How Listening Multiple Choice, Single Answer works
You hear a recording of 30 to 90 seconds, once, then choose the one option that answers the question. The question usually targets something specific: the speaker's purpose, the main point, a reason, an attitude or an inference.
It sits close to three other tasks, but it is not the same as any of them. Compared with Listening Multiple Choice, Multiple Answers, the recording is shorter, there is exactly one right answer and no minus marking. Compared with Highlight Correct Summary, you answer a focused question rather than judging a whole summary. Compared with the reading single answer task, you cannot look back at the text.
What is scored
The item is correct or incorrect. There is no penalty for a wrong answer, so never leave it blank.
How to answer
- Read the question stem first and identify its type. Why did the speaker mention... needs a purpose. What can be inferred... needs something implied but not stated. What is the speaker's view... needs attitude words like doubtful, supportive or cautious.
- Listen with that type in mind. If the question is about purpose, notice how an example connects to the argument. If it is about attitude, notice qualifiers like perhaps, clearly and not yet.
- Make brief notes. Two or three words per point is enough for a recording this length.
- Eliminate firmly. Cross out options that are too extreme, off-topic or only partly true. The right answer must be fully supported by what you heard.
Handling inference questions
Inference questions are where most careful listeners still slip. The correct option is not stated word for word, but it follows directly from what the speaker said. A wrong option usually goes one step too far. If a speaker says early results from a small trial look promising, you can infer that more testing is needed. You cannot infer that the treatment works. When two options remain, choose the one that claims less.
Common mistakes
- Answering from general knowledge instead of from the recording.
- Choosing an option because it contains the most memorable word from the talk.
- Missing a late change of direction, such as a speaker who describes a popular theory and then argues against it.