English Listening Test: Practice Guide

Listening comprehension is one of the three receptive skills assessed in a standard English proficiency exam, alongside grammar (Use of English) and reading.
It’s also the section most learners get the least practice with, since everyday listening (conversations, videos, podcasts) rarely matches the pace, accents, and question format of an exam recording.
This guide explains how the listening test works at each CEFR level and includes free audio samples you can practice with right now.

What Does an English Listening Test Measure?

A listening test checks whether you can understand spoken English in real time, without the option to reread or pause and think, the way you can with a written text. It measures several distinct skills: catching specific details (names, numbers, times), following the gist of a conversation, recognizing speaker attitude or intention, and distinguishing between similar-sounding words or numbers.

Typical listening task types include:

• Multiple-choice questions: choose the correct answer after hearing a short recording.
• Note completion/gap fill: fill in missing words or numbers while listening, using the provided options.
• Matching: match speakers, opinions, or topics to the correct option.
• True/False: decide whether a statement matches what you heard.

Recordings usually include a mix of formats: conversations between two or more speakers, monologues, announcements, and interviews, each played once or twice depending on the test.

Listening Test by CEFR Level

A2 Listening Test

At A2, recordings are short, slow-paced, and cover familiar everyday situations: shopping, directions, simple phone calls, and short announcements. Questions focus on picking out specific, concrete information rather than following a complex line of conversation.

Example of A2 Listening Task (audio and 5 True/False questions):

Listen and mark the sentences below: “True” or “False”.

1. Snakes cannot hear. ❏ True ❏ False
2. Snakes lay eggs. ❏ True ❏ False
3. Sea lions live in small groups. ❏ True ❏ False
4. Penguins’ eggs are black. ❏ True ❏ False
5. Penguins can be under the water for 18 minutes. ❏ True ❏ False

You can find the correct answers and more A2 listening tasks in the A2 Practice Test.

B1 Listening Test

At B1, recordings are longer and closer to natural speaking speed, including everyday conversations, short interviews, and radio-style announcements. You’re expected to follow the main points of a conversation and understand simple opinions or feelings, not just facts.

Example of B1 Listening Task (audio and 5 questions for Matching):

Listen to five people talking and match them to their reactions to books

1. Speaker 1: a) bored b) excited c) moved d) confused e) furious
2. Speaker 2: a) bored b) excited c) moved d) confused e) furious
3. Speaker 3: a) bored b) excited c) moved d) confused e) furious
4. Speaker 4: a) bored b) excited c) moved d) confused e) furious
5. Speaker 5: a) bored b) excited c) moved d) confused e) furious

You can find the correct answers and more B1 listening tasks in the B1 Practice Test.

B2 Listening Test

At B2, recordings move toward natural, unscripted-sounding speech, including discussions with multiple speakers, more complex interviews, and content on a wider range of topics. You need to follow attitude and implied meaning, not just stated facts, and keep track of more detailed information over a longer recording.

Example of B2 Listening Task (audio and 5 multiple-choice questions):

Listen to the radio interview and mark the best answers.

1. Why was hypnosedation abandoned in India?
   a) because of the adverse side effects in patients
   b) because of the discovery of chemical anesthetics
   c) because of the advances in surgical techniques
2. According to the speakers, which country has made the most progress in the medical uses of
   hypnosis?
   a) Belgium b) the U.S.A. c) India
3. Which unconventional procedure is successfully used in Belgium today?
   a) local anesthesia
   b) pharmacological coma
   c) hypnosedation
4. Why can’t hypnosedation take the place of general anesthesia?
   a) There aren’t enough active supporters.
   b) Not everyone is affected by hypnosis.
   c) It’s not for people allergic to anesthetic drugs.
5. What can we speculate about hypnosedation?
   a) It has been fully accepted by the medical world.
   b) It hasn’t been fully accepted by the medical world.
   c) 60% of the general population is unresponsive to it.

You can find the correct answers and more B2 listening tasks in the B2 Practice test.

Why Listening Feels Different From Reading or Grammar

Many learners who do well on reading or grammar sections still find listening tricky. A few common reasons:

• Connected speech: words blend together in natural speech in ways that don’t match how they’re written or pronounced individually.
• Accents and pace: exam recordings often include a range of accents and a natural speaking speed, which can catch learners off guard.
• Listening while writing: you need to process what you hear and note or select an answer at the same time, without losing the thread of the recording.

The most effective preparation is regular practice with real exam-style audio at your level, ideally followed by checking the audioscript to see exactly what you missed and why.

Practice the Listening Test for Free

Each of TrackTest’s downloadable practice tests includes a full listening section with audio samples and an answer key, so you can listen, answer, and self-check at your level:

• A2 English practice test with answers, includes 3 A2-level listening samples with tasks
• B1 English practice test with answers, includes 5 B1-level listening samples with tasks
• B2 English practice test with answers, includes 2 B2-level listening samples with tasks

On each page, download the PDF first, then play the audio samples for that level when you reach the listening section (the PDF tells you exactly which page to start from). Mark your answers as you listen, then check them against the answer key at the end of the document.

We’re working on adding a dedicated C1-level practice test with its own listening samples. In the meantime, if you’re preparing for C1, the B2 listening samples are a good stretch exercise, and the full online Core test (below) will assess you accurately up to C2.

Not sure which level to start with? Take the free English grammar placement test first, a short adaptive test that gives you a level recommendation in about 10 minutes.

Take the Full Test Online

Listening is one of the three sections in the TrackTest English Core test, alongside Grammar (Use of English) and Reading. The Core test takes about 30-45 minutes, gives you an instant result, and awards a CEFR-aligned certificate (A1-C2) if you score 65% or higher. You can also add the optional Speaking & Writing module afterwards for a full four-skills Complete certificate.

Start your English Test →

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