Listening:

The native English speakers don't pay attention to this important skills;they think we can easily listen & analyze the monologues & dialogues.
Unfortunately this skill is difficult too.But different people have different idea I suppose.
To me you should be more careful and quick without having any stress.
A little carelessness causes bad results in this case.
In this skill you have 4 section with different accent andtopics.
Conversation tn may be dialogue or monologue.Undoubtedly monologues are much more faster & difficult rather than diologue which two or three individuals speak with each other,but don't misunderstand me sometimes some people debate with each other consecutively,and may be you become confuse.Some times you don't understand which one is which!
You should have practice enough ,watch BBC world,buy some useful cd,...
I had newly gone to the Enghelab square;haphazardly I saw a book about strategy of listening;I should catch some information about that.
Anyway,all in all,your ears should habbit to many words in English.Otherwise,you write wrong word in your answer sheet!Which the answer is HARBOUR,but you write HEYBOY!!!
Another important thing is misspelling.
If you do not know the correct form of for example SOUVENIR,you will lose mark.
In each section we have different type of question filing the lgaps,multiple choice,completion the tables,...
Formost & most importantof sections is fourth section.That's a fast monologue which is none stop only when the speakers swallow their water of mouth!!!
Amazing!
We have no choice but to practice more & more...
Good luck...