IGCSE 0510 · Paper 2 Listening

Paper 2 Listening: Overview and Strategy

Everything about Paper 2 Listening: the five multiple-choice exercises, marks and timing, the transfer time, how distractors work and a weekly practice plan.

British & IGCSE › Cambridge IGCSE English as a Second Language (0510)

This page explains Paper 2 Listening from start to finish: what you hear, what you must do in each of the five exercises, how many marks each one carries, and the strategy that turns a careful listener into a full-mark listener. When you understand the paper, go to the next page, Listening Exercises 1-5, where each exercise is practised with an original recording script, exam-style questions and answers.

Key facts to remember

Paper 2 Listening lasts approximately 50 minutes, and this includes 6 minutes' transfer time at the end.
There are 40 questions and 40 marks: one mark for each correct answer.
Since the first exams in 2024, every question is multiple choice (or multiple matching). You never write words or sentences.
There are five exercises, worth 8, 10, 8, 6 and 8 marks.
You hear each recording twice.
At the end you transfer your answers from the question paper to a separate answer sheet.
Weighting: Listening is 30% of the overall grade for 0510 (and 0993). For 0511, where Speaking counts, it is 25%.
There are no tiers: everybody sits the same paper.

Paper 2 at a glance: the five exercises

The questions are numbered from 1 to 40 right through the paper, so you always know where you are. Learn this table by heart. If you know what is coming next, you will never waste the reading time before each recording.

Exercise	Questions	What you hear	What you do	Options	Marks
1	Q1-8	Eight short recordings: monologues or dialogues such as conversations, messages, announcements, news or radio extracts	Answer one question for each recording	Four pictures (A-D)	8
2	Q9-18	Five short extracts (often a conversation or a short interview)	Answer two questions for each extract	Three written options (A-C)	10
3	Q19-26	One longer monologue: a talk or a presentation by one speaker	Complete eight sentences by choosing the correct ending	Three options (A-C)	8
4	Q27-32	Six short monologues: six different speakers on the same topic	Match each speaker to the idea he or she expresses	Eight statements (A-H), two of which are not used	6
5	Q33-40	An interview between two speakers	Answer eight questions about the main speaker (the person being interviewed)	Three options (A-C)	8
Total	40 questions	Every recording is heard twice	Transfer answers in the final 6 minutes		40

What the paper is really testing

Cambridge lists four listening skills (called assessment objectives L1 to L4). Knowing them helps you understand why a question is hard. The questions about attitude and implied meaning are the ones that separate an A* from a B.

Skill	What it means in simple words	Tested in
L1 Specific information	Catching a fact: a time, a place, an object, a number, a reason	All five exercises
L2 Ideas, opinions and attitudes	Understanding what a speaker thinks or feels about something	All five exercises
L3 Connections between ideas	Following how ideas link: cause and effect, contrast, a change of plan, agreement	All five exercises
L4 Implied meaning	Understanding something the speaker does not say directly (for example, that he is disappointed, without the word 'disappointed')	Exercises 2, 4 and 5

Word / phrase	Meaning / use
distractor	a wrong option that is designed to sound right because you hear words connected to it
paraphrase	the same idea said with different words (the question says 'cheap', the speaker says 'it didn't cost much')
gist	the general meaning or main idea
attitude	how a speaker feels about something (keen, doubtful, annoyed, relieved)
implied	suggested but not said directly
monologue	one person speaking alone (a talk, a message, an announcement)
transfer time	the minutes at the end when you copy your answers onto the answer sheet

What happens on the day, step by step

Before each exercise you hear the instructions and you have a short pause to read the questions. Use every second of it: read, underline and predict (see the five-step strategy below).
First listening. Listen for the general meaning and choose a first answer. Mark it lightly on the question paper. Cross out options you are sure are wrong.
Second listening. Check your first answer. Listen especially for words like *but*, *actually*, *in the end*, *not*, *instead*, because this is where distractors are hidden.
Move on. When the next recording starts, forget the last one. Never keep thinking about a question you missed, or you will miss the next one too.
Transfer time (6 minutes). At the very end, copy all 40 answers onto the answer sheet. Mark one letter only for each question and check that the question numbers match.

The transfer is part of the exam

Only the answer sheet is marked. An answer that is correct on the question paper but not transferred scores nothing.
Check the numbers every five questions: if you put the answer to Q14 in the space for Q15, every answer after it will be wrong.
Never leave a question blank. There is no penalty for a wrong answer, so a sensible guess is always better than nothing.
Follow the instructions printed on the answer sheet exactly.

The five-step strategy (use it for every exercise)

This is the method I teach in class. It comes from one simple idea: you should know what you are listening for before the recording starts. A student who listens without a target hears everything and catches nothing.

