Example transcript extract
Section 1 style: Booking a class
Staff: Our beginner pottery class usually costs thirty pounds per session. Caller: Okay, that sounds reasonable. Staff: Actually, hold on — if you book a block of six sessions together, it works out at twenty-two pounds per session instead. Caller: Oh, that's much better, I'll do that then.
Question type: Form completion
Price per session (block booking): £____________
Answer: 22
This is a classic distractor: thirty pounds is mentioned first but is then corrected by the staff member. The caller confirms the block-booking rate of twenty-two pounds, which is the price that should be written down — always take the final, corrected figure.
Strategy example
How to approach multiple choice in Listening
Multiple-choice questions in Listening are read out in the same order as the recording, but the correct option is often only confirmed after other options are mentioned and dismissed. A reliable method:
- Read all options before the recording starts, and predict what kind of reasoning might separate them.
- As the speaker talks, mentally cross out any option that is directly contradicted or ruled out.
- Listen for qualifying language such as "but," "although," or "in the end," which often introduces the true final answer.
- If two options both seem plausible, keep listening — the recording will usually clarify which one is correct before moving to the next question.
Example transcript extract
Section 2 style: Facility hours
The swimming pool is open from six in the morning until nine at night on weekdays. At weekends, it closes a little earlier, at seven, to allow time for essential maintenance before the following week.
Question type: Sentence completion
At weekends, the pool closes at ____________.
Answer: seven (7 p.m.)
The passage first states weekday hours (until nine), then explicitly contrasts this with weekend hours (until seven). The question specifically asks about weekends, so nine would be an incorrect — though tempting — answer if you stopped listening too early.