Candidates will be given approximately 40 minutes to complete the CAE listening exam
The paper contains four parts. Each part contains a recorded text or texts and corresponding comprehension tasks. Each part is heard twice.
PART 1
This test takes the form of three short extracts from exchanges between interacting speakers with two multiple-choice questions on each extract. There are 6 questions and each correct answer is worth 1 mark.
The focus is on feeling, attitude, opinion, purpose, function, agreement, course of action, gist, detail.
Texts are taken from a wide range of real-life contexts and, therefore, contain a correspondingly wide range of topics, voices and styles of delivery.
PART 2
This test is a monologue lasting approximately 3 minutes. Candidates are required to complete the sentences with information (specific information, stated opinion) heard on the recording. There are 8 questions and each correct answer is worth 1 mark.
There is one gap per sentence, which is completed by a single word or short phrase from the listening text.
Correct spelling is expected at this level. Both US and British English spellings are accepted.
PART 3
The text is approximately 3–4 minutes in length and typically takes the form of a broadcast interview or discussion aimed at a non-specialist audience. There are six multiple-choice questions, each with four options. Each correct answer is worth 1 mark.
The focus is on the attitude and opinions of speakers, both explicitly stated and implied. The questions may also focus on either detailed or gist understanding, and test feeling, purpose, function and agreement. Questions follow the order of information presented in the text.
PART 4
The text is 3–4 minutes in length with each monologue lasting approximately 30 seconds. The monologues represent spontaneous speech, delivered in an informal spoken style by speakers with a range of backgrounds and voices. Each multiple-matching task requires selection of the correct options from a list of eight. There are 10 questions and each correct answer is worth 1 mark.
Each task of this multi-matching exercise focuses on a different aspect of gist understanding, for example: interpreting context; identifying main points, attitudes, feelings and opinions; or speaker purpose.
Tips!
Before each text is heard, you will have time to read through and think about the questions. You should use this time to familiarise yourself with the task and begin to make predictions about what you are likely to hear.
You should listen regularly to a variety of audio materials. During the exam you will hear different accents, different speeds of speaking and different contexts e.g. formal announcements, lectures, less formal talks, informal discussions, interviews, etc