5 Bank tertua di Indonesia

Berikut ini nama lima bank tertua di Indonesia berdasarkan data dan informasi yang dihimpun rumah123.com dari berbagai sumber.

BRI (1895)

Nama lengkapnya PT Bank Rakat Indonesia Tbk., didirikan pada 16 Desember 1895 oleh Raden Aria Wirjaatmadja. Berdirinya pun bukan di Jakarta, melainkan di Purwokerto, Jawa Tengah. Nama pertamanya saat berdiri Hulpen Spaarbank der Inlandsche Bestuurs Ambtenaren.  Dalam bahasa Indonesia, disebut Bank Bantuan dan Simpanan Milik Kaum Priyayi. Dari semua bank pelat merah, BRI adalah bank pertama milik pemerintah sesuai Peraturan Pemerintah Nomor 1 Tahun 1946 Pasal 1.

BTN (1897)

PT Bank Tabungan Negara didirikan pada tahun 1897 dengan nama kala itu adalah Postspaarbank. Perkembangan selanjutnya pada 1950, bank ini mengalami perubahan nama menjadi Bank Tabungan Pos. Berganti nama menjadi Bank Tabungan Negara pada tahun 1963. Bank pelat merah ini kini menguasai pangsa pasar Kredit Kepemilikan Rumah (KPR).

Bank Saudara (1906)

Nama lengkapnya PT Bank Himpunan Saudara 1906 Tbk. Bank ini pertama kali didirikan pada 1906  dengan nama Vareeniging Himpoenan Soedara. Bank ini didirikan oleh para saudagar batik dan kulit di Bandung, Jawa Barat. Pada 15 Juni 1974,  Perkumpulan Himpunan Saudara secara formal legal dibubarkan dan pada saat yang bersamaan didirikan PT Bank Tabungan Himpunan Saudara (HS) 1906. Pada 1992, PT Bank Tabungan Himpunan Saudara (HS) 1906 berubah menjadi PT Bank HS 1906. Pada 2006, PT Bank Himpunan Saudara 1906 merubah nama panggilan menjadi Bank Saudara.

Bank QNB Kesawan (1913)

Bank ini berdiri sebagai NV Chunghwa Shangyeh (The Chinese Trading Company Limited) di Medan, Sumatera Utara, pada 1913. Sebagai pendiri Khoe Tjin Tek dan dan Owh Chooi Eng bertindak masing-masing sebagai Direktur Utama dan Komisaris Utama. NV Chunghwa Shangyeh bergerak dalam bidang simpan pinjam keuangan. Pada 1958 perusahaan ini resmi melakukan kegiatan sebagai Bank Umum dan pada 1962 bentuk usaha berganti menjadi Perseroan Terbatas dengan nama PT Bank Chunghwa Shangyeh. Pada 1965, PT Bank Chunghwa Shangyeh berganti nama menjadi PT Bank Kesawan dan untuk lebih memantapkan posisi bank maupun pengembangan usaha yang lebih baik, Kantor Pusat Bank Kesawan hijrah ke Jakarta pada 1990. Pada 2010, Qatar National Bank (QNB) mengakusisi Bank Kesawan, dan  27 Desember 2011, berganti nama menjadi PT Bank QNB Kesawan Tbk.

Bank OCBC NISP (1941)

Bank OCBC NISP  didirikan pada 4 April 1941 di Bandung, Jawa Barat, dengan nama NV Nederlandsch Indische Spaar En Deposito Bank. Bank ini resmi menjadi bank komersial pada 1967, bank devisa pada 1990 dan menjadi perusahaan publik di BEI pada 1994. Pada akhir 1990-an, Bank OCBC NISP berhasil melewati krisis keuangan. Reputasi ini menarik perhatian International Finance Corporation (IFC), bagian dari Grup Bank Dunia, yang kemudian menjadi pemegang saham pada 2001-2010. OCBC Bank-Singapura akhirnya menjadi pemegang saham pengendali sebesar 85.06% di bank ini

