Multiple choice and matching in Listening

By the end you’ll be able to

Underline the idea that distinguishes each option before the recording starts

Eliminate options that are mentioned but rejected, qualified or attributed to the wrong speaker

Answer choose-TWO questions in any order and secure both marks

Match comments, features or opinions to a list of options used once, more than once or not at all

Keep up when options are discussed in a different order from the list

What the exam asks

Task	What you see	Usual parts	Marks
Single-answer multiple choice	a question or sentence stem with options A–C	2, 3, 4 (occasionally 1)	1
Choose TWO (sometimes THREE)	a question and a list of five or more options	2, 3	1 per correct letter, in any order
Matching	numbered items and a box of lettered options	2, 3	1 per item

The numbered items follow the order of the recording. The options in a box do not.
Matching boxes often contain more options than items (“Choose FIVE answers from the box”), so some letters are never used.
Sometimes options can be reused: “You may choose any letter more than once.” This usually happens with short lists of categories (A–C).
On computer you click your choices and can change them until the section ends.

The recording gives each wrong option a “hook”, a reason for you to choose it. Learn to recognise these hooks.

Hook	How the wrong option is used	Typical language
Mentioned, then rejected	offered and turned down, or stopped	we used to..., that’s no longer possible, I’d leave that
Right idea, wrong time	true in the past or future, not at the time the stem asks about	originally, these days, next year
Right idea, wrong person	a view held by someone else, or a rumour	someone told me..., the journalists claimed...