Ielts course

plan/map/diagram labelling
Candidates complete the labels on a plan, map or diagram by using between one and three words, or numbers from the recording.
correct

multiple choice
Candidates choose the correct answer to a question on the recording from three answers or from a list of possible answers.
correct

matching
This task might involve, for example, matching a list of people to what they said or matching places to the facilities they have.
correct

short-answer questions
Candidates answer questions with between one and three words from the listening.
correct

sentence/table/form/flowchart/summary/note completion
Candidates complete a sentence, form, table, flowchart, summary or notes by using one to three words and/or numbers from the recording.

What is top-down processing?
When we listen to someone talking, we use visual clues, the context and our knowledge of the world to make sense of what we are hearing. We continually make predictions based on this. For instance, if we are in a shop and the shop assistant asks us something, we use the context (the fact that we are in a shop and it is a shop assistant speaking to us) and our knowledge and experience of the world (that is, we know the type of things that shop assistants say to customers) to predict what the shop assistant is saying. We would expect to hear something like Can I help you?. This is what we refer to as top-down processing. So predicting is a top-down processing skill.
What is bottom-up processing?
We then use what we actually hear to confirm our predictions or alter them. When we listen to the actual words that are being said, we are using bottom-up processing. So listening intensively is a bottom-up processing skill.
A successful listener will use both top-down and bottom-up processing and a range of listening skills.