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LanguageCert B1 Achiever study materials
LanguageCert B1 Achiever study resources

LanguageCert B1 Achiever practice questions

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Question 1Listening

You hear: 'The 8.15 train to Bristol will now leave from platform 6 instead of platform 2.' Where should you go for the Bristol train?

  1. Platform 8
  2. Platform 15
  3. Platform 6 Correct answer.
  4. Platform 2

Explanation

The announcement states a change of departure point: the train now leaves from platform 6, replacing platform 2. The other numbers in the message are the departure time (8.15) and the destination, so they are not platforms. Listeners must track the corrected information rather than the original plan.

Question 2Listening

A recorded message says: 'The museum is open Tuesday to Sunday, 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. It is closed on Mondays.' On which day can you visit?

  1. Sunday Correct answer.
  2. Only on Tuesday
  3. Every day of the week
  4. Monday

Explanation

The message gives the opening days as Tuesday to Sunday, so Sunday is included. Monday is explicitly closed, and the museum is not open every day. Tuesday is one of several opening days, not the only one.

Question 3Listening

You hear: 'I'd rather meet at the coffee shop than at the library, because it's quieter.' Where does the speaker prefer to meet?

  1. At the station
  2. At the coffee shop Correct answer.
  3. At the speaker's home
  4. At the library

Explanation

The structure 'I'd rather X than Y' shows a preference for X, which here is the coffee shop. The library is the rejected option, and the reason given (quieter) supports the coffee shop. No other location is mentioned.

Question 4Listening

A shop assistant says: 'I'm afraid we've sold out of the blue jackets, but I can order one for you.' What does the assistant offer to do?

  1. Order a jacket for the customer Correct answer.
  2. Send the customer to another shop
  3. Repair the customer's jacket
  4. Give a discount on a jacket

Explanation

'Sold out' means none are in stock, and the offer that follows is to order one. The assistant does not mention price reductions, repairs, or other shops. The key skill is identifying the action offered after a problem is stated.

Question 5Listening

You hear: 'The meeting has been put off until Thursday because the manager is away.' When will the meeting take place?

  1. Today
  2. On Thursday Correct answer.
  3. Before the manager leaves
  4. It has been cancelled

Explanation

The phrasal verb 'put off' means postpone, and the new time given is Thursday. Cancellation would be expressed with 'called off', which is different. The manager being away is the reason for the delay, not the date.

Question 6Listening

A voicemail says: 'Hi, it's Anna. Could you ring me back before six? I need to check the figures before the presentation.' What does Anna want the listener to do?

  1. Come to her office at six
  2. Send her the figures by email
  3. Cancel the presentation
  4. Call her back before six o'clock Correct answer.

Explanation

'Ring me back' is a request to return the call, and the deadline given is before six. The figures are the topic of the call, not something to be emailed. Nothing is said about cancelling the presentation or visiting an office.

Question 7Listening

You hear: 'Tickets cost twelve pounds for adults, but students pay half price.' How much does a student pay?

  1. Nothing
  2. Twenty-four pounds
  3. Six pounds Correct answer.
  4. Twelve pounds

Explanation

Half of twelve pounds is six pounds, so a student ticket costs six. Twelve is the full adult price, and twenty-four would be double rather than half. The recording gives a discount, not free entry.

Question 8Listening

A guide says: 'We'll start in the main hall, then move to the garden, and finish with tea in the café.' Where does the tour end?

  1. In the main hall
  2. In the garden
  3. Outside the entrance
  4. In the café Correct answer.

Explanation

The sequence markers 'start', 'then' and 'finish' show the order of events, and the final place is the café. The main hall is the starting point and the garden comes in the middle. The entrance is not part of the route described.

Question 9Listening

You hear: 'I was going to take the bus, but the traffic was so bad that I walked instead.' How did the speaker travel?

  1. By taxi
  2. By train
  3. On foot Correct answer.
  4. By bus

Explanation

The phrase 'I was going to' introduces a plan that was not carried out, and 'instead' signals the action actually taken, which was walking. The bus was the abandoned plan, and no taxi or train is mentioned.

Question 10Listening

A receptionist says: 'The doctor can see you at half past three, but please arrive ten minutes early to fill in the form.' When should the patient arrive?

  1. At 3.10
  2. At 3.40
  3. At 3.20 Correct answer.
  4. At 3.30

Explanation

The appointment is at 3.30 and the patient is asked to come ten minutes before that, which is 3.20. Arriving at 3.30 would be on time for the appointment but late for the form. The other times do not match a ten-minute gap.

Question 11Listening

You hear: 'The course is suitable for people who already know some Spanish, though complete beginners can join the first week.' Who is the course mainly for?

