Key Idea: Paper 2 Listening has 3 recordings, and you hear each one twice. It is worth 25 marks, and every answer is marked right or wrong. You need the detail each question asks for, not every word.
Your technique
- Read — Read the questions first.
- Predict — Think what you might hear.
- Gist — First listen: the general idea.
- Detail — Second listen: the exact detail you need.
- Check — Check your answers.
Watch out
- A word you recognise is not proof: the meaning must match.
- Write short, correct answers. Never leave a blank.
- Your language is not marked, only what you understood.
Listen once for the idea and once for the detail.
How many times do you hear each recording? Twice.
An option uses a word you heard. Is it right? Not always. Check that the meaning matches.
What do you do before the recording starts? Read the questions and predict.
You are not sure. Should you leave the question blank? No. Write your best answer.