A2
B1
B2
Podcast · About 50 s
C1 English listening practice
Podcasts, a lecture, a panel, a pitch and news reports at natural speed. The questions ask about attitude and what is not said directly.
- 8 C1 clips
- About 50 s a clip
- Answers with reasons
- Dictation and transcript
C1 listening exercises
8 clips. Start with any of them; your scores stay in this browser.
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About 50 s
Podcast
Why is it hard to concentrate?
A psychologist challenges the idea that our attention is getting worse.
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About 55 sTeam meeting
A chatbot for customer support
Three colleagues disagree politely about a new plan.
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About 50 sNews interview
Why rents keep rising
A presenter and an economics correspondent discuss rents.
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About 50 sPanel discussion
Back to the office?
A host talks to an HR director and a staff representative about a new office rule.
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About 60 sLecture
A lecture: why we forget
A psychology lecturer opens a class on forgetting.
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About 45 sMeeting
Questions after a pitch
An investor questions a founder after his presentation.
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About 50 sNews report
Supermarkets and food waste
A news presenter talks to a consumer reporter about wasted food.
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About 45 sPhone call
Negotiating a job offer
A recruiter calls a candidate with a job offer.
What is C1 listening?
C1 is the advanced level of the CEFR. In listening it means you can follow fast, natural speech, long talks and conversations, even when the ideas are not clearly signposted and the meaning is only hinted.
The C1 clips here are scenes of 45 to 60 seconds with polite disagreement, hedging and abstract words. The questions ask about attitude and what is meant, not only what is said.
C1 listening test: what to expect
C1 exams such as Cambridge C1 Advanced (CAE) use long recordings with several speakers and tasks that test opinion, attitude and detail, and play each recording twice. This page does not copy any exam paper. It trains the same skills. For a test feel, take the listening test on the main page.
Other levels: A2 listening · B1 listening · B2 listening · all levels and the listening test
How to improve your C1 listening
- 1
Listen for what is not said.
"I could live with that" means yes, with doubts. Check the transcript to see how much you caught.
- 2
Learn hedging phrases.
"Largely not", "in theory" and "at best" change a statement's strength.
- 3
Do the dictation at full speed.
Fast lines are where you lose small words. Slow replays show what was there.
- 4
Listen to real podcasts too.
Pick one topic you like and listen for ten minutes a day.
- 5
Say the useful phrases out loud.
You remember a phrase you have said better than one you have only heard.
C1 listening FAQ
What does C1 listening mean?
At C1 you can follow fast, natural speech and long talks, even when the structure is not clear and ideas are only hinted.
Are the C1 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 practise C1 listening?
Listen to natural English every day, such as podcasts and interviews, and use dictation on short quick lines to find the words you lose.
What if I find the C1 clips too hard?
Use the slow button, listen again, and try the B2 clips first. Come back when you score 70% or more on B2.
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.