CAE CAE Listening 2 — Questions and Answers
Question 1: In CAE Listening sentence completion, what should candidates do if they are unsure of a word's spelling?
- Leave the answer blank
- Write their best phonetic approximation (Correct answer)
- Write the nearest synonym they know
- Skip it and answer the next question
Correct answer: Write their best phonetic approximation
Candidates should attempt a phonetic spelling of what they hear, as examiners allow reasonable spelling variations as long as the word is recognisable.
Question 2: What is a common distractor technique used in CAE Listening multiple-choice questions?
- Playing recordings at an unusually fast speed
- Including words from wrong options in the audio to mislead listeners (Correct answer)
- Using only unfamiliar accents throughout
- Providing no pause between questions
Correct answer: Including words from wrong options in the audio to mislead listeners
Cambridge frequently mentions words from incorrect answer choices in the recording to distract candidates, so listeners must identify meaning rather than key words.
Question 3: What is the best strategy for CAE Listening Part 3 (multiple matching)?
- Choose answers after all five speakers have finished
- Note key points for each speaker and match during the second listening (Correct answer)
- Focus only on the first and last thing each speaker says
- Ignore the task options until the recording ends
Correct answer: Note key points for each speaker and match during the second listening
Reading options in advance, noting key information during the first listening, and confirming matches during the second listening is the most effective strategy.
Question 4: Why is it important to read questions carefully BEFORE listening in the CAE Listening exam?
- The questions reveal the exact answers in advance
- Pre-reading activates relevant vocabulary and signals what to listen for (Correct answer)
- It saves time during the recording
- The instructions are too long to read during the exam
Correct answer: Pre-reading activates relevant vocabulary and signals what to listen for
Pre-reading activates topic knowledge and primes the candidate to identify relevant information and key concepts in the recording.
Question 5: In CAE Listening, what does 'inferring meaning' require the candidate to do?
- Write down exactly what the speaker says word for word
- Understand what is implied but not directly stated (Correct answer)
- Match synonyms between the question and the recording
- Identify the nationality of the speaker from their accent
Correct answer: Understand what is implied but not directly stated
Inferring meaning means drawing conclusions about what a speaker implies through tone, context, or indirect language rather than explicit statements.
Question 6: Which type of recording is LEAST likely to appear in the CAE Listening exam?
- A radio interview
- A formal academic lecture with complex jargon (Correct answer)
- An informal conversation between friends
- A documentary narration
Correct answer: A formal academic lecture with complex jargon
While CAE includes a range of authentic texts, a dense academic lecture with heavy field-specific jargon is more characteristic of the C2 Proficiency level than CAE.
CAE CAE Listening 2
In CAE Listening sentence completion, what should candidates do if they are unsure of a word's spelling?