B2 LISTENING

Hi everybody! This is the listening section.

In this section, I will explain what is the listening part of Cambridge English, and the different parts it is divided into. I will also provide you with plenty of material to help you improve your listening skill.

What’s in the Listening paper?

The Cambridge English: First for Schools Listening paper has four parts. For each part students have to listen to a recorded text or texts and answer some questions. They will hear each recording twice.

Summary

Time allowed:	About 40 minutes
Number of parts:	4
Number of questions:	30

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Part 1 (Multiple choice)

What’s in Part 1?	A series of short, unrelated recordings of approximately 30 seconds each. Students have to listen to the recordings and answer one multiple-choice question for each. Each question has three options (A, B or C).
What do students have to practise?	Listening for feeling, attitude, opinion, purpose, function, agreement, gist and detail.
How many questions are there?	8
How many marks are there?	1 mark for each correct answer.

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Part 2 (Sentence completion)

What’s in Part 2?	A monologue (one person speaking) lasting 3–4 minutes. Students have to complete the sentences on the question paper with information they hear on the recording.
What do students have to practise?	Listening for detail, specific information, stated opinion.
How many questions are there?	10
How many marks are there?	1 mark for each correct answer.

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Part 3 (Word formation)

What’s in Part 3?	Five short related monologues of approximately 30 seconds each. Students listen to the recordings and choose which statement from a list of eight best matches what each speaker says.
What do students have to practise?	Listening for general gist, purpose, feeling, main points and detail.
How many questions are there?	5
How many marks are there?	1 mark for each correct answer.

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Part 4 (Multiple choice)

What’s in Part 4?	An interview or exchange between two speakers and lasting 3–4 minutes. Students have to listen to the recording and answer seven multiple-choice questions. Each question has three options (A, B or C).
What do students have to practise?	Listening for opinion, attitude, gist, main idea, specific information.
How many questions are there?	7
How many marks are there?	1 mark for each correct answer.

                                                       LET'S PRACTICE: 

                 Listening parts 1-2-3-4        B2 Listening topics

                 Listening skill practice    Listening tests