CELPIP Listening Part 1: Listening to Problem Solving
Follow a problem from its first explanation through possible solutions to the final decision.
At a glance
- Typical part time
- 8 minutes · approx.
- Questions
- 8
- Full skill time
- 46–55 minutes
Part timings are approximate. Follow the timer and instructions displayed on your test screen. Listening and Reading each have 38 scored questions; additional unscored material can appear, so attempt every part.
For a realistic first attempt, listen once without pausing. Use MockPip’s replay and transcript tools afterward to review what you missed.
Format reference: official Listening study pack · current test format. Checked 4 October 2026.
What you will do
A conversation in three sections, with questions after each section. Questions are heard one at a time; the answer choices are written.
Manage this part’s time
Before each section, leave space for the problem, limits and next action. In the official format, allow the displayed 30-second window to hear and answer each question.
Practice routines are MockPip suggestions, not additional official timing rules.A step-by-step approach
- Identify what the person needs and what prevents them from getting it.
- Separate the proposed solutions from the reasons each might fail.
- Update your notes when a speaker changes the plan.
- Choose the option that matches the question: a suggestion, a reason or the final agreement.
Techniques for this part
- Use a compact decision log: option → obstacle → decision. Cross out a rejected option rather than erasing its history.
- Give extra attention to corrections such as “actually” and “instead”; an earlier detail may no longer be the agreed plan.
- For attitude questions, combine the words with the speaker’s tone rather than treating politeness as agreement.
See the technique in action
Original mini-example: A tenant asks for a morning repair. The technician is unavailable before noon, so they agree on 2 p.m. If asked about the arrangement, choose the afternoon visit, not the original request.
This example is independently written for practice.
Common mistakes to avoid
- Choosing the first solution you heard instead of the accepted solution.
- Confusing the customer’s request with what the other speaker can offer.
- Continuing to think about a missed sentence while the next section plays.
Choose an answer for every question
Wrong answers do not lose points. Eliminate implausible choices, then choose one best answer per question; leave no question blank. This does not mean selecting every option.
Official guidance on guessing and answering all questions →Your next practice exercise
After one attempt, make a three-row table showing what changed in each section. Replay only during review and identify the exact phrase that changed the decision.
Before you finish
- Can I name the problem?
- Did I distinguish rejected and accepted solutions?
- Did I select an answer before the screen moved on?
MockPip’s techniques and practice examples are independently created. MockPip is not affiliated with or endorsed by CELPIP or its test provider. Practice results are not official CELPIP scores.