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1. By Prof Alexander Benito

2. General Description
FORMAT The paper contains four parts. Each part contains a recorded text or texts and
corresponding comprehension tasks. Each part is heard twice.
TIMING Approximately 40 minutes
NO. OF PARTS 4
NO. OF QS 30
TASK TYPES Multiple choice, sentence completion, multiple matching.
TEXT TYPES Monologues: answerphone messages, radio documentaries and features, news,
public announcements, stories and anecdotes, talks.
Interacting speakers: conversations, interviews, discussions, radio plays.
ANSWER FORMAT Candidates are advised to write their answers in the spaces provided on the
question paper while listening.
There will be 5 minutes at the end of the test to copy the answers onto a separate
answer sheet. Candidates indicate their answers by shading the correct lozenges or
writing the required word or words in capital letters in a box on the answer sheet.
RECORDING
INFORMATION
A variety of voices, styles of delivery and accents will be heard in each Listening
paper to reflect the various contexts presented in the recordings, as appropriate to
the international contexts of the test takers.
MARKS Each correct answer receives 1 mark

4. Structure and tasks
Part 1
TASK TYPE Multiple choice.
FOCUS The focus is on genre, identifying speaker feeling, attitude, topic, opinion,
purpose, agreement between speakers, gist and detail.
FORMAT A series of short unrelated extracts, of approximately 30 seconds each, from
monologues or exchanges between interacting speakers. There is one
multiple-choice question per text, each with three options.
No. Of QS 8

5. Exam Techniques
Part 1
Dos and don’ts
Read and listen carefully to the first question and the options.
As you listen for the first time, mark the options which you think are
possible.
As you listen for the second time, check your ideas and make your final
choice.
Follow the same procedure for each question.
 Don’t think about the last extract – remember to read and listen carefully
to the next one.

6. Structure and tasks
Part 2
TASK TYPE Sentence completion.
FOCUS The focus is on detail, identifying specific information and stated opinion.
FORMAT A monologue lasting 3–4 minutes. Candidates are required to complete the
sentences with information heard on the recording.
No. Of QS 10

7. Exam Techniques
Part 2
Dos and don’ts
Read the sentences you have to complete. Decide what kind of
information you need to listen for.
Listen to the recording and complete any sentences you can. Don’t worry if
you can’t complete many at this stage.
Listen again to complete the rest of the sentences. Check the sentences
you have already completed.
Check all your answers are grammatically correct and make sense. Don’t
write more than three words in any space.
Don’t leave any sentences unfinished.

8. Structure and tasks
Part 3
TASK TYPE Multiple matching
FORMAT Five short related monologues of approximately 30 seconds each. There are
five questions which require the selection of the correct option from a list of
eight.
No. Of QS 5

9. Exam Techniques
Part 3
Dos and don’ts
Read the instructions and the eight options carefully. Don’t forget – three
options are not needed.
The first time you hear the recording, listen for general understanding.
Note key words and make a first choice of answers.
The second time you hear the recording, listen for words associated with
the options.
Make your final choice of answer, using any notes you have made. Don’t
leave any spaces.
TIP! The options are not in the same order as the
information you hear. As you listen, you need to check
all eight options.

10. Structure and tasks
Part 4
TASK TYPE Multiple choice
FOCUS The focus is on identifying opinion, attitude, detail, gist, main idea and specific
information.
FORMAT An interview or exchange between two speakers and lasting 3–4 minutes.
There are seven 3-option multiple-choice questions.
No. Of QS 7

11. Exam Techniques
Part 4
Dos and don’ts
Read and listen to the task carefully.
As you listen for the first time, mark or make a note of the options which
you think are possible.
As you listen for the second time, make you final choice.
If you are not sure, make a sensible guess. Don’t leave any questions
unanswered.