Listening exam civic integration: how the delivery works and how to practise smartly

Listening is different from reading: you get only one chance to hear the fragment. Whoever understands the delivery format gets an immediate advantage.

How is the listening exam structured?

Listening I consists of 6 texts with 39 questions total, each with 3 answer options, with a pass mark of 26 out of 39. The questions are divided across the texts as 5, 8, 5, 5, 9 and 7 questions, across different text types: informative, reflective, persuasive and instructive. One of the six texts is a video text, with 7 questions.

Why you must read the question first

Each fragment is played exactly once. You get 25 seconds beforehand to read the question. That's why the most important tip is: read the question first, then listen, not the other way around. Candidates who only read the question after the fragment plays systematically miss the answer, even if the fragment was well understood.

The different text types

The texts range from informative (conveying facts) and reflective (outlining a viewpoint) to persuasive (persuading someone) and instructive (explaining how to do something). Each type calls for a slightly different listening approach.

What if there's video in it?

With the video text, you pay attention not just to what's said, but the image can also provide additional information. Prepare yourself by paying conscious attention to both image and sound during practice, not just the audio.

How do you best practise for this?

Because with listening you can't rewind like you can reread a text, concentration in the moment is crucial. So practise under the same conditions as the real exam: play the fragment once, read the question first, no repeats.