Step	What you do	Example
1. Read the question	Read the question itself before the options. Ask: what exactly do they want? A place? A reason? A feeling?	'Why did the boy arrive late?' → I need a reason, not a time.
2. Underline key words	Underline the question word and the words that make the question different from similar ones: first, most, not, next, main, in the end.	'What does the woman find most difficult about her new job?'
3. Predict	Imagine the situation: who is speaking, where, and why. Think of two or three possible answers.	An announcement at a station → probably a delay, a platform change or a cancelled train.
4. Paraphrase in your head	For each option, think of other ways the speaker might say it.	'It was expensive' → 'it cost a fortune', 'more than I wanted to pay', 'not exactly cheap'.
5. Listen for the decision	Most options are mentioned. Wait for the speaker's final word: what was chosen, what really happened, what he or she really thinks.	'We were going to take the bus, but in the end Dad drove us.' → the answer is the car.

Paraphrase: the most important listening skill

Cambridge rarely uses the same words in the question and in the recording. If an option uses exactly the word you hear, be careful: it may be a distractor. The correct option is usually a paraphrase. Study these common pairs and add your own every week.

In the question you read	In the recording you may hear
cheap / inexpensive	it didn't cost much · it was a bargain · great value
expensive	it cost a fortune · I couldn't really afford it · the price put me off
difficult	it was a real challenge · I struggled with it · it wasn't easy at all
surprised	I didn't expect that · I couldn't believe it · that came as a shock
disappointed	it wasn't as good as I'd hoped · it let me down · I expected more
nervous	my hands were shaking · I had butterflies · I was dreading it
popular	it's always packed · everyone wants to go there · tickets sell out fast
dangerous	you could easily get hurt · it's risky · it isn't safe
the weather was bad	it poured all day · we couldn't see a thing in the fog · the wind was terrible
he changed his mind	at first he wanted X, but then he decided on Y · actually, on second thoughts…
it saves time	I get there much faster · it cuts my journey in half
it is good for the environment	it doesn't pollute · it's greener · it cuts down on waste
she recommends it	you should definitely try it · I'd tell anyone to go · you won't regret it
in the past	when I was younger · years ago · back then · I used to…
about 50 years ago	in the 1970s · half a century ago

The four classic distractors (and how to beat them)

A distractor is not a trick to make you fail. It tests whether you really followed the meaning. Almost every wrong option in Paper 2 belongs to one of these four families. Learn to recognise them and you will beat most of them.

Distractor type	How it sounds	How to beat it
1. Mentioned but rejected	The speaker mentions an option and then says no to it: 'I thought about the red one, but it was too small.'	Listen for but, however, although, the problem was, I decided against. The rejected item is never the answer.
2. Changed plans	A plan, time or place changes during the recording: 'The meeting was on Tuesday, but it's been moved to Thursday.'	Listen for was going to, originally, now, instead, actually, moved, changed, in the end. The answer is the final version.
3. Numbers and times	Several numbers are heard: the old price and the new price, the time it starts and the time to arrive, fifteen and fifty.	Write every number you hear next to the question, then decide which one answers it. Check what the number refers to.
4. Negatives	The option is mentioned with not, never, no longer, hardly: 'It wasn't the food that annoyed me, it was the noise.'	Underline negatives in the question too ('What did he not enjoy?'). Listen to the whole sentence, not just the key word.

Here are four worked mini-examples. Read each script as if you were listening, answer the question, then read the explanation.

Mentioned but rejected. Script: *'I was going to buy Mum a scarf for her birthday, but she's got so many already. Flowers die after a week, so in the end I got her a book by her favourite writer.'* What did the girl buy her mother? A a scarf · B some flowers · C a book
Show answer
C. The scarf is mentioned and rejected ('she's got so many already'); the flowers are rejected ('die after a week'). 'In the end' introduces the real decision: a book.
Changed plans. Script: *'Attention, please. The school trip to the science museum will leave from the main gate at eight o'clock, not from the car park as we said yesterday. And please note the coach will now return at four, an hour earlier than planned.'* What time will the coach return? A three o'clock · B four o'clock · C five o'clock
Show answer
B. The new return time is four ('will now return at four'). Five o'clock is the old plan (an hour later than four), which is the trap. Three is never said; it is a distractor made from 'an hour earlier'.
Numbers. Script: *'The full ticket is eighteen pounds, but because you're a student you only pay twelve. Oh, and the audio guide is another three, if you want it.'* How much will the student pay for a ticket? A £12 · B £15 · C £18
Show answer
A. Eighteen is the full price, not the student price. Fifteen is twelve plus three, the price only if he also takes the audio guide, and the question asks only about the ticket.
Negatives. Script: *'People think the worst part of camping is sleeping on the ground, but honestly that never bothers me. What I can't stand is the insects. They find you everywhere.'* What does the man dislike about camping? A sleeping on the ground · B the insects · C cooking outside
Show answer
B. 'That never bothers me' means sleeping on the ground is not a problem for him. 'What I can't stand' is a strong way of saying 'I really dislike'. Cooking is not mentioned at all: it is a pure guess option.