  1. Complete beginners only
  2. People who have never studied a language
  3. Native Spanish speakers
  4. People with some existing Spanish Correct answer.

Explanation

The main clause states the course suits learners who already know some Spanish; the beginners' provision is a limited extra for the first week. Native speakers would be far beyond this level, and the text does not address people with no language-learning experience.

Question 12Listening

A man says: 'I thought the film would be boring, but it was actually the best one I've seen this year.' What is his opinion of the film?

  1. He has not seen it yet
  2. He was disappointed by it
  3. He thought it was excellent Correct answer.
  4. He found it boring

Explanation

The contrast word 'but' overturns the earlier expectation, and 'the best one I've seen this year' is strong praise. The boredom was only his expectation before watching. Disappointment and not having seen it contradict the statement.

Question 13Listening

You hear: 'If you want to join the gym, you need to bring a photo and pay the first month in advance.' What must a new member do?

  1. Bring a photo and pay one month in advance Correct answer.
  2. Complete a health test
  3. Book a session with a trainer
  4. Pay for a full year

Explanation

The sentence lists two requirements: a photo and advance payment of the first month. A full year's payment is not requested, only one month. Trainer sessions and health tests are not mentioned in the recording.

Question 14Listening

A woman says: 'I've been trying to call the bank all morning, but the line is always engaged.' What is her problem?

  1. The bank gave her wrong information
  2. She has lost the bank's number
  3. She cannot get through on the phone Correct answer.
  4. The bank is closed

Explanation

'The line is always engaged' means the telephone is continuously busy, so she cannot connect. Nothing suggests the bank is closed or that she lacks the number. Wrong information is not part of the complaint.

Question 15Listening

You hear: 'The concert has been moved from the park to the town hall because of the weather forecast.' Why has the venue changed?

  1. Bad weather is expected Correct answer.
  2. The town hall is cheaper
  3. Too few tickets were sold
  4. The park is being repaired

Explanation

The reason is given with 'because of the weather forecast', which points to expected bad weather. Repair work, cost and ticket sales are not mentioned. Recognising cause-and-effect linkers is the key skill here.

Question 16Listening

A colleague says: 'Could you send me the report by Friday? I'll need time to read it before Monday's meeting.' What is the reason for the Friday deadline?

  1. Friday is the end of the month
  2. The meeting has been moved to Friday
  3. The colleague wants time to read it before Monday Correct answer.
  4. The report must be sent to a client on Friday

Explanation

The second sentence gives the purpose of the deadline: reading time before Monday's meeting. The client, the month end and a change of meeting day are not mentioned. The listener must link the deadline to the stated reason.

Question 17Listening

You hear: 'The flight was delayed by three hours, so we missed our connection and had to stay overnight in Amsterdam.' What was the result of the delay?

  1. They arrived home early
  2. They cancelled the trip completely
  3. They stayed a night in Amsterdam Correct answer.
  4. They caught their connection

Explanation

The chain of events is delay, missed connection, overnight stay. 'So' introduces the consequence, and the final result stated is the night in Amsterdam. The trip continued rather than being cancelled, and the connection was missed rather than caught.

Question 18Listening

A speaker says: 'Although the flat is small, it's very close to the station, which is perfect for me.' What matters most to the speaker?

  1. The age of the building
  2. The location near the station Correct answer.
  3. The price of the flat
  4. The size of the flat

Explanation

'Although' concedes the small size as a drawback, while 'perfect for me' shows what the speaker values: proximity to the station. Size is accepted rather than preferred, and price and building age are not mentioned.

Question 19Listening

You hear: 'I'm sorry, but I won't be able to make the lunch on Saturday. My sister is visiting that day.' What is the speaker doing?

  1. Politely cancelling a plan Correct answer.
  2. Inviting the listener to lunch
  3. Confirming the lunch time
  4. Asking about the listener's sister

Explanation

'I'm sorry, but I won't be able to make it' is a polite way of saying a plan cannot be kept, and the reason follows. The speaker is not inviting anyone, asking questions, or confirming a time. Recognising polite refusal language is the skill tested.

Question 20Listening

A recorded announcement says: 'Passengers travelling with children may board the plane before other passengers.' Who can board first?

  1. Passengers with children Correct answer.
  2. Passengers with hand luggage only
  3. All passengers together
  4. Passengers in window seats

Explanation

The modal 'may' grants permission to a specific group, here passengers with children, to board ahead of others. Boarding everyone together would remove the priority described. Luggage type and seat position are not conditions mentioned.

