Listening Success: A Guide to the B2 First (FCE)

Philo and Sophia practise every part of the Listening paper together

≈40 minutes 4 parts · 30 questions Every recording is played twice

1The Four Listening Parts, at a Glance

Part 1

8 short unrelated clips

Part 2

One monologue · sentence completion

Part 3

5 related monologues · matching

Part 4

One interview · 7 questions

SophiaAt B2, the recordings run longer and the accents and speeds are more natural — no more slow, careful dialogue written just for learners.

PhiloSo the questions test whether I can follow real speech, not just recognise a few key words.

2Part 1: Short Unrelated Extracts

Eight short, unconnected recordings of about 30 seconds each, each followed by one three-option multiple-choice question about gist, detail, opinion, or context.

Example Speaker: I'd been putting it off for months, if I'm honest — not because I didn't want to go, but because every time I planned it, something else came up. In the end I just booked it without telling anyone, so I couldn't change my mind.

Why did the speaker book the trip the way she did?

A She had finally found free time.
B She wanted to stop herself cancelling again.
C Someone else persuaded her to go.

"so I couldn't change my mind" is the key phrase — the booking method itself was a strategy against her own hesitation.

3Part 2: Sentence Completion

One longer monologue (3–4 minutes) with ten gapped sentences to complete, usually with a word or short phrase taken directly from what's said.

The speaker first became interested in the subject at the age of nine
She describes her early attempts as clumsy but enthusiastic
Her biggest turning point came after meeting a visiting scholar

Strategy

The gapped sentences follow the recording's order, and the missing words are usually exact wording from the speaker — resist the urge to summarise in your own words.

4Part 3: Multiple Matching

Five short, related monologues (around 30 seconds each, all on a shared theme) are matched against eight options — three options are never used.

Option	Description
A	Speaker regrets a decision made too quickly.
B	Speaker changed their mind after advice from a friend.
C	Speaker is proud of a decision others doubted.

Strategy

Because all five speakers discuss the same theme, focus on what makes each one's story unique — the specific reason, feeling, or outcome that no other speaker mentions.

5Part 4: Interview or Exchange

One longer interview or conversation (3–4 minutes) between two speakers, with seven three-option questions on opinion, attitude, and detailed meaning.

Example Interviewer: Some people say translation loses more than it keeps. Do you agree?
Translator: I used to think so, early in my career — I was almost apologetic about it. Now I'd say translation adds something too; it's a different work, not a lesser one.

How has the translator's view changed over time?

A She now agrees translation loses too much.
B She now sees translation as its own kind of work.
C She has always defended translation strongly.

"I used to think so... Now I'd say" signals a change over time — the answer must capture that shift, not just her current or past view alone.

6How Listening Is Scored

Part 1

8 marks

Part 2

10 marks

Part 3

5 marks

Part 4

7 marks

30 marks total, one per question, no penalty for guessing. As always: never leave a gap blank.