Question 1

How is the Listening Test structured?

Accepted Answer

Six parts, roughly 47 to 55 minutes total. Practice Task, Problem Solving, Daily Life Conversation, Information, News Item, Discussion, Viewpoints. Question counts vary by part. Multiple choice throughout, with audio played one time only.

Question 2

Can I replay the audio if I miss something?

Accepted Answer

No. Audio plays once, just like on the real test. Note-taking on scratch paper is allowed and encouraged. Our practice replicates this behavior. If you replay audio while practising, you'll be unprepared for test day.

Question 3

Should I take notes during Listening?

Accepted Answer

Yes, but keep them short. Capture names, numbers, key actions, and contrasts. The trap is over-writing and missing the next sentence. The best note-takers jot a few abbreviations and then look up.

Question 4

What CLB do most candidates score in Listening?

Accepted Answer

Listening tends to be the highest-scoring section for non-native speakers exposed to North American English through media. Hitting CLB 9 or higher is achievable with focused practice. The hardest part for most test-takers is Viewpoints, where speakers express nuanced opinions across longer stretches of audio.

L4Listening to a News Item Practice

Listening Test — FAQ