The four Paper 2 exercise types
Paper 2 has four exercise types, each rewarding a different skill (AO3). Ex1 short-answer: extract a precise fact and write it briefly. Ex2 gap-fill: supply the missing WORD that fits the sentence frame grammatically. Ex3 information correction: find the ONE wrong word and correct it from the recording. Ex4 multiple-choice: tick exactly one box. Previewing the paper before the recording tells you which skill each question needs, so you listen with the right goal in mind.
Ex2 gap-fill: fix the word class first
A gap-fill sentence gives grammatical clues on both sides of the blank. 我姐姐每天骑自行车去____。(Wǒ jiějie měitiān qí zìxíngchē qù ____.) — my sister rides her bike to ____ every day. The verb 去 (qù, to go) before the gap signals a PLACE noun, not a verb or adjective; if the recording says 学校 (xuéxiào, school), that is the answer. But never repeat a word already printed — the gap needs the NEW word the recording supplies. Decide the word class first to narrow what you listen for.
Ex3: decide the word type, watch opposites
Ex3 gives a written sentence with one wrong word; the recording states the correct fact. 这次考试很容易，大家都考得很好。(Zhè cì kǎoshì hěn róngyì…) — this exam was very easy. If the recording says the exam was 难 (nán, difficult), replace the adjective 容易 (róngyì, easy) with its OPPOSITE 难 — not a noun or verb. Two checks: confirm the word TYPE the sentence needs, and watch opposite-meaning pairs (容易/难, 喜欢/讨厌, 多/少) where the recording reverses the print; don't repeat the wrong printed word.
Drawn from real examiner reports.
Padding a short-answer with surplus
In Ex1, more is not better. If you write everything you understood instead of the one precise fact asked, the extra material can make the answer ambiguous — and the examiner cannot award the mark if they must pick the correct part out of a longer response. ✗ 一个又长又乱、包含多个不相关细节的答案。 ✓ 一个简短、准确、只回答问题的答案。Identify exactly what is asked (who/what/when/why/how), then write only that.
Examiner digest S4 (Imprecision): the mark cannot be awarded if the Examiner must choose the answer from a longer response (s22 & s23 Listening).
Ticking two boxes in Ex4
Ex4 is single-answer: tick ONE box only. If unsure between two options, ticking both does not hedge your bet — it voids the mark completely, even if one tick was right. ✗ 在A和C两个选项上都打勾。 ✓ 只在一个最符合录音的选项上打勾。If you change your mind after ticking, cross out the wrong tick clearly and mark your final choice — never leave two marks that could both be read as your answer.
Examiner digest S4: Ex4 MCQ -- tick only one box; two ticks void the mark even if one is right (s22 & s23 Ex4).
Ex2: wrong word class or a repeat
Two Ex2 errors: (1) a noun is written where a comparative adjective is needed; (2) a word already printed is copied instead of the NEW word heard. ✗ 弟弟比哥哥____ filled with a repeated noun. ✓ 弟弟比哥哥高。(Dìdi bǐ gēge gāo.) — the 比 comparison needs a comparative ADJECTIVE from the recording, not one already printed. Identify the word class from the frame first.
Examiner digest S4/G5: read the frame, match the word class, do not repeat a printed word; a comparative adjective was required (s23 Ex2e; s22 & s23 Ex2).
Correcting Ex3 the wrong direction
In Ex3, printed words often sit in opposite-meaning pairs (容易/难, 喜欢/讨厌, 多/少). The trap is to correct in the WRONG direction, or pick a near-synonym, instead of matching the recording — candidates chose "difficult" when the opposite was meant. Listen for whether the recording CONFIRMS or REVERSES the printed word, then supply the exact opposite it gives.
Examiner digest S4: beware opposite-meaning traps -- candidates picked "difficult" when the opposite was meant (s23 Ex3g).
Rewriting the given wrong word
Ex3 asks you to REPLACE the one wrong word with the correct one from the recording — not to copy the wrong word back, and not to rewrite the whole sentence. Change only the single incorrect element, keep the rest intact, and make sure your replacement is the right word TYPE. A correction that repeats the wrong word, or rewrites the sentence, earns no mark.
Examiner digest S4: identify the word type needed and do not rewrite the given incorrect word (s23 Ex3g).
Missing the question word (how/why/when)
Every Listening answer hinges on the question word — 几点 (jǐ diǎn, when), 为什么 (wèishénme, why), 哪里 (nǎlǐ, where). Answering a different one loses the mark even if what you write is true. ✗ asked 为什么 (why) but giving the time. ✓ read the question word first, then listen for the matching information and answer only that.
Examiner digest S4: understand the question words (how/why/when) and keywords (s22 & s23 Listening).
Any tone-less pinyin is fine in Listening
Listening answers may use pinyin without tone marks and still be credited — but ONLY if the pinyin is UNAMBIGUOUS. If a tone-less spelling could be two characters (a homophone pair), the examiner cannot tell which you mean, and the mark is lost. ✗ "mai" could be 买 (mǎi, buy) or 卖 (mài, sell). ✓ write the character, or make the pinyin unambiguous from context.
Preview and set a listening target
Before the recording plays, read the questions and decide what you are listening FOR — a fact (Ex1), a word of a set class (Ex2), a word to correct (Ex3), or one matching option (Ex4). A specific target turns listening from "understand everything" into "find this one thing".
Note keywords, write only the point
While the recording plays, jot key words rather than trying to write full sentences in real time. When you write the final answer, give only the precise point required, with no extra material — surplus can invalidate a correct answer. Short and exact beats long and hedged.
Right word class; exactly one tick
Before moving on, run the discipline check for the exercise type: for Ex2/Ex3, is the answer the right word CLASS, and not one already printed? For Ex4, have you ticked EXACTLY one box? For Ex1, is it short and precise? These checks catch the most common lost marks.
Paper 2 Listening tests AO3: identifying and selecting information (L1), understanding ideas, opinions and attitudes (L2), and inferring what is implied but not directly stated (L4), across four exercise types:
Paper 2 Ex1: what does this exercise ask you to do?
假设你听到以下录音内容："我周末最喜欢做的事是去图书馆看书。" 请选出正确答案，并只选一个：
A. 看电影 B. 看书 C. 打篮球
Level-of-response questions with model answers and mark scheme rubrics.
阅读下面这段虚构的听力材料，然后用简短、准确的中文回答三个问题。每个答案只回答问题所问的那一点信息，不要添加无关内容。（6分）\n\n（1）音乐会在哪一天举行？\n（2）音乐会为什么改到了室内？\n（3）音乐会几点开始？
阅读下面的虚构听力材料和两个句子，完成任务，并用英文简要说明你的理由。（5分）\n\n（1）填空：哥哥比弟弟____。（提示：需要一个形容词）\n（2）改错：这句话有一个错误，请改正——「餐厅的服务态度很好，客人不用等。」\n（3）用英文简要说明：为什么（1）需要一个形容词，（2）改的是什么类型的错误？
