What Is Part 2?
Part 2 plays a daily-life conversation — a chat between friends, colleagues, or family members about everyday topics (planning a trip, discussing a purchase, arranging an event). You hear the conversation once, then answer 5 questions with 30 seconds each.
The conversation feels natural and fast-paced — speakers interrupt, use informal language, and change topics quickly. This is harder than Part 1 because it mimics real conversation speed.
Focus on the Big Picture First
Don't try to catch every word. Instead, track:
1. What are they talking about? (Topic in 2–3 words) 2. What does each person want or think? (Their position) 3. What do they decide? (The outcome)
At CLB 7, most questions ask about these three things. Specific details (times, places) are important for 1–2 questions, but the majority test your general understanding.
Trap: Getting stuck on an unfamiliar word and missing the next 10 seconds. If you don't know a word, let it go — context usually fills the gap.
Predict From Question Preview
Before the audio plays, you get a brief preview. Use it:
1. Read the first 2–3 questions (you won't have time for all 5) 2. Identify keywords in the questions: names, places, actions 3. These keywords tell you what to listen for
Example: If Question 1 asks "Why does Sarah want to change the restaurant?" — you now know the conversation involves a restaurant change. Listen for Sarah's reason.
Informal Language Cues
Daily life conversations use casual English:
- "You know what?" = about to state a preference - "I mean..." = clarifying or correcting themselves - "To be honest..." = about to give their real opinion - "Thing is..." = about to explain a problem - "How about..." = suggesting an alternative
These phrases signal important information is coming. When you hear them, sharpen your focus — the answer to a question is likely in the next sentence.
Time Management
With 30 seconds per question:
- Read the question + all options (8–10 seconds) - Match to what you remember (10–12 seconds) - Select and confirm (5 seconds) - Buffer (5 seconds)
If you're stuck, eliminate options that clearly don't match the conversation topic, then pick from the remaining ones. Never leave a question blank.