At a glance
- Skill
- Listening
- Questions
- 8
- Time to answer
- 8 min
What you need to do
In Listening Part 5, you watch a short video of three people discussing something. They might be co-workers deciding on a change at work, neighbours planning a community project or family members making a decision together.
Each person has their own opinion, and the opinions often change as they talk. Many questions ask who said something, who agrees with whom, or what the group decides at the end. That's why many test takers find this part one of the hardest.
What you'll see on the test
- One video of three people in a discussion. You see the speakers and hear them once.
- 8 questions, which appear on the screen after the video.
- You can't pause, replay or rewind the video.
- Every question has four answer choices, and there is no penalty for a wrong answer.
- The questions have their own time limit. When it ends, the test moves on.
What the test is looking for
Who thinks what
Each speaker's opinion and the main reason they give for it.
Agreement and disagreement
Who supports an idea, who has doubts and who is against it.
Changes of mind
Someone may start against an idea and agree by the end, or suggest a compromise.
The outcome
What the group finally decides, or what they agree to do next.
Step-by-step strategy
- 1
Learn the three speakers at the start
When the video begins, write each name with something that helps you remember them, like "Ana, manager" or "Tom, glasses".
- 2
Use three columns
Make one column per speaker and write each opinion under the right name. This is the most useful habit for Part 5.
- 3
Listen for agreement words
"That's a good point", "I'm not so sure", "Exactly", "I see what you mean, but…" show how each person reacts.
- 4
Watch the faces too
The video helps you: a nod, a frown or a laugh can show how someone feels about an idea.
- 5
Wait for the final decision
The group often agrees on something near the end. Note it clearly, because it's a common question.
Common mistakes
Writing opinions without names.
An opinion is only useful if you know who said it. Always write the name or initial first.
Thinking polite words mean agreement.
"That's a good point, but…" usually means the person disagrees. Listen to what comes after "but".
Forgetting someone changed their mind.
If a speaker changes position, cross out their old view and write the new one.
Watching the video so closely that you stop listening.
Glance at the speakers, but keep your attention on what they say. Most answers come from the words.
Mixing up a suggestion with a decision.
"What if we…" is only an idea. Wait until the others agree before you write it down as the plan.
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
(Video: three roommates sit around a kitchen table.) Jenny: Okay, can we talk about the kitchen? It's been a mess all week. I think we need a cleaning schedule. Omar: A schedule? That seems like a lot. Why don't we all just clean up after ourselves? Kate: We tried that last month, Omar. It didn't work. The dishes just piled up. Jenny: Exactly. So what if each person cleans the whole kitchen for one week, and then we switch? Omar: The problem is, I work night shifts every second week. A whole week of cleaning would be really hard for me. Kate: Okay, then let's split it up by jobs instead. One person does the dishes, one does the floors, and one takes out the garbage and recycling. Omar: Yeah, that I can do. I'll take the garbage and recycling. Jenny: Then I'll do the dishes. Kate, are you okay with the floors? Kate: Sure. Let's try it for a month and see how it goes.
What does the group decide?
- AEach person will clean up after themselves.
- BEach person will clean the whole kitchen for one week.
- CEach person will do a different cleaning job.Correct answer
- DThey will clean the kitchen together once a month.
Why: Kate suggests splitting it up by jobs, and then each person picks one: Omar takes the garbage, Jenny the dishes and Kate the floors. (A) was Omar's first idea, and (B) was Jenny's, but both were dropped. "A month" is how long they will try the plan, not how often they clean.
Example 2
This question uses the same recording as the example above.
Why doesn't Omar like Jenny's weekly plan?
- AHe thinks a schedule is unfair.
- BHis work schedule makes a whole week difficult.Correct answer
- CHe already takes out the garbage every week.
- DHe wants to try a plan for one month only.
Why: Omar says, "I work night shifts every second week. A whole week of cleaning would be really hard for me." Earlier he says a schedule "seems like a lot", but he never calls it unfair, so (A) changes his meaning.
Questions students ask
How many questions are in CELPIP Listening Part 5?
There are 8 questions about one video discussion.
Why is Part 5 a video?
The video shows the three speakers, so you can see who is talking. That helps you connect each opinion to the right person.
Is Part 5 the hardest Listening part?
Many people think so, because you follow three people and their opinions at the same time. Notes in three columns, one per speaker, make it much easier.
What if two speakers agree?
That happens often. Write the opinion once and add both initials, like "J + K: jobs list". Questions may ask which two people share a view.
How can I practice for a video task?
Watch short panel discussions or talk shows and write each person's opinion under their name. On StudyPIP, Part 5 practice plays the discussion once, so you learn to follow three voices by ear alone.