ScoreFluentC1 Advanced Listening, four parts, heard twice.
About 40 minutes, four parts and 30 questions, with every recording played twice. You listen for opinions and attitudes as much as for facts.
Checked 15 and 16 October 2026 against Cambridge English. ScoreFluent is not affiliated with Cambridge University Press & Assessment.
What are the four parts of C1 Advanced Listening?
| Part | Task | Questions | What you hear | What you do |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Part 1 | Multiple choice | 6 | Three unrelated extracts of about 1 minute, each between two speakers | Answer two three-option questions on each extract. They test feeling, attitude, opinion, purpose, agreement and gist. |
| Part 2 | Sentence completion | 8 | One monologue of about 3 minutes, such as a talk or broadcast | Complete eight sentences with a single word or short phrase from the recording. |
| Part 3 | Multiple choice | 6 | A conversation or interview of about 4 minutes with two or more speakers | Answer six four-option questions, mostly on speakers’ attitudes and opinions. |
| Part 4 | Multiple matching | 10 | Five short themed monologues of about 30 seconds each | Complete two matching tasks, choosing from a list of eight options, on gist, attitude and opinion. |
Each question is worth one mark, so the paper is out of 30. In the long texts the questions follow the order of the recording. See how the 30 marks feed your score.
How do I use two listenings well?
Cambridge’s advice is to read the questions before each part, mark an answer after the first listening even if unsure, and use the second to confirm. The technique below builds on that.
Spend the reading time on the questions
Read the question stems before each part begins. In Part 2, decide what kind of word each gap needs, such as a noun or a number, so you know what to listen for.
First listening: commit
Mark one answer for each question, then use the second listening to confirm or change it. In Part 1, Cambridge notes that very few questions test literal meaning alone.
Do not choose an option for its words
Cambridge warns against picking an answer because it contains words you heard. Options paraphrase what is said and ask about feeling, purpose or agreement, so match meaning, not vocabulary.
Part 2: write the words you hear
The answers are the actual words on the recording, usually no more than three. Do not paraphrase, and check the sentence to see whether a word needs to be singular or plural.
Part 4: listen for attitude
Read all eight options for each task before the first speaker. The options describe different attitudes or purposes within one topic, so listen for how each speaker feels, not for a repeated keyword.
Answer every question
Cambridge says candidates have often understood more than they think. Never leave a question empty when the second listening has ended.
Is C1 Advanced Listening different on computer and paper?
The task formats are the same. The handling differs, so rehearse the one you will sit.
| Digital test | Paper test | |
|---|---|---|
| Answers | Typed or marked directly on the computer; a timer shows the time left | Written on the question paper as you listen, then copied to the answer sheet in pencil |
| Checking | 2 minutes at the end to check answers, included in the approximately 40 minutes | 5 minutes at the end to copy answers, included in the approximately 40 minutes |
| Notes | Allowed on paper, but left on the desk at the end | Write on the question paper as you listen |
| Part 2 answers | Typed | Written clearly in capital letters |
Cambridge’s handbook recommends plenty of practice listening on headphones for the digital test. Keep Part 2 answers short and double-check spelling there, where both British and American spellings are accepted.
What can I practise on ScoreFluent?
ScoreFluent has Listening practice for multiple choice, sentence completion and multiple matching, and listening practice is free within daily limits. A Listening mock test plays every recording twice and costs 10 credits at the time of writing; the full C1 Advanced mock test costs 40. Results are practice estimates on the Cambridge English Scale, not official Cambridge scores.
Our recordings are generated audio, with a separate voice for each speaker. That is useful for volume of practice, but it cannot reproduce every real accent and delivery, so also sit Cambridge’s free sample tests. See the practice test guide.
Straight from Cambridge.
ScoreFluent is an independent practice platform and is not affiliated with, endorsed by or connected to Cambridge University Press & Assessment. The facts here were checked on 15 and 16 October 2026 against:
- C1 Advanced exam format — parts, questions and recording lengths.
- C1 Advanced Handbook for teachers (PDF) — timing, digital and paper handling, and preparation advice for each part.
- Converting practice test scores (PDF) — one mark per question and the 30-mark paper.
Exam details change. If a decision hangs on a detail here, check it against the official pages above first; they outrank this page.
Keep going: the C1 Advanced guide, Reading and Use of English, Writing and Speaking.
C1 Advanced Listening questions, answered.
How long is C1 Advanced Listening?
Cambridge gives about 40 minutes, with 4 parts and 30 questions. That time includes 2 minutes at the end to check your answers on the digital test, or 5 minutes to copy them onto the answer sheet on the paper test.
Are the recordings played twice in C1 Advanced Listening?
Yes. Each part contains a recorded text or texts and is heard twice. Cambridge advises marking an answer after the first listening and using the second to confirm it.
What are the four parts of C1 Advanced Listening?
Part 1 is multiple choice on three short extracts, Part 2 is sentence completion on a monologue, Part 3 is multiple choice on a longer conversation, and Part 4 is multiple matching on five short monologues.
What kind of answers does Part 2 need?
A single word or short phrase, usually no more than three words, taken from the recording itself. Cambridge expects correct spelling and accepts both British and American spellings.
Can I take notes in C1 Advanced Listening?
On the digital test you may make notes on paper, but you must leave them on your desk at the end. On the paper test you write your answers on the question paper as you listen.
Should I guess if I am not sure?
Cambridge’s handbook advises answering every question, even if you are not sure, because candidates have often understood more than they think. Each correct answer earns one mark.
How is C1 Advanced Listening scored?
Each of the 30 questions is worth one mark. The marks become one of your five Cambridge English Scale scores, and each of the five counts equally towards your overall result.
Can I practise C1 Advanced Listening on ScoreFluent?
Yes. Listening practice is free within daily limits, and a Listening mock test plays every recording twice. ScoreFluent’s recordings are generated audio, so also use Cambridge’s free sample tests to hear real exam recordings.
Start practising C1 Advanced today.
C1 Advanced practice is live on ScoreFluent: all four Listening parts, free to start.
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