I85PREP
⌘ K
ACCUPLACER ESL Listening study materials
ACCUPLACER ESL Listening study resources

ACCUPLACER ESL Listening practice questions

One question at a time. Build your ACCUPLACER ESL Listening understanding.

First 50 of 200 questions. Each one lists the choices, the correct answer, and an explanation. The checker at the top of this page saves progress in this browser when it is available.

Continue in the practice tool above to load more questions, 50 at a time.

Question 1Literal comprehension of spoken English

You hear: "The train leaves at a quarter past seven." What time does the train leave?

  1. 7:30
  2. 7:45
  3. 7:15 Correct answer.
  4. 6:45

Explanation

A quarter past seven means fifteen minutes after seven o'clock, so the time is 7:15. The phrase 'quarter past' always adds fifteen minutes to the hour.

Question 2Literal comprehension of spoken English

You hear: "The shirt costs twelve dollars, but the hat is only five." How much does the hat cost?

  1. Five dollars Correct answer.
  2. Twelve dollars
  3. Seven dollars
  4. Seventeen dollars

Explanation

The speaker gives two separate prices: twelve dollars for the shirt and five for the hat. The word 'but' contrasts them, and 'the hat is only five' states the hat's price directly.

Question 3Literal comprehension of spoken English

You hear: "Your keys are on the kitchen table, next to the fruit bowl." Where are the keys?

  1. In the fruit bowl
  2. In the kitchen drawer
  3. On the kitchen table Correct answer.
  4. On the sofa

Explanation

The sentence names the kitchen table as the location and adds 'next to the fruit bowl' as a nearby reference point. 'Next to' means beside, not inside.

Question 4Literal comprehension of spoken English

You hear: "My last name is B-R-O-W-N, like the color." What is the speaker's last name?

  1. Browne
  2. Bron
  3. Braun
  4. Brown Correct answer.

Explanation

The speaker spells the name letter by letter and compares it to the color, confirming the spelling B-R-O-W-N. Matching each letter gives the name 'Brown.'

Question 5Literal comprehension of spoken English

You hear: "My brother is sixteen years old." How old is the brother?

  1. Sixteen Correct answer.
  2. Seventeen
  3. Six
  4. Sixty

Explanation

'Sixteen' is the number 16, while 'sixty' is 60. The ending '-teen' signals the numbers thirteen through nineteen.

Question 6Literal comprehension of spoken English

You hear: "It's raining hard, so take your umbrella." What is the weather like?

  1. Windy
  2. Rainy Correct answer.
  3. Sunny
  4. Snowy

Explanation

The speaker says it is 'raining hard,' which describes heavy rain. The advice to take an umbrella confirms wet weather.

Question 7Literal comprehension of spoken English

You hear: "There are twenty-four students in the class." How many students are in the class?

  1. 14
  2. 20
  3. 40
  4. 24 Correct answer.

Explanation

The number 'twenty-four' combines twenty and four, giving 24. The hyphen shows it is one two-part number, not twenty or forty.

Question 8Literal comprehension of spoken English

You hear: "My sister is a nurse at the city hospital." What is the sister's job?

  1. Nurse Correct answer.
  2. Driver
  3. Doctor
  4. Teacher

Explanation

The speaker identifies the sister's occupation as a nurse. The hospital is only her workplace, not her job title.

Question 9Literal comprehension of spoken English

You hear: "The movie starts at eight, but we should arrive fifteen minutes early." What time should they arrive?

  1. 8:15
  2. 7:30
  3. 7:45 Correct answer.
  4. 8:00

Explanation

Fifteen minutes before eight o'clock is 7:45. 'Early' means before the start time, so you subtract fifteen minutes from 8:00.

Question 10Literal comprehension of spoken English

You hear: "Each ticket is ten dollars, and I need three tickets." How much will the tickets cost in total?

  1. Thirty dollars Correct answer.
  2. Three dollars
  3. Ten dollars
  4. Thirteen dollars

Explanation

Total cost equals price per ticket times the number of tickets: 10 × 3 = 30. The word 'each' signals that the price applies to every single ticket.

