Know the test

  • about 30 minutes
  • extra 10 minutes at the end
  • 40 questions
  • 4 sections of 10 questions
  • answers are always in order
  • only 3 main types of question(gap-fill, multiple choice, matching)
  • various English accents

Section 1

  • two speakers
  • an ‘everyday’ conversation
    e.g. making a booking
    -one speaker gives basic information
  • simple gap-fill: missing details
  • names, addresser, dates, times, numbers
  • section 1 is easy, but you need a high score(9 or 10 correct)

Key techniques

Use the breaks to read ahead

  • before each section starts
  • in the middle of each section(except in section 4)
  • at the end of each section
  • Don’t check back, read ahead

Section 2

  • use all of the break time at the end of section 1
  • one speaker only
  • a short speech about a non-academic topic
    e.g. tourism, a park, local facilities
  • gap-fill, multiple choice, matching
  • break in the middle
  • still quite easy, aim for a high score

Section 3

  • use breaks to read and underline
  • two or three speakers
  • conversation related to education or training
    e.g. tutor and student
  • gap-fill, multiple choice(difficult)
  • underline keywords in questions and choices
  • listen for keywords or synonyms
  • difficult section, aim for 6 or 7

Section 4

  • use break at the end of section 3
  • underline keywords
  • no break in the middle!
  • one speaker only
  • speech about an academic topic
  • gap-fill, multiple choice
  • listen for keywords or synonyms
  • difficult: faster speech, more content, extra information