Checkpoint ESL Listening Parts 1 - 5 Updated1
Checkpoint ESL Listening Parts 1 - 5 Updated1
Checkpoint ESL Listening Parts 1 - 5 Updated1
PART 1: Multiple choice – five short audio texts, three picture options
PART 2: Multiple choice – five short audio texts, three options
PART 3: Gap-fill – one long audio text (no options)
PART 4: Multiple choice – one long audio text, five questions, three options
PART 5: Matching – five audio texts, eight options
LISTENING: PART 1
Part 1
For Part 1, please note the following:
Example Question 1
Here is a question from a Checkpoint paper:
LISTENING: PART 1
Example Question
Say what
Here is a question from a Checkpoint paper: you see:
Sports event, basketball Play, show, musical, opera, Meal, lunch, dinner,
match, stadium theatre restaurant
LISTENING: PART 1
Example Question
Say what
Here is a question from a Checkpoint paper: you see:
LISTENING: PART 1
Sports event, basketball Play, show, musical, opera, Meal, lunch, dinner,
match, stadium theatre restaurant
BOY: How was the weekend Sally? Did you go to the stadium for the
basketball final on Saturday?
SALLY: I wanted to but it was Dad’s birthday. He took us all out for
something to eat at that new place in town.
BOY: That’s nice.
SALLY: Yes, it’s next to the new theatre. I really enjoyed it. I can
watch basketball anytime.
LISTENING: PART 1
Sports event, basketball Play, show, musical, opera, Meal, lunch, dinner,
match, stadium theatre restaurant
BOY: How was the weekend Sally? Did you go to the stadium for the Distractor
basketball final on Saturday? Once we hear the
boy’s question we
SALLY: I wanted to but it was Dad’s birthday. He took us all out for have to listen
something to eat at that new place in town. carefully for Sally’s
answer. Notice the
BOY: That’s nice. key phrase and the
slightly
SALLY: Yes, it’s next to the new theatre. I really enjoyed it. I can
disappointed tone!
watch basketball anytime.
LISTENING: PART 1
Sports event, basketball Play, show, musical, opera, Meal, lunch, dinner,
match, stadium theatre restaurant
BOY: How was the weekend Sally? Did you go to the stadium for the
basketball final on Saturday? Correct Detail
Clearly describes
SALLY: I wanted to but it was Dad’s birthday. He took us all out for what did happen
something to eat at that new place in town. with he took us and
the key phrase to
BOY: That’s nice. eat. Notice that new
SALLY: Yes, it’s next to the new theatre. I really enjoyed it. I can place is used instead
of ‘restaurant’
watch basketball anytime.
LISTENING: PART 1
Sports event, basketball Play, show, musical, opera, Meal, lunch, dinner,
match, stadium theatre restaurant
BOY: How was the weekend Sally? Did you go to the stadium for the
basketball final on Saturday?
SALLY: I wanted to but it was Dad’s birthday. He took us all out for Distractor
something to eat at that new place in town. One extra
distractor-detail to
BOY: That’s nice. check that you are
SALLY: Yes, it’s next to the new theatre. I really enjoyed it. I can watch listening properly!
basketball anytime. (Her dad’s birthday wasn’t so bad after all)
LISTENING: PART 1
Example Question 2
Now try this one:
LISTENING: PART 1
Example Question 2
Say what
Now try this one: you see:
LISTENING: PART 1
Example Question 2
Say what
Now try this one: you see:
MUM: Why aren’t you watching that football programme you love? It
started 10 minutes ago.
BOY: It’s become quite boring, Mum. But I’m going to watch a music
programme later. My favourite one about animals is on this evening too.
MUM: Oh, I’m surprised, you’re such a football fan. Anyway, what’s the
music programme about?
BOY: It’s usually about new bands.
LISTENING: PART 1
MUM: Why aren’t you watching that football programme you love? It Distractor
started 10 minutes ago. Pay careful
BOY: It’s become quite boring, Mum. But I’m going to watch a music attention to the
programme later. My favourite one about animals is on this evening too. question asked,
especially the
MUM: Oh, I’m surprised, you’re such a football fan. Anyway, what’s the negative aren’t.
music programme about? And watch out, as
BOY: It’s usually about new bands. this distractor
returns later!
LISTENING: PART 1
Example Question 3
Say what
This question from the G8 S2 TA has a slightly longer text: you see:
4
LISTENING: PART 1
Example Question 3
Say what
This question from the G8 S2 TA has a slightly longer text: you see:
4
Example Question 4
Another Part 1 question from the G8 S2 TA. Say what
Notice the fast speech and American accent: you see:
5
LISTENING: PART 1
Example Question 4
Say what
Another Part 1 question from the G8 S2 TA. you see:
Notice the fast speech and American accent:
5
Distractors
Which item is on offer at the moment? • The boots are
always cheap
ANNOUNCER: At Top Boxing, our store takes training as seriously as you • The shorts are good
do. We offer the best boxing equipment in the city. We have the latest value
Neither of these is the
range of shorts, boots and gloves in all colours and sizes. We’re confident
same as being on
you’ll always be able to find great quality boots at cheap prices. And for a
special offer
limited time, there’s a third off the price of gloves. If you need any help
finding a product or want to order good value shorts in a special colour, Correct Detail
just contact our customer service team on 177 745 7624. The gloves are being
sold at a reduced price
(33% off) for a limited
time
LISTENING: PART 2
Part 2
Multiple-Choice (five situations): Questions 6-10
LISTENING: PART 2
Part 2
Part 2 is very similar to Part 1. The main difference is in
the way the options are given:
Example Question 5
Here is a Part 2 question from the G8 S2 TA:
LISTENING: PART 2
Example Question 6
Here is another Part 2 question from the G8 S2 TA:
LISTENING: PART 2
Part 3
Gap-fill: Questions 11-15
LISTENING: PART 3
Part 3
Parts 3 is the only part of the paper that is not multiple-choice
(23) Noun –
something to watch?
