B2 First (FCE) Listening Practice Tests

Listening Part 1 — Multiple choice

You will hear eight short recordings. For each question, choose the best answer (A, B or C).

1. What is the woman's opinion of the concert? (A) The venue spoiled the atmosphere. (B) The band didn't play the songs she wanted. (C) The performance lacked anything special.
2. Why is the man talking to his colleague? (A) to criticise her for a late report (B) to offer to help with her workload (C) to ask her to do him a favour
3. What does the girl say she is going to do? (A) give up acting (B) take part in a summer show (C) apply for a drama course
4. What annoys the man about his journey to work? (A) the price of his ticket (B) trains not running on time (C) crowded carriages
5. What is the woman doing? (A) persuading her friend to try somewhere new (B) apologising for cancelling their plans (C) complaining about a meal she had recently
6. How does the boy feel about the exam? (A) confident because he has revised well (B) worried about disappointing people (C) relaxed about the result
7. Why has the woman decided not to go out this evening? (A) She feels too tired. (B) She is trying to spend less. (C) She isn't keen on the restaurant.
8. What is the man unhappy about? (A) how much the work cost (B) the standard of the work (C) how long the work took

Listening Part 2 — Sentence completion

You will hear a student called Hannah talking about a school trip to a science museum. Complete the sentences with a word or short phrase.

1. Listen and write: The class's first choice for the trip had been a ___ .
2. Listen and write: The journey took longer than planned because of ___ .
3. Listen and write: Each student had to complete a ___ before lunch.
4. Listen and write: In the human body gallery, Hannah enjoyed testing her ___ .
5. Listen and write: Hannah was fascinated by the ___ on the outside of the space capsule.
6. Listen and write: Because the café was full, the class had lunch in the ___ .
7. Listen and write: In the afternoon workshop, students made a battery using a ___ , some coins and wire.
8. Listen and write: Taking photos was not allowed in the gallery about the history of ___ .
9. Listen and write: In the gift shop, Hannah bought a ___ to put on her bedroom wall.
10. Listen and write: For homework, each student has to give a short ___ to the class.

Listening Part 3 — Multiple matching

You will hear five teenagers talking about their hobbies. Choose from the list (A-H) what each speaker says. There are three extra letters.

Listening Part 4 — Multiple choice

You will hear an interview with a young chef called Ella Morgan. For each question, choose the best answer (A, B or C).

1. Where did Ella's interest in cooking begin? (A) at catering college (B) at home with a relative (C) in cookery lessons at school
2. What does Ella say about her plans when she was younger? (A) She intended to have a career in medicine. (B) She was unsure what career to choose. (C) She hoped to open her own restaurant.
3. When did Ella realise she wanted to be a chef? (A) when she first started work as a waitress (B) when she stepped in for a chef who was ill (C) when she decided to leave university
4. How does Ella feel about the time she spent washing up? (A) She found it frustrating at the time. (B) She learned a great deal from watching others. (C) She wishes she had done a cookery course instead.
5. What does Ella find most challenging about her job? (A) working late at night (B) staying calm under pressure (C) managing a large team
6. What does Ella enjoy most? (A) reading good reviews (B) seeing customers enjoy her food (C) creating new dishes
7. What advice does Ella give young people who want to be chefs? (A) to open a restaurant as early as possible (B) to get experience in a range of kitchens (C) to study at a catering college