Question 11Literal comprehension of spoken English

You hear: "Go straight for two blocks, then turn left at the bank. The library is on your right." Where is the library?

  1. On your left
  2. On your right Correct answer.
  3. Across from the bank
  4. Behind the bank

Explanation

After turning left at the bank, the walker finds the library on the right-hand side. The direction 'on your right' is relative to the person walking after the turn.

Question 12Literal comprehension of spoken English

You hear: "I can't come to the party because I have to study for my exam." Why can't the speaker come to the party?

  1. They have to work
  2. They must study Correct answer.
  3. They are sick
  4. They don't like parties

Explanation

The word 'because' introduces the reason: studying for an exam. The phrase 'have to' shows the activity is required.

Question 13Literal comprehension of spoken English

You hear: "This is my colleague, Mr. Tanaka. We work in the same office." Who is Mr. Tanaka?

  1. A neighbor
  2. A family friend
  3. A coworker Correct answer.
  4. A teacher

Explanation

'Colleague' means a person who works with you, and the next sentence confirms they share an office. 'Coworker' is the term with the same meaning.

Question 14Literal comprehension of spoken English

You hear: "I bought a dozen eggs, but two broke on the way home." How many eggs are not broken?

  1. Two
  2. Fourteen
  3. Twelve
  4. Ten Correct answer.

Explanation

A dozen is twelve, and two broke, so 12 − 2 = 10 eggs remain unbroken. The question asks specifically for the eggs that are not broken.

Question 15Literal comprehension of spoken English

You hear: "The address is 42 Oak Street, apartment 3B." Which apartment number is given?

  1. Oak
  2. 3B Correct answer.
  3. 42
  4. 43

Explanation

The apartment number comes right after the word 'apartment,' which is 3B. The number 42 belongs to the street address instead.

Question 16Literal comprehension of spoken English

You hear: "Call me at 555-0198." Which phone number did the speaker give?

  1. 555-0198 Correct answer.
  2. 555-0189
  3. 555-0918
  4. 555-1908

Explanation

The digits are spoken in order: five-five-five, zero-one-nine-eight. Careful attention to the final four digits separates the correct number from the distractors.

Question 17Literal comprehension of spoken English

You hear: "First I'll go to the bank, then I'll buy groceries, and after that I'll pick up the kids." What will the speaker do first?

  1. Go home
  2. Pick up the kids
  3. Go to the bank Correct answer.
  4. Buy groceries

Explanation

The word 'first' marks the initial action, which is going to the bank. 'Then' and 'after that' introduce the later steps in order.

Question 18Literal comprehension of spoken English

You hear: "The deadline is March third, not March thirteenth." When is the deadline?

  1. March thirtieth
  2. March twenty-third
  3. March thirteenth
  4. March third Correct answer.

Explanation

The speaker corrects the date to March third and rules out March thirteenth with the word 'not.' 'Third' is written 3rd, while 'thirteenth' is 13th.

Question 19Literal comprehension of spoken English

You hear: "My brother is taller than me, but I'm older." Who is older?

  1. My father
  2. Me Correct answer.
  3. My sister
  4. My brother

Explanation

The speaker says 'I'm older,' so the speaker is the older person. The brother is described only as taller.

Question 20Literal comprehension of spoken English

You hear: "For lunch I had a sandwich and a salad, but I didn't finish the salad." What did the speaker not finish?

  1. The sandwich
  2. The pasta
  3. The salad Correct answer.
  4. The soup

Explanation

The speaker states directly, 'I didn't finish the salad,' which identifies the unfinished food. The sandwich is mentioned only as part of the lunch.

Question 21Literal comprehension of spoken English

You hear: "The store opens at nine on weekdays but ten on Sundays." What time does the store open on Sunday?

  1. At noon
  2. At nine
  3. At ten Correct answer.
  4. At eleven

Explanation

The word 'but' introduces a different Sunday opening time: ten. The weekday time of nine does not apply on Sundays.

Question 22Literal comprehension of spoken English

You hear: "The jacket is fifty dollars, and today it's twenty percent off." What is the sale price of the jacket?