Question 21Listening

A speaker says: 'I'd have gone to the exhibition if I'd known it was on.' What do we learn?

  1. The speaker did not know about the exhibition Correct answer.
  2. The exhibition was cancelled
  3. The speaker did not want to go
  4. The speaker went to the exhibition

Explanation

The third conditional 'I'd have gone ... if I'd known' describes an unreal past situation: the speaker did not know, so did not go. It does not mean the speaker went, that the exhibition was cancelled, or that there was no interest.

Question 22Listening

You hear: 'The manager said he would look into the complaint, but he never got back to me.' What is the speaker's complaint?

  1. The manager lost the paperwork
  2. The manager was rude on the phone
  3. The manager promised to investigate but did not reply Correct answer.
  4. The manager refused to help

Explanation

'Look into' means investigate, and 'never got back to me' means no reply followed. The manager did not refuse, so the problem is unfulfilled follow-up rather than rejection. Rudeness and lost paperwork are not mentioned.

Question 23Listening

A lecturer says: 'The survey results should be treated with caution, since only fifty people took part.' What is the lecturer's point?

  1. The sample is too small to rely on Correct answer.
  2. Fifty people is a large enough group
  3. The survey was badly designed
  4. The results are completely false

Explanation

'Should be treated with caution, since...' introduces a limitation, and the reason given is the small number of participants. This is a warning about reliability, not a claim that the results are false. The design and the adequacy of fifty people are not what is being assessed.

Question 24Listening

You hear: 'It's not that I don't like the idea; it's just that we don't have the budget for it this year.' What does the speaker mean?

  1. The idea is acceptable but cannot be funded now Correct answer.
  2. The speaker has not understood the idea
  3. The budget has already been approved
  4. The idea is bad and should be dropped

Explanation

The structure 'It's not that X; it's just that Y' denies a negative reason and replaces it with another, here a lack of budget this year. So the objection is financial and temporary, not a judgement on the idea itself. Approved funding and misunderstanding are both contradicted.

Question 25Listening

A guide says: 'Had we known about the roadworks, we would have taken the coastal route.' What actually happened?

  1. They knew about the roadworks in advance
  2. They took a different route and were delayed by roadworks Correct answer.
  3. They cancelled the journey
  4. They took the coastal route

Explanation

The inverted third conditional 'Had we known...' means they did not know, so they did not take the coastal route and met the roadworks. The coastal route was the unreal alternative. The journey was not cancelled, and advance knowledge is denied.

Question 26Listening

You hear a recorded message in a shop: 'Our summer sale ends on Sunday, and everything in the store is reduced by twenty per cent until then.' What does the message tell customers?

  1. The shop closes permanently on Sunday.
  2. New stock arrives after Sunday.
  3. Only summer clothes are on sale.
  4. Prices are lower for a few more days. Correct answer.

Explanation

The speaker links the end date of the sale to a twenty per cent reduction on everything, so the useful information is that prices are currently reduced and this lasts until Sunday. Listeners must connect 'ends on Sunday' with the fact that the discount is still available now.

Question 27Listening

A woman says: 'I booked the early train, but I overslept and had to get the one at ten instead.' What happened?

  1. She changed her booking online.
  2. She arrived at the station early.
  3. She decided to travel by car.
  4. She missed her original train. Correct answer.

Explanation

Oversleeping caused her to lose the early train and take a later one, which means she missed the train she had booked. The other details in the sentence are background and do not change this outcome.

Question 28Listening

You hear a man on the phone: 'I'm ringing about the flat advertised on your website. Is the rent still the same as it says there?' What does the man want to know?

  1. When he can visit the flat
  2. How many rooms the flat has
  3. Whether the flat is still available
  4. Whether the advertised rent is current Correct answer.

Explanation

The question 'Is the rent still the same as it says there?' asks directly whether the price shown online is still accurate. A listener must identify the topic of the enquiry rather than other details about the flat.

Question 29Listening

A tour guide says: 'Please keep your bags with you at all times, as there are no lockers at the museum.' Why does she say this?

  1. Visitors must pay to leave bags at the desk.
  2. Visitors cannot leave their bags anywhere. Correct answer.
  3. The lockers are too small for large bags.
  4. The museum closes its lockers early.

Explanation

The guide gives the reason 'there are no lockers', which means there is nowhere to store bags, so visitors must carry them. The instruction follows logically from the absence of storage.

Question 30Listening

You hear: 'The café is on the ground floor, next to the lifts. Take the stairs down from the entrance and turn right.' Where is the café?

