Paper 2: Listening

L Overview
How long is the paper?
Where do candidates write their
answers?
How many parts are there?
What will candidates listen to?
How many times will candidates
hear the recordings?
Do candidates hear the
instructions?
About 30 minutes, which includes 8 minutes
for candidates to transfer their answers to
the answer sheet
They shade lozenges (Parts 13) or write
answers (Parts 45) on a separate answer
sheet. Candidates write directly on to the
question paper while they are listening to
the recordings, and then use the 8 minutes
at the end to transfer their answers to the
answer sheet
5 parts with 25 questions
Neutral or informal dialogues and
monologues
Each text is heard twice
Yes

Part 1 3-option multiple choice (short dialogues)

5 questions
3 visuals for each question
Candidates identify the correct visual

Part 2 Matching (longer informal dialogue)

5 items
8 options
Candidates match the options

Part 3 3-option multiple choice (longer informal or neutral dialogue)

5 questions
3 options for each
Candidates identify factual information

Part 4 Gap-ll (longer neutral or informal dialogue)

5 gaps to ll
Candidates write one or more words or numbers in the gap

Part 5 Gap-ll (longer neutral or informal monologue)

5 gaps to ll
Candidates write one or more words or numbers in the gap

21

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 Listening
L Part 1

FAQs
Q What is the focus of Part 1?
A In Part 1 candidates are tested on their ability to identify simple information that
is factual from 5 separate short conversations.
Q What kind of conversations do candidates hear?
A They are between friends or relatives, or in a familiar situation such as a shop
assistant talking to a customer.
Q What kind of information do they have to identify?
A Factual information such as prices, times, dates, directions, shapes,
descriptions of people, etc.
Q What form do the questions take?
A On the Question paper there is a question and three multiple-choice options
which are shown as pictures or drawings.
Q Does the candidate have any time to read the questions before they listen
to the recording?
A Yes, there are pauses for candidates to look at the questions and write their
answers.

Task preparation
It is important for students to develop key listening skills. What are these key
skills? Note down your ideas, then compare them with the notes below.
Key listening strategies
Picking out key information (NOT listening to every word)
Deducing meaning from context (NOT needing a dictionary for every word)
Focusing on key words (NOT listening to every single word even if it is just
structural)
Ignoring unfamiliar or unnecessary words or structures
In class, tell students about these different strategies and skills, and when you
practise listening in class try to get students to focus on a particular skill at a time.
In class you could practise by regularly telling the class a short story about yourself,
e.g. your journey to school in the morning, and ask them to count the number of
times you say the word school, or ask them to listen for what number bus you
came to school on.

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 28
Reproduced

M02_ACTI_TBR_A2GLB_4205_U02.indd 23







PAPER 2: LISTENING

Part 1 (questions 15)

from the KET for Schools Handbook for Teachers with the permission of Cambridge ESOL

k e t f o r sc h o o l s h a n d b o o k f o r te ac h e r s | pa p e r 2 : l is te n i n g | sa m p l e pa p e r

Sample Test
Activate! Teaching KET for Schools

23

7/12/09 14:58:00
 Listening
L Part 2

FAQs
Q What is the focus of Part 2?
A In Part 2 candidates are tested on their ability to identify simple information that
is factual from one longer conversation.
Q What kind of conversation do candidates hear?
A It is an informal conversation between two people who know each other.
Q What is the conversation about?
A It is usually on a subject of personal interest to the speakers that they would
talk about in real life, such as what they do in their free time, travel and so on.
Q What kind of information do candidates have to identify?
A Candidates have to match different things, for example, people with the way
they travel, or days of the week with free-time activities.
Q What form do the questions take?
A On the Question paper there are 2 lists set out in columns for the candidates
to match.
Q Does the candidate match all of the options?
A No, there are 5 items but 8 options, so there are 3 options the candidate will
not need.

Task preparation
Comment on this approach to the task.
In the pause before the tape starts, I read all the people listed on the left and then
all the options on the right. When I listen the first time I try to identify the key
words for each option, and draw an arrow in pencil to the item. When I listen the
second time I confirm my ideas.
This is a good approach to take. In class, it is useful to build up vocabulary in topic
areas such as the options so that students become familiar with listening for key
words. Play games such as saying a word and asking students to call out as many
words as they can think of connected with that word, e.g. book bookshop/
reading/pages/story.
Students can also do this themselves in groups.

