LISTENING

STRATEGIES
LISTENING COMPREHENSION FORMAT

• Listening Comprehension actually tests both your listening ability and your reading skills
since you must understand both the material on the audio and the answer choices written in
your test book.
• Many test takers find the Listening Comprehension section the most difficult. Because it is
given first, you may be more nervous during this part of the test.
• Furthermore, it is difficult to understand voices on audio (just as it is on the telephone or
radio) because you can't see the speakers' gestures, facial expressions, or lip movements as
you can during "live" listening
GENERAL STRATEGIES 3
GENERAL STRATEGIES 4
GENERAL STRATEGIES 5
 PART A DIALOGS 6

• The first part of the Listening Comprehension section consists of spoken dialogs
(conversations) between two speakers. A third speaker asks a question about what was
said or implied in the conversation.
• You must decide which of the four answer choices printed in your test book is the best
answer for the question you hear and then mark that choice on your answer sheet.
Between each of the dialogs is a twelve-second pause.
• There are thirty dialogs.
PART A DIALOGS 7
PART A DIALOGS 8
PART A DIALOGS 9
PART A DIALOGS 10
 PART B EXTENDED CONVERSATIONS 11

• The second part of the Listening Comprehension section consists of

longer conversations between a man and a woman or (sometimes)
between two men or two women.
• Each conversation lasts from thirty to ninety seconds. It is preceded by
brief introductory comments. After each of the conversations, there are
from three to five questions. The questions are separated by a twelve-
second pause.
• You must decide which one of the four answer choices in your test book
is the best answer for the question, then mark that answer on your
answer sheet.
• You're not permitted to take notes. There are two longer conversations.
PART B EXTENDED CONVERSATIONS 12
PART B EXTENDED CONVERSATIONS 13
PART C MINI-TALKS 14

• The third part of Section 1 consists of Mini-Talks. These are

monologues (talks involving only one speaker).
• Each Mini-Talk lasts from thirty to ninety seconds.
• Like the Extended Conversations, they are preceded by introductory
comments. After each talk, there are from three to five questions. The
questions arc separated by a twelve-second pause.
• You have to decide which of the four answer choices in the test book
best answers the question, then mark that answer on your answer sheet.
You are not allowed to take notes.
• There are three Mini-Talks.
PART C MINI-TALKS 15
PART C MINI-TALKS 16