This is another edition of the series of the articles in which I’m sharing my experience and impressions of CAE (new 2015 format). And here we are going to have a look at the Listening paper.
1)Get introduced to the format of CAE Listening.
About the exam:
(Time: approximately 40 minutes)
You will have 4 tasks: Part1 (Multiple choice), Part2 (Sentence completion), Part3 (Multiple choice), Part4 (Multiple matching). Each recording will be played to you 2 times. Before they begin playing an audio, you will have some time (not too much) to read the questions and the answers. After all the recordings being played, you’ll have a few minutes to copy your answers onto the clean copy.
Strategy for all the listening tasks:-Read the questions and the answers. Underline the keywords.
-Read the questions and the answers. Underline the keywords.-Do the task while listening to the audio. Use the second listening to check your answers.
-Do the task while listening to the audio. Use the second listening to check your answers.-Don’t choose the answer just because you heard the same word. It can either point out to the right answer or, on the contrary, confuse you.
-Don’t choose the answer just because you heard the same word. It can either point out to the right answer or, on the contrary, confuse you.
-Remember that in the recordings right answers are often paraphrased and might appear in any part of the audio (the beginning, the middle, the end).
2)Do the tasks in printed form
You might ask, ‘Why not on the laptop? Does it make any difference?’ In fact, there ARE differences. First of all, you will have to deal with the tasks on paper, unless you choose a computer-based exam. But still, you might prefer to opt for a paper-based one. I will tell you later why.
So here are the differences:
1)Doing the tasks on the computer can get you tired much sooner as opposed to doing them in a paper version.
2)It can be a bit unusual for you to work with printed materials in the exam if previously you did the listening test on your laptop only. As a result, you might get confused in a way, which can take a while before you get over it. But, obviously, you don’t want to have any unexpected situations when you’re taking your exam, which can cause some anxiety and confusion and consequently affect your performance. You want to ensure that everything is buttoned up because the calmer you are the better you perform.
So, if you’re going to have a paper-based exam, practise the tests in printed version either.
Also, the reason why you might prefer a paper-based exam to a computed based one is that if you are taking the Listening test on the computer you can’t underline keywords and that brings us to point 3.
3)Some questions for the Listening paper can be quite tricky to the point where you might unintentionally misinterpret them and, as a result, answer them wrong. So to avoid that, underline keywords.
4)Stick to the time limit
It is important to practice completing tasks within the time limit to make sure you will able to manage it in the exam. So do not dismiss that when doing the Listening test at home. Set your stopwatch and give yourself feedback.
5)Master your Listening
Here’s an instruction on how to do it:
6)Listen to things on a daily basis.
Not only should you practise the Listening diligently: write down new vocabulary and rewind the audios, e.t.c., but also make sure you don’t skip your practice one day here and one day there. You need to commit to it. Maintain a routine. At least 15 minutes a day will do. And you’ll improve. Slowly, but surely. Nothing happens immediately. Relatively speaking, though, you will progress rapidly enough.
7)Expose yourself to different British Accents.
In the exam, there will be a variety of British accents. Consequently, when practising the Listening skill choose materials with these accents. Try not to listen to things with North-American accent until you have taken your CAE exam. Actually, there can be this type of accent in the exam as well, but not that much. Another thing is that North American accent is, obviously, not that difficult to understand. So British English is your number one priority for now.And here some stuff with British accents that I would recommend watching:
And here some stuff with British accents that I would recommend watching:1)QI (a British comedy panel game with panellists from all over the UK. Besides, there are a variety of topics, advanced vocabulary and constructions there)
1)QI (a British comedy panel game with panellists from all over the UK. Besides, there are a variety of topics, advanced vocabulary and constructions there)2)Monty Python
2)Monty Python3)Mind your language (A British series with an advanced vocabulary in it which you can come across in CAE tests. Besides, this is a comedy series where jokes are mostly based on wordplay and idioms, which is very helpful in terms of memorising new things.
3)Mind your language (A British series with an advanced vocabulary in it which you can come across in CAE tests. Besides, this is a comedy series where jokes are mostly based on wordplay and idioms, which is very helpful in terms of memorising new things.4)The lord of the rings
4)The lord of the rings5)Luke’s English Podcast (the episodes with guests with different British accents)
5)Luke’s English Podcast (the episodes with guests with different British accents)And here are the most frequently encountered topics in CAE tests:
And here are the most frequently encountered topics in CAE tests:
Career/Job/SuccessModern technology
Modern technology
The Internet
EducationTravel
TravelHealth/Sport
Health/SportLanguage studying
Language studying
Ecology/the environment
SciencePsychology/Personal growth
Psychology/Self-help
Relationships (friends, colleagues, teammates, etc.)
The arts
History
Justice (much more rare encountered than the others, but still is)
Those are the topics you should take into consideration when choosing materials to listen to.
The other parts of this series:
How to Reach Excellence in CAE. Reading & Use of English
How to Reach Excellence in CAE. Writing
How to Reach Excellence in CAE. Speaking