Signal words: where the answer usually is

A contrast is coming (the answer is often after it)

but
however
although
actually
in fact
to be honest
the thing is
the problem was

A final decision or result

in the end
eventually
finally
so we decided to…
that's why…
which meant that…

A change of plan

we were going to…
originally
at first
it's been moved / changed
instead
on second thoughts

The speaker's real opinion

what I really liked was…
personally,
the best thing about it was…
I have to admit…
if I'm honest…

Rejecting an idea

I decided against…
that wasn't an option
it didn't work out
I'm not keen on…
that's out of the question

First listening and second listening: different jobs

	First listening	Second listening
Main job	Understand the situation and the gist, and choose a first answer	Confirm or correct your answer, and catch the detail you missed
Listen for	Who is speaking, the topic, the general direction	Signal words (but, actually, in the end, not), numbers, changes
What to write	A light tick or circle. Cross out options that are clearly wrong	Your final answer, clearly marked
If you are lost	Do not panic. Note which options were mentioned	Focus only on the part you missed; the rest is already done
Common mistake	Choosing the first option you hear a word from	Changing a correct answer without a clear reason

Only change an answer for a reason

On the second listening, change your answer only if you heard something that proves the first one wrong. A feeling is not a reason. Students who change answers without evidence often turn a correct answer into a wrong one.

Numbers, times and dates: the traps

-teen or -ty? Thirteen / thirty, fifteen / fifty, eighteen / eighty. In -teen numbers the stress is at the end (fifTEEN), while in -ty numbers it is at the beginning (FIFty).
Clock times: 'a quarter to six' = 5.45, 'a quarter past six' = 6.15, 'half past six' = 6.30, 'twenty to nine' = 8.40.
Calculated answers: 'It starts at seven, but get there half an hour early' → you arrive at 6.30. The answer may never be said directly.
Dates: 'the third' and 'the thirtieth' sound similar. 'The day after tomorrow', 'next weekend' and 'a week on Friday' need a moment of thinking.
Prices: listen for discounts, extras and 'each' versus 'altogether': two tickets at £6 each is £12 altogether.
Quantities: 'a couple' = two, 'a dozen' = twelve, 'half a dozen' = six, 'a fortnight' = two weeks.

نصيحة الأستاذ: إزاي تجيب الدرجة النهائية في الـ Listening

اقرأ السؤال كويس قبل ما التسجيل يبدأ، وحط خط تحت الكلمة المهمة (why / when / most / not).
توقّع الإجابة قبل ما تسمع: مين بيتكلم؟ وفين؟ وعن إيه؟
الإجابة الصحيحة غالبًا بتيجي بكلمات مختلفة عن الكلمات المكتوبة في الاختيارات (synonyms).
لو سمعت نفس الكلمة اللي في الاختيار بالظبط، خلي بالك: ممكن تكون فخ (distractor).
ركز جدًا على كلمات زي: but / actually / in the end / not / instead، لأن الإجابة الصحيحة بتيجي بعدها غالبًا.
في آخر الامتحان عندك 6 دقايق تنقل الإجابات على ورقة الإجابة. اتأكد إن رقم كل سؤال مظبوط، وماتسيبش أي سؤال فاضي.

Timing inside the paper

Moment	How to use it
Pause before an exercise	Read all the questions of that exercise. Underline key words. Predict.
Short pause between first and second listening	Look again at the options you have not crossed out. Decide what you still need to check.
Pause after the second listening	Mark your final answer and immediately read the next question. Do not look back.
Before Exercise 4	Read all eight statements A-H. This is the most reading in the paper, so start the moment you are allowed.
Final 6 minutes	Transfer all 40 answers. Then check numbers 1-40 one more time.

How to practise every week

Listening improves with little and often, not with one long session before the exam. Twenty to thirty minutes, four or five times a week, is far better than three hours on a Sunday. Use audio only: podcasts and radio programmes are closest to the exam because, like the exam, you cannot see the speaker's face.

