2 short test exercises related to the topic.
• Difficulty Level: The listening exercises in Expanding Tactics for Listening have been designed to be more complex, featuring dialogues or conversations with a lot of information. You need to enhance your skills to grasp the information in the listening and avoid as many traps as possible.
• Skills you will learn: In general, the skills you will learn are similar to the previous books, but they require you to apply them proficiently and effectively to complete the test exercises. The book provides exercises and topics for you to practice at a higher level of difficulty.

III. The pros & cons of Tactics for Listening

1. Pros

• The book set is suitable for various learners as it is divided into different levels of proficiency.
• The difficulty of the books does not depend on the units but rather on the exercises. Therefore, you can choose to study topics in the book in advance without necessarily following the order of units in each book.
• The interconnectedness of the books facilitates convenient review and improvement of your listening skills. For example, the Developing book revisits many topics covered in the Basic book.
• The books offer a variety of exercises and practical activities.
• They are visually appealing with many illustrated images, which helps reduce boredom while studying.

2. Cons

• Although the books provide diverse listening exercises, they do not provide guidance or strategies for completing the exercises. This is a limitation of the books, and you may need to learn strategies from other sources.

IV. How to use Tactics for Listening effectively

Here are some effective tips for using the Tactics for Listening book series effectively and quickly improving your IELTS Listening skills:

• Choose the appropriate level: First, determine your current proficiency level to select the most suitable book. Take the IELTS proficiency test provided by PREP to assess your level.
• Combine with other Listening materials: Although the books offer a variety of exercise types, they lack instructions and specific strategies for completing the exercises. Therefore, choosing to study alongside other books that provide detailed guidance will help you improve your Listening skills quickly. PREP recommends studying with Hacker for IELTS Listening.
• Utilize the table of contents: The table of contents provides a lot of information about the knowledge covered in each unit of the book. Therefore, read the Listening Skill section beforehand to accurately determine the specific skills you need to use. For example, in Unit 3 of the Basic Listening book, the required skill is Listening for gist - understanding the main idea. This skill requires you to rely on visuals to predict the vocabulary you will hear in the dialogue.
• Don't skip the "Get Ready" section: Read this section carefully to grasp any new words or information. This will be very helpful during the listening process.

V. Download the free PDF version & Audio of Tactics for Listening 

Prep has updated the latest Third Edition of the Tactics for Listening book series. Quickly download the PDF and audio files below to effectively study and practice Listening at home!

VI. Master IELTS Skills for a High Band Score 

Studying and preparing for the Listening test at home becomes effortless and accelerates improvement in English listening skills when coupled with consistent practice using the Tactics for Listening book. If IELTS feels overwhelming, our step-by-step courses can make it easy:

• IELTS course: Master Every Section of IELTS