CAE Listening Flashcards

In CAE Listening sentence completion, what should candidates do if they are unsure of a word's spelling?

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.

What is a common distractor technique used in CAE Listening multiple-choice questions?

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.

What is the best strategy for CAE Listening Part 3 (multiple matching)?

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.

Why is it important to read questions carefully BEFORE listening in the CAE Listening exam?

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.

In CAE Listening, what does 'inferring meaning' require the candidate to do?

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.

Which type of recording is LEAST likely to appear in the CAE Listening exam?

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.