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Hi! We’re glad to present our new audio lesson to everyone interested in learning English and passing their official exams. Today we’ll discuss the FCE Listening Part 1. As usual, only practical advice and examples are the major part of this lesson. Let’s get started!
What’s the FCE Listening Part 1?
The FCE Listening Part 1 consists of 8 unrelated excerpts from monologues or dialogues. There’s one three-option multiple-choice question per each excerpt. You need to choose one correct option A, B or C. You will hear each extract twice.
What does FCE Listening Part 1 test?
This part tests your ability to understand details, the main idea, reasons or purposes being expressed.
How is FCE Listening Part 1 marked?
You’re given one mark for each correct answer.
Strategy
I’ve already explained the general approach to deal with the listening paper of the FCE in the previous audio lesson.
Now, let’s talk about the way to better your result of this particular part of the exam paper.
- Before each excerpt, you have some seconds to get familiar with the question and the options. Make the best of it! That is to say, read them carefully and underline the key words. Every time I insist on the importance of key words. It’s they which lead you to the right answer.
- As I’ve already said, you hear each extract twice. So, listen for the first time carefully, make sure you listen to all the three options, then choose the one that seems appropriate to you but do not tick any answer yet. Note: even if you are almost sure about a chosen option, do not haste to tick it, listen till the end.
- Listen for the second time and now yes, tick the right option.
- Do the same with the rest of the questions.
Examples and tips
Let’s practise. I’ll read you an example and a question with 3 options, and then explain how to figure out the correct answer.
You hear a woman talking to a friend on her mobile.
I don’t mind when you come over, as long as it’s not too late – 6:30 would be fine and give us time to have a really good chat. Is that okay? I have to get up on Thursday morning, because I have to get the earlier flight. I’d booked myself on a 10 o’clock one, but that’s been cancelled. There’s another one in the afternoon, but I’d miss the meeting if I took this one. It’s a bit of a nuisance, but there you go. Anyway, it’ll be great to see you.
Now I’ll repeat like in the exam.
The question is:
Why is she phoning?
A to explain a delay
B to change some plans
C to make an arrangement
TIP 1
Pay attention to the question and focus on the key words. In this case, they are ‘why’ and ‘phoning’. Then focus on the options. ‘Explain a delay’, ‘change some plans’, ‘make an arrangement’ are the ideas to choose from.
TIP 2
Get ready to be confused by the task and the recording. They will always mention every point from the option. As it’s clear from this example, the woman explains something, says something about her plans and arrangement. So, where is the true answer?
TIP 3
Never try to interpret what is said. Analyze instead basing on the message. Pay attention to small things.
- Is the woman explaining a delay? No. She’s explaining the cancellation of her flight. So, option A is not right.
- Yes, she’s speaking about her plans. But is it about changing them? No. It’s about arranging a get-together with her somebody. So, option B is not correct either.
- Is she arranging anything? Yes. She offers the hour, hopes to have time for a good chat, asks for her friend’s/acquaintance’s opinion and concludes with “anyway, it’ll be great to see you”, which is all together is the main idea of the message – making an arrangement. So, option C is the correct one, the woman is phoning to make an arrangement.
Well, this is how you should think about the task.
I think it’s enough for today. If you consider it to be useful, share the podcast on social networking sites. You can always contact us via our website abc-englishlevels.com. There you can find all the info on our courses including our new one eLive course.
That’s all for today. Thank you for being with us. That was ABC Engish Levels and Valentine. We wish all the best and hope to have you with us next week. Good luck!
