FCE · Listening · Test 5 of 6
FCE Listening Test 5: costume preparation, collections and playground testing
FCE Listening Test 5 is a free B2 First Listening practice test: 30 questions in four parts and 41 min 50 s of audio, with every recording played twice. You hear everyday choices, costume-project instructions, reasons for collecting objects and a tester discussing playground design.
- Free, no sign-up to start
- Layout modelled on the computer-based exam
- Estimated Cambridge English Scale score
Time≈ 40 min
Audio41:50
Questions30
Voices8
What is in FCE Listening Test 5
| Part | Task | Questions | What you hear | Audio, both plays |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Multiple choice, short extracts | 1–8 | Eight unrelated situations, 8 voices | 14:11 |
| 2 | Sentence completion | 9–18 | “Getting the costumes ready”: A woman called Rosa talking about preparing costumes for a community performance. | 9:18 |
| 3 | Multiple matching | 19–23 | Five short extracts in which people explain why they started keeping a collection. You match the main reason each speaker gives. | 8:33 |
| 4 | Multiple choice, interview | 24–30 | An interview with a man called Ben, who tests playground equipment. | 9:33 |
| Total | 8 synthetic voices: 5 British, 1 Canadian, 1 New Zealand and 1 Australian | 41:50 | ||
Part 1: the situations and questions
- You hear a woman discussing a train booking with a friend. What is the woman concerned about?
- You hear a shopkeeper explaining an earlier closing time. Why is the shop closing early?
- You hear a student telling a friend about a course in making clear charts. What does the man say was the most useful lesson?
- You hear two friends comparing local walking routes. Why do they choose the route beside the fields?
- You hear an organiser announcing a change to a beach clean-up. What has changed?
- You hear two parents discussing a children’s science activity. What did the woman particularly value?
- You hear a worker describing a new desk arrangement. What has improved for him?
- You hear two visitors discussing a guided tour of a building. What would the woman have preferred?
Part 2: the sentences you complete
- The costume designs were initially inspired by some (9).
- The team records each performer’s (10) on a single form.
- A (11) supplied most of the fabric for the costumes.
- Name labels should be sewn onto an (12) in each garment.
- The first group of costumes will be mainly (13).
- Volunteers are asked to bring their own (14) to sewing sessions.
- Rosa expects most adjustments to be made to the (15).
- The first full-costume rehearsal will take place on (16).
- Costumes should be kept on (17) between rehearsals.
- Borrowed clothing must be returned to the team by (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.
More FCE Listening tests
FCE Listening practice tests · FCE Mock Test 5 · Updated 15 November 2026
Free · no sign-up to start
Ready for FCE Listening Test 5?
About 40 minutes. Free, no sign-up to start: you give an email address when you submit, and your marks open straight away.