CPE Listening Paper Overview Teachers notes

Description
Students match instructions with their location in a CPE Listening test: on the front cover or
in Parts 1, 2, 3 or 4. It can be used at the beginning of a preparation course and/or just
before the exam, as a way of checking that candidates have an overview of what they have
to do.
Time required: 20 Minutes
Materials
required:
students worksheet
CPE Handbook and/or past or sample paper
copy of front cover of Listening paper
copy of Listening answer sheet
Aims:
to familiarise students with the content of the whole listening
paper; the parts, task types, test focuses, marking and timing
to familiarise students with the Answer Sheet

Procedure
1 As a warmer, ask students if they listen to anything in English. Your students may
listen to songs, watch films or TV in English, and of course they listen to their
English teacher!
2 Divide the students into pairs or groups of 3. Explain that they are going to read
some instructions for the CPE Listening paper. The instructions come from the
cover of the Listening paper and from each part of the Listening test. Before they
do the task, ask them to predict what areas the instructions will cover. See key for
answers.
3 Give out copies of the worksheet to each pair and explain that they have to
decide which part of the paper each instruction appears in front page, Part 1,
Part 2, Part 3 or Part 4. Students should refer to the sample front cover of a test
which is provided at the end of the worksheet. They could also refer to the CPE
Handbook or a past Listening paper.
4 Before you go through the answers, point out how important it is to read the
question paper carefully. The front cover tells candidates what to expect of the
whole test and the instructions for each part prepare candidates for the task type
context, number of questions.
Go through the answers to the worksheet task. Draw students attention to the
range of text types and task types used. See key below for details.

UCLES 2008. This material may be photocopied (without alteration) and distributed for classroom use provided no charge is made. It may not
otherwise be altered, photocopied, reproduced, distributed, published, recorded, made available on another website, or otherwise transmitted by
any means without the prior written permission of University of Cambridge ESOL Examinations.

CPE Listening Paper Overview Students Worksheet www.cambridgeesol.org/teach
Page 1 of 9

5 It is also very important that students are familiar with the answer sheet. Ask
students to look at the example on the worksheet.
Draw students attention to the fact that they must complete the answer sheet in
pencil. They have to shade in the lozenge which represents their answer. The
answer sheet is clearly divided into Parts so that students do not put the answer
in the wrong place. In Part 2 they must write in capital letters and put one
letter/number in each box. In Part 4, they have to put the initial of the person who
expresses the opinion stated on the question paper or B if both speakers agree.
The instructions for this are on the question paper.
6 To round up, ask students to work in pairs and to discuss which, for them, are
the two most important things to remember about the listening test. Of course
students answers will vary but this will allow them time to absorb the overview of
listening and to focus on what is important.

UCLES 2008. This material may be photocopied (without alteration) and distributed for classroom use provided no charge is made. It may not
otherwise be altered, photocopied, reproduced, distributed, published, recorded, made available on another website, or otherwise transmitted by
any means without the prior written permission of University of Cambridge ESOL Examinations.

CPE Listening Paper Overview Students Worksheet www.cambridgeesol.org/teach
Page 2 of 9

CPE Use of English Paper Overview answer keys
Key to Procedure steps
Step 2:
Possible predictions:
Cover:
What they should write with (pencil must be used and mistakes erased with a rubber)
Where they should write (on the question paper as they listen, and then they transfer
the answers to an answer sheet)
Length of paper (approx. 40 minutes)
Number of questions and parts (28 questions and 4 parts)
What they have to hand in at the end of the test (Question paper and answer sheet)
Before each part:
The type of text they will hear (monologues, interviews, dialogues)
The topic of the text
The task for this part (multiple choice, sentence completion, matching)
Step 4:
Further information about text types and tasks.
Part 1
All Part 1 tasks are 3-option multiple-choice questions. There are four extracts
and each extract has two questions.
Extract 1 is part of a public debate.
Extract 2 is a woman talking about her first job.
Extract 3 is part of a radio discussion
Extract 4 is part of a radio talk.
The extracts can be either monologues or dialogues. The texts could be from
discussions, conversations, radio plays, instructions etc.
Part 2 is always a sentence-completion task with nine questions.
In the sample paper it is part of a lecture. Part 2 is always a monologue or
prompted monologue (a monologue introduced by e.g. a presenter).
Part 3 is always a four-option multiple-choice task with five questions.
In the sample paper it is an interview. Part 3 always has interacting speakers.