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 29 k e t f o r sc h o o l s h a n d b o o k f o r te ac h e r s | pa p e r 2 : l is te n i n g | sa m p l e pa p e r

M02_ACTI_TBR_A2GLB_4205_U02.indd 25

Reproduced from the KET for Schools Handbook for Teachers with the permission of Cambridge ESOL

Part 2 (questions 610) and Part

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Part32(questions

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Sample Test

(questions1115)
PAPER 2: LISTENING

Activate! Teaching KET for Schools

25

7/12/09 14:58:01

e r s | pa p e r 2 : l is te

PA

610) and Part 3 (

 Listening
L Part 3
FAQS
Q What is the focus of Part 3?
A In Part 3, candidates have to identify simple information that is factual from
one longer conversation.
Q What kind of conversation do candidates hear?
A It is an informal or a neutral conversation between two people who know
each other.
Q What is the conversation about?
A It is usually on a subject of personal interest to the speakers that they
would talk about in real life, such as daily life and routines.

Task preparation
Look at these students statements about Part 3 of the Listening paper.
Are they true or false? What would you say to these students?
1 I dont need to listen to the instructions as I know what to do with multiple-
choice questions.
2 If I read through the questions before I listen to the recording it will be
easier to identify the answers.
3 If I miss the answer to one question I shouldnt worry about it I just wait
for the next one.
4 There is only one answer, so if I think there are two I have made a mistake.
5 If I dont know the answer I can always guess.
6 If I dont know all the words I cant answer the question.

1 False. The instructions give the topic of the text, and also tell you which
type of task you have to do.
2 True. There is time to read the questions, and doing this prepares
candidates for what they are going to hear.
3 True. It is important not to panic just because one answer is missed.
4 True. If you think there is more than one answer the rst time you listen,
then concentrate on those possibilities the second time. There is only one
answer.
5 True, but not until you have heard the recording twice and then only as
a last resort. You should always be able to nd the answer by using the
correct listening skills.
6 False. Dont worry about words you dont know, because you may be able
to guess the meaning of the word from the context. You dont need to
understand every word to identify the answers to the questions, and you
should not try to listen to every single word.

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M02_ACTI_TBR_A2GLB_4205_U02.indd 27

Part

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Part 22 (questions

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(questions 610)

Reproduced from the KET for Schools Handbook for Teachers with the permission of Cambridge ESOL

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610) and

and Part

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PAPER 2:

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Part 33 (questions

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29
29
Sample Test

(questions 1115)
2: LISTENING
1115)
LISTENING
Activate! Teaching KET for Schools

Part 2 (questions 610) and Part 3 (questions 1115)

27

7/12/09 14:58:01
PAPER 2: LISTENING
 Listening
L Parts 4 & 5
FAQS
Q What is the focus of Parts 4 and 5?
A In Parts 4 and 5 candidates are also tested on their ability to identify specic
information that is factual from a conversation or a monologue, and write it
down.
Q What do candidates hear?
A A conversation between two people or a monologue, both in a neutral,
everyday context, for example in a shop, in a school, at a station and so on. The
monologue may be a recorded message.
Q What kind of information do candidates have to identify?
A Candidates need to identify practical information, for example prices, shop
opening times, train times and so on.
Q How are Parts 4 and 5 different from Parts 13?
A The listening skills are the same, but candidates have to write their answers
instead of marking a lozenge. They may need to write a number, a price, a word
which is spelled out on the recording, etc.
Q How much do candidates have to write?
A One or two words or numbers.
Q Does spelling always have to be correct?
A Only when a word or name has been spelled out in the recording, or when it is
a simple, common word.

Task preparation
Which of the statements about listening do you agree with? Discuss your ideas.
1 Students should practise listening from the very rst lesson.
2 The best way to prepare for the listening paper is to do exam tasks all the
time.
3 Teachers should give instructions in class in English so that students get used
to following instructions given in English and extracting important information.
4 Students should be encouraged to practise listening to every word so that they
feel condent that they understand.
5 Students should practise listening in such a way as it is integrated with other
skills.