sumber : rumah123.com

SEJARAH BANK INDONESIA

Sekilas tentang Sejarah Bank Indonesia

Kembali di era pemerintahan Hindia-Belanda, De Javasche Bank didirikan tepatnya pada tahun 1828. De Javasche Bank bertugas mencetak dan mengedarkan uang. Kira-kira satu abad kemudian, tepatnya pada tahun 1953, Bank Indonesia dibentuk dengan menggantikan fungsi dan peran De Javasche Bank. Sebagai bank sentral, Bank Indonesia saat itu memiliki tiga fungsi utama yaitu di bidang perbankan, moneter, dan sistem pembayaran. Selain itu, Bank Indonesia juga diberi wewenang untuk melakukan fungsi bank komersial sebagaimana pendahulunya.

Lima belas tahun kemudian pemerintah menerbitkan Undang-Undang Bank Sentral yang isinya  mengatur tentang tugas serta kedudukan Bank Indonesia. Undang-Undang ini tentunya juga sebagai pembeda atas bank-bank lain yang melakukan fungsi komersial. Setelah diterbitkan Undang-Undang tersebut, Bank Indonesia juga memiliki tugas tambahan yaitu membantu pemerintah dalam mewujudkan kesejahteraan rakyat.

Pada tahun 1999 Bank Indonesia memasuki era baru dalam sejarah sebagai Bank Sentral independen yang memiliki tugas dan wewenang untuk mencapai dan memelihara kestabilan nilai rupiah. Tugas tersebut ditetapkan dalam Undang-Undang No. 23 Tahun 1999.

Setelah itu, beberapa amendemen Undang-Undang Bank Indonesia dilakukan. Pertama pada tahun 2004, UU Bank Indonesia diamendemen dengan konsentrasi pada aspek penting yang berhubungan dengan pelaksanaan tugas dan wewenang Bank Indonesia. Amendemen selanjutnya yaitu pada tahun 2008 ketika pemerintah mengeluarkan Peraturan Pemerintah Pengganti UU No. 2 tahun 2008 tentang Perubahan Kedua atas UU No. 23 tahun 1999. Dalam perubahan tersebut ditegaskan bahwa Bank Indonesia juga berperan sebagai bagian dari upaya dalam menjaga stabilitas sistem keuangan. Perubahan Undang-Undang tersebut ditujukan untuk mewujudkan ketahanan perbankan secara nasional untuk menanggulangi krisis global melalui peningkatan akses perbankan terhadap layanan pembiayaan jangka pendek dari BI.


sumber: https://www.cermati.com/artikel/mengenal-bank-indonesia-sejarah-berdiri-tugas-dan-tujuannya

Vclass Sistem Informasi Perbankan (TOPIC 3)

    1. Kegiatan bank sebagai lembaga keuangan adalah, kecuali

    a. Menghimpun dana c. Memberikan jasa-jasa

    b. Menyalurkan dana d. Sebagai Lembaga intermediary 

    2. Keuntungan yang didapat dari bank berasal dari selisih antara bunga kredit dan bunga simpanan disebut :

    a. Fee Based Income c. Spread Based 

    b. Profid Based         d. Spread Sharring

    3. Fungsi bank yang pencipta uang giral dan mengedarkan uang giral disebut

    a. Bank sebagai Lembaga keuangan c. Bank pencipta uang 

    b. Bank sebagai stabilator moneter d. Pelakasana lalu lintas pembayaran

    4. Bank yang melaksanakan kegiatan usaha secara konvensional atau berdasarkan prinsip syariah yang dalam kegiatannya tidak memberikan jasa dalam lalu lintas pembayaran disebut

    a. Bank Umum         c. Bank Konvensional

    b. Bank Devisa d. BPR 

    5. Bank Indonesia mempunyai tugas sebagai sistem pembayaran, kebijakan  moneter dan pengaturan dan pengawasan bank. Yang tidak termasuk pada fungsinya sebagai kebijakan moneter adalah

