General Strategy For Listening Pasrt A (Short Dialogue)

Previous Article: Listening Part A

1. As you Listen to each short dialogue, focus on the second line of the conversation.

    The answer to the question is generally found in the second line.

2. Keep in mind that the correct answer is probably a restatement of a key word or idea in the second line of the dialogue. Think of possible restatements.

3. Keep in mind that certain structures and expressions are tested regularly in the short 

    dialogues.  Listen for these structures and expressions:

• structures (passives, negatives, wishes, conditions)
• functional expressions (agreement, uncertainty, suggestion, surprise)
• idiomatic expressions (two-part verbs, three-part verbs, idioms)

4. Keep in mind that these questions generally progress from easy to difficult. 

    This means that questions I through 5 will be the easiest and questions 26 through 30 will be the hardest.

5. Read the answers and choose the best answer to each question.

   Remember to answer each question even if you are not sure of the correct response. 

   Never leave any answers blank.

6. Even if you do not understand the complete dialogue, you can still find the correct answer.

• If you only understand a few words or ideas in the second line, choose the answer that contains a restatement of those words or ideas.
• If you do not understand anything at all in the second line of the conversation, choose the answer that sounds the most different from what you heard.
• Never choose an answer because it sounds like what you heard in the dialogue.

7. Be prepared for the next question. You have only 12 seconds between questions.