CELPIP listening
Listening to a Discussion
How to Win CELPIP Listening Task 5: The Group Discussion
This is one of the most complex tasks in the listening section. You will watch a 2-minute video of a group discussion (usually 3 people) in a work or school setting. Your goal is to understand not just the topic, but each person's unique opinion, argument, and how they agree or disagree.
What You Will See & Hear
- A video discussion with 3 speakers (e.g., colleagues in a meeting, students planning a project).
- The speakers will debate a problem, share opinions, and try to reach a consensus.
- You will read 8 fill-in-the-blank questions (just like Task 4) and select the correct answer from a drop-down menu for each.
The #1 Trap to Avoid
The biggest mistake is losing track of who is who. The questions will ask specific things like, "Sarah thinks they should..." or "What is Mark's main objection?". If you just listen to the ideas but don't know who said them, you will fail this task. You must use your notepaper.
Key Strategies for a CLB 9+
- Make a Scorecard (Crucial!): As soon as the video starts, draw three columns on your notepaper. Write the name of each speaker at the top (e.g., "Sarah", "Mark", "Tom").
- Track Opinions: As they speak, jot down 1-2 words under their name that summarize their main idea (e.g., Sarah: "Wants new website", Mark: "Too expensive", Tom: "Likes old design").
- Follow the Order: The 8 questions are almost always answered in the order they are discussed.
- Listen for Agreement/Disagreement: Pay close attention to words like "I agree," "You're right, but...", "I'm not so sure," or "That's a good point." These are major clues for opinion questions.
How to Practice
- Watch 2-3 minute panel discussions or group meeting clips on YouTube.
- Practice making the 3-column "scorecard" and tracking who says what. Can you summarize each person's final opinion?
Ready to Practice This Skill?
This task is a true test of your multitasking and note-taking skills. The only way to get better is to practice tracking multiple speakers at once.
Our webapp has unlimited practice discussions, all following the official 3-speaker video format with 8 fill-in-the-blank questions.