Listening Part 2 is called Listening to a Daily Life Conversation. It has 5 questions. The audio plays once, so you need a plan for your first and only listen.
1.What the task is
This is task number 2 in CELPIP General Listening. You listen to a conversation about daily life and answer 5 questions about it.
- The audio plays once.
- Every question is multiple choice.
- You do not get a second chance to hear the conversation.
2.How it is scored
Each answer is simply right or wrong. There is no penalty for a wrong answer. The Listening score is based on 38 scored items.
Levels 4 to 12 map one to one to CLB 4 to 12. So a level 7 result matches CLB 7. If you aim for CLB 6 to 9, every correct answer helps.
3.A plan that fits most tasks
- Find the situation first. Ask yourself who is talking, where they are and what they need to decide.
- Listen for reasons, not only facts. Questions often ask why something happens, not just what happens.
- Watch for changes. People in daily conversations often correct a time, a place or a plan. The last version is usually the one that counts.
- Notice attitude. Words like "I guess" or "I would love to" show whether a speaker is unsure, happy or annoyed.
- Do not stop on a missed word. The audio plays once. Let it go and keep following the main idea.
- Choose and move on. Pick the best answer and focus on the next question.
- Answer every question. A wrong answer costs nothing, so never leave one blank.
4.A worked example
This script and these questions are original and were written for this guide.
Maya: Hi Tom, are you still coming to the community garden on Saturday?
Tom: I want to, but my car is at the garage. It will not be ready until Monday.
Maya: No problem. I can pick you up. But we start at nine, not ten as I said before.
Tom: Nine is early, but fine. Should I bring gloves?
Maya: We have extra gloves. Please bring a water bottle. It will be hot.
Tom: Okay. See you at 8:40.
Question 1. Why can Tom not drive to the garden? A. He is busy on Saturday. B. His car is being repaired. C. He does not have gloves.
Answer: B. Tom says his car is at the garage and will not be ready until Monday. He never says he is busy, and gloves are not a problem because Maya has extra.
Question 2. What time does the activity start? A. At ten. B. At nine. C. At 8:40.
Answer: B. Maya corrects herself. Ten was the old time. Nine is the new one. The time 8:40 is when Maya will pick Tom up, not when the activity starts.
Question 3. What does Maya ask Tom to bring? A. Gloves. B. A water bottle. C. Food.
Answer: B. Gloves are mentioned, but Maya says she has extra. The request is the water bottle, and the reason is the heat.
5.Common mistakes
- Choosing the first time or place you hear and missing the correction that comes later.
- Picking an answer because it repeats words from the audio. The words may be used for a different point.
- Mixing up two details in the same conversation, like the start time and the pickup time.
- Stuck thinking about one missed word while the next answer goes by.
- Leaving a question blank. There is no penalty for a wrong answer.
6.Next step
Practise with the audio played once, as in the real task. Try a free Listening to a Daily Life Conversation set.