Part 1 practice course: Listening to Problem Solving

• Read the short context: who is talking and where.
• Guess the likely problem: a repair, a refund, a booking.
• Get your notes ready in two columns, one for each speaker.

• Write key words only: problems, numbers, times, names.
• Note each change: "but", "actually", "the catch is".
• Mark who suggests what, so you don't mix up the speakers.

• Read every option before you choose.
• Answer from your notes, not from the word you remember best.
• Don't spend long on one question: the next section starts soon.

How does CELPIP Listening Part 1 work?

You hear one conversation in three sections, each followed by two or three questions. You hear each section once, so the story builds: the problem, then a first fix, then how it ends. The problem or the reason: Listen for the moment someone complains or says what's wrong.; Note it in a few words: what broke, what's missing, what's late.; Pick the option that says the same thing in other words.. A feeling or an opinion: Listen to the tone as well as the words.; Watch for polite words that hide a real feeling: "I appreciate that, but..."; Choose the feeling behind the whole reply, not one friendly phrase.. What will probably happen next: Wait for the last few lines of the section.; Note any plan: "I'll show him tonight", "I'll call them tomorrow".; Check who will do it: the speaker, or someone else..

How should I use my time in CELPIP Listening Part 1?

Before you listen: Read the short context: who is talking and where. Guess the likely problem: a repair, a refund, a booking. Get your notes ready in two columns, one for each speaker. While you listen: Write key words only: problems, numbers, times, names. Note each change: "but", "actually", "the catch is". Mark who suggests what, so you don't mix up the speakers. When the questions come: Read every option before you choose. Answer from your notes, not from the word you remember best. Don't spend long on one question: the next section starts soon.

What traps does CELPIP Listening Part 1 set?

Picking the option that uses a word you heard. The wrong options often repeat words from the recording, but in a different situation. Instead: Ask whether the option matches what the speaker meant, not just the words they said. Choosing something that sounds likely but was never said. Some options fit the story well and feel natural, so they seem right. Instead: Only choose what you heard. If you can't point to a line, it's probably a trap. Mixing up what came first and what came later. The plan often changes between sections, and an early idea is replaced by a later one. Instead: Note the section each fact comes from and answer for the time the question asks about.

Is this Part 1 course free?

Yes. Every step is free and needs no account, and nothing you do leaves your browser. With a free CELPass account, your wrong answers are saved with the trap they fell for and turned into daily drills.