1 The more students are familiar with listening, the easier they nd it. Encourage
students to use readers with cassettes so that they become familiar with
pronunciation.
2 Of course it is important for students to be familiar with exam task types and
appropriate exam strategies, but the exams test real-life listening skills and so
it is more important to provide students with as much varied listening practice
as possible. Coursebooks, podcasts, lms and so on are very useful.
3 This is very important. Students should become familiar with everyday
situations and with picking out key words.
4 No if students feel that they have to understand every word they will panic if
they miss a word. It is better to develop listening skills and strategies so that
they can cope even when they dont understand everything.
5 Yes. If students feel that listening is part of everything they do then they will
not worry about it. Parts 4 and 5 integrate listening and writing.
28

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 30

Reproduced

M02_ACTI_TBR_A2GLB_4205_U02.indd 29

PAPER 2: LISTENING

from the KET for Schools Handbook for Teachers with the permission of Cambridge ESOL





Part 4 (questions 1620) and Part 5 (questions 2125)

k e t f o r sc h o o l s h a n d b o o k f o r te ac h e r s | pa p e r 2 : l is te n i n g | sa m p l e pa p e r

Sample Test
Activate! Teaching KET for Schools

29

7/12/09 14:58:03
 L Listening Audio Scripts

PAPER 2: LISTENING 2 Which campsite did Josh stay at last year?

Tapescript for Sample Paper Woman: Where did you go on holiday last year Josh? Did you
go to that campsite by the sea again?

Josh: We couldnt because it was full. But we found an even

This is the Cambridge Key English Test for Schools nicer one, in a forest.
Listening Sample Paper.
Woman: Are you going there again this year?
There are five parts to the test. Parts One, Two, Three, Four
and Five. Josh: My dad wants to try one in the mountains this year.

We will now stop for a moment before we start the test. PAUSE
Please ask any questions now because you must NOT
speak during the test. Now listen again.

PAUSE REPEAT
PAUSE
Now look at the instructions for Part One.
3 How much is the skirt?
PAUSE
Sophie: Mum, will you buy me this skirt?
You will hear five short conversations.
You will hear each conversation twice. Mother: How much is it, Sophie? I dont want to spend more
There is one question for each conversation. than twenty pounds.
For each question, choose the right answer, A, B or C.
Sophie: Well, this ticket says twenty-five pounds but I think
Here is an example: everything in this part of the shop is in the sale.
Which is the girls horse?
Mother: Oh yes, look, its fifteen pounds. OK then, but thats
Boy: Is that your horse over there, with the white face? the last thing Im buying today.

Girl: No. Mine is the one with two white legs. Isnt she PAUSE
pretty?
Now listen again.
Boy: Oh yes, standing next to the black one.
REPEAT
Girl: Thats right. Would you like to ride her? PAUSE

PAUSE Now listen again.

The answer is A. REPEAT

Now we are ready to start. PAUSE

*** 4 Whats the weather like now?

Look at question 1. Boy: Pete, its stopped raining. Shall we go out for a bike

PAUSE ride?

1 How many children went on the school trip? Pete: Im watching TV now. Anyway, its still cloudy. I think
its going to rain again.
Man: Did you enjoy your school trip, James? Did everyone
in your class go? Boy: Oh all right. Shall we go tomorrow if its sunny?

James: No, twelve people stayed behind, so there were Pete: Yes, OK.
eighteen of us. We had a great time.
PAUSE

Man: Where did you all sleep?

Now listen again.
James: We had small rooms with six beds in each one. It was
REPEAT
lots of fun.
PAUSE
PAUSE
5 What will the girl cook?
Now listen again.
Girl: Mum, can I do some cooking?
REPEAT
Mother: I suppose so. What do you want to make, a cake?
PAUSE
Girl: No one liked the one I made last week. Can I make
some soup this time?

k e t f o r sc h o o l s h a n d b o o k f o r te ac h e r s | pa p e r 2 : l is te n i n g | sa m p l e ta p e sc r i p t 31
The audio for this text can be downloaded from www.cambridgeesol.org/resources/teacher/ket.html
30

M02_ACTI_TBR_A2GLB_4205_U02.indd 30 7/12/09 14:58:03

 Activate! Teaching KET for Schools

Mother: OK. We can have it for lunch. Im cooking roast This is the end of Part Two.
chicken for dinner tonight.
PAUSE
PAUSE

***
Now listen again. Now look at Part Three.

REPEAT PAUSE
PAUSE
Listen to Susie talking to her friend Matt about going to the
This is the end of Part One. cinema.
For each question, choose the right answer, A, B or C.
PAUSE
You will hear the conversation twice.