  1. On the first floor near the stairs
  2. On the ground floor beside the lifts Correct answer.
  3. Outside the main entrance
  4. Opposite the ticket desk

Explanation

The speaker states the location first and then gives directions to it, so the key information is 'ground floor, next to the lifts'. The directions confirm the position rather than changing it.

Question 31Listening

A colleague says: 'I've sent the invitation to everyone except the new intern, because she starts next week.' Why was the intern not included?

  1. She asked not to be invited.
  2. Her email address was wrong.
  3. The invitation was sent too late.
  4. She has not started work yet. Correct answer.

Explanation

The reason given is 'she starts next week', which explains that she is not yet working there. The listener must link the start date to the decision to leave her out.

Question 32Listening

You hear a radio advert: 'Join our evening art class. No experience is needed, and all materials are provided.' What does the advert say about the class?

  1. You must bring your own paints.
  2. Beginners are welcome to attend. Correct answer.
  3. The class meets in the morning.
  4. Only skilled artists may join.

Explanation

'No experience is needed' tells listeners that beginners can join, and the materials are supplied. The advert is designed to reassure people who have never painted before.

Question 33Listening

A friend says: 'I was going to buy the tickets online, but the website kept crashing, so I'll try again tomorrow.' What is the problem?

  1. The website is not working properly. Correct answer.
  2. The tickets are too expensive.
  3. The tickets have sold out.
  4. He has forgotten his password.

Explanation

'Kept crashing' describes a website that stops working repeatedly, which is why the purchase failed. The listener must understand the phrasal verb as a technical failure, not a cost or availability issue.

Question 34Listening

You hear a woman say: 'The hotel was lovely, but the room faced the main road, so I hardly slept.' What was the disadvantage of her room?

  1. It was far from the hotel restaurant.
  2. It was too small for two people.
  3. It was noisy because of traffic. Correct answer.
  4. It had no window.

Explanation

Facing the main road explains why she hardly slept, so the disadvantage is traffic noise. Listeners must infer the noise from the position of the room rather than from an explicit word like 'noisy'.

Question 35Listening

A man says: 'I'd rather not drive into the city centre on Saturday, what with the match and all.' What is he suggesting?

  1. He prefers to walk everywhere.
  2. The traffic will be heavy that day. Correct answer.
  3. The match has been cancelled.
  4. He has sold his car.

Explanation

The phrase 'what with the match and all' gives the reason for avoiding driving, implying that a football match will bring crowds and traffic. The listener must connect an event with its likely effect on the roads.

Question 36Listening

You hear a student say: 'The lecture was supposed to start at nine, but the lecturer was stuck in traffic, so we didn't begin until half past.' When did the lecture begin?

  1. At ten o'clock
  2. At nine o'clock
  3. At half past nine Correct answer.
  4. At half past eight

Explanation

The planned start was nine, but the delay pushed it to 'half past', which means 9.30. Listeners must distinguish the intended time from the actual time and understand the clock expression.

Question 37Listening

A receptionist says: 'The swimming pool is closed for repairs until Thursday, but the gym is open as usual.' What can visitors do before Thursday?

  1. Use the swimming pool only
  2. Use the gym but not the pool Correct answer.
  3. Use both the pool and the gym
  4. Use neither the pool nor the gym

Explanation

The pool is closed until Thursday, while the gym remains open, so only the gym is available in that period. The question tests the ability to combine a closure with an exception in one message.

Question 38Listening

You hear: 'I wouldn't book the cheapest flight if I were you; the change fees are enormous.' What is the speaker advising?

  1. To look for a flight with no luggage allowance
  2. To travel by train instead
  3. To cancel a flight that is already booked
  4. To pay more to avoid extra costs later Correct answer.

Explanation

The warning about high change fees implies that a slightly more expensive ticket may save money if plans change. The listener must infer the advice from a conditional warning rather than a direct instruction.

Question 39Listening

A woman says: 'My brother offered to pick me up from the airport, but I told him not to bother because my flight lands after midnight.' Why did she refuse?

  1. She does not get on with her brother.
  2. She has arranged a taxi already.
  3. The arrival time is inconvenient. Correct answer.
  4. She is travelling with too much luggage.

Explanation

The flight lands after midnight, which makes the lift inconvenient for her brother, so she declines. The listener must understand that the reason is the late hour, not a personal disagreement.

Question 40Listening

You hear a recorded announcement at a station: 'The 14.20 service to Bristol will leave from platform 6 instead of platform 2.' What has changed?

  1. The number of the train
  2. The platform the train leaves from Correct answer.
  3. The destination of the train
  4. The departure time of the train

Explanation

The announcement keeps the time, destination and service number the same and changes only the platform from 2 to 6. Listeners must identify which detail has been altered rather than assume the whole service has changed.

