At a glance
- Skill
- Listening
- Questions
- 6
- Time to answer
- 6 min
What you need to do
In Listening Part 3, one person explains something to another person. For example, a staff member explains how a program works, a manager gives a new employee instructions, or a counsellor explains the steps to get a service.
Most of the talking comes from one speaker, and there is a lot of information: rules, steps, times, costs and exceptions. The questions check that you caught the important facts and understood how they fit together.
The good news is that the speaker is trying to help the listener understand, so they usually speak clearly and explain things in order. If you take good notes, many answers are right there on your paper.
What you'll see on the test
- One conversation, where one person gives information to another.
- 6 questions, which appear on the screen after the conversation.
- You hear the recording only once. You can't pause it, replay it or read along.
- Every question has four answer choices, and there is no penalty for a wrong answer.
- About 6 minutes to answer the questions.
What the test is looking for
Facts and details
Times, costs, places and requirements, like what to bring or how long something takes.
Steps in order
What happens first, next and last. Questions may ask about one step in the middle.
Rules and exceptions
"You can… but only if…". The small exception is often what the question is about.
The purpose
Why the information is being given, and what the listener should do with it.
Step-by-step strategy
- 1
Find the topic quickly
In the first few lines, note who is explaining and what service or task it's about.
- 2
Make a short list as you listen
Write each new fact on its own line: "$20/yr", "bring ID", "water Tue + Fri". Lists are easy to scan later.
- 3
Mark the exceptions
When you hear "except", "unless" or "but", put a star next to that note. These often become questions.
- 4
Listen to the questions the other person asks
When the listener asks something, the answer that follows is usually important.
- 5
Check your list before you answer
When the questions appear, find the matching line in your notes first. Then choose the option that says the same thing, even if it uses different words.
Common mistakes
Trying to write every fact.
Write numbers, rules and steps. Skip friendly small talk and repeated information.
Missing the exception.
Words like "unless" and "only" change the rule. Slow down when you hear them.
Mixing up two numbers.
Write what each number is for, like "$20 plot" and "$5 tools", not just "20" and "5".
Choosing an answer that sounds like general advice.
The right answer must match what this speaker actually said, not what is usually true.
Stopping your notes when the speaker slows down.
The last minute often has a reminder or a final rule, like a deadline or what to bring next time. Keep listening and writing until the recording ends.
Examples with answers
Example 1
Listen to the recording first. On the real test, you hear it only once.
This recording uses AI-generated voices.
Show transcript
Gloria: Welcome to the Elm Park Community Garden! I'm Gloria. You must be Sam. Sam: Yes, hi. Thanks for meeting me. Gloria: No problem. So, your plot is number fourteen, right next to the tool shed. The fee is twenty dollars for the whole season, and you can pay me today, by cash or card. Sam: Great. Do I need to buy my own tools? Gloria: No, the tools in the shed are free for all members. The lock code is on your welcome card. The only rule is that you put everything back in the shed when you're done, so the next person can find it. Sam: That makes sense. And what about watering? Is there a hose? Gloria: There are three hoses, and the water is on from seven in the morning until nine at night. But in July and August, when it's really hot, we ask everyone to water only in the early morning or in the evening. Watering in the afternoon heat wastes a lot of water. Sam: Okay. In the summer, morning or evening only. Got it.
What does Gloria say about watering in July and August?
- AMembers should water only in the morning or evening.Correct answer
- BMembers must water every day at seven o'clock.
- CThe water is turned off for the summer.
- DMembers need to bring their own hose.
Why: Gloria asks members to water "only in the early morning or in the evening" in July and August. Seven o'clock is when the water is turned on, not a rule for members, so (B) uses a number from the recording as a trap. There are three hoses, so members don't need their own.
Example 2
This question uses the same recording as the example above.
What should Sam do after using the tools?
- APay a small fee to Gloria.
- BLeave them in his own plot.
- CWrite his name on the welcome card.
- DPut them back in the shed.Correct answer
Why: Gloria says, "The only rule is that you put everything back in the shed when you're done." The tools are free, so (A) is wrong. The welcome card has the lock code on it, but Sam doesn't need to write anything on it.
Questions students ask
How many questions are in CELPIP Listening Part 3?
There are 6 questions, and you have about 6 minutes to answer them.
What kind of information is in Part 3?
Everyday information: how a service works, workplace instructions, rules for a program or steps to get something done.
How can I remember so many details?
Take notes as a short list, one fact per line, and write what each number means. Practice this with recordings you hear only once.
Does the second person say much?
Not usually. The listener mostly asks short questions. But their questions are useful: the answer that follows is often something the test asks about.