Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)
Will my students have enough time to read through the questions?
Do the candidates have to answer all the questions?
Are spelling mistakes penalised in the Listening paper?
What is the range of accents in the Listening paper?
How long should the candidates' written answers be in Part 3?
If a candidate fails the Listening paper do they fail the whole exam?
Will my students have enough time to read through the questions?
Yes. There is a pause before each part of the listening test to give them time to look through the questions and other pauses to let them think about their answers. For the longer texts in Parts 2, 3 and 4, candidates are told on the tape how long the pause is before each part.
Do the candidates have to answer all the questions?
Yes. If they don't answer a question they won't get a mark. If candidates get an answer wrong, they won't lose a mark, so if they're not sure they should always attempt an answer.Are spelling mistakes penalised in the Listening paper?
For the ICFE Listening paper, the spelling of answers generally has to be correct. Some minor variations are allowed, however, as long as the meaning remains completely clear, especially in words that present spelling problems to native speakers of English. An example of such a word is 'accommodation'. All the tasks for the Cambridge ESOL ICFE papers are pretested before being put on to live papers. If it is found at pretesting that a key is problematic from a spelling point of view, the question is changed.How fast are the recordings?
The listening texts are recorded at a natural speed appropriate to the context.What is the range of accents in the Listening paper?
In ICFE Listening, there is a range of accents corresponding to standard variants of English native-speaker accents from around the world.Are candidates supposed to write the words they hear on the CD in answers to Part 3, or do they get more marks if they use their own words?
Candidates should try to use the actual word or words they hear on the CD. They do not get extra marks for using their own words, and may not be awarded the mark if their paraphrase is unsuccessful or changes the meaning of the answer in the context of the sentence in the task.How long should the candidates' written answers be in Part 3?
Usually no more than three words. The answer box is designed to be large enough for a correct answer, so if candidates can't fit in their answer, they need to think again. (In Parts 1, 2 and 4 they should only write the correct letter (A, B, C, etc.) on the answer sheet.)If a candidate fails the Listening paper do they fail the whole exam?
No. The overall ICFE grade is based on the total score gained in all four papers. It is not necessary to pass each paper in order to pass the examination.
If you have any other questions about ICFE Listening, contact us and we'll answer the most frequently asked questions here.