Answers and Discussion

Starters Listening Component

Overview

The Starters Listening component lasts about 20 minutes.

Part	Main Skill Focus	Input	Response	Questions
1	Listening for words and prepositions	Picture and dialogue	Carry out instructions and position things correctly on a picture	5
2	Listening for numbers and spelling	Illustrated comprehension questions and dialogue	Writing numbers and names	5
3	Listening for specific information of various kinds	3-option multiple-choice pictures and dialogue	Tick correct box under picture	5
4	Listening for words, colours and prepositions	Pictures and dialogue	Carry out instructions, locate objects and colour correctly (Range of colours is black, blue, brown, green, grey, orange, pink, purple, red, yellow)	5
Total				20 marks

Understanding the Tasks

To understand what is required of candidates in this part of the test, look at this sample of a Starters Listening test, and think about the questions below.

      Starters Listening sample test

Things to consider

1. In Part 1, how many times are the key words (object, location and preposition) mentioned in each section? How should this help candidates to complete the task?
   
   
2. What other help is given for candidates to complete the tasks successfully?
   
   
3. Are all the tasks the same? What do the children have to do?
   
   
4. Is there any connection between the key items of vocabulary in Part 1?
   
   
5. What advice would you give candidates about their answers in Part 2?
   
   
6. What do children have to listen out for in Part 3 in order to complete the task successfully?