Question 41Listening

A manager says: 'I'm happy for you to work from home on Fridays, as long as you join the team call at ten.' What is the condition?

  1. Coming into the office on Fridays
  2. Attending the ten o'clock call Correct answer.
  3. Sending a written report each week
  4. Finishing work earlier on Fridays

Explanation

The phrase 'as long as' introduces a condition, and the condition given is joining the team call at ten. Listeners must recognise this linking phrase as marking a requirement, not an optional extra.

Question 42Listening

You hear a customer say: 'I asked for the soup without cream, and it came with cream twice.' What is the customer complaining about?

  1. The staff's attitude
  2. The order being wrong Correct answer.
  3. The price of the soup
  4. The speed of the service

Explanation

The customer specified no cream but received cream on two occasions, so the complaint is that the order was not followed. The repetition 'twice' emphasises the mistake rather than the price or the staff's manner.

Question 43Listening

A speaker says: 'The course was meant to be for beginners, but most of the people in the room had been painting for years.' What does the speaker imply?

  1. The teacher was unqualified.
  2. The speaker had never painted before.
  3. The course was too advanced for its description. Correct answer.
  4. The course was cancelled.

Explanation

If a course advertised for beginners is full of experienced painters, the level is likely to be higher than described. The listener must draw that conclusion from the contrast between the label and the reality.

Question 44Listening

You hear: 'There's a spare ticket for the theatre on Friday. Let me know by Thursday morning if you want it, because after that I'll offer it to someone else.' What should the listener do?

  1. Collect the ticket on Friday
  2. Reply before Thursday morning Correct answer.
  3. Ask for two tickets
  4. Buy a ticket at the box office

Explanation

The deadline for expressing interest is Thursday morning, after which the ticket goes to someone else. Listeners must identify the action required and the time limit attached to it.

Question 45Listening

A woman says: 'I don't mind the early starts, but standing up all day really tires me out.' What does she find difficult about her job?

  1. Working with the public
  2. The long journey to work
  3. Being on her feet for hours Correct answer.
  4. The low pay

Explanation

She accepts the early starts and identifies standing up all day as the tiring part, so the difficulty is being on her feet. The contrast word 'but' signals which point is the real complaint.

Question 46Listening

You hear a talk: 'The museum's new wing was funded entirely by a local family, not by the government, as many visitors assume.' What do many visitors wrongly believe?

  1. That the wing is closed to the public
  2. That the family owns the museum
  3. That the wing opened last year
  4. That the wing was paid for by the state Correct answer.

Explanation

The speaker contrasts the truth (a local family paid) with the common assumption, which is that the government funded it. Listeners must match 'not by the government' to the mistaken belief.

Question 47Listening

A man says: 'Had I realised the shop closed at five, I'd have left work earlier.' What do we learn?

  1. He left work earlier than usual.
  2. He did not get to the shop in time. Correct answer.
  3. He does not know the closing time.
  4. He arrived at the shop before it closed.

Explanation

The third conditional 'Had I realised... I'd have left earlier' describes an unreal past, meaning he did not leave early and therefore did not reach the shop before it closed. Recognising the inverted conditional is the key skill here.

Question 48Listening

You hear: 'The council has agreed to widen the pavement, although shopkeepers argued that it would reduce parking outside their doors.' What was the shopkeepers' concern?

  1. Noise during the construction
  2. Fewer people walking past
  3. Losing spaces for customers' cars Correct answer.
  4. The cost of the building work

Explanation

Reducing parking outside the shops was the shopkeepers' objection, since customers who drive would have nowhere to stop. The listener must connect 'reduce parking' with the worry about losing spaces.

Question 49Listening

A speaker says: 'It's not that the plan is a bad one; it's just that we've already spent our budget for this year.' What is the speaker's position?

  1. The plan has already been rejected.
  2. The plan should be delayed until next year.
  3. The plan is badly designed.
  4. The plan cannot be afforded now. Correct answer.

Explanation

The speaker separates the quality of the plan from the money available, making clear that the problem is funding, not design. The structure 'not that... it's just that...' signals which objection is the real one.

Question 50Listening

You hear a guide say: 'We had planned to visit the castle, but the bridge is closed for repairs, so we'll go to the market instead and see the castle from the outside.' What will the group do?

  1. Cancel the day's outing completely
  2. Cross the bridge to enter the castle
  3. Spend the day at the market only
  4. Visit the market and view the castle from outside Correct answer.

Explanation

The plan changes twice: the castle visit is replaced by the market, but the castle will still be seen from outside. Listeners must follow the revised arrangement rather than the original one.