Listening Part 3 FCE: multiple matching with five speakers
In Listening Part 3 of the FCE (B2 First), you hear five different speakers talking about a connected topic and match each one to one of eight options, so three options are not used. The recording is played twice, and the skill tested is recognising paraphrase. It is part of our B2 First Listening guide.
By Eleanor BennettLast updated:
What Part 3 is and what it tests
Part 3 has five short monologues. The speakers are different people, but they all talk about the same general topic: for example, why they started a new sport, what they learnt from a summer job, or what surprised them about living in a new city. You have a list of eight options (A–H) and you choose the one that matches each speaker. Three options are extra.
The options usually describe a reason, feeling, opinion, attitude or main point. The speakers almost never use the same words as the options. Instead, they describe a situation, and you must recognise what it means. If the option says "I was worried about the cost", the speaker might say "I kept checking my bank account and wondering if I'd made a terrible mistake."
That is why Part 3 is really a paraphrase test. It is also full of distractors: each speaker often touches on two or three options but only really expresses one. Our FCE listening tips page shows the main types. Part 2 also trains paraphrase recognition, so working on Part 2 helps here too. For longer opinion questions, see Part 4.
How to spot paraphrase
Before you listen, turn each option into simple everyday language and think of two or three ways a person might say it. For example:
- "It was more demanding than I expected" → "I had no idea how tiring it would be", "it was much tougher than they told us", "I'd underestimated it".
- "Someone else persuaded me to do it" → "my cousin wouldn't stop going on about it", "I only went because my flatmate talked me into it".
- "I regret not starting earlier" → "if only I'd done this at school", "I wish someone had told me about it years ago".
- "It has improved my confidence" → "I'm not scared of speaking up any more", "I believe in myself a bit more now".
Notice how the paraphrases change the grammar too: nouns become verbs, adjectives become whole clauses, and positive ideas are said with negatives ("it wasn't easy at all" = it was difficult). Train your ear for meaning, not vocabulary.
Part 3 strategy, step by step
- 1
Before: read the instruction and options
The instruction tells you exactly what you are matching: a reason, a feeling, a lesson. Read all eight options and underline the key idea in each. Note pairs of options that are close in meaning, because the difference will matter.
- 2
First listening: note one or two candidates
For each speaker, write the letters of one or two options that seem possible. Listen to the whole monologue: the key idea is often near the middle or end, after the speaker has 'set the scene'.
- 3
Between speakers: do not cross options out too early
An option you used for Speaker 1 might be the right answer for Speaker 4 instead. Keep your first-listening choices light and flexible.
- 4
Second listening: decide and eliminate
Now listen to confirm each choice. Ask: does the speaker actually say this, or only mention a related word? Was it the main point or a side comment? Make sure you have five different letters at the end.
- 5
Final check: guess sensibly
If one speaker is still unclear, choose from the remaining options the one that fits best. Every option can only be used once, so the elimination itself gives you a good chance.
Common Part 3 traps
Trap: Matching a speaker to an option because a word appears in both.
Fix: Options and speakers rarely share key words. A shared word is more often a trap than an answer.
Trap: Choosing an idea the speaker mentions but rejects.
Fix: Listen for 'I thought it would be…, but', 'it wasn't really about…'. The idea after 'but' is usually the one that counts.
Trap: Choosing someone else's opinion.
Fix: Speakers often mention what friends or family thought. The question is about the speaker's own view.
Trap: Deciding in the first few seconds.
Fix: Speakers often begin with background. Wait for the main point before you commit.
Trap: Using the same letter twice.
Fix: Each option fits only one speaker. If two speakers seem to match the same option, listen again for the difference.
Worked example: one speaker, three possible options
The task
You hear people talking about why they joined a running club. Speaker 2 says:
Script (original): "My doctor did say I should be more active, and of course that was in the back of my mind. But to be honest, it wasn't my health that got me out of the door. I'd just moved to the area and I didn't know a single person. My neighbour mentioned that the club went for a coffee after every run, and I thought, well, that's one way to make some friends. Now I can't imagine my week without them."
Options (extract): A. I wanted to get fitter for medical reasons. D. I was looking for a way to meet people. F. A neighbour persuaded me to join.
- 1.
Option A is a mentioned-but-rejected trap. The doctor's advice is mentioned, but she says 'it wasn't my health that got me out of the door'.
- 2.
Option F is a word-matching trap. The word 'neighbour' appears, but the neighbour only mentioned the coffee. Nothing suggests persuasion: the decision was the speaker's own.
- 3.
Option D is the paraphrase: 'I didn't know a single person' and 'one way to make some friends' = looking for a way to meet people. Notice that the word 'meet' is never used.
- 4.
Final check: the last sentence, 'I can't imagine my week without them', supports the social reason.
Answer
D: she joined to make friends after moving to a new area.
Practice · Listening Part 3
Practise FCE Listening Part 3
How to practise Part 3
Do our FCE Listening Part 3 practice set, then go back to the script and highlight the exact sentence that gives each answer. Write the option next to it in your own words. This turns every wrong answer into a paraphrase lesson.
Outside the exam, vox-pop style audio is ideal: radio programmes or podcasts where several members of the public answer the same question. After each person, summarise their view in one short sentence that does not use their words. This is exactly what the Part 3 options do.
Listening Part 3 FCE: FAQ
How many speakers are there in FCE Listening Part 3?
Five. You match each speaker to one of eight options, so three options are not used.
Can I use an option twice in Part 3?
No. Each option matches one speaker at most. If two speakers seem to fit the same option, listen again on the second play for the detail that separates them.
Do the speakers use the same words as the options?
Rarely. The speakers usually express the idea in different words, so you need to recognise paraphrase. A word that appears in both is often a trap.
Why is Part 3 so difficult?
Each speaker often mentions several ideas but means only one. You must keep eight options in mind and decide which idea is the speaker's main point, which takes practice.
Do I hear Part 3 twice?
Yes. All five speakers are played once, then the whole sequence is played again, so you can confirm or change your answers during the second listening.