Cambridge English: Proficiency (CPE) Listening Exam – OverviewThe Listening paper is Part of the Cambridge English: Proficiency (CPE) exam, the highest-level qualification in the Cambridge English suite (CEFR C2). It assesses a candidate’s ability to understand a wide range of spoken English in demanding contexts, including lectures, broadcasts, interviews, discussions, and everyday conversations. The test lasts approximately 40 minutes and is worth 20% of the total exam marks (the same weighting as Reading & Use of English, Writing, and Speaking).
Structure and Task Types
The paper consists of four parts, each with a different focus and text type. In total, candidates hear 30 questions (each worth 1 mark). Audio recordings are played twice (except in Part 1, where some items may be heard only once in the flow of the recording, but the whole part is replayed). The recordings feature a variety of accents (British, North American, Australian, etc.) and speeds typical of educated native-speaker usage.
| Part | Number of questions | Task type | Text length & format | Skills tested |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | 6 (multiple choice, 3 options) | Three short, unrelated extracts (approx. 1 min each) from monologues or conversations | Gist, detail, opinion, attitude, speaker purpose | |
| 2 | 8 (sentence completion) | One longer monologue (e.g., lecture, talk, speech; approx. 3–4 min) | Specific information, stated opinion, paraphrasing | |
| 3 | 5 (multiple choice, 4 options) | One longer dialogue or interview (approx. 3–4 min) between 2–4 speakers | Main idea, detail, opinion, implication, agreement/disagreement | |
| 4 | 11 (multiple matching + multiple choice) | Five short monologues (approx. 35 sec each) on a common theme + one longer dialogue (approx. 3 min) | Gist, attitude, main points, interpreting context |
What Candidates Hear
- Accents & speakers: Native-speaker varieties; male/female; young/older adults.
- Topics: Abstract, academic, professional, social issues, culture, science, current affairs.
- Lexical range: Sophisticated vocabulary, idiomatic expressions, phrasal verbs, collocations, nuanced meaning.
- Speech features: Hesitations, false starts, interruptions, overlapping speech, stress/intonation conveying attitude.
Scoring and Mark Scheme
- Raw marks: 30 (1 mark per correct answer).
- Conversion: Marks are converted to the Cambridge English Scale (180–230). A scale score of 200 corresponds to a Grade C pass; 220 = Grade A.
- No penalty for wrong answers; candidates should attempt everything.
Preparation Tips
- Exposure: Listen to BBC Radio 4, TED Talks, academic podcasts, news broadcasts.
- Note-taking: Practise concise note-taking while listening (especially for Part 2).
- Prediction: Read questions before the recording to anticipate content.
- Paraphrase recognition: Answers are often re-worded; train to identify synonyms.
- Practice papers: Use official Cambridge CPE materials; time yourself strictly.
The Listening paper demands near-native comprehension, rapid processing of complex input, and the ability to distinguish subtle shades of meaning under time pressure. Success reflects not just language knowledge but sophisticated listening strategies honed through extensive real-world exposure.