FCE

LISTENING GUIDE
Exam structure and tasks
Tips and activities

FCE TIPS FOR LISTENING PAPER

(40 min)
DO
Part 1 Short unrelated extracts, multiple choice questions
Look carefully at the question for each listening text and underline the key
words.
Read the three options and think of words that are associated with them.
The listening texts are dialogues or monologues. The answer may come at the
beginning, in the middle or at the end of the listening text.
Dont worry about understanding every word or phrase from an answer; do not
assume that this is the correct answer.
Don't rush to choose an answer just because you hear one word or phrase
concentrate on the overall meaning.
Decide on an option after the first listening. Use the second listening to check
your answers and/or to check that the other options are wrong.
If youre not sure about what the correct answer is, make a guess.
Transfer your answers accurately to the answer sheet.
Part 2 short talk or lecture, sentence completion

Read the instructions and think about the topic before you listen.
You will be given some time before you listen. Use this time to go through the
questions carefully, to look carefully at what is printed before and after the gap
and think about the sort of information that is missing.
Remember that the questions follow the order of the text.
You will hear the word or words you need for each question, but the rest of the
sentence will be slightly different.
Don't rephrase what you hear; write down the exact word(s) or figure(s) that you
hear on the recording.
Don't complicate your answer by writing extra, irrelevant information.
Answer all the questions, even if you're not sure.
Write only the missing information on the answer sheet.

Part 3 Short related monologues, multiple matching questions

Read the instructions carefully to identify what the speakers will be talking
about.
Before you listen, look at each option and think of how these ideas can be
expressed.
If a speaker mentions a word from the options, think carefully before you choose
that option; it may be that the word is used in a different meaning.
Don't rush to choose an answer just because you hear one word or phrase
concentrate on the overall meaning.
All the speakers will be talking about the same topic (subject, experience,
feeling, job, etc). You need to focus on the differences between the speakers.
Answer all the questions, even if you're not sure.
Transfer your answers accurately to the answer sheet.

Part 4 Interview or conversation, multiple choice questions

You will be given some time before you listen. Read the questions or question
stems carefully. Read the options carefully and underline the key words.
Be careful: an option may include words or phrases from the recording, but this
does not necessarily mean that the option is correct. Don't rush to choose an
answer just because you hear one word or phrase concentrate on the overall
meaning.
The questions follow the order of the text.
Answer all the questions, even if you're not sure.
Transfer your answers accurately to the answer sheet.
DON'T
Don't spend too much time on a question you are having difficulty with as you
may miss the next question.

Exam Folders listenings (Objective First Book)

available in:
(copy the link)
https://drive.google.com/drive/folders/0B6yK
DaoRYsI6R21McHN3Y2J0cXc?usp=sharing