*** Look at questions 1115 now. You have twenty seconds.
Now look at Part Two.
PAUSE
PAUSE
Now listen to the conversation.
Listen to Nick talking to a friend about his birthday
presents. Susie: Hi Matt. Would you like to come to the cinema with

What present did each person give him? me and Jane on Saturday? We asked Sam and Pete
too but theyre both busy.
For questions 610, write a letter AH next to each person.
Matt: What are you going to see Susie?
You will hear the conversation twice.
Susie: Field of Green. Its got Johnny Delaicey in it.
PAUSE

Matt: Oh, yes, I know. He was in Sunny Day and Heart of

Girl: Hi Nick. Whats that youre reading?
Gold. Is it on at the cinema in the shopping centre?
Nick: Its a book my cousin got me for my birthday. Its
Susie: That ones closed. Were going to the one opposite the
really interesting.
park. Its not on at the one by the market.
Girl: Oh yes, I forgot it was your birthday. What did you get
Matt: And how are you getting there?
from your mum?
Susie: My mum cant drive us, so were going to walk from
Nick: Well, I asked for a new bike, but she bought me this
my house. We can get the bus back afterwards.
phone instead. I can listen to music on it and take
pictures! Matt: OK. What time shall I be at your house then?

Girl: Oh! And what did your brother get you? A computer Susie: Well, the film starts at four-fifteen, so come at a
game? quarter to four. It takes about twenty minutes to get
there.
Nick: He bought me this jacket. Do you like it?
Matt: Fine. And how much money should I bring? Tickets
Girl: Its great. Did your aunt buy you anything?
are five pounds fifty arent they?
Nick: Well, she usually gives me money. But this year she
Susie: These are more. Theyre six pounds twenty for this
got me two tickets to see a film.
film. Im taking eight pounds so I can get a drink as
Girl: And what about your uncle? He knows a lot about well.

music doesnt he? Matt: Good idea. See you later!

Nick: Yes, he usually buys me a CD. But this time he gave PAUSE
me twenty pounds and told me to choose something
Now listen again.
myself.
REPEAT
Girl: And did your grandmother give you anything?
PAUSE
Nick: Well, I often get clothes from her, but this year she
This is the end of Part Three.
gave me a computer game. My brother helped her
choose it! PAUSE

***
PAUSE

Now listen again.

REPEAT
PAUSE

32 k e t f o r sc h o o l s h a n d b o o k f o r te ac h e r s | pa p e r 2 : l is te n i n g | sa m p l e ta p e sc r i p t
The audio for this text can be downloaded from www.cambridgeesol.org/resources/teacher/ket.html
31

M02_ACTI_TBR_A2GLB_4205_U02.indd 31 7/12/09 14:58:03

 Activate! Teaching KET for Schools

Now look at Part Four. Now look at Part Five.

PAUSE PAUSE

You will hear a girl, Milly, asking a friend about guitar You will hear a man on the radio talking about a new TV
lessons. quiz show.
Listen and complete each question. Listen and complete each question.
You will hear the conversation twice. You will hear the information twice.

PAUSE PAUSE

Milly: Hello Dan, its Milly here. Man: Now, listen carefully! I want to tell you about a new
TV quiz show for children. Its called Answer That,
Dan: Hi.
and it will be on channel five at four oclock every
Milly: Im phoning to ask about your guitar lessons. My Thursday. It will be just like the popular adult quiz
parents are thinking about buying me an electric show on the same channel on Monday afternoons.
guitar. Im sure youve all seen that!

Dan: Oh, great. Well, the teacher I go to gives lessons every Every week there will be forty-eight children on the
Saturday morning. programme. They will be in eight teams, and each
team will have six children.
Milly: Whats the teachers name?
The questions will be easy at the beginning of the
Dan: Shes called Alison Gayle. Shes very good.
quiz and then they will get more difficult. They will
Milly: How do you spell her surname? all be about films, music and TV. At the end there will
be only one team left the winners.
Dan: Its G A Y L E.
There will be some great prizes. This week the
Milly: And how much is a lesson? My parents dont want to
winners will all get a new camera. Everyone loves
pay more than thirty pounds.
taking photos. Next week the first prize is a laptop. If
Dan: Its twenty-six pounds fifty for an hour. But you can you would like to be on Answer That, then call
have a shorter lesson if you like. I pay seventeen 05735 789 655. Just give your name, age and school
pounds fifty for forty minutes. address, and maybe you will be on TV soon!

