Key Idea: Listening skills covers the four question types in Paper 2 Listening, plus strategies that work for all of them. Each question type has its own trap.
Multiple choice
- One correct option, no half marks.
- Read the question and every option first.
- A familiar word in an option is often a trap.
- Cross out the wrong options, then pick one. Never leave it blank.
Choose the true statements
- Choose exactly as many statements as the task asks.
- Choose only what the recording proves.
- Watch the tense: {{früher|before}} is not {{jetzt|now}}.
Gap-fill
- Write the exact word you hear.
- Spelling, umlauts and ß count: «schon» is not «schön».
- Predict the word type, then check it fits the sentence.
Short answer
- A few correct words, not a full sentence.
- Match the question word: {{wann, wo, warum|when, where, why}}.
- Marked on content, not style.
Listening strategies
- Predict the words you may hear.
- Work out an unknown word from the words around it.
- Infer what is not said: listen to the tone too.
Listen for meaning, not for a word you recognise.
The task asks for two true statements. You tick three. Is that OK? No. Tick exactly two.
You wrote «schon» but heard «schön». Do you get the mark? No. The umlaut makes it a different word.
The question starts with «warum». What do you listen for? A reason.
You miss one word. What do you do? Keep going and use the context.