  1. Forty dollars Correct answer.
  2. Twenty dollars
  3. Fifty dollars
  4. Thirty dollars

Explanation

Twenty percent of fifty dollars is ten dollars, so subtract ten from fifty to get forty dollars. A percentage discount reduces the original price rather than replacing it.

Question 23Literal comprehension of spoken English

You hear: "Before you take the medicine, eat something. Then wait thirty minutes before lying down." What should you do before taking the medicine?

  1. Drink water
  2. Lie down
  3. Eat something Correct answer.
  4. Wait thirty minutes

Explanation

The word 'before' places eating ahead of taking the medicine. Lying down and waiting thirty minutes both come after the medicine.

Question 24Literal comprehension of spoken English

You hear: "There were fifteen people at first, but five left after an hour." How many people remained after an hour?

  1. Fifteen
  2. Ten Correct answer.
  3. Twenty
  4. Five

Explanation

Fifteen minus five equals ten, so ten people stayed. 'Left' means departed, which reduces the original group.

Question 25Literal comprehension of spoken English

You hear: "My watch says 4:10, but it's five minutes fast." What is the correct time?

  1. 4:10
  2. 4:05 Correct answer.
  3. 3:55
  4. 4:15

Explanation

A watch that is five minutes fast shows a time ahead of the real time, so you subtract five minutes from 4:10 to get 4:05. 'Fast' means ahead, not behind.

Question 26Literal comprehension of spoken English

You hear: "The meeting lasted from 10:00 to 11:30." How long did the meeting last?

  1. One hour
  2. Two and a half hours
  3. Two hours
  4. One and a half hours Correct answer.

Explanation

To find the duration, subtract the start time from the end time. From 10:00 to 11:30 is one hour and thirty minutes, which is one and a half hours. The phrase "from ... to ..." marks the beginning and end of the event.

Question 27Literal comprehension of spoken English

You hear: "She wore a blue dress and a white hat." What color was the hat?

  1. White Correct answer.
  2. Black
  3. Blue
  4. Green

Explanation

The sentence lists two clothing items with colors. The hat is described as white, while blue is attached to the dress. Listeners must match each color word to the noun that follows it.

Question 28Literal comprehension of spoken English

You hear: "I need two pens and one notebook." How many pens does the speaker need?

  1. Two Correct answer.
  2. Four
  3. One
  4. Three

Explanation

The number before "pens" is "two," so the speaker needs two pens. The phrase "one notebook" refers to a different item and should not be counted with the pens. Quantity questions require matching the number to the correct noun.

Question 29Literal comprehension of spoken English

You hear: "The keys are on the kitchen table." Where are the keys?

  1. In the car
  2. By the front door
  3. On the kitchen table Correct answer.
  4. In the bedroom

Explanation

The sentence directly states a location: "on the kitchen table." The preposition "on" tells where the keys are resting. Literal location questions are answered by the place phrase in the sentence.

Question 30Literal comprehension of spoken English

You hear: "It's cold outside; wear a coat." What should you wear?

  1. A coat Correct answer.
  2. Shorts
  3. A hat
  4. Sunglasses

Explanation

The speaker gives a direct instruction after describing the weather: "wear a coat." The word "cold" supports that advice, but the specific item requested is the coat. The answer is stated explicitly in the command.

Question 31Literal comprehension of spoken English

You hear: "The test is on Tuesday, not Wednesday." What day is the test?

  1. Wednesday
  2. Monday
  3. Tuesday Correct answer.
  4. Thursday

Explanation

The speaker names Tuesday as the test day and explicitly corrects Wednesday. The phrase "not Wednesday" rules out the second day mentioned. The correct answer is the day stated before the correction.

Question 32Literal comprehension of spoken English

You hear: "The coffee costs three dollars." How much does the coffee cost?

  1. Two dollars
  2. Four dollars
  3. Five dollars
  4. Three dollars Correct answer.

Explanation

The price is stated directly after "costs": three dollars. In listening tasks, a number attached to a money word should be captured exactly as spoken. No calculation is needed because the amount is already given.

