How to PASS B2 First LISTENING Part 1 - B2 First (FCE) Listening Exam

Summary

In this video, Toby from SMASH English offers essential tips for tackling part one of the B2 First Listening exam. He explains the format—listening to eight extracts and answering multiple-choice questions—and provides strategies to help students focus on the general context rather than every word. Toby highlights the importance of listening twice and cross-checking answers by considering evidence both for and against initial impressions. Through examples, he demonstrates how to approach questions and avoid common pitfalls, while injecting humor and encouragement throughout.

Takeaways

• 🎧 The speaker cannot teach every word needed for the B2 First listening exam but offers strategies to help improve listening skills.
• 🎯 The B2 First listening exam includes eight extracts with multiple-choice questions, and you listen to each extract twice.
• 💡 Before listening, it's important to know the context of the conversation to brainstorm related vocabulary.
• 🔊 Focus on the general idea and attitude of the speakers during the first listen, instead of trying to understand every word.
• 🧠 Build a mental map of the conversation, noting key details and ideas to use during the second listen.
• 🔄 Use the second listen to challenge your initial answer by seeking both supporting and contradicting evidence.
• 🛑 Avoid stopping your listening early when you think you've found the answer; listen through the entire extract.
• 👂 Misleading information may appear in the multiple-choice options, so be cautious of how questions might trick you.
• 💭 The speaker emphasizes that successful listening requires focusing on what speakers are trying to achieve in the conversation.
• 🎬 At the end, the speaker encourages reviewing tips and practicing with real exam samples to improve listening skills.

Q & A

Question 1: What is the main purpose of the video?

The main purpose of the video is to teach strategies for successfully tackling part one of the B2 First listening exam, focusing on effective listening techniques and answering multiple-choice questions.

Question 2: What is part one of the B2 First listening exam about?

Part one of the B2 First listening exam consists of listening to eight extracts, each followed by a multiple-choice question with three options (A, B, or C). Each extract is played twice, and the questions test the listener’s understanding of the audio.

Question 3: What advice does Toby give about how to approach the first listen?

Toby advises not to focus on every detail or every word during the first listen. Instead, listeners should try to understand the general context, perspectives, and attitudes of the speakers.

Question 4: Why does Toby suggest not focusing on unknown words during the listening?

Focusing on unknown words can cause listeners to lose track of the conversation, making them feel lost and unable to catch up. Instead, it's better to concentrate on the overall meaning and ideas being conveyed.

Question 5: What is Toby's strategy for listening to the recording the second time?

When listening to the recording the second time, Toby recommends focusing on answering the question and challenging yourself by looking for both evidence that supports and contradicts your initial answer.

Question 6: Why does Toby emphasize the importance of continuing to listen even if you think you know the answer?

Toby emphasizes this because candidates might think they have found the correct answer too early and stop listening, which could lead them to miss important information or evidence that might change their initial answer.

Question 7: In the example of the reality TV show conversation, how does Toby decide the correct answer?

Toby initially thinks the answer is A (the man isn’t interested), but as the conversation progresses, the man says 'I’ll give it a shot,' leading Toby to conclude the correct answer is B (the man is willing to try it).

Question 8: How does Cambridge structure the multiple-choice options to help candidates?

Cambridge structures the options similarly to make it easier for candidates to compare them. However, small differences between the options require careful attention to understand the nuances of the answers.

Question 9: Why does Toby say that Cambridge is 'kind' for letting candidates listen to the audio twice?

Toby believes Cambridge is 'kind' because listening is harder than reading. In reading, you can go back to check things you don't understand, but in listening, you can't, making it important to use the opportunity of listening twice.

Question 10: What is Toby's tip for understanding trick questions in the B2 First listening exam?

Toby advises candidates to think about how Cambridge might try to mislead them by crafting answers that sound similar to the correct one. He suggests carefully analyzing how certain words in the options might trick candidates into choosing the wrong answer.