What it is: You hear a recording and choose A, B or C. Only one answer is right. Each question is worth 1 mark.
The instruction on the paper: Choose the correct answer.
Example: Choose the correct answer.
Press play, choose A, B or C, then show the answer.
You are going to hear Dana, a town councillor, talk about changes in her town.
- According to Dana, the main change since the tram opened is… A. a less crowded town centre. B. more shops near the station. C. cleaner air in the town.
Since the new tram line opened, a lot of people say the town centre is less crowded. To be honest, I haven't noticed that; the streets are as busy as ever. What has really changed is the air. Our monthly pollution readings have fallen by almost a third. The bad news is that several small shops near the old bus station have closed.
- C. cleaner air in the town.
- Choose the correct answer.
- Pick one letter: A, B or C.
- According to the speaker, …
- What the speaker says, not your opinion.
- The speaker is… / … because…
- Finish the sentence with one option.
- … most likely …
- The best answer from what you hear.
- What…? · Why…? · Who…? · Which…?
- Question words: what, why, who, which.
Remember: Hearing the same word is not enough. The meaning of the option must match what the speaker says.
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Reading it is one thing — hearing it is another
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Crack a listening MCQ
Read the options first
Use the reading time. See how the options differ.
Listen for the meaning
The right option often uses other words.
Cross out wrong options
Remove what the speaker says is not true.
Choose one letter
Check on the 2nd listen. Never leave it blank.
Read → Meaning → Cross out → Choose
Example: cross out two
You are going to hear a radio presenter talk about a new library.
- What is the main attraction of the new library? A. a free recording studio B. its large collection of books C. a new study centre
The new library opens on Monday. Some people expected it to replace the old building, but the old library will stay open as a study centre. The main attraction is not the books, surprisingly, but the free recording studio on the top floor, which anyone with a library card can book.
- A. a free recording studio
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This is how it feels: In the exam you hear it twice and never see the words. Try it here.
Choose the correct answer.
You are going to hear an interview with Priya, who started a repair café in her town.
- Most of the items people bring are… A. phones and tablets. B. clothes and appliances. C. bicycles and computer parts.
- Visitors are asked to… A. buy a drink. B. pay for the repairs. C. bring their own tools.
- Priya is surprised that many visitors… A. are older people saving money. B. come every week. C. want to learn repair skills.
We opened the repair café two years ago. At first I assumed people would mainly bring broken phones, but in fact it's mostly clothes and small kitchen machines. Volunteers do the repairs for free; we only ask visitors to buy a coffee. What surprised me most is who comes: not just older people saving money, but lots of teenagers who want to learn how to fix things themselves.
- B. clothes and appliances.
- A. buy a drink.
- C. want to learn repair skills.
Expected vs. real: At first I assumed… but in fact… The answer comes after in fact.
Do
- Read the options before you listen.
- Match the meaning, not one word.
- Listen past but, however, in fact.
Don't
- Pick an option because you heard its word.
- Take other people's views as the speaker's.
- Leave a question blank.