    a. Kliring         c. Lender of the last resort

    b. Nilai Tukar d. Cadangan devisa

    6. Kegiatan ini merupakan kegiatan membeli dana dari masyarakat dengan menawarkan berbagai jenis simpanan Contoh : Tabungan, Giro dan Deposito, disebut :

    a. Service c. Lending

    b. Funding d. Aktiva 

    7. Kegiatan ini merupakan kegiatan menjual dana yang berhasil dihimpun dari masyarakat  melalui pemberian pinjaman (kredit) , disebut

    a. Service c. Lending 

    b. Funding d. Aktiva 

    8. Dana yang hanya bisa digunakan sebagai primary reserve (kas , Giro pada bank sentral), disebut

    a. Loanable Funds c. Unloanable Funds 

    b. Equity Funds d. Tidak ada jawaban yang benar

    9. Simpanan yang penarikannya dapat dilakukan setiap saat dengan menggunakan cek, bilyet giro, sarana perintah pembayaran lainnya atau dengan cara pemindahbukuan. Disebut

    a. Tabungan         c. Deposito

    b. Giro d. Kredit

    10. Surat perintah bayar tanpa syarat dari nasabah kepada bank yang memelihara rekening giro nasabah tersebut, untuk membayar sejumlah uang kepada pihak yang disebutkan di dalamnya atau kepada pemegangnya tersebut

    a. Cek         c. Deposito

    b. Bilyet Giro d. Nota Debet 

    11. Surat berharga yang ciri-cirinya adalah Identitas atas unjuk dan bunga dibayar pd waktu penempatan dana disebut

    a. Tabungan         c. Deposito on call

    b. Sertifikat Deposito d. Deposito berjangka

    12. Pembebanan bunga setiap bulan akan disesuaikan dengan sisa pinjamannya disebut perhitunga bunga :

    a. Flat rate         c. Saldo terendah

    b. Floating rate d. Sliding Rate 

    13. Metode ini menetapkan besar kecilnya bunga kredit dikaitkan dengan bunga yang berlaku di pasar uang disebut 

    a. Flat rate         c. Saldo terendah

    b. Floating rate d. Sliding Rate 

    14. Proses kliring antar kota, baik dalam negeri maupun luar negeri disebut

    a. Kliring         c. Inkaso 

    b. Bank Note d. L/C

    15. Perhitungan utang piutang antara para peserta secara terpusat di satu tempat dengan cara saling menyerahkan surat-surat berharga dan surat-surat dagang yang telah ditetapkan untuk dapat diperhitungkan dengan mudah dan aman, serta untuk memperluas dan memperlancar lalulintas pembayaran giral disebut  

    a. Kliring         c. Inkaso 

    b. Bank Note d. L/C

    16. Jasa bank yang diberikan kepada masyarakat (nasabah) untuk memperlancar arus barang dalam kegiatan ekspor-impor disebut 

    a. Kliring         c. Inkaso 

    b. Bank Note d. L/C 

    17. Bank note merupakan uang kartal asing yang dikeluarkan dan diterbitkan oleh bank di luar negeri. Jual beli bank note merupakan transaksi antara valuta yang dapat diterima pembayarannya dan dapat diperjualbelikan dan diperdagangkan kembali sesuai dengan nilai tukarnya.  Bila seorang nasabah ingin membeli rupiah  maka bank memberikan harga

    a. Kurs Jual b. Kurs Beli

    b. Buying rate d. Cros Rate

    18. Yang merupakan bank note lemah adalah mata uang asing :

    a. ITL         c. USD

    b. SGD d. AUD

    19. Ada beberapa istilah pada kliring yaitu tanggal Cek/BG belum jatuh tempo (Titipan) disebut

    a. Cross Clearing c. Tolakan kliring

    b. postdated Cheque d. Call Money

    20. Warkat kliring pada proses kliring yang akan menambah rekening koran pada bank Indonesia saat menyerahkan warkat adalah

    a. Nota Debet Keluar c. Nota Kredit Masuk

    b. Nota Debet Masuk d. Nota Kredit Keluar

TOEFL Reading Tips and Test-taking Strategies

If you are getting ready to take TOEFL, you are probably well aware that these four sections consist of Reading, Listening, Speaking and Writing. They all test your ability to communicate in English effectively.

