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In this video we’ll give you listening test examples of each type of task you have to do in the Aptis Listening Test. As we explained in the Overview of the Listening Test, there are four parts to the exam. This is because there are four types of tasks, which get more difficult as the test goes on. There are 17 questions in total.
These listening test examples are for Aptis General. However, they’re also useful for those of you doing the Aptis for Teachers test, as the format is identical. The only difference is in the content, which is general instead of education-based.
At the end of the post you’ll find the audioscript and answers, but don’t look at that until you’ve tried the video test yourself! We thought you might like to read the script as you listen when you watch the video a second time.
Before you watch the video, here’s a quick recap of what you have to do in each part.
Part 1: Information recognition (questions 1-13)
You have to listen for specific information and choose an answer from three options. The missing information is often a time, a phone number or a place. The recording is in the form of a brief phone message, or a short dialogue or monologue. Questions 1 to 10 are very short, and questions 11 to 13 are a little longer.
Part 2: Information matching (question 14)
First you listen to four short monologues about a certain topic or theme by four different people. Then you need to match each speaker to a piece of information. There are six pieces of information.
Part 3: Opinion matching (question 15)
You listen to a discussion between a man and a woman. On the screen you will see a number of opinions, and you need to identify who gives which opinion: the woman, the man, or both of them.
Part 4: Monologue comprehension (questions 16-17)
You hear two longer monologues and answer two questions about the speaker’s opinion or point of view. You should listen carefully to the speaker’s intonation and tone to help you identify their attitude.
So here’s the video. Get a pen and paper to write your answers down – we’ve left a little thinking time, but we recommend you press pause after each question, to give you more time to think. After watching, you can read the audio script below the video.
Listening Test Examples: Audioscript and Answers
Part 1: Information recognition
Example 1: Listen to the message. What colour is Nicco’s T-shirt?
Thanks for offering to pick my son up from the bus station – that’s very kind of you. I’ll give you a quick description so you’ll be able to pick him out of the crowd. He’s got short brown hair and he’s of average height. He’ll have a blue rucksack, and he’ll be wearing a green t-shirt and a yellow jacket. His bus arrives around 6pm. His name’s Nicco, by the way.
Green
Example 2: Two friends are talking about Mary’s new boyfriend. How do they describe him?
A. Have you met Mary’s new boyfriend yet?
B. No, what’s he like?
A. Well, he’s not as tall as the last one – in fact Mary’s taller than him by a mile – and he’s got blue eyes, which she really likes.
B. What about his hair?
A. It’s much, much longer than Mary’s, and kind of grey.
He’s got blue eyes
Part 2: Information matching
Four people are talking about learning foreign languages. Complete the sentences below.
Speaker A, Speaker B, Speaker C, Speaker D
… preferred learning languages to other subjects.
… wishes they could communicate better at work.
… has no problems communicating on holiday.
… believes languages could have been taught more effectively.
… regrets not learning a language properly.
… found languages very difficult.
Speaker A
I never actually disliked learning languages, but I always felt that the lessons could have been organised much better. We spent years memorising vocabulary lists and grammar rules, yet hardly ever had the chance to hold real conversations. Looking back, I think we would have made much faster progress if we’d spent more time speaking and listening rather than filling in worksheets. I learned enough to pass my exams, but not enough to feel confident using the language in real life.
Speaker B
For me, language classes were easily the highlight of the school week. While many of my friends preferred subjects like science or geography, I loved discovering how people in different countries communicate. I enjoyed learning new expressions, listening to recordings of native speakers, and even practising pronunciation. And now I can get by in several languages while I’m on vacations abroad, which is great!
Speaker C
For me, learning another language was completely impossible. No matter how hard I tried, I couldn’t remember vocabulary, and grammar seemed full of exceptions that made no sense to me. While some students appeared to pick up everything naturally, I struggled with even the most basic conversations. Looking back, I think I worked harder than most people in class, but unfortunately I never seemed to improve very much.
Speaker D
When I was younger, I didn’t really appreciate the value of language learning. I did just enough work to get through my classes and then forgot most of what I’d learned. Now that I travel regularly for work, I realise how useful those skills would be with foreign colleagues. At one point I even became fascinated by the idea of learning Icelandic, simply because it seemed so unusual. These days, though, I’d settle for being able to hold a decent conversation in any second language!
