What is one way to improve active listening skills for the Listening section?

Taking notes during discussions is a valuable strategy for improving active listening skills. This practice allows individuals to capture important points, understand the key ideas better, and engage more fully with the material being presented. By jotting down notes, listeners can concentrate on both the content and the message being communicated, which reinforces their understanding and retention of the information.

Active listening requires more than just hearing words; it involves comprehending and processing the information being shared. Note-taking facilitates this by helping listeners stay organized and focused, allowing them to reference their notes later for clarification or deeper discussion. Additionally, writing notes encourages individuals to remain present in the moment and minimizes distractions that can arise from drifting thoughts or external factors.

This approach contrasts with options that suggest focusing solely on the speaker's words, which may lead to missing non-verbal cues and the overall context of the discussion. Similarly, thinking about a response while listening can detract from fully understanding what is being said, as attention may shift away from the speaker. Reading during conversations is likely to lead to misunderstandings and disconnection from the interaction altogether, as it divides attention and undermines engagement.