What Paper 2 Listening is: Paper 2 is the receptive-skills paper (Listening + Reading) and is worth 50% of your grade. The Listening section (compréhension orale) has 3 audio texts of increasing difficulty, each played twice, based on the course themes, worth 25 marks (about 45 minutes). It's marked objectively against an answer key — you write short, correct answers, NOT essays. The rubric tells you to «Répondez à toutes les questions».
- la compréhension orale
- listening comprehension
- le texte audio / l'enregistrement
- the audio text / the recording
- le thème
- the theme
- Choisissez la bonne réponse
- choose the correct answer (multiple choice)
- vrai / faux + justifier
- true / false + justify with words from the text
- Complétez les phrases
- complete the sentences (gap-fill, max three words)
You hear it twice: Each audio text is «lu deux fois» (played twice), with four minutes of reading time before each and a two-minute pause before it repeats. Use the first listen for the gist (the general idea) and the second for the details you need to write down.
The whole section on one card: Here is everything Paper 2 Listening tests, in one table. English explains the structure; the question types are the same ones you meet in the recordings, with their real French instructions.
| Aspect | Compréhension orale (NM/SL) |
|---|---|
| Ce qui est évalué | comprendre le français parlé |
| Textes audio | 3, basés sur les thèmes, de difficulté croissante |
| Combien de fois ? | chaque texte est lu deux fois |
| Points | 25 points |
| Durée | environ 45 minutes |
| Types de questions | « Choisissez la bonne réponse » · vrai/faux + justifier · « Choisissez les trois/cinq affirmations vraies » · « Complétez… (max. trois mots) » · « Répondez aux questions » |
The two facts students forget: 1) Each audio text is played twice — don't panic if you miss something on the first listen. 2) Your answers are marked on being correct, not on beautiful language — a short, accurate answer scores; a long, wrong one doesn't. Most items are worth [1] «sauf indication contraire».
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A method for every recording: You don't need to understand every word — you need a method. Run the same five steps on each of the three audio texts (you even get four minutes of reading time before each one) and you'll catch the answers without panicking.
Before, during & after each audio text
Read the questions first
In the reading time before the audio, read the questions so you know exactly what to listen for.
Predict the vocabulary
From the questions, predict the words you'll hear (numbers, places, time words) so they jump out at you.
First listen — get the gist
On the first play, listen for the general idea — who is speaking, where, and about what. Don't write much yet.
Second listen — catch the details
On the second play, listen for the specific details the questions ask for, and write your answers.
Check
Before moving on, check spelling and make sure every answer is filled in — never leave a blank.
Read → Predict → Gist → Detail → Check
Use the reading time wisely: The four minutes of reading time before each audio text are precious — spend them reading the questions, not relaxing. Going in knowing what to listen for is half the battle.
This is exactly how it feels: This is exactly how Paper 2 Listening feels — you hear it, you don't see the words. Read the question first (exact IB wording: «Choisissez la bonne réponse»), play the clip, write your answer, then reveal the transcript to check. Remember: in the real exam you'd hear it twice.
Compréhension orale — le premier emploi de Léa
Vous écoutez une jeune femme, Léa, qui parle de son premier emploi. Read the question first, then play the clip and answer before you reveal the transcript — that's exactly how Paper 2 Listening works.
- Choisissez la bonne réponse : Pourquoi Léa travaille-t-elle ? (Why does Léa work?)
Salut, je m'appelle Léa et j'ai dix-sept ans. Depuis le mois de septembre, je travaille le samedi comme caissière dans un fast-food près de chez moi. Au début, c'était fatigant parce qu'il fallait rester debout toute la journée, mais maintenant j'adore. Je travaille surtout pour gagner un peu d'argent et payer mon permis de conduire. En plus, j'ai rencontré des collègues très sympas et j'ai gagné en confiance.
Hi, my name is Léa and I'm seventeen. Since September, I've been working on Saturdays as a cashier in a fast-food restaurant near my home. At first it was tiring because you had to stand all day, but now I love it. I work mainly to earn a bit of money and pay for my driving licence. What's more, I've met some really nice colleagues and gained in confidence.
- Pour gagner de l'argent et payer son permis de conduire.
One detail at a time: Read the question, then listen for that one detail — here, the reason she works. You don't need every word, and you hear the clip twice, so use the second play to confirm it. Beware the trap detail («fatigant») that answers a different question.
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Where marks are lost: Most Listening marks are lost on technique, not on French. Compare what good candidates do with the traps everyone else falls into.
Bonnes pratiques
- Read the questions before the audio so you know what to listen for.
- Use BOTH listens — gist on the first, detail on the second.
- Listen for meaning and synonymes — the answer is often reworded.
- Respect the limit: «maximum de trois mots» — write exactly the detail asked for.
- For vrai/faux, ALWAYS justify with words from the text — both parts are required.
Erreurs fréquentes
- Dive straight in without reading the questions.
- Panic on the first listen and stop concentrating.
- Assume a word you hear is the answer — it may be a trap.
- Write long, rambling answers that bury the point (and break the word limit).
- Mark vrai/faux but forget to justify — you lose the justification mark.
Beware the exact-word trap: Hearing a word from the question does not mean you've found the answer — examiners plant the same word in a wrong place. Listen for the meaning, and watch for synonyms that carry the real answer. And on vrai/faux + justifier, «les deux parties de la réponse sont requises» — the justification scores too.