Speaker B preferred learning languages to other subjects.
Speaker D wishes they could communicate better at work.
Speaker B has no problems communicating on holiday.
Speaker A believes languages could have been taught more effectively.
Speaker D regrets not learning a language properly.
Speaker C found languages very difficult.
Part 3: Opinion matching
Listen to two people discussing the pros and cons of working from home. Read the opinions below and decide whose opinion matches the statements: the man, the woman, or both the man and the woman.
Man: So, how are you finding working from home these days?
Woman: To be honest, I still can’t decide whether I prefer it to working in an office. There are definitely advantages, but there are drawbacks too.
Man: What kind of drawbacks?
Woman: Well, one thing I’ve noticed is that it can feel quite isolating. I miss chatting to colleagues during breaks and being part of a team environment. Some days I hardly speak to anyone face-to-face.
Man: That’s true, but think about all the time and money you save by not commuting. I used to spend nearly two hours a day travelling to and from work. Now I can use that time for exercise, hobbies, or simply getting more work done.
Woman: You’re right – I agree that avoiding the daily commute is a huge benefit. But I’ve also found it difficult to separate my work life from my personal life. When your office is in your house, it’s tempting to keep checking emails long after you’ve finished for the day.
Man: I know what you mean. On the other hand, having a flexible schedule makes a big difference to me. I can organise my day more efficiently and work when I’m most productive.
Woman: That’s certainly an advantage. Still, I sometimes worry that people who work remotely are overlooked when promotion opportunities come up. Managers naturally see office-based employees more often.
Man: Perhaps, although many companies are becoming much better at managing remote teams. Personally, I think the benefits outweigh the disadvantages. Technology has made it possible to work effectively from almost anywhere.
Woman: Maybe you’re right. I’m still weighing everything up before deciding how I feel about it. I suppose the ideal solution would be a balance between working at home and working in the office.
Who expresses which opinion?
Working from home can be lonely.
Woman
Not having to travel to work is beneficial.
Both
It can be difficult to switch off from work.
Woman
The advantages of working from home are greater than the disadvantages.
Man
Part 4: Monologue comprehension
Listen to a museum director talk at a public meeting about plans to expand a local museum and answer the questions below.
What is the speaker’s attitude towards the media coverage of the plans?
She thinks it has included some valid points
She finds it largely in favour of the plans
She thinks it’s been fair and balanced so far
What does she think about the public’s response so far?
She thinks everyone has collaborated with the museum staff
She thinks increased tourism will be a decisive factor
She worries that a minority of people will oppose the plans
Ladies and gentlemen, thank you for attending this evening’s meeting. As director of the museum, I would like to speak about our proposal to expand the current building and create several new exhibition spaces. In my view, this project represents an important investment in the future of our town and will allow us to share our local history with a much wider audience.
I would like to stress that these plans have not been developed in isolation. Over the past year, we have consulted local residents, teachers, historians, and community groups. Their suggestions have played an important role in shaping the final proposal, and I believe this cooperative approach has resulted in a much stronger project overall.
The expansion will allow us to display items that are currently kept in storage, provide educational facilities for schools, and host travelling exhibitions from other regions. We also expect the larger museum to attract more visitors from outside the area, bringing additional income to local businesses such as cafés, restaurants, and hotels.
Unfortunately, some of the recent media coverage has focused heavily on concerns about the cost of the project and the potential disruption during construction. While I accept that these are legitimate issues that deserve discussion, I feel that too little attention has been paid to the long-term cultural and economic benefits that the expansion could bring. Similar concerns have also been raised about increased visitor numbers affecting nearby residents, although evidence from other towns suggests that these effects are usually limited.
Naturally, not everyone will welcome these changes. Whenever a major project is proposed, there are always some people who remain unconvinced. However, I hope they will consider the wider benefits for future generations rather than focusing solely on short-term difficulties.
I sincerely hope that the community will continue to support our efforts to create a museum that everyone can be proud of. Thank you for listening.
What is the speaker’s attitude towards the media coverage of the plans?
She thinks it has included some valid points
What does she think about the public’s response so far?
She worries that a minority of people will oppose the plans
