What Is Part 6?
Part 6 is the final listening section. It plays a news broadcast about a topic with different viewpoints (~1.5 minutes). Like Part 4, you see a written summary with 6 blanks and dropdown options. You have 180 seconds (3 minutes) after the audio.
The difference from Part 4: Part 6's summary discusses opinions and viewpoints rather than just facts. Blanks may test who holds a particular view, what their argument is, or what evidence they cite.
Same Cloze Strategy, Different Content
The mechanical approach is identical to Part 4:
1. Read the summary first — understand the topic and viewpoints 2. Scan the blanks and options — predict what each blank needs 3. Follow along during audio — match blanks to audio in order 4. Use review time to verify and fix uncertain answers
The NEW challenge: instead of filling in facts (numbers, names, events), you're filling in opinions, positions, and reasoning. The blanks might ask for: - Who holds a particular view - What their main argument is - What evidence they cite - How they respond to the opposing view
Track the Viewpoints
While listening, note who holds which view:
- Pro side: "Supporters say...", "Advocates argue...", "Those in favor believe..." - Con side: "Critics warn...", "Opponents point out...", "Skeptics argue..." - Neutral/expert: "Researchers found...", "Data shows...", "According to..."
The blanks often test whether you can correctly attribute a view to the right group. If the summary says "______ believe the policy is beneficial," you need to know who the supporters are.
Fight Fatigue
Part 6 comes at the end of the listening module — you're tired. Strategies:
- Remind yourself: Only 6 more blanks and you're done - Use the preview time actively — reading the summary wakes up your brain - Stay engaged with the audio — don't let your attention drift in the last 30 seconds - Don't rush the review — you have 3 full minutes. Use them.
Common fatigue mistake: Selecting the first option that "sounds right" without checking. At CLB 7, this costs 1–2 marks. Force yourself to read all 4 options before choosing.
Time Allocation
180 seconds for 6 blanks:
- Try to fill 3–4 blanks during the audio (tentative selections) - Use the first 60 seconds of review to tackle remaining blanks - Use the final 120 seconds to read the completed paragraph for sense-checking
If the completed paragraph reads as a coherent news summary with clear viewpoint attribution, your answers are likely correct.