Exploring Strategies Improving Ielts Listening Score

English proficiency test score is one of particular requirements for applying scholarship abroad, including IELTS score. Listening is one of the sections that will be tested in IELTS. A number of research on IELTS test elucidate that the listening section of the IELTS is one of the most difficult parts of the test. As such, this research is conducted to find out some strategies that successful IELTS test takers used to enhance their listening score. This study employs a qualitative research approach. Five English Education Department alumni were selected purposively to discuss their ways and strategies in improving their listening scores. Those alumni have ever take the official IELTS test and obtained IELTS score of 6,5 or higher. In collecting the required data, semi structured interviews were conducted from October to November 2019. Each interview which was recorded took place about 20 – 40 minutes. All recorded data were partially transcribed, and only the data meet the research questions were maintained and irrelevant data were left in the recording system. The data then were coded and analyzed by using Miles and Huberman (2014) data analysis approach. The findings indicate that: (1) the difficulties that they found while following IELTS official test especially in Listening.(2) the strategies that they use in Listening IELTS. Meanwhile some participants have other strategies for upgrading their score if they want to following IELTS again especially in Listening.