A2
B2
C1
Conversation · About 35 s
B1 English listening practice
Eight everyday scenes of 30 to 40 seconds: a flat viewing, a work voicemail, a forecast, a clinic call, directions in the street and more.
- 8 B1 clips
- About 35 s a clip
- Answers with reasons
- Dictation and transcript
B1 listening exercises
8 clips. Start with any of them; your scores stay in this browser.
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About 35 s
Conversation
Viewing a flat
An agent shows a flat to someone who may rent it.
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About 30 sVoicemail
A change to tomorrow's meeting
A colleague leaves a work message about a meeting.
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About 30 sRadio forecast
The weekend weather
A radio presenter gives the forecast for Saturday and Sunday.
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About 30 sPhone call
Booking a doctor's appointment
A patient calls a health centre to make an appointment.
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About 35 sPodcast
Sleep tips from a podcast
A host talks to a sleep coach about good sleep habits.
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About 30 sConversation
Returning a jacket
A customer wants to return a jacket without a receipt.
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About 40 sConversation
Finding the museum
A visitor asks a local for directions in the street.
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About 35 sPhone call
A call about a job interview
A recruiter calls a candidate to arrange an interview.
What is B1 listening?
B1 is the intermediate level of the CEFR. In listening it means you can follow the main points of clear, standard speech about familiar things: work, school, travel and free time. You can understand many radio items when the speaker is fairly slow and clear.
The B1 clips here are everyday scenes of 30 to 40 seconds. Speakers talk at a natural but not fast pace. Each clip has one main idea and a few details to catch, such as a time, a reason or a decision.
B1 listening test: what to expect
B1 exams such as Cambridge B1 Preliminary (PET) use short recordings with multiple-choice or matching questions, and each recording is played twice. This page does not copy any exam paper. It trains the same skill: find the main idea first, then catch the detail. To feel the exam pressure, take the listening test on the main page. You get two plays per clip and no feedback until the end.
Other levels: A2 listening · B2 listening · C1 listening · all levels and the listening test
How to improve your B1 listening
- 1
Listen once for the main idea.
Do not stop to look up words. Ask yourself who is talking and what they want.
- 2
Learn how B1 speech sounds.
Words join together: "want to" becomes "wanna" and "a lot of" sounds like "a lotta". Dictation shows you which words you swallow.
- 3
Listen for numbers, days and times.
B1 questions often ask for them, and "fifteen" and "fifty" sound close. Listen to where the stress falls.
- 4
Use the transcript after you answer.
Mark the words you did not hear, then say the line out loud.
- 5
Repeat clips after a few days.
The second time you will hear what you missed. A clip you can follow without the transcript is done.
B1 listening FAQ
What does B1 listening mean?
At B1 you can follow the main points of clear, standard speech on familiar topics such as work, school and free time. You can understand many radio items when the delivery is fairly slow and clear.
Is B1 listening hard?
It is the first level where speech is close to normal speed, so many learners feel a jump from A2. The usual problems are words that join together, numbers and times, and speakers who go round the answer before giving it. Dictation and the slow button help with all three.
Are the B1 listening answers and transcripts included?
Yes. After each question you see the right answer and a one-line reason. The transcript opens as soon as you have answered the questions, and useful phrases come with the result.
How long should I practise B1 listening each day?
Ten to twenty minutes is enough. One clip takes about ten minutes with the questions and dictation. Do one clip a day, and repeat any clip below 70% after a few days.
What is a good score on a B1 listening practice test?
Here, 70% or more on a clip means it is at your level. Below 50%, try the A2 clips first or use the slow button.
What is the difference between B1 and B2 listening?
B1 clips use clear speech and one main idea. B2 clips are at normal speed, have more speakers, and ask about opinions and reasons. When you score 70% or more on all B1 clips, move up to B2.
Is this the same as British Council B1 listening?
No, it is a different set of clips. The British Council LearnEnglish B1 lessons have a preparation task, a recording and two tasks. Here you get one short clip, questions with answers, dictation and a score in about ten minutes. Slova is not connected to the British Council.
Practise English every day with Slova
One clip here is a good start. In Slova, Felix teaches you step by step, and you listen and speak every day in lessons built around what you love.