B1&B2 Module 5. LISTENING. Tips & Practice

To help students navigate this Social Problems and Inequality listening exam, here are concrete, strategic tips for each of the four parts.

💡 Part 1: Multiple Choice (Short Extracts)

Wait for the "Pivot": In Part 1, the speakers often mention all three options. Listen for words like "however," "on the other hand," or "actually." The real answer is usually what follows the change in direction.
Focus on Feeling, not just Facts: If the question asks how the woman feels about gentrification (Q7), don't just listen for the word "gentrification." Listen to her tone of voice. Does she sound nostalgic, angry, or excited?
The First Mention is often a Distractor: If you hear an option mentioned in the first 5 seconds, be careful. It’s often there to trick students who aren't listening to the full context.

Grammatical Logic: The word you write must fit the sentence perfectly. If the sentence requires a noun (like "postcode") and the student writes an adjective, it will be marked wrong.
The "Double Check" for Hyphens: In technical terms like "built-in" (Q9), the hyphen is important for the adjective form. Tell your students to look at the words around the gap to see if a compound word is needed.
Listen for "Signposts": Dr. Reed will use phrases like "Moving on to education..." or "Another key factor is..." These are cues for the students to move their eyes to the next question so they don't get lost.

Paraphrasing is Key: The words on the screen (e.g., "Moral duty") will not be the words in the audio. Students should look for synonyms:
- Option C (Professional experience) ➔ Audio: "I wanted to boost my CV" or "I needed workplace skills."
- Option H (Direct impact) ➔ Audio: "I wanted to see the results for myself" or "I didn't want to just send a check."
The "Elimination" Method: Since there are 3 extra options, use the first listening to cross out what is definitely not said. Use the second listening to finalize the "best fit."

Follow the Interviewer: The interviewer’s questions are the map. When they ask about "Living Wages" (Q24), students should focus only on that section of the audio.
Watch for "Generalizations": In the question about the "Working Poor" (Q25), the speaker might mention many groups. The answer is the one she says is "growing" or "most significant."
Opinion vs. Fact: Part 4 focuses heavily on the speaker's attitude. If Elena says, "It’s a shame that social media simplifies things," the answer is likely about her being critical of the platform (Q28).

Part	Focus	Key Tactic
1	Gist / Detail	Don't pick the first thing you hear; wait for the "But."
2	Specific Info	Use exact words from the audio and check grammar.
3	Main Point	Look for synonyms and avoid "word-spotting."
4	Attitude / Opinion	Follow the interviewer's lead and listen for tone.