Listening
Part 4
B2 First Exam
Introduction - Listening Part 4
Part 4 of the B2 First Listening exam is usually an interview or a conversation between 2 or more people. You have to answer 7 multiple choice questions about what you hear.
What happens
You will hear an introduction about what the task is about. This is written on the exam paper as well.
Then you will have 1 minute (60 seconds) to look at the questions.
The recording will start after that.
The recording will be repeated with little time between both recordings.
Before Listening
You will have 1 minute (60 seconds) to read the text before the audio begins
Take this time to read the questions and underline keywords
Focus on the questions ONLY and don't read the options for now. You won't have time to read the options.
While Listening
This is often an interview, so someone will be asking questions to an interviewee. Usually there is one question on the exam paper for each question in the interview.
Answer the question first without looking at the options. When you think you know an answer, look at the options and see which one best matches.
Remember that you get to listen twice, so you will be able to check your answers.
Tips
Never assume what the answer is. Always select the answer according to what you hear.
When you begin to hear an answer, listen to the entire passage. Words like however or but can change the entire meaning of a phrase, so Cambridge likes to use these.
When practicing, if you get something wrong, look at the transcript and understand why your answer is wrong.
All answers come in the same order as the questions.
The answer will probably use different words than you hear. Cambridge loves paraphrasing and using synonyms. So, if you hear the the exact same words that you see in an option, that option probably is not the right answer.
Don't worry if you don't know every word. Try to guess the meaning of new words from context. The reading and listening tests intentionally include vocabulary above your level because test makers know you will have to deal with unfamiliar words in the real world.
Transferring Answers
After this part of the exam:
you will have 5 minutes to transfer your answers to the answer sheet if doing the paper-based exam
you will have 2 minutes to check your answers if doing the computer-based exam
Make sure to write everything in the correct spaces.
ALWAYS WRITE IN CAPITAL LETTERS.
Do this part in pencil.
If you don't know an answer, just guess. You do not lose points for incorrect answers.