Listening
Listening: what the paper tests
The Listening paper checks whether a young learner can understand short, simple spoken English supported by pictures. It lasts about 20 minutes and has four parts with 20 marks. Each part is heard twice, and an example is done first. The language is everyday: toys, animals, food, family, home, school, clothes, transport, colours and numbers. Answers are mostly non-verbal: lines, ticks and colours. Only Part 2 requires writing, usually a name or a number.
Core format and rules
- Part 1 (5 marks): listen and draw a line from a named person or object to another object or place in a picture.
- Part 2 (5 marks): listen and write a name or a number in gaps on a form or picture.
- Part 3 (5 marks): listen and tick the correct picture from three options.
- Part 4 (5 marks): listen and colour objects in a picture.
The instructions are short and repeated. In Parts 1, 3 and 4 the answer is a mark on the picture, so keep the pencil ready. In Part 2, write clearly and check the spelling of names against the sound you hear. Do not leave blanks: a reasonable guess is better than nothing.
Worked example
Audio: 'Look at the picture. Can you see the boy? Yes. Now listen. The boy is holding a red ball.' The picture shows a boy, a red ball, and a blue ball.
Reasoning: the key words are 'boy', 'holding' and 'red ball'. The boy is the anchor; the object is the ball; the colour 'red' rules out the blue ball. Draw the line from the boy to the red ball, not to the blue one.
Traps that cost marks
- Listening for one word only. The speaker may say 'holding' when the picture shows 'has', or 'next to' when the line is 'behind'. Match meaning, not one exact word.
- Choosing the first picture mentioned. In Part 3, all three pictures may be talked about; wait for the final match.
- Colouring the wrong object. In Part 4, two objects may look similar; check the position word ('the ball under the table').
- Writing the number you hear but not the name. In Part 2, read the gap: 'Name: ____' needs a name, 'Age: ____' needs a number.