UCLES 2008. This material may be photocopied (without alteration) and distributed for classroom use provided no charge is made. It may not
otherwise be altered, photocopied, reproduced, distributed, published, recorded, made available on another website, or otherwise transmitted by
any means without the prior written permission of University of Cambridge ESOL Examinations.

CPE Listening Paper Overview Students Worksheet www.cambridgeesol.org/teach
Page 3 of 9

Part 4 is always a three-way matching task.
In the sample paper it is a conversation between two friends. Part 4 is always a
conversation between two people, one male and one female to help students
identify the speakers. The speakers names are also given on the recording.

Key to Students Worksheet
In which section of the Listening Paper below will you see the above
instructions?
Front page
Time Approximately 40 minutes (including 5 minutes transfer time)
INSTRUCTIONS TO CANDIDATES
1. A. Do not open this question paper until you are told to do so.
2. D Write your name, Centre number and candidate number in the spaces at the
top of this page and on your answer sheet if they are not already there.
3. L Answer all the questions.
4. Q While you are listening, write your answers on the question paper.
5. N You will have 5 minutes at the end of the test to copy your answers onto the
separate answer sheet. Use a pencil.

6. O At the end of the test, hand in both this question paper and your answer
sheet.
INFORMATION FOR CANDIDATES
There are four parts to the test.
1. C Each question carries one mark.
2. M You will hear each piece twice.
3. P For each part of the test there will be time for you to look through the questions
and time for you to check your answers.
Sections
Part 1
1. G You will hear four different extracts.
2. K Choose the answer (A, B or C) which fits best according to what you hear.
UCLES 2008. This material may be photocopied (without alteration) and distributed for classroom use provided no charge is made. It may not
otherwise be altered, photocopied, reproduced, distributed, published, recorded, made available on another website, or otherwise transmitted by
any means without the prior written permission of University of Cambridge ESOL Examinations.

CPE Listening Paper Overview Students Worksheet www.cambridgeesol.org/teach
Page 4 of 9

Part 2
1. E You will hear a talk given by a ...
2. I Complete the sentences with a word or short phrase.
Part 3
1. F You will hear a radio interview with ...
2. J Choose the answer (A, B, C or D) which fits best according to what you hear.
Part 4
1. H You will hear a discussion on the subject of ...
2. B Decide whether the opinions are expressed by only one of the speakers, or
whether the speakers agree.

UCLES 2008. This material may be photocopied (without alteration) and distributed for classroom use provided no charge is made. It may not
otherwise be altered, photocopied, reproduced, distributed, published, recorded, made available on another website, or otherwise transmitted by
any means without the prior written permission of University of Cambridge ESOL Examinations.

CPE Listening Paper Overview Students Worksheet www.cambridgeesol.org/teach
Page 5 of 9

CPE Listening Paper Overview Students Worksheet
1 Look at the following instructions which appear on the CPE Listening paper.
For each instruction, decide in which section of the paper (front page, Parts 1, 2, 3, 4)
it appears and write the instruction in the appropriate section. You can look at the
sample front page which follows and the CPE Handbook to check your answers.
The first one A, has been done as an example.

