Take a free test
Take a test
FCE · Listening · Test 1 of 6

FCE Listening Test 1: seed swaps, walking groups and theatre sound effects

FCE Listening Test 1 is a free B2 First Listening practice test: 30 questions in four parts and 40 min 44 s of audio, with every recording played twice. You hear everyday conversations, a seed-swap announcement, reasons for joining walking groups and an interview about theatre sound effects.

Take FCE Listening Test 1FCE Mock Test 1
  • Free, no sign-up to start
  • Layout modelled on the computer-based exam
  • Estimated Cambridge English Scale score
Time≈ 40 min
Audio40:44
Questions30
Voices9

What is in FCE Listening Test 1

PartTaskQuestionsWhat you hearAudio, both plays
1Multiple choice, short extracts1–8Eight unrelated situations, 9 voices13:46
2Sentence completion9–18“A neighbourhood seed swap”: A woman called Nisha talking about a seed-swap day.8:51
3Multiple matching19–23Five short extracts in which people are talking about joining a walking group. You match the main reason each speaker joined.8:19
4Multiple choice, interview24–30An interview with a man called Theo, who makes sound effects for local theatre.9:33
Total9 synthetic voices: 6 British, 1 Irish, 1 Australian and 1 Canadian40:44

Part 1: the situations and questions

  1. You hear a woman talking about a sketchbook she lost. What pleased her most about its return?
  2. You hear two friends discussing an early swimming session. Why does the woman prefer it?
  3. You hear a museum guide speaking to a group. Why is the guide changing the route?
  4. You hear a man telling a colleague about his folding bicycle. What has he found surprising?
  5. You hear two colleagues comparing their lunch arrangements. What do they agree about?
  6. You hear a visitor talking about a pottery display. What did the visitor particularly like?
  7. You hear a woman explaining why a picnic was cancelled. What prevented the picnic from taking place?
  8. You hear a student describing a language exchange evening. What would the student change?

Part 2: the sentences you complete

  1. Nisha thought of the event while emptying a (9).
  2. The event will take place in the (10) next to the park.
  3. People should use (11) to hold the seeds they bring.
  4. Nisha recommends writing the information on each packet in (12).
  5. The checking table is closest to the (13).
  6. At first, each visitor can select (14) packets to take away.
  7. The demonstration will focus on collecting seeds from (15).
  8. The pot-decorating activity is intended for (16).
  9. The seed swap is due to end at (17).
  10. Photographs of the plants may appear in a (18).

How it is marked

FCE Listening marking

1 mark per question. In Part 2, minor spelling slips are accepted if the word is recognisable. 18/30 is about 160 and 27/30 about 180 on Cambridge’s guidance. Scores are estimates.

How we mark · FCE score calculator

More FCE Listening tests

Next →FCE Listening Test 2Part 2: “Helping visitors find their way”

FCE Listening practice tests · FCE Mock Test 1 · Updated 15 November 2026

Free · no sign-up to start

Ready for FCE Listening Test 1?

About 40 minutes. Free, no sign-up to start: you give an email address when you submit, and your marks open straight away.

Take FCE Listening Test 1FCE Listening practice tests