Type - Matching

Candidates are required to match a numbered list of items from the listening text to a set of options on the question paper. The set of options may be criteria of some kind.

Note: Matching assesses the skill of listening for detail and whether a test taker can understand information given in a conversation on an everyday topic, such as the different types of hotel or guest house accommodation. It also assesses the ability to follow a conversation between two people. It may also be used to assess test takers’ ability to recognise relationships and connections between facts in the listening text.

Practice Test

Type - Plan/Map/Diagram Labelling

Candidates are required to complete labels on a plan (eg of a building), map (eg of part of a town) or diagram (e.g. of a piece of equipment).

Select answer from the list of options on the test screen. And, choose the correct answer.

Note: This type of task assesses the ability to understand, for example, a description of a place, and to relate this to a visual representation. This may include being able to follow language expressing spatial relationships and directions (e.g. straight on/through the far door).

Practice Test

Type - Form Completion

Candidates are required to fill in the gaps in an outline of part or of all of the listening text. The outline will focus on the main ideas/facts in the text.

You either have to select your answer from a list of options given on the screen or question paper and write down the correct answer. Or identify the missing words from the recording. You do not have to change the words (i.e. write the word as it is) if selected from the recording.

Note: This focuses on the main points which a listener would naturally record in this type of situation.

Practice Test

Type - Note Completion

Candidates are required to fill in the gaps in an outline of part or of all of the listening text. The outline will focus on the main ideas/facts in the text.

A set of notes: used to summarise any type of information using the layout to show how different items relate to one another

You either have to select your answer from a list of options given on the screen or question paper and write down the correct answer. Or identify the missing words from the recording. You do not have to change the words (i.e. write the word as it is) if selected from the recording.

Note: This focuses on the main points which a listener would naturally record in this type of situation.

Practice Test

Type - Table Completion

Candidates are required to fill in the gaps in an outline of part or of all of the listening text. The outline will focus on the main ideas/facts in the text.

A table: used as a way of summarising information which relates to clear categories – e.g. place/time/price

You either have to select your answer from a list of options given on the screen or question paper and write down the correct answer. Or identify the missing words from the recording. You do not have to change the words (i.e. write the word as it is) if selected from the recording.

Note: This focuses on the main points which a listener would naturally record in this type of situation.

Practice Test

Type - Flow-chart Completion

Candidates are required to fill in the gaps in an outline of part or of all of the listening text. The outline will focus on the main ideas/facts in the text.

A flow-chart: used to summarise a process which has clear stages, with the direction of the process shown by arrows.

You either have to select your answer from a list of options given on the screen or question paper and write down the correct answer. Or identify the missing words from the recording. You do not have to change the words (i.e. write the word as it is) if selected from the recording.

Note: This focuses on the main points which a listener would naturally record in this type of situation.

Practice Test

Type - Summary Completion

Candidates are required to fill in the gaps in an outline of part or of all of the listening text. The outline will focus on the main ideas/facts in the text.

In this question type, you have to fill in the gaps provided in the summary in context to the recording.

You either have to select your answer from a list of options given on the screen or question paper and write down the correct answer. Or identify the missing words from the recording. You do not have to change the words (i.e. write the word as it is) if selected from the recording.

Note: This focuses on the main points which a listener would naturally record in this type of situation.

Practice Test

Type - Sentence Completion

Test takers are required to read a set of sentences summarising key information from all the listening text or from one part of it. They then fill a gap in each sentence using information from the listening text. A word limit is given, for example, ‘NO MORE THAN ONE WORD AND/OR A NUMBER’.

Candidates are penalised for writing more than the stated number of words. (Test takers should check this word limit carefully for each task: the limit is either ONE, TWO or THREE words). Contracted words will not be tested. Hyphenated words count as single words.

Note: Sentence completion focuses on the ability to identify the key information in a listening text. Test takers have to understand functional relationships such as cause and effect.

Practice Test

Type - Short Answer Questions

Test takers are required to read a question and then write a short answer using information from the listening text.

A word limit is given, for example, ‘NO MORE THAN THREE WORDS AND/OR A NUMBER’. Test takers are penalised for writing more than the stated number of words. (Test takers should check this word limit carefully for each task.) Contracted words will not be tested.

Hyphenated words count as single words. Sometimes test takers are given a question which asks them to list two or three points.

Note: Sentence completion focuses on the ability to listen for concrete facts, such as places, prices or times, within the listening text.

Practice Test