Listening (듣기): broadcast audio, Korean stems, 17 items
The listening domain covers items 1–17 of the 45-item English section (70 minutes, 100 points). Each dialogue or monologue is played twice from a broadcast; you cannot pause or rewind. Directions and question stems are in Korean, while the spoken text and options are in English. The items test practical comprehension, not literary interpretation.
What the 17 items ask
- Short dialogues: purpose, opinion, relationship, place, topic, reason, and detail.
- Response items: choose the line that fits the previous speaker’s function (apology, request, suggestion), not the line that repeats vocabulary.
- Number items: the answer is usually a calculation, not a number heard directly.
- Longer talks and announcements: two or three questions per talk, often main idea plus detail.
Worked example
Audio: W: I’m calling about the bicycle I reserved online. The website said pickup was free, but the shop charged 5,000 won for assembly. M: I’m sorry. Assembly is free for online reservations; the staff applied the in-store rate. I’ll refund the 5,000 won today. Korean stem: What is the woman’s purpose? Reasoning: She reports a charge that contradicts the website, and the man promises a refund. The purpose is to correct a billing error and ask for a refund. An option saying “to ask about assembly fees” is wrong because she already knows the online term; she is disputing the charge.
Traps
- Keyword matching: an option repeats “free pickup” but ignores the complaint.
- Grabbing the first number heard instead of the calculated amount.
- Using the first play only; the second play confirms or corrects your choice.
- Misreading the Korean stem: “purpose” and “reason” are different targets.