Listening 2 - Sentence completion

Task information

• In Part 2 you will hear a monologue lasting three to four minutes.

• Part 2 tests your understanding of detail, stated opinion, and specific information. 

• You have to listen for particular words, phrases, or numbers to complete ten sentences. You should write these down exactly as you hear them.

• The 1–3 words you have to write will not be above First level.

• Sometimes words or names may be spelt out. If so, you must spell them correctly.

• All the questions follow the order of the information in the recording, and for each one you will hear a ‘cue’ that indicates an answer is coming. 

Action plan

1. Read the introduction and the title to help you understand the context and topic.

2. Use the preparation time to read the questions carefully before you listen.

3. Try to predict what sort of word is needed in each gap. For example, is it a noun? If so, is it singular or plural?

4. Remember that the answers will come in the order of the questions.

5. You will hear a word or phrase in the recording that matches something on the question paper. This will give you a clue that the answer is coming soon.

6. Remember that the answers are short - usually, one to three words - and are often nouns.

7. You do not need to make any grammatical changes to what you hear.

8. Never leave a blank. Make a logical guess - you may be lucky.

9. At the end of the test, carefully transfer your answers to the answer sheet. As you transfer your answers, check your spelling and grammar and that what you have written makes sense.