(25) A person’s
surname
LISTENING: PART 3
Example Question 7
Try this gap – how many distractors are there?
Distractor 1
Transcript 7 Old Part 5, 3m49
Sometimes – but not this time
Correct Detail
GIRL: There’s sometimes a film on too, but I was lucky enough to see But signals that the answer is
a play when I went. It’s still on at the moment and it’s called The Lost coming. Play is the gap-fill answer
Bear. It’s based on a documentary about some teenagers who
Distractor 2
rescued a bear cub and it’s really good.
A documentary is mentioned, but
this is what the play was based on
LISTENING: PART 3
Example Question 8
Last practice question – can you note down the exact information?
LISTENING: PART 3
Example Question 8
Last practice question – can you note down the exact information?
Part 4
Multiple-Choice (Interview): Questions 16-20
LISTENING: PART 4
Part 4
Parts 4 is very similar to Part 2. The difference
is that the text is one long interrupted interview:
Example Question 9
Now try a Part 4 question from the Grade 8 mock exam:
LISTENING: PART 4
Example Question 10
Now, here’s a Part 6 question from the Grade 8 mock exam:
LISTENING: PART 4
Notice how long the audio
text is for this question –
Transcript 10 (Old Part 6, 2m28) keep your focus!
Being well paid Excitement of having an Learning new things
audience
Part 5
Matching (Interview): Questions 21-25
LISTENING: PART 5
Part 5: Matching
Part 5 is a new exercise on the Checkpoint Listening from 2023. The exercise tests your ability to
match statements in the question to paraphrased details in the audio.
• Five different speakers share their thoughts on a common topic
• Match each speaker to one of eight statements listed as part of the question
• Before you listen, try to become as familiar as possible with the eight statements – the better
you can keep the basic ideas in your head, the easier it will be to match them
• Underline the key words in each statement
• As you listen to each speaker, look again at the statements
• Remember that the correct statement won’t summarise everything the speaker says – it will just
match one particular detail or aspect
• Pencil in your answers the first time you listen, and try to confirm on the second listen
• Remember that there will be three statements that don’t match any of the speakers
• This exercise can be very tricky and will require your complete attention. Listening twice is
essential!
LISTENING: PART 5
Example Question 11
Five speakers talk about doing something that was very challenging.
Which key words would you underline in each statement?
Example Question 11
Five speakers talk about doing something that was very challenging.
Which key words would you underline in each statement?
I’m pretty shy, so it was a huge challenge when I B. I was amazed by my own success.
agreed to give a speech at my sister’s wedding. I C. I received a lot of support from friends.
wrote it all myself and spent hours practising with
D. I didn’t enjoy getting so much attention.
my parents. They suggested some great ways to
E. I was pleased not to make any mistakes.
improve it. A lot of it was about how proud I was
to have a sister like mine. She’s always supported F. I needed more time to prepare.
me. When I finally stood up in front of everyone, G. I wasn’t as nervous as I expected.
it was funny, ’cause I felt far calmer than I thought
H. I had some doubts about my abilities.
I’d be. In fact, apart from forgetting a few lines,
the speech went really well.
LISTENING: PART 5
I’m pretty shy, so it was a huge challenge when I B. I was amazed by my own success.
agreed to give a speech at my sister’s wedding. I C. I received a lot of support from friends.
wrote it all myself and spent hours practising with
E. I was pleased not to make any mistakes.
my parents. They suggested some great ways to
G. I wasn’t as nervous as I expected.
improve it. A lot of it was about how proud I was
to have a sister like mine. She’s always supported
me. When I finally stood up in front of everyone, Try to narrow your options down:
it was funny, ’cause I felt far calmer than I thought Which of the options above relate to
distracting information in the text,
I’d be. In fact, apart from forgetting a few lines,
and which one matches a detail?
the speech went really well.
LISTENING: PART 5
A. I wanted to make my parents feel proud.
I had an ambition to take part in a big sailing B. I was amazed by my own success.
race. It involved sailing the boat alone and I was C. I received a lot of support from friends.
confident I could win. My parents thought so too
D. I didn’t enjoy getting so much attention.
– they’re both keen sailors. My friends said I was
crazy though. I was quite worried by the bad E. I was pleased not to make any mistakes.
weather on the day of the race, but everything
F. I needed more time to prepare.
went well and, sure enough, I won it! There were
loads of photographers as well as crowds of G. I wasn’t as nervous as I expected.
people clapping at the finish, which I found H. I had some doubts about my abilities.
incredibly embarrassing. I just wanted to
celebrate quietly with my family.
LISTENING: PART 5
Where is the distracting information in
Example Question this text – the details that match one of
the statements partly, but not fully?
12 What is the correct match-up?
Transcript 12 (New Part 5, 1m55)
Speaker 2 A. I wanted to make my parents feel proud.
I had an ambition to take part in a big sailing B. I was amazed by my own success.
race. It involved sailing the boat alone and I was C. I received a lot of support from friends.
confident I could win. My parents thought so too
D. I didn’t enjoy getting so much attention.
– they’re both keen sailors. My friends said I was
crazy though. I was quite worried by the bad H. I had some doubts about my abilities.
weather on the day of the race, but everything
went well and, sure enough, I won it! There were
loads of photographers as well as crowds of Try to narrow your options down:
people clapping at the finish, which I found Which of the options above relate to
incredibly embarrassing. I just wanted to distracting information in the text,
and which one matches a detail?
celebrate quietly with my family.
LISTENING: PART 5
A. I wanted to make my parents feel proud.
Example Question B. I was amazed by my own success.