Question 33Literal comprehension of spoken English

You hear: "This is my uncle, my mother's brother." Who is the man?

  1. The speaker's uncle Correct answer.
  2. The speaker's teacher
  3. The speaker's cousin
  4. The speaker's father

Explanation

The speaker identifies the man as "my uncle" and clarifies the relationship as "my mother's brother." Both phrases describe the same person. The second phrase confirms the family relationship rather than changing it.

Question 34Literal comprehension of spoken English

You hear: "If it rains, we'll stay inside; otherwise we'll go to the park." What will they do if it rains?

  1. Stay inside Correct answer.
  2. Cancel the plan
  3. Wait for the sun
  4. Go to the park

Explanation

The conditional "If it rains" is followed by the result "we'll stay inside." The word "otherwise" introduces what happens only when it does not rain. Conditional statements pair a specific condition with a specific action.

Question 35Literal comprehension of spoken English

You hear: "The train leaves at 6:45 and arrives at 8:15." How long is the train trip?

  1. One hour
  2. Two hours
  3. Two and a half hours
  4. One and a half hours Correct answer.

Explanation

Subtract the departure time from the arrival time: 8:15 minus 6:45 equals one hour and thirty minutes. Crossing the hour boundary means counting from 6:45 to 7:45 as one hour, then adding thirty more minutes. The result is one and a half hours.

Question 36Literal comprehension of spoken English

You hear: "I have thirty dollars and spend twelve on lunch and eight on a book." How much money is left?

  1. Twelve dollars
  2. Twenty dollars
  3. Ten dollars Correct answer.
  4. Eighteen dollars

Explanation

Add the two expenses: twelve plus eight equals twenty dollars spent. Subtract that total from the starting amount: thirty minus twenty leaves ten dollars. Both expenses must be combined before subtracting from the total.

Question 37Literal comprehension of spoken English

You hear: "The pharmacy is next to the post office, across from the park." Where is the pharmacy?

  1. Next to the post office Correct answer.
  2. Inside the park
  3. Across from the post office
  4. Behind the post office

Explanation

The sentence gives two location clues; the first is "next to the post office," which directly describes the pharmacy's position. "Across from the park" is a second clue about the same place. The answer must match the stated relationship rather than reverse it.

Question 38Literal comprehension of spoken English

You hear: "She missed the bus because she woke up late." Why did she miss the bus?

  1. She took the wrong route
  2. She forgot her ticket
  3. The bus was early
  4. She woke up late Correct answer.

Explanation

The word "because" introduces the cause of missing the bus: waking up late. The sentence connects a result with its reason, so the reason after "because" is the answer. Cause-and-effect questions focus on the stated reason, not on possible outside explanations.

Question 39Literal comprehension of spoken English

You hear: "First, fill out the form; then, show your ID at the desk." What should you do after filling out the form?

  1. Call the office
  2. Pay a fee
  3. Leave the building
  4. Show your ID Correct answer.

Explanation

The word "then" signals the next step after the first action. Filling out the form comes first, and showing ID at the desk comes second. Sequence words like "first" and "then" show the order of steps.

Question 40Literal comprehension of spoken English

You hear: "This bag is heavier than that one, but it's cheaper." Which bag is cheaper?

  1. The more expensive bag
  2. Both bags equally
  3. The heavier bag Correct answer.
  4. The lighter bag

Explanation

The pronoun "it" in "it's cheaper" refers to "this bag," which is also described as heavier. The contrast word "but" shows that the heavier bag has a lower price. The lighter bag is the "that one," whose price relation is not stated as cheaper.

Question 41Literal comprehension of spoken English

You hear: "The library is closed on Mondays but open on weekends." When is the library closed?

  1. On Fridays
  2. On Saturdays
  3. On Sundays
  4. On Mondays Correct answer.

Explanation

The word "closed" is linked directly to "on Mondays." The phrase "but open on weekends" tells when it is not closed. To answer, match the state of being closed with the day that follows it.

