FCE Listening Sample Paper 2015

This test is the sample available at Cambridge English. You can download the paper version of this test for free at Cambridge English site. Also, if you're on Firefox you should click here to take the electronic version from their place, as it's the real computer based test they've got there and that's the best practice you can get. They've also got reading/use of English and writing sample tests, so, once at their site, choose the part of the test you'd rather do

If you're staying with us, let's start. You will use a Google form to write down your answers. Hit play on the playbar below and get ready for part one of the FCE listening paper.

The audio file will play the four parts (with their corresponding repetitions), so you have to hit play once and then get to attend to your answers. We recommend you to write down your choices in a separate piece of paper and then transfer them to the Google form

Part 1

You will hear people talking in eight different situations. For questions 1 – 8, choose the best answer
(A, B or C).
_________________________________________________________________________________

1 You hear a message on a telephone answering machine.
Why is the speaker calling?

A to confirm some arrangements
B to issue an invitation
C to persuade someone to do something


2 You hear two people talking about a water-sports centre.
The man says the centre should

A pay more attention to safety.
B offer activities for small children.
C provide all the equipment needed.


3 You hear a professional tennis player talking about her career.
What annoys her most about interviewers?

A their belief that she leads a glamorous life
B their assumption that she’s motivated by money
C their tendency to disturb her while she’s travelling


4 You hear a poet talking about his work.
What is he doing?

A giving his reasons for starting to visit schools
B justifying the childlike nature of some of his recent poems
C explaining that his poems appeal to people of different ages


5 You hear two people talking about a programme they saw on TV.
The woman thinks the programme was

A irritating.
B sad.
C uninformative.


6 You hear two people talking about an ice-hockey game they’ve just seen.
How does the girl feel about it?

A pleased to have had the experience
B relieved that she’d dressed appropriately
C impressed by the performance of the team


7 You overhear two friends talking about a restaurant.
What do they both like about it?

A the presentation of the food
B the atmosphere of the place
C the originality of the cooking


8 You hear a man talking on the radio.
What type of information is he giving?

A a travel announcement
B a weather forecast
C an accident report

Part 2

You will hear a woman called Angela Thomas, who works for a wildlife organisation, talking about
the spectacled bear.
For questions 9 – 18, complete the sentences with a word or short phrase.
_________________________________________________________________________________

Spectacled Bears

Angela says that it was the (9) of the spectacled bear that first interested her.

Angela mentions that the bear’s markings can be found on its (10) as well as its eyes and cheeks.

Angela is pleased by evidence that spectacled bears have been seen in (11) areas of Argentina.

Angela says the bears usually live in (12) , though they can also be found in other places.

Spectacled bears behave differently from other types of bear during (13), which Angela finds surprising.

Angela is upset that (14) are the biggest danger to spectacled bears.

Angela says that spectacled bears usually eat (15) and tree bark.

Bears climb trees and make a (16) , which fascinated Angela.

When bears eat meat, they much prefer (17) although they do eat other creatures.

One man has produced an amusing (18) about the time he spent studying the bears.

Part 3

You will hear five short extracts in which people are talking about their visit to a city. For questions

19 – 23, choose from the list (A – H) what each speaker liked most about the city they visited. Use the letters only once. There are three extra letters which you do not need to use.

_________________________________________________________________________________

A the efficiency of the public transport system.

B the natural beauty of the scenery.

C the variety of goods in the markets.

D the style of the architecture.

E the well-designed plan of the city.

F the helpfulness of the people.

G the range of leisure opportunities.

H the standard of the accommodation.

Part 4

You will hear part of a radio interview with a woman called Rachel Reed, who works in a commercial art gallery, a shop which sells works of art. For questions 24 – 30, choose the best answer

(A, B or C).

_________________________________________________________________________________

24 What does Rachel say about her job title?

A It makes her feel more important than she is.

B It gives people the wrong idea about her work.

C It is appropriate for most of the work she does.

25 What is the most common reason for the gallery not exhibiting an artist’s work?

A The subject matter is unsuitable.

B It is not of a high enough quality.

C The gallery manager doesn’t like it.

26 When can phone calls from artists be difficult for Rachel?

A when their work doesn’t sell

B when they don’t receive payments

C when their work is not accepted

27 Why does Rachel include a commentary in the catalogue?

A It gives background information about the artist.

B It encourages people to buy paintings over the phone.

C It tells people what experts think of the work.

28 What does Rachel say about administrative work?

A She is able to leave a lot of it to others.

B She would like to have an assistant to help with it.

C She finds it hard to get it all organised.

29 What is Rachel’s role in the service the gallery offers to large companies?

A making initial contacts

B responding to enquiries

C promoting a certain type of art

30 What does Rachel find most enjoyable about her job?

A meeting interesting people

B the fact that it’s unpredictable

C being close to works of art