Listening Comprehension
Listening Comprehension tests your ability to follow spoken English - announcements, conversations, short talks - and answer questions on detail, purpose, attitude, and numbers. Because you hear the text once or twice, preparation means knowing what to listen for.
Predict from the question
Before the audio starts, read the options and note the category: time, place, reason, speaker's feeling, or next action. This tells you which words to listen for and which to ignore.
Listen for signposts and repairs
Speakers signal structure with 'first', 'the main problem is', 'what I mean is', 'actually', and 'on the other hand'. A correction after 'actually' often decides the answer. Negation is equally important: 'not on Thursday but Friday' reverses the first number you hear.
Worked example
Transcript: 'W: The deadline is Friday, not Thursday. M: Then I'll need to move the meeting with the supplier to Wednesday.' Question: What will the man do? Reasoning: 'Then' shows the decision follows from the corrected date. He says he will move the meeting to Wednesday. An option saying 'He will meet the supplier on Friday' confuses the deadline with the meeting; an option saying 'Thursday' repeats the rejected date. The correct answer is that he will reschedule the meeting for Wednesday.
Numbers, names, and spelling
Write digits as you hear them and mark stress: 'thirteen' and 'thirty' differ in the second syllable. For names, copy the spelling immediately; do not wait for the end.
Traps
- Choosing an option because you heard its word, without checking the whole sentence.
- Missing a change of plan signalled by 'but' or 'instead'.
- Assuming the last speaker answers the question.
- Losing the next item while finishing the previous answer.