FCE PAPER 4 LISTENING

GENERAL DESCRIPTION

Paper format The paper contains four parts. Each part contains a recorded text or texts and corresponding comprehension tasks. Each part is heard twice.
Timing Approximately 40 minutes.
No. of parts 4.
No. of questions 30.
Task types Multiple choice, sentence
completion,multiple matching.
Text types Monologues: answerphone messages, information lines, commentaries, radio documentaries and features, instructions, lectures, news, public announcements, publicity and advertisements, reports, speeches, stories and anecdotes, talks. Interacting speakers: conversations, discussions, interviews, quizzes, radio plays, transactions.
Answer format Candidates are advised to write their answers in the spaces provided on the question paper while listening. There will be 5 minutes at the end of the test to copy the answers onto a separate answer sheet. Candidates indicate their answers by shading the correct lozenges or writing the required word or words in capital letters in a box on the answer sheet.
Recording The instructions for each task are information given in the question paper, and are also heard on the recording. These instructions include the announcement of pauses of specified lengths, during which candidates can familiarise themselves with the task and, for some items, predict some of the things they are likely to hear. A variety of voices, styles of delivery and accents will be heard in each Listening paper to reflect the various contexts presented in the recordings, as appropriate to the international contexts of the test takers.
Marks Each correct answer receives 1 mark.

STRUCTURE AND TASKS

PART 1

Task type and focus Multiple choice. General gist, detail, function, purpose, attitude, opinion, relationship, topic, place, situation, genre, agreement, etc.
Format A series of short unrelated extracts, of approximately 30 seconds each, from monologues or exchanges between interacting speakers. There is one multiplechoice question per text, each with three options.
No. of questions 8.

PART 2

Task type and focus Sentence completion. Detail, specific information, stated opinion.
Format A monologue or text involving interacting speakers and lasting approximately 3 minutes. Candidates are required to complete the sentences with information heard on the recording.
No. of questions 10.

PART 3

Task type and focus Multiple matching. General gist, detail, function, purpose, attitude, opinion, relationship, topic, place, situation, genre, agreement, etc.
Format Five short related monologues, of approximately 30 seconds each. The multiple-matching questions require selection of the correct option from a list of six.
No. of questions 5.

PART 4

Task type and focus Multiple choice. Opinion, attitude, gist, main idea, specific information.
Format A monologue or text involving interacting speakers and lasting approximately 3 minutes. There are seven multiple-choice questions, each with three options.
No. of questions 7.



PRACTICE TEST 1
PAPER 4: LISTENING

          Test1 Part 1 (questions 1–8) (Multiple Choice)

          Test1 Part 2 (questions 9–18) (Sentence Completion)

          Test1 Part 3 (questions 19–23) (Multiple Matching)

          Test1 Part 4 (questions 24–30) (Multiple Choice)



PRACTICE TEST 2
PAPER 4: LISTENING

          Test 2 Part 1 (questions 1–8) (Multiple Choice)

          Test 2 Part 2 (questions 9–18) (Sentence Completion)

          Test 2 Part 3 (questions 19–23) (Multiple Matching)

          Test 2 Part 4 (questions 24–30) (Multiple Choice)






Adapted from the 'FCE Handbook', which is available to order from Cambridge ESOL.