Milly: That sounds good. And where do you have the PAUSE
lessons? At her house?
Now listen again.
Dan: Thats right. She lives at 34 Purley Lane. Its close to
REPEAT
the city centre. Youll find it easily.
PAUSE
Milly: Have you got her phone number?
This is the end of Part Five.
Dan: Yes, its 01253 664 783.

***
Milly: Thanks Dan. Ill call her tonight. You now have eight minutes to write your answers on the

Dan: OK. Make sure you call between six oclock and answer sheet.

nine oclock. She doesnt like it if people call later PAUSE

than that.
You have one more minute.
Milly: All right. Thanks for your help Dan.
PAUSE
PAUSE
This is the end of the test.
Now listen again.

REPEAT
PAUSE

This is the end of Part Four.

PAUSE

***

k e t f o r sc h o o l s h a n d b o o k f o r te ac h e r s | pa p e r 2 : l is te n i n g | sa m p l e ta p e sc r i p t 33
The audio for this text can be downloaded from www.cambridgeesol.org/resources/teacher/ket.html
32

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 Listening
L PAPER 2: LISTENING
Answer key
Answer Key

PART ONE PART TWO PART THREE PART FOUR PART FIVE

1 C 6 F 11 B 16 (Alison) GAYLE 21 Thursday (s)

2 B 7 D 12 C 17 () 26.50 (per hour) Thurs

3 A 8 C 13 B 18 city centre 22 8

4 C 9 G 14 A city center eight

5 A 10 E 15 B 19 01253 664 783 23 (Films, TV and) music

20 (before) 9 (.00) (oclock) (p.m.) 24 (a new) camera

(before) NINE (oclock) (p.m.) 25 05735 789 655

Brackets ( ) indicate optional words.

34 k e t f o r sc h o o l s h a n d b o o k f o r te ac h e r s | pa p e r 2 : l is te n i n g | a ns w e r k e y
Reproduced from the KET for Schools Handbook for Teachers with the permission of Cambridge ESOL 33

M02_ACTI_TBR_A2GLB_4205_U02.indd 33 7/12/09 14:58:03

 Activate! Teaching KET for Schools

PAPER 2: LISTENING
Answer Sheet: Listening
Answer sheet

Candidate Name Centre No.

If not already printed, write name
in CAPITALS and complete the
Candidate No. grid (in pencil).

Candidate Signature Candidate No.

0 0 0 0
1 1 1 1
Examination Title Examination
2 2 2 2
Details
3 3 3 3
Centre
4 4 4 4
5 5 5 5
Supervisor: 6 6 6 6
If the candidate is ABSENT or has WITHDRAWN shade here 7 7 7 7
8 8 8 8
9 9 9 9

KET Paper 2 Listening Candidate Answer Sheet

Instructions
Use a PENCIL (B or HB).
Rub out any answer you want to change with an eraser.
For Parts 1, 2 and 3:
Mark ONE letter for each question.
For example, if you think C is the right answer to the 0 A B C
question, mark your answer sheet like this:

Part 1 Part 2 Part 3

1 A B C 6 A B C D E F G H 11 A B C
2 A B C 7 A B C D E F G H 12 A B C
3 A B C 8 A B C D E F G H 13 A B C
4 A B C 9 A B C D E F G H 14 A B C
5 A B C 10 A B C D E F G H 15 A B C

For Parts 4 and 5:

Write your answers in the spaces next to the
numbers (16 to 25) like this:
0

Do not Do not
Part 4 write here Part 5 write here
1 16 0 1 21 0
16 21
1 17 0 1 22 0
17 22
1 18 0 1 23 0
18 23
1 19 0 1 24 0
19 24
1 20 0 1 25 0
20 25

KET L DP314/088

k e t f o r sc h o o l s h a n d b o o k f o r te ac h e r s | pa p e r 2 : l is te n i n g | a ns w e r s h e e t 35

34 Reproduced from the KET for Schools Handbook for Teachers with the permission of Cambridge ESOL

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