CELPIP · Listening · L1
CELPIP Listening Part 1: Listening to Problem Solving
CELPIP Listening Part 1, Listening to Problem Solving, is the first scored part of the Listening test. You hear one conversation about an everyday problem, split into three sections. After each section you answer its questions, 8 multiple-choice questions in total with four options each. The audio plays only once.
- Questions
- 8, split 3 + 3 + 2 across three sections
- Audio
- One conversation in three sections, each played once
- Answer type
- Multiple choice, four options
- Typical content
- A problem, the solutions offered, and what the speakers decide
- Scoring
- Counts toward your CELPIP Listening level (1 to 12)
How it works
- 1An instruction screen tells you the conversation comes in three sections.
- 2The first section plays once. There is no pause or replay button.
- 3Its questions appear one at a time; choose an answer to move on.
- 4The second section (3 questions) and the third section (2 questions) follow the same pattern.
Sample question
Original sample · not from an official test
Section 1 (excerpt) Maya: Hi, I'm calling about my sofa. I was told it would arrive Tuesday, but no one came. Agent: I'm sorry. One of our trucks broke down, so Tuesday deliveries moved to Thursday. Maya: Thursday won't work. I'm at a training course all day. Agent: We could do Saturday morning, or you can pick it up from our warehouse any weekday until 8 p.m. Maya: I don't have a vehicle big enough for a sofa. Saturday it is, then. Question: What will most likely happen next?
- AThe sofa will be delivered on Thursday.
- BMaya will pick up the sofa from the warehouse.
- CThe sofa will be delivered on Saturday morning.
- DMaya will cancel her order.
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Answer: The sofa will be delivered on Saturday morning.
Thursday is ruled out by Maya's training course and the warehouse pickup by her lack of a large vehicle. "Saturday it is" confirms the choice. The wrong options all use details that were mentioned and then rejected, which is how Part 1 distractors usually work.
Tips that work
- You do not see the questions until a section ends, so listen for three things every time: the problem, the options offered, and the option finally chosen.
- Expect the first solution to be rejected. Words like "won't work", "actually" and "then" often mark the real decision.
- If a section goes badly, let it go. The next section brings new questions you can still get right.
Common mistakes
- Picking an option because you heard its exact words, even though the speaker turned it down.
- Answering from general knowledge ("stores usually refund") instead of what these speakers actually said.
Questions candidates ask
Can I replay the conversation in CELPIP Listening Part 1?
No. Each section plays once and you cannot pause it. That is why practising with single-play audio matters: it trains you to catch the decision the first time rather than relying on a second listen.
How many questions come after each section?
Part 1 has 8 questions in total: three after the first section, three after the second, and two after the third. The questions appear only after each section has finished playing.
What kind of topics come up in Part 1?
Everyday problems between two people, such as a tenant and a building manager or a customer and a service agent. You follow the problem, the possible fixes and what the speakers agree to do.
How can I practise Part 1 on EnglishHub?
EnglishHub has exam-style Part 1 practice with single-play audio, as part of 200 practice sets for CELPIP. You can also take full mock tests (50 in total), and the first mock is free.
Other CELPIP Listening tasks
CELPIP overviewCELPIP Listening: all partsCELPIP full mock testsCELPIP articles on the blog