Day	Activity (20-30 minutes)	Why it helps
Day 1	Listen to a short audio programme from BBC Learning English (their audio podcasts are made for learners). Listen once for gist, then again and write down five useful phrases.	Builds vocabulary and gets your ear used to clear British English.
Day 2	Do one exercise from a past paper under exam conditions (twice through, no pausing). Mark it and study every wrong answer: which distractor caught you?	Teaches you the exam style and your own weak points.
Day 3	Listen to a radio interview or podcast on BBC Sounds or the BBC World Service (science, sport, history, travel). Pause after each answer and say what the speaker's opinion was, in one sentence.	Trains you for Exercise 5 (interviews) and attitude questions.
Day 4	Paraphrase practice: take ten options from past questions and write two other ways to say each one.	Paraphrase is the key to most correct answers.
Day 5	Number dictation: listen to any news bulletin and write every number, price, time and date you hear.	Removes the -teen / -ty and time traps.
Weekend	One full past paper (all five exercises) every two weeks, with the 6-minute transfer at the end.	Builds concentration for 50 minutes.

Make your own distractor log

Keep a page in your notebook with four columns: Mentioned but rejected · Changed plans · Numbers · Negatives. Every time a distractor catches you in practice, write the question number and what the speaker said. After a month you will see clearly which trap catches you most, and that is exactly what to train.

Common mistakes

Choosing an option just because you heard a word from it. Hearing a word is not the same as hearing the answer.
Not reading the question carefully: answering 'what did he buy?' when the question is 'what did he want to buy?'.
Missing the next question because you are still thinking about the last one.
Ignoring negatives such as *not*, *never*, *no longer* in the question or in the recording.
In Exercise 4, using the same letter twice, or forgetting that two statements are not used.
In Exercise 5, answering about the interviewer's opinion when the question asks about the main speaker.
Running out of time in the transfer because of slow, untidy marking. Practise transferring answers at home.
Leaving questions blank. Always choose something.

Every mark counts

The listening paper rewards accuracy. As an example, in the June 2026 series of the 9-1 version of this course (0993), which uses the same listening paper structure, 31 out of 40 was needed for grade 4 and 36 out of 40 for grade 7. Grade boundaries change every series, but the message is the same: one or two careless mistakes can cost you a whole grade.

Quick practice: spot the trap

Script: *'I usually cycle to college, but my bike's being repaired this week, so I'm getting the bus until Friday.'* How is he travelling to college this week? A by bike · B by bus · C on foot
Show answer
B. 'Usually' tells you cycling is the normal habit, not this week. 'This week… I'm getting the bus.' (Type: changed plans.)
Script: *'The concert was supposed to start at half past seven, but the band didn't come on stage until nearly nine.'* When did the band start playing? A 7.30 · B 8.30 · C almost 9.00
Show answer
C. 7.30 was the planned time. 'Nearly nine' = almost 9.00. 8.30 is never said. (Type: numbers / changed plans.)
Script: *'Everyone told me the museum would be boring, but I was amazed by how much I learnt there.'* What was the speaker's opinion of the museum? A It was boring. · B It was educational. · C It was crowded.
Show answer
B. 'Boring' is other people's opinion, which she rejects with 'but'. 'How much I learnt' is a paraphrase of 'educational'. (Type: mentioned but rejected.)
Script: *'It's not that I don't like football. I just prefer sports where I'm not part of a team.'* What does the speaker say about football? A He dislikes it. · B He enjoys team sports most. · C He prefers individual sports.
Show answer
C. 'It's not that I don't like' = a double negative meaning he does not dislike it, so A is wrong. 'Not part of a team' = individual sports. (Type: negatives.)
Script: *'Return tickets are twenty-four pounds, singles fourteen. I'm only going one way, so I'll take a single, please.'* How much does the man pay? A £14 · B £24 · C £40
Show answer
A. One way = a single = fourteen pounds. Forty is a -teen/-ty trap and is never said.
Script: *'I was sure I'd hate the long walk to the lake, but actually it turned out to be the best part of the day.'* How did the girl feel about the walk? A She enjoyed it more than she expected. · B She found it too long. · C She preferred the lake.
Show answer
A. 'I was sure I'd hate it' is her expectation. 'But actually… the best part' is what really happened. 'Long' is used in the script, which makes B attractive, but she does not complain.

Final checklist for Paper 2

I know the five exercises, their question numbers and their marks (8, 10, 8, 6, 8).
I read and underline before every recording, and I predict the answer.
I listen for paraphrase, not for the same words.
I watch for the four distractors: rejected, changed plans, numbers, negatives.
I use the first listening for gist and the second for checking.
I never leave a question blank.
I transfer all 40 answers carefully in the 6 minutes and check the numbers.

All pages in this course

Start here: the exam

Paper 1 · Reading (Exercises 1-4)

Paper 1 · Writing (Exercises 5-6)

Paper 2 · Listening

Speaking

The Speaking Test