The four parts
The Listening test has four parts, 40 questions, and takes about 30 minutes. The recording plays once only.
- Part 1: a conversation between two people in an everyday situation, often a booking or enquiry. Usually form or note completion.
- Part 2: one speaker on an everyday topic, such as a tour or facilities. Often includes a map or plan.
- Part 3: a discussion between two or three speakers in an educational setting, such as students and a tutor.
- Part 4: a lecture on an academic subject, with no break in the middle.
On the computer-delivered test you get 2 minutes at the end to check answers; on paper you get 10 minutes to transfer them to the answer sheet. Band 7 needs roughly 30 correct out of 40.
Getting used to British and other accents
Most students in Nashik hear Indian English in college and at work, Marathi and Hindi at home, and American English in films and online videos. The test uses a range of English accents, and British voices are common. The first few sets can feel fast, not because the language is hard but because the sounds are unfamiliar.
Our 88 practice sets are recorded with British voices, so your ear adjusts over a few weeks. Add some British radio, podcasts or documentaries in the background while you cook or travel; passive listening will not replace practice, but it helps.
Part 3 is often the hardest for Nashik candidates, because two or three speakers interrupt, agree and disagree quickly. Practise identifying who is speaking and whose opinion the question asks for.
Spelling and numbers
Many Listening marks are lost on details the student actually heard correctly.
- Spelling: a misspelt answer is wrong. Practise common test words: accommodation, environment, Wednesday, February, necessary, government.
- Letters spelt aloud: names and postcodes are spelt letter by letter. Be careful with A/E/I, G/J and "double" letters.
- Numbers: listen for "fifteen" versus "fifty", and for phone numbers read in groups, with "double" and "oh" for zero.
- Plurals: if the speaker says "tickets", "ticket" may be marked wrong.
- Word limits: "ONE WORD AND/OR A NUMBER" means exactly that.
Maps and plans
Map questions worry many students. Before the audio starts, find where you are standing (the entrance or "you are here"), look at the compass or the shape of the map, and note what is already labelled. Then follow the speaker with your pen or cursor. Words like "opposite", "next to", "at the far end", "turn left past" and "clockwise" carry the answers.
Answers in question order
In the real test, answers usually come in the same order as the questions, and our sets follow this too. This means if you miss question 14, do not keep listening for it while question 15 passes. Move on, and guess 14 at the end; there is no negative marking.
Also watch for speakers who change their minds: "We could meet on Tuesday... actually, Thursday is better." The second answer is the one that counts.
Setting up at home in Nashik
You cannot replay the real test, so do not replay your practice either. Some practical tips:
- Use headphones, preferably the over-ear kind. The computer test uses headphones, and they cut out traffic, construction and household noise.
- Practise at a fixed volume; do not keep adjusting it.
- Choose a quiet room and time. Early morning or late evening is usually calmer in busier parts of the city such as Nashik Road, CIDCO or near the main markets.
- If you are at an MIDC office, a Listening set in a quiet meeting room at lunch is a good use of 30 minutes.
Common errors and how to fix them
- Reading ahead too slowly: use the gaps to read the next questions, not to check old ones.
- Writing too much: note the key word only, then copy carefully.
- Ignoring distractors: the first thing you hear is often corrected later.
- Missing Part 4 signposts: listen for "firstly", "another factor", "in contrast" and "to sum up"; they tell you where you are.
After each set, check every wrong answer in the Mistake Notebook. When you are steady around 30, the harder Charged sets will stretch you for band 7+.
Try a free sample Listening set from our practice tests, or register for Full Access (₹999 for 2 months).