The Reading section has a total of three or four passages like this, each of which is followed by its own set of twelve multiple choice questions. These questions may test vocabulary knowledge, general comprehension of the passage along with sentence- or word-specific comprehension. The ability to infer and summarize information presented in the text is also vital to the Reading portion.

Read for Speed: 5 TOEFL Reading Tips and Test-taking Strategies for Total Success

1. Improve Your Reading Speed

Time is of the essence when it comes to the TOEFL. In fact, all other things being equal, good timing and the ability to pace yourself can make or break your TOEFL score.

2. Work on Your Comprehension Speed

Now you need to teach yourself to remain calm and avoid stressing out when you encounter an unfamiliar word. The reading section will be full of challenging words you have not seen before. They put in challenging words that you probably do not know on purpose. 

3. Learn Specific Vocabulary

Since you are practicing for the Reading section of the TOEFL, try to read every text completely without looking up any words. After you have read the whole text and tried to understand everything on your own, then you may look up words. This is very similar to the actual testing situation.

4. Keep Moving

There are multiple passages on the test, and you are guaranteed to feel more comfortable with one or another. Some will seem harder and some will seem easier. Skim the passage, note key words in sentences, leave unfamiliar terms behind and keep in mind that TOEFL passages may contain words that even native speakers don’t typically know.

5. Use the Line Numbering

The TOEFL quirk of numbering every fifth line in the passage is meant to help you navigate to the words or sentences referred to in the questions. Practice locating specific lines by the numbers provided—you might be surprised by how much time you can actually waste looking for line 29 or 47!

This is the TOEFL reading practice quiz

Awarded the Nobel prize for physics in 1918, German physics Max Planck is best remembered as the originator of the quantum theory. His work helped user in a new era in theoretical physics and revolutionized the scientific community’s understanding of atomic and sub-atomic processes.

Planck intriduced an idea that led to the quantum theory, which became the foundation of twentieth century physics. In December 1900, Plnck worked out an equation that described the distribution of radiation accurately over the range of low to high frequencies. He had developed a theory which depended on a model of matter that seemed very strange at the time. The model required the emission of electromagnetic radiation in small chunks or particles. These particles were later called quantums. The energy associated with each quatum is measured by multiplying the frequency of the radiation, v, by a universal constant, h. Thus, energy, or E, equals hv. The constant, h, is known as Planck’s constant. It is now recognized as one of the fundamental constant of the world.

Planck announced his finding in 1900, but it was years before teh full consequences of his revolutionary quantum theory were recognized. Throughout his life, Planck made significant contributions to optics, thermodynamics and stastistical mechanics, physical chemistry, and other fields. In 1930, He was elected president of the Kaiser Wilhelm society, which was renamed the Max II. Though deeply opposed to the fascist regime of Adolf Hitler, Planck remained in Germany throughout teh war. He died in Gottingen on October 4, 1947.

1. In which of the following fields did Max Planck NOT make a significant contribution?
   a) Optics
   b) Thermodynamics
   c) Stastistical mechanics
   d) Biology

2. Theword “revolutionary” as used in line 13, means…
   a) Dangerous
   b) Extremist
   c) Momentous
   d) Militarist

3. It can inferred from the passage that Planck’s work led to the development of which of the following?
   a) The rocket
   b) The atomic bomb
   c) The internal combustion engine
   d) The computer

4. The particles of electromagnetic radiation given off by matter are known as…
   a) Quantums
   b) Atoms
   c) Electrons
   d) Valences

5. The word “universal”, as used in line 10 most nearly means…
   a) Planetary
   b) Cosmic
   c) Worldwide
   d) Always present

6. The implication in this passage is that…
   a) Only a German physics could discover such a theory
   b) Quantum theory, which led to the development of twentieth century physics, is basically a mathematical formula
   c) Planck’s constant was not discernible before 1900
   d) Radiation was hard to study