INSTRUCTIONS
A Do not open this question paper until you are told to do so.
B Decide whether the opinions are expressed by only one of the speakers, or whether
the speakers agree.
C Each question carries one mark.
D Write your name, Centre number and candidate number in the spaces at the top of
this page and on your answer sheet if they are not already there.
E You will hear a talk given by a ...
F You will hear a radio interview with ...
G You will hear four different extracts.
H You will hear a discussion on the subject of ...
I Complete the sentences with a word or short phrase.
J Choose the answer (A, B, C or D) which fits best according to what you hear.
K Choose the answer (A, B or C) which fits best according to what you hear.
L Answer all the questions.
M You will hear each piece twice.
N You will have 5 minutes at the end of the test to copy your answers onto the
separate answer sheet. Use a pencil.
O At the end of the test, hand in both the question paper and the answer sheet.
P For each part of the test there will be time for you to look through the questions and
time for you to check your answers.
Q While you are listening, write your answers on the question paper
UCLES 2008. This material may be photocopied (without alteration) and distributed for classroom use provided no charge is made. It may not
otherwise be altered, photocopied, reproduced, distributed, published, recorded, made available on another website, or otherwise transmitted by
any means without the prior written permission of University of Cambridge ESOL Examinations.

CPE Listening Paper Overview Students Worksheet www.cambridgeesol.org/teach
Page 6 of 9


In which section of the Listening Paper below will you see the above
instructions?
Front page
Time Approximately 40 minutes (including 5 minutes transfer time)
INSTRUCTIONS TO CANDIDATES
1.
2.
3.
4.
5.
6.
A. Do not open this question paper until you are told to do so.

INFORMATION FOR CANDIDATES

1.
2.
3.
There are four parts to the test.

Sections

1.
2.
Part 1

1.
2.
Part 2


1.
2.
Part 3

1.
2.
Part 4
UCLES 2008. This material may be photocopied (without alteration) and distributed for classroom use provided no charge is made. It may not
otherwise be altered, photocopied, reproduced, distributed, published, recorded, made available on another website, or otherwise transmitted by
any means without the prior written permission of University of Cambridge ESOL Examinations.

CPE Listening Paper Overview Students Worksheet www.cambridgeesol.org/teach
Page 7 of 9



Centre Number Candidate Number
Candidate Name


UNIVERSITY OF CAMBRIDGE ESOL EXAMINATIONS

English for Speakers of Other Languages
030*/4
CERTIFICATE OF PROFICIENCY IN ENGLISH


* PAPER 4 Listening Test X

[Day] [DATE] 20XX Afternoon Approximately 40 minutes

Additional materials:
Answer sheet


Time: Approximately 40 minutes (including 5 minutes transfer time)

INSTRUCTIONS TO CANDIDATES
Do not open this question paper until you are told to do so.
Write your name, Centre number and candidate number in the spaces at the top of
this page and on your answer sheet if they are not already there.
Listen to the instructions for each part of the paper carefully.
Answer all the questions.
While you are listening, write your answers on the question paper.
You will have 5 minutes at the end of the test to copy your answers onto the separate
Answer sheet. Use a pencil.
At the end of the test, hand in both this question paper and your answer sheet.

INFORMATION FOR CANDIDATES
There are four parts to the test.
Each question carries one mark.
You will hear each piece twice.
For each part of the test there will be time for you to look through the questions and time for you
to check your answers.
*UCLES 20XX Cambridge ESOL Level 3 Certificate in ESOL International
UCLES 2008. This material may be photocopied (without alteration) and distributed for classroom use provided no charge is made. It may not otherwise be
altered, photocopied, reproduced, distributed, published, recorded, made available on another website, or otherwise transmitted by any means without the prior
written permission of University of Cambridge ESOL Examinations.

CPE Listening Paper Overview Students Worksheet www.cambridgeesol.org/teach
Page 8 of 9

UCLES 2008. This material may be photocopied (without alteration) and distributed for classroom use provided no charge is made. It may not otherwise be
altered, photocopied, reproduced, distributed, published, recorded, made available on another website, or otherwise transmitted by any means without the prior
written permission of University of Cambridge ESOL Examinations.

CPE Listening Paper Overview Students Worksheet www.cambridgeesol.org/teach
Page 9 of 9