NOCN ESOL International Listening
Level B1 Intermediate LIVE Summer 2020
Examination Recordings – SET 1
ESOL International
English Listening Examination
Level B1 Intermediate
Texts to be used with the examination.
These will be recorded and sent to the centre on a disk prior to the examination.
Instructions are written in underlined italics and should not be recorded.
The recording must be played to learners in full from start to finish.
ESOL International Level B1 Intermediate
Examination Recordings LIVE Summer 2020 V1 Page 1 of 8
NOCN ESOL International Listening
Level B1 Intermediate LIVE Summer 2020
Examination Recordings – SET 1
This is the NOCN ESOL International Intermediate Level B1 Listening examination.
Please check that your name and other details are on your mark sheet.
The invigilator will have explained how to fill in the mark sheet.
Do not write on your examination paper.
Put your answers on the mark sheet.
The Listening examination will now begin.
ESOL International Level B1 Intermediate
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NOCN ESOL International Listening
Level B1 Intermediate LIVE Summer 2020
Examination Recordings – SET 1
Part 1
You will hear ten sentences. Read the replies on your examination paper.
You have two minutes to read the replies on your examination paper.
Pause for two minutes.
Listen to the sentences. You will hear the sentences in full twice. Choose the best reply for the
situation. You will then have two minutes to check your answers.
Play the sentences.
1. What is your favourite dessert?
2. How often do you go swimming?
3. Excuse me, where is the garage?
4. How long is the film?
5. Where did you buy that jacket?
6. Would you like some more soup?
7. What shall we do this evening?
8. Do you have this dress in a smaller size?
9. What did you think of this book?
10. How long have you been studying English?
Pause for five seconds after the first reading.
Now listen to the sentences again.
Play the sentences again.
Now check your answers. You have two minutes to check your answers.
Pause for two minutes after the second reading.
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NOCN ESOL International Listening
Level B1 Intermediate LIVE Summer 2020
Examination Recordings – SET 1
Part 2 – Conversations
You will hear two conversations. Read the questions and answers on your examination paper for both
conversations. You have two minutes to read them.
Pause for two minutes.
Listen to Conversation 1. You will hear the conversation twice. Answer the questions.
You will then have two minutes to check your answers.
Play the conversation.
Sandra: Hey, Philip! Is that you?
Philip: Oh, hello Sandra!
Sandra: Well, well. Philip Thompson. How have you been?
Philip: Good. Great, actually. How are you? I haven’t seen you for a long time. How long
is it?
Sandra: It’s been ages. At least fifteen years. Wow! You don’t look any different.
Philip: Thank you! Well, actually, my hair has gone a bit grey and I have put on a bit of
weight, as you can see. So, what are you doing here? I thought you had moved to
London.
Sandra: I was in London for a couple of years. But it didn’t work out.
Philip: Oh, I’m sorry to hear that. Are you ok?
Sandra: I’m fine. The dream job I had there wasn’t really very good. And London is a great
place but it’s so expensive. I couldn’t really afford the rent on my flat. So, I
decided to come back to York. I’ve been back here for almost five months now,
living back home with my mum and dad. It’s not easy but at least I have a job
here. Anyway, what about you?
Philip: Me? I never left York. But I’m happy. I’m married now. We have just celebrated
our tenth wedding anniversary.
Sandra: Wow! Married? Who is the lucky woman?
Philip: I don’t think you know her. Her name is Margaret. We have two children. They are
five and eight years old. Two little girls. What about you?
Sandra: I have a boyfriend, but he lives in London so I only see him at the weekends.
Philip: Well, it’s been great to see you again. Now you are here in York, you must come
over to our house and meet Margaret and the kids one day.
Sandra: That’s a lovely idea. Give me your number and I’ll call you sometime.
Pause for five seconds after the first reading.
Now listen to the conversation again.
Play the conversation again.
Now check your answers. You have two minutes to check your answers.
Pause for two minutes after the second reading.
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NOCN ESOL International Listening
Level B1 Intermediate LIVE Summer 2020
Examination Recordings – SET 1
Part 2 – Conversations
Listen to Conversation 2. You will hear the conversation twice. Answer the questions.
You will then have two minutes to check your answers.
Play the conversation.
Chemist: Hello. Can I help you?
Customer: Yes, I need something for a sore throat. It really hurts and I can’t stop coughing.
Chemist: Do you have a headache too?
Customer: Not really, no. I just have a sore throat.
Chemist: Well, we have this syrup. And we also have these cough sweets. You can have these in
three flavours – either lemon, honey or blackcurrant.
Customer: Which is better, the syrup or the cough sweets, in your opinion?
Chemist: They are both good. The syrup is more expensive. This bottle costs £9.25.
