Đọc câu hỏi trước khi nghe audio

A plausible gap answer is still only a prediction

• A form says “Bring a ____”. Several documents could fit, so use grammar to focus attention and the recording to decide which one is required.

• Use the time provided to read the questions. A little preparation helps you listen for the information each task asks for.

• Read the instructions and surrounding sentence, then focus on what each gap needs. In a completion task you can often predict the answer type before hearing anything; other task types need a different plan.

The audio will not pause while you negotiate with a blank.

Predict the word class

• The tour leaves at ______ → a time. Bring a ______ → a singular noun. The museum is ______ on Mondays → often an adjective, but a phrase may also fit the sentence; check the word limit and recording. The fee is £______ → a number.
• Ask for ______ at reception → perhaps a name or service; listen for the context and for any spelling offered. Prediction narrows your attention, but you still need to hear the detail. Quarter past four can fill a time gap even if the question uses different wording.

Underline the word limit, every time

• NO MORE THAN TWO WORDS AND/OR A NUMBER means a three-word answer is wrong, even when it is true. A correct fact that breaks the stated word limit still loses the mark.
• A correctly hyphenated word such as check-in counts as one. Do not invent a hyphen to fit a limit; follow the spelling and the question instructions. Write the limit at the top of the section and check your answers against it in the available checking time.

What will and will not be paraphrased

• Useful landmarks: names, numbers, dates, times and prices. Listen for their meaning; a time or price may be spoken in a different form from the question. Often paraphrased: descriptions and reasons. The recording may use the question's words or different ones, so do not wait for an exact echo.
• Question: the club meets ______ a month. Recording: we get together twice every month → twice. Underline useful landmarks, then listen for both exact matches and paraphrases. The answer must still fit the gap and its word limit.

Keep up, whatever happens

• Within a task, answers generally follow the recording's order. Use the next question as a guide, but check the task instructions instead of assuming every item works identically. If one answer escapes, move your eye to the next question rather than replaying the missed moment in your head while the recording continues.
• There is no penalty for a wrong answer, so use any remaining time to make a reasoned guess rather than leaving a blank. Read multiple-choice instructions: some questions require more than one option. On computer, enter answers as you go and follow the on-screen checking instructions. Older paper samples include ten minutes of Listening transfer time; that is not the computer routine.

Predict a type without inventing an answer