7. “An idea” as used in line 4, refers to…
   a) A model of matter
   b) Emission of electromagnetic radiation
   c) Quantums
   d) The equation that described the distribution of radiation accurately over the range of low to high frequencies

8. The word “emission” as used in line 8 means…
   a) Giving off
   b) Holding on to
   c) Throwing away
   d) Taking back

9. Planck’s constant, expressed in a mathematical formula, is…
   a) e = v/h
   b) E = h/v
   c) e = h-v
   d) E = hv

10. What is known as Planck’s constant?
    a) v
    b) h
    c) e
    d) E

Jawaban dan Pembahasan

1. (d)
   Paragraf terakhir menyatakan empat bidang yang dikontribusikan oleh Planck. Biologi tidak disebut sebagai salah satu kontribusi ini.

2. (c)
   Dalam hal ini “revolutionary” memiliki arti yang hampir sama dengan “momentous”, karena penemuan Planck bersifat positif. Sedangkan pilihan lain memiliki konotasi negatif

3. (b)
   Paragraf pertama menyatakan bahwa temuan Planck “revolutionized the scientific community’s understanding of atomic and sub-atomic processes.” Maka bisa disimpulkan bahwa hasil karyanya memberi jalan ditemukannya bom atom. Penemuan-penemuan lainnya seperti yang tersebut dalam pilihan jawaban a, c, dan d bukan akibat langsung dari penemuan Planck.

4. (a)
   Bacaan diatas secara langsung menyatakan bahwa the particles of electromagnetic radiation given off by matter dinamakan quantums.

5. (d)
   Di dalam konteks teori Planck, arti dari “universal” adalah “always present” pilihan jawaban lain adalah berkaitan dengan istilah geografi atau astronomi yang sama sekali tidak sesuai.

6. (b)
   Quantum theory pada dasarnya adalah rumus matematika seperti dinyatakan dalam kalimat, “Thus energy, or E, equal hv.”

7. (d)
   “Idea” merujuk pada “equation” seperti ada dalam pilihan (d). Walupun pilihan-pilihan jawaban lain disebutkan di dalam bacaan, tetapi mereka tidak mendefinisikan tentang “idea”.

8. (a)
   “Giving off” adalah gerakan yang digambarkan di dalam frasa, “required the emission of electromagnetic radiation in small chunks or particles.”

9. (d)
   “E = hv” dinyatakan dalam bentuk kata-kata, “Thus energy, or E, equals hv”

10. (b)
    “h” adalah jawaban yang benar seperti terlihat di dalam kalimat, “The constant, h, is known as Planck’s constant.”

Example Question Structure and Written Expression TOEFL

Structure

1. Vegetables are an excellent source ________ vitamins.

(A) have

(B) of

(C) where

(D) contain

2. Microscopes make small things appear larger than ________.

(A) really are

(B) are really

(C) are they really

(D) they really are

3. The city of Montreal ________ on an island in the Saint Lawrence River.

(A) was built

(B) has built

(C) that built

(D) built

4. A singer's struggle to succeed in popular music is the kind of story ________ a fascinating film could be made.

(A) with

(B) by

(C) for whom

(D) about which

5. In the past, lions _______ common in many parts of the world.

(A) were

(B) once

(C) when

(D) only

6. by 1872 the United States had 70 engineering colleges, _______ astonishing expansion credited largely to the Morrill Act of 1862.

(A) because

(B) an

(C) to which

(D) was

7. The artist Romare Bcarden was _______ whose yellows, deep blues, and fuchsias contrasted strongly with photographic gray in his bright collages.

(A) with a gift for color

(B) a gifted colorist

(C) a gift with colorful

(D) gifted with coloring

8. The most important chemical catalyst on this planet is chlorophyll, _______carbon dioxide and water react to form carbohydrates.

(A) whose presence

(B) which is present

(C) presenting

(D) in the presence of which

9. One theory of the origin of the universe is _______from the explosion of a tiny, extremely dense fireball several billion years ago.

