CELPIP Listening Part 2: Listening to a Daily Life Conversation
Understand everyday intentions, relationships and implied feelings in a short exchange.
At a glance
- Typical part time
- 5 minutes · approx.
- Questions
- 5
- 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
One everyday conversation followed by five questions. The questions are heard individually with written answer choices.
Manage this part’s time
Use the opening exchange to identify the relationship. The official question window is 30 seconds per question, including the spoken question; select an answer before it ends.
Practice routines are MockPip suggestions, not additional official timing rules.A step-by-step approach
- Identify who is talking and why they are speaking now.
- Note preferences, arrangements and reactions under each speaker’s name.
- Decide whether the question asks for a fact, a purpose or an inference.
- Check that your choice fits the whole exchange, not just a familiar word.
Techniques for this part
- Label your notes A and B so an opinion stays attached to the person who expressed it.
- Listen for indirect requests: “It is getting late” can suggest leaving, depending on what follows.
- Distinguish a habit from a one-time plan by listening for expressions such as “usually” and “this weekend”.
See the technique in action
Original mini-example: One colleague says an outdoor lunch sounds nice, then mentions a deadline and suggests ordering in. Their final intention is to stay at work, even though they liked the first idea.
This example is independently written for practice.
Common mistakes to avoid
- Assuming the speakers’ relationship without checking the dialogue.
- Treating sarcasm or hesitation as a literal positive response.
- Choosing an option because it repeats a word from the audio.
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
Summarize the conversation in two sentences: what each person wanted, and what they finally agreed to do. Compare this with the transcript after answering.
Before you finish
- Who said each preference?
- Is my inference supported by more than one clue?
- Have I answered all five questions?
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.