EOI B1&B2 Module 6. LISTENING. Tips & Practice

To help students in this Crimes and Punishments exam, here are the strategic tips for each of the four parts.

💡 Part 1: Multiple Choice (Short Extracts)

The "However" Pivot: In Part 1, the speaker often mentions one option, then says "but" or "actually" and gives the real answer.
- Student Strategy: Don't choose an answer just because you heard the word. Wait for the speaker to finish their thought.
Tone and Attitude: Questions like Q1 (How does he feel?) depend on the speaker’s intonation. Even if the speaker mentions "loss of possessions," he might sound more "nervous" than "angry."
Identify the Speaker: Quickly check who is talking (a judge, a victim, a reporter). This sets the context before the audio starts.

Grammar is a Compass: If the gap is preceded by "a" or "an," the answer must be a singular noun starting with a consonant or vowel. If it's after a verb, it’s likely an object.
Listen for "Signposts": The speaker will use phrases like "Moving on to..." or "Historically..." to signal they are moving to the next question.
Technical Spelling: FCE marks you on spelling. Common crimes/forensic words like "toxicology" or "meticulous" are likely to be the answers.
- Student Strategy: Write the word phonetically (how it sounds) during the first listen, then fix the spelling during the second listen.

Avoid "Word-Spotting": If the option says "Vandalism," the speaker will not say the word "vandalism." They will say "someone spray-painted my wall" or "they smashed the windows."
Synonym Matching:
- Fraud ➔ "They tricked me into giving my bank details."
- Pickpocketing ➔ "My wallet was gone from my jacket in the crowd."
- Shoplifting ➔ "Someone walked out of the store without paying."
The Extra Options: There are 8 options but only 5 speakers. Students should cross out the ones they are 100% sure are not mentioned to narrow down the choices.

Interview Structure: The interviewer’s questions are your guide. When the interviewer asks about "Youth Crime," the student should ignore everything until they hear that keyword.
Opinion vs. Fact: Part 4 asks about the speaker's opinion. Look for phrases like "In my experience," "I'm convinced that," or "It seems to me."
The "Distractor" Trap: Usually, the speaker will mention words from all three options (A, B, and C), but only one matches the speaker's actual point.