(A) because what formed

(B) the formation that

(C) that it formed

(D) when forming

10. Roads in the United States remained crude, _______ with graved or wood planks, until the beginning of the twentieth century.

(A) were unsurefaced or they covered them

(B) which unsureface or covered

(C) unsurfaced or covered them

(D) unsurfaced or covered

11. portrait prints were the first reproductions of American paintings _______ widely distributed in the United States.

(A) were

(B) that which

(C) that being

(D) to be

12. Abigail Adams was prodigious letter writer, _______ many editions of her letters have been published.

(A) who

(B) and

(C) in addition to

(D) due to

13. In geometry, an ellipse may be defined as the locus of all points _______distances from two fixed points is constant.

(A) which as the sum of

(B) of the sum which

(C) whose sum of whose

(D) whose sum that the

14. _______at the site of a fort established by the Northwest Mounted Police, Calgary is now one of Canada’s fastest growing cities.

(A) Built

(B) It is built

(C) To build

(D) Having built

15. An image on a national flag can symbolize political ideals that _______express.

(A) take many words to otherwise would.

(B) would take to many otherwise words

(C) many words to take would otherwise

(D) would otherwise take many words to

Answer

BDADA BBDCD DBCAD

Written Expression

1.   When a (A) severe ankle (B) injury forced (C) herself to give up reporting in 1926, Margaret Mitchell (D) began writing her novel, Gone with the Wind.
2. (A) The pineapple, a fruit (B) grow in tropical climates (C) throughout the world, (D) is native to parts of South America.
3. Canals are (A) artificial waterways, often constructed (B) either to transport heavy loads or to (C) delivering water (D) to cities and farms.
4. Anne Elizabeth McDowell is (A) best (B) remembered for a (C) weekly journal, Woman's Advocate, (D) who she launched in January 1855.
5. A ray of light passing (A) through (B) the center of a thin lens (C) keep its (D) original direction.
6. A (A) variation of collodion photography was the tintype, (B) which captured images on a black (C) or dark brown metal plate (D) instead from on glass.
7. (A) In cases of minor injury (B) to the brain. Amnesia is (C) likely to be a (D) temporarily condition.
8. The (A) system of chemical symbols, first devised about 1800. gives a concise and (B) instantly recognizable description of (C) a element (D) or compound.
9. (A) The fact that white light is light (B) composed of various wavelengths may be (C) demostrating by dispersing a beam of (D) such light through a prism.
10. (A) Over the course of history, (B) much civilizations developed (C) their own number (D) systems.
11. In the United States during the Second World War, (A) each trade unions (B) and employers avoided federal limits on wages (C) by offering (D) employees nontaxable medical benefits.
12. Philosophy is the (A) study of the nature of reality, knowledge, (B) existent, and (C) ethics (D) by means of rational inquiry.
13. Poems vary in (A) length (B) from brief lyric poems to (C) narrative or epic poems, which can be as broad in scope (D) than a novel.
14. The population of California (A) more than doubled (B) during the period 1940-1960, creating problems in road-building and (C) provide water for its arid (D) southern section.
15. Although (A) based it on feudal models, the colony of Pennsylvania (B) developed a (C) reputation for a (D) progressive political and social outlook

Answer

CBCDC DDCCB ABDCA

Menghitung kredit flat rate dan sliding rate

Contoh Kasus

Pada tanggal 25 Maret 2006 PT. Andika Karya Tuan Andi mendapat persetujuan pinjaman investasi dari Bank ABC senilai Rp. 60.000.000,- untuk jangka waktu 1 tahun. Bunga yang dibebankan sebesar 24% pa.

