A2
B1
C1
Work call · About 40 s
B2 English listening practice
Work calls, radio interviews, a hotel problem and a restaurant bill at normal speed. Answer while you listen, type what you hear and check the transcript.
- 8 B2 clips
- About 45 s a clip
- Answers with reasons
- Dictation and transcript
B2 listening exercises
8 clips. Start with any of them; your scores stay in this browser.
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About 40 s
Work call
A delayed product launch
Two colleagues discuss a launch problem on a phone call.
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About 45 sRadio interview
Does a four-day week work?
A researcher explains what she found in four-day week trials.
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About 40 sConversation
A cancelled flight
A passenger talks to an airline agent after a cancellation.
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About 45 sConversation
A problem at check-in
A guest arrives to find the hotel has no room for her.
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About 50 sRadio interview
Should the city centre be car-free?
A radio host asks a transport researcher about a plan to close the centre to cars.
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About 45 sConversation
A mistake on the bill
A diner speaks to the waiter about the bill at the end of a meal.
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About 40 sConversation
Sharing the bills
Two flatmates talk about a high electricity bill in the kitchen.
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About 45 sPodcast
Is it too late to learn a language?
A podcast host asks a linguist a question from a listener.
What is B2 listening?
B2 is the upper-intermediate level of the CEFR. In listening it means you can follow longer talks and conversations at normal speed, including opinions, reasons and arguments, as long as the topic is reasonably familiar.
The B2 clips here are scenes of 40 to 50 seconds, mostly with two speakers. The questions ask what is suggested as well as what is said, for example why someone is careful or what they plan to do.
B2 listening test: what to expect
B2 exams such as Cambridge B2 First (FCE) use longer recordings than B1, with multiple-choice, gap-fill and matching tasks, and play each recording twice. This page does not copy any exam paper. It trains the same skills: follow an argument and pick out the speaker's reason. For a test feel, take the listening test on the main page.
Other levels: A2 listening · B1 listening · C1 listening · all levels and the listening test
How to improve your B2 listening
- 1
Listen for the speaker's reason.
B2 questions ask why, not only what. Words like "because", "so" and "but" show it.
- 2
Notice how opinions are softened.
"I'd urge some caution" and "I'm not convinced" are polite ways to disagree.
- 3
Use the dictation on fast lines.
Typing a quick line shows which words you lose in normal-speed speech.
- 4
Read the transcript after you answer.
Find the phrase that gave you the answer and say it out loud.
- 5
Listen for the turn.
"That's a fair concern, but" and "Partly" tell you the speaker only half agrees. The answer is often in what comes next.
B2 listening FAQ
What does B2 listening mean?
At B2 you can follow longer talks and conversations at normal speed, including opinions and arguments, when the topic is reasonably familiar.
Are the B2 listening answers 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.
How do I get from B1 to B2 listening?
Listen to normal-speed English every day, use dictation to find the words you lose, and repeat clips until you can follow them without the transcript.
When should I move up to C1?
When you get 70% or more on all the B2 clips on a first listen, try the C1 clips.
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.