Listening Success: A Guide to the A2 Key (KET)
Philo and Sophia practise every part of the Listening paper together
1The Five Listening Parts, at a Glance
2Part 1: Short Dialogues
You hear five short conversations. For each one, you choose which of three pictures matches what you heard — for example, what someone is buying, wearing, or planning to do.
Woman: Yes, I wanted the red scarf, but you don't have my size. I'll just take the blue one instead.
Man: Good choice — that colour suits most people.
What will the woman buy?
The red scarf is mentioned first as a distractor — she couldn't get it in her size, so she chooses blue instead. Listening exams often mention the wrong answer before the right one.
3Part 2: Gap-Fill Notes
You hear one longer monologue — an announcement, a message, or someone giving information — and complete notes or a form with the missing words or numbers.
Map Room open until: 6 o'clock
Before leaving, collect: borrowed scrolls
Strategy
The gaps almost always need a number, a time, a name, or a single specific word — not a full sentence. Write down exactly what you hear; don't try to paraphrase it.
4Part 3: Long Dialogue
You hear one longer conversation between two people, then answer five three-option questions about what was said.
Philo: It's supposed to clear up by the afternoon, actually. Why don't we go then instead?
Sophia: That works better for me anyway — I have a lesson in the morning.
When will they go to the harbour?
The morning plan is mentioned first, then changed — the actual plan (afternoon) comes from Philo's suggestion, confirmed by Sophia's reply.
5Part 4: Short Exchanges
You hear five short, separate conversations (not connected to each other), each with one question — usually about an opinion, a feeling, or the main point of what was said.
Man: Honestly? The actors were wonderful, but it went on far too long. I was ready to leave after the second hour.
What did the man think of the play?
He praises the acting directly, so the overall opinion is mixed, not entirely negative — the answer must account for both halves of what he says.
6Part 5: Matching
You hear one longer dialogue and match five items (often people, or things they want) to a list of eight options — three of the options won't be used at all.
Strategy
Look at all eight options before you listen and think about how they might differ from each other. As you listen, cross off options as they're ruled out — by the end, the unused three should stand out clearly.
7How Listening Is Scored
25 marks total — one per question, no penalty for guessing
Listening marks are combined with Speaking to make up half of the overall exam result, alongside Reading and Writing for the other half. As with Reading, always write something for every question — a guess still has a chance, a blank never does.