Customer: In that case, I’ll take the cough sweets. I think I’ll have a packet of the lemon flavoured
ones. How many do I need to take?
Chemist: Just one at a time.
Customer: How often should I take one?
Chemist: Take one every four hours. It is best to take it before mealtimes and you should have
another one before bedtime. Do you know if you are allergic to any medicines?
Customer: No, I don’t think so.
Chemist: Then you should have no problems with these cough sweets.
Customer: Can I get some antibiotics too? I think that would help me to get better faster.
Chemist: No, I’m afraid you need a prescription for antibiotics.
Customer: Oh ok, I thought so. I might have to go to the doctor’s.
Chemist: You know, if that cough continues for more than a week, you should make an
appointment to see your doctor.
Customer: Yes, I know. Maybe I will do that as I’ve have had this problem for about five days already.
It doesn’t seem to be getting any better.
Chemist: Ok. Do you need anything else?
Customer: No thanks, that is all. How much do I owe you for the cough sweets?
Chemist: That’s £4.50, please.
Customer: There you are.
Chemist: Thank you. Here’s your change. Goodbye. Hope you feel better soon!
Pause for five seconds after the first reading.
Now listen to the conversation again.
Play the conversation again.
Now check your answers. You have two minutes to check your answers.
Pause for two minutes after the second reading.
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Examination Recordings LIVE Summer 2020 V1 Page 5 of 8
NOCN ESOL International Listening
Level B1 Intermediate LIVE Summer 2020
Examination Recordings – SET 1
Part 3 – Broadcasts
You will hear two broadcasts. Read the questions and answers on your examination paper for both
broadcasts. You have two minutes to read them.
Pause for two minutes.
Listen to Broadcast 1. You will hear the broadcast twice. Answer the questions.
You will then have two minutes to check your answers.
Play the broadcast.
Roald Dahl was a famous writer, who wrote books for children. He was born in Wales, but his parents
came from Norway. He was born on 13th September 1916.
When he was thirteen, Roald went to Repton School in England, where he was very happy. He was
brilliant at sports, especially boxing. The boys at the school were sometimes asked to be chocolate
testers for a famous British chocolate company and this experience later inspired Roald Dahl’s book
“Charlie and the Chocolate Factory”.
When he left school, Roald Dahl worked in Africa for an oil company and then joined the Royal Air Force
during the Second World War. In 1940 his plane crashed in North Africa and Roald was badly injured. He
had to leave the air force because he could not fly planes anymore.
Roald returned to England after the war. He married an actress and they had five children. Roald
started telling his amazing stories to his children at bedtime. He realised how much they enjoyed these
stories and decided to write them down.
He had a passion for encouraging children to read. He believed that books for children should be funny,
exciting and wonderful.
Pause for five seconds after the first reading.
Now listen to the broadcast again.
Play the broadcast again.
Now check your answers. You have two minutes to check your answers.
Pause for two minutes after the second reading.
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NOCN ESOL International Listening
Level B1 Intermediate LIVE Summer 2020
Examination Recordings – SET 1
Part 3 – Broadcast
Listen to Broadcast 2. You will hear the broadcast twice. Answer the questions.
You will then have two minutes to check your answers.
Play the broadcast.
Good morning. Today I am going to give you some advice to help you prepare for your exams.
While you are studying, eat food that gives you energy. Don’t eat sweets or drink Coca Cola. Sugar won’t
help you study but fruit will help. Apples are especially good.
Try to be positive. It is easier to study when you are positive and relaxed. So, if you feel anxious, the best
thing to do is to take a break. Go out for a short walk and get some fresh air.
Don’t try to learn everything. Just focus on the important things that will get you the most marks in the
exam. Learn the main ideas and don’t worry too much about the details.
Try to memorise your notes. It might be boring, but the more you practice something, the easier it gets.
Use past exam papers to study. These will help you to understand what kind of questions you might find
in the exam. There are plenty of past papers in the school library.
As I said before, take regular breaks while you are studying. A five-minute break every half hour is
usually enough. Get some fresh air and stretch your arms and legs. Drink a glass of water too.
Good luck! I am sure you will all do your best.
Pause for five seconds after the first reading.
Now listen to the broadcast again.
Play the broadcast again.
Now check your answers. You have two minutes to check your answers.
Pause for two minutes after the second reading.
That is the end of the Listening examination. Please check your mark sheet is completed correctly. Put
your pens down.
End of Examination
ESOL International Level B1 Intermediate
Examination Recordings LIVE Summer 2020 V1 Page 7 of 8
NOCN ESOL International Listening
Level B1 Intermediate LIVE Summer 2020
Examination Recordings – SET 1
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ESOL International Level B1 Intermediate
Examination Recordings LIVE Summer 2020 V1 Page 8 of 8