B2 First · Listening · Module 4, Lesson 3

Part 3: Multiple Matching

Five short speakers, one shared theme, and eight statements to choose from. The examiners are testing whether you can catch what makes each speaker's situation different from the others — three of the eight statements don't match anyone.

5 speakers 1 mark each (5 total) ~8 min target 8 options, 3 unused · heard twice
Learn

What this part really tests

Five different speakers each talk briefly about the same general theme. You match each one to a statement from a list of eight — three statements are distractors that don't fit anyone. The challenge is that every speaker sounds broadly "on topic," so you have to catch the one detail that makes their statement uniquely theirs.

The examiner's method

  1. Read all eight options before Speaker 1 begins, and underline the key difference in each one mentally.
  2. Listen for the specific method, reason, or detail each speaker gives — not just whether they're "on topic."
  3. If two options seem to fit a speaker, listen for the exact phrase that rules one of them out.
  4. Don't commit too early — a speaker can sound like they're heading toward one option and then pivot.
  5. If you're unsure about Speaker 2, mark your best guess and move on. You'll get every speaker again on the second listen.
  6. By the end, five of the eight options should be used and three should be left over — if you have doubts, check which unused options might fit better.

Traps that cost marks

Same topic, wrong detail
Two speakers might discuss the same general activity, but only one matches the exact statement about it.
Early pivot
A speaker starts describing one thing, then says "but actually" and moves to what really answers the question.
Plausible but unused option
A distractor option is written to sound like it could fit almost any speaker — it fits none of them exactly.

Worked example

Speaker: "Everyone at work assumed I'd struggle with public speaking, but honestly, just volunteering to run a few small team meetings each week made it feel completely normal within a couple of months."

Options include: A) This person overcame a fear through regular small-scale practice. B) This person took a professional public-speaking course. C) This person was naturally confident from childhood.

  1. Option B mentions a "course," but the speaker specifically says they just "volunteer[ed]" for meetings — no course is mentioned.
  2. Option C is ruled out directly: "everyone... assumed I'd struggle," meaning they weren't naturally confident.
  3. Option A matches: repeated small meetings over "a couple of months" is exactly "regular small-scale practice."
  4. Answer: A.
Try

Micro-trainer — three speakers first

Theme: three people talk about a hobby that reduces their stress. Read the five options below before you start.

  1. This person values the repetitive physical motion of the activity.
  2. This person prefers to do the activity without any distractions like music.
  3. This person likes tending to plants outdoors.
  4. This person relaxes by listening to calming music.
  5. This person practices the hobby with a group of friends.
Try score: 0 / 3
Ready for the real thing? Scroll down to Apply — five brand new speakers in exact exam format, against the clock.
Apply

Exam-format practice

Theme: five people talk about how they learned a practical skill on their own. Read all eight options below before Speaker 1.

08:00
  1. This person improved by repeatedly rewatching the same recorded lesson.
  2. This person learned informally from a family member.
  3. This person's mistakes at work became a learning opportunity.
  4. This person preferred figuring things out completely alone.
  5. This person made faster progress with a structured course and instructor.
  6. This person learned by attending a weekend workshop.
  7. This person was taught by a professional coach one-on-one.
  8. This person gave up before becoming confident in the skill.

Your result

Score0 / 5
Percentage0%

This is a practice estimate for one exam part only. Your official Cambridge result is calculated across the whole exam on the Cambridge English Scale.

Saved. Your progress on the course map will update the next time you visit it.
You've completed every lesson in the Listening module — nice work. Head back to the course map to start Speaking.