Question 42Literal comprehension of spoken English

You hear: "My new address is 15 Pine Road, not 50 Pine Road." What is the address number?

  1. 115
  2. 5
  3. 50
  4. 15 Correct answer.

Explanation

The speaker gives the correct number first and then rejects the similar-sounding number 50. The phrase "not 50" is a correction, so the address is 15 Pine Road. Numbers that sound alike require careful attention to the stated correction.

Question 43Literal comprehension of spoken English

You hear: "The shirt is forty dollars, and there's a twenty-five percent discount." What is the sale price?

  1. Thirty-five dollars
  2. Twenty-five dollars
  3. Ten dollars
  4. Thirty dollars Correct answer.

Explanation

A 25 percent discount on 40 dollars means subtracting 10 dollars, because 25 percent of 40 is 10. The sale price is 40 minus 10, which equals 30 dollars. The discount percent and the discount amount are different numbers.

Question 44Literal comprehension of spoken English

You hear: "I wanted to buy the red shoes, but they didn't have my size." Why didn't the speaker buy the shoes?

  1. They were not available in the right size Correct answer.
  2. They were too expensive
  3. They were the wrong color
  4. The store was closed

Explanation

The clause after "but" explains the problem: the store did not have the speaker's size. Wanting the red shoes shows that color was not the issue. The reason for not buying is the size problem, not the price or the store hours.

Question 45Literal comprehension of spoken English

You hear: "I'm going to call the doctor and then take a nap." What will the speaker do first?

  1. Take a nap
  2. Pick up medicine
  3. Call the doctor Correct answer.
  4. Go to the doctor

Explanation

The sequence word "then" places "take a nap" after the first action. The first action listed is calling the doctor, so that happens before the nap. Words like "then" help determine the order of two actions.

Question 46Literal comprehension of spoken English

You hear: "The class starts at 9:20 and lasts seventy-five minutes." When does the class end?

  1. 10:45
  2. 10:05
  3. 10:35 Correct answer.
  4. 10:20

Explanation

Seventy-five minutes is one hour and fifteen minutes. Adding one hour to 9:20 gives 10:20, and adding fifteen more minutes gives 10:35. The end time requires converting the total minutes into hours and minutes before adding.

Question 47Literal comprehension of spoken English

You hear: "The sign says no entry after 8 p.m., and it's 8:15 now." What does the sign mean for the person now?

  1. They cannot enter now Correct answer.
  2. They can enter after 8:15
  3. They must leave at 8:15
  4. They can enter until 8:15

Explanation

"No entry after 8 p.m." means entering is not allowed once the time passes 8 p.m. Since it is already 8:15, the person is past the cutoff and cannot enter. The phrase "after 8 p.m." includes all later times, such as 8:15.

Question 48Literal comprehension of spoken English

You hear: "Take one pill every six hours, but don't take more than three pills in a day." What is the maximum number of pills per day?

  1. Three Correct answer.
  2. Four
  3. One
  4. Two

Explanation

The instruction gives a dosing interval and a daily limit; the limit is stated as "no more than three pills in a day." The phrase "don't take more than" sets the maximum, not the minimum. The maximum allowed in one day is therefore three pills.

Question 49Literal comprehension of spoken English

You hear: "The bus was supposed to arrive at 7:10, but it was twenty-five minutes late." When did the bus arrive?

  1. 7:45
  2. 7:10
  3. 7:35 Correct answer.
  4. 7:25

Explanation

A delay means adding the late minutes to the scheduled time. Twenty-five minutes after 7:10 is 7:35, because 7:10 plus 20 minutes is 7:30 and plus 5 more is 7:35. The scheduled time is only the starting point for the calculation.

Question 50Literal comprehension of spoken English

You hear: "The meeting is in Room 204 on the second floor, and it begins at 2:30." Where is the meeting?

  1. Room 204 Correct answer.
  2. Room 230
  3. Room 240
  4. The first floor

Explanation

The location is stated immediately after "in": Room 204. The second floor and 2:30 are additional details about the floor and the time, not the room number. Literal detail questions require separating the room number from other numbers in the sentence.