Hitunglah cicilan setiap bulannya jika di hitung dengan metode Flat.dan Sliding rate

Cara Mengerjakan Metode Flat Rate

Menghitung cicilan pokok per bulan sebagai berikut  :
Cicilan Pokok yang harus dibayar setiap bulan adalah
cicilan pokok = pokok pinjaman / bulan selama pinjam
cicilan pokok = Rp. 60.000.000 / 12 bulan = Rp. 5.000.000

Selanjutnya menghitung bunga (BG) per tahun adalah
BG = bunga x pokok pinjaman x 1 / 12 bulan
BG = 24% x Rp. 60.000.000 x 1 / 12 bulan = Rp. 1.200.000

Jadi jumlah angsuran setiap bulan adalah
Pokok pinjaman Rp. 5.000.000
Bunga Rp. 1.200.000

Tabel Perhitungan Flat Rate

Cara Mengerjakan Metode Sliding Rate

Bunga = %bunga 1 tahun x (sisa pinjaman) : 12 bulan 

Angsuran bulan ke-1 adalah 

- Pokok pinjaman                   Rp. 5.000.000

- Bunga = 24% x Rp. 60.000.000 : 12 bulan =  Rp 1.200.000

                                                                                 

Jumlah Angsuran 1          Rp. 6.200.000

Angsuran bulan ke-2 adalah 

- Pokok pinjaman                   Rp. 5.000.000

- Bunga = 24% x Rp. 55.000.000 : 12 bulan =  Rp 1.100.000

                                                                                

Jumlah Angsuran 2          Rp. 6.100.000

Demikian pula seterusnya untuk bunga bulan ke 3 sampai bulan 12 perhitungan bunganya tetap dihitung dari sisa pinjamannya. 

Tabel Perhitungan Sliding Rate

TIPS FOR TACKLING THE LISTENING TOEFL SECTION

1. Practice note taking whenever you are listening to something in English – only write down key words or phrases, use abbreviations for long words and always write in English. Record only the major points – you will not have time to write down the minor, unimportant details in the exam.
2. Stay focused: You can only hear the audio recordings once per exercise. These tracks are relatively long (up to 5 minutes). You will hear a lot of information. You therefore need to stay focused throughout the listening phase
3. Improve your vocabulary – the more words you know, the easier it will be for you to understand the listening section. Learn new vocab and save words you have trouble with by becoming an English.
4. Download listening practice lessons, such as lessons on Daily English Audio and stop it at different times. Try to guess what will happen next! This is a great way to practice your ability to connect and combine ideas. Then go back and listen to the lesson in full and see how well you did.
5. Take notes while you listen. Only the major points will be tested, so do not try to write down every detail. After testing, notes are collected and shredded before you leave the test center.
6. Pay attention to the speaker’s tone of voice. For instance, whether the speaker sounds excited, sad or confused can help you answer questions that are about the speaker’s attitude or opinion.
7. Recognize key points – who or what is the conversation about? What is the main point of the lecture? Why are they talking about this? Remember, the listening exam is testing your comprehension, not your ability to memorize and repeat what you have just heard
8. Find connections between ideas – how do these points connect to the key ideas of the passage? If they do NOT connect to the key ideas, they are probably not the major ideas of the passage and you should not focus on them.
9. Pay attention when someone in the exercise asks a question – often it is a clue that information is about to be given. However, this is not always true so be careful for responses that sound a lot like the answer to a question. Listen very carefully as these responses are often there to test your ability to understand the context of what you heard.
10. When listening to a lecture, make note of the way the lecture is organized and the way the ideas in the lecture are connected. Referring back to your notes will help you answer questions about overall organization.
11. If you are unsure of the correct response, try to figure out which choice is most consistent with the main idea of the conversation or lecture.
12. Listening questions must be answered in order. Once you click on OK, you cannot go back to a previous question.
13. Practice note taking whenever you are listening to something in English – only write down key words or phrases, use abbreviations for long words and always write in English. Record only the major points – you will not have time to write down the minor, unimportant details in the exam.
14. Categorize the type of exercise you are listening to when taking practice listening tests. Ask yourself – is it a lecture (mostly one-sided and on academic topics) or a conversation (language is more informal, two or more people)? This will help you understand the flow of the conversation more clearly.
15. Don’t forget to continue to build your English skills by listening to movies, TV and the radio in English. Doing this regularly will have a great impact.