The listening part of the B1 exam — four tasks, played twice each

The listening part takes about 35 minutes and has four tasks, 30 questions in total. Every recording is studio-made and based on real-life, adapted material.

The most important rule: every clip plays twice

Every task's text is played twice, and there's a pause before each task so you can read the questions before listening. This isn't a bonus you need to know how to use — use the first listening for the general idea, and the second to check exact answers.

The four tasks

1. Very short clips (20–30 seconds), 7 questions. Multiple choice, three options, which may be pictures or words. Sources: personal and public announcements, spontaneous exchanges, news, entertainment, sports commentary.
2. One monologue (2–3 minutes), 6 questions. Three verbal options. Sources: news broadcasts, other radio/TV content.
3. Short-answer task, 8 questions. Answer in 1–2 words or complete a sentence. Grammar and spelling mistakes don't affect marking, as long as the answer is understandable — what matters is content, not exact spelling.
4. True/false questions, 9 questions. One interview (2.5–3 minutes) on public-life topics.

Practical tips

• Read the questions before listening. You have time for it — use it. Knowing what you're looking for makes the first listening much more useful.
• Task 3 gives the most points (8) for less effort — a couple of words is enough for a correct answer. Don't be afraid to write briefly if it's right.
• Task 4 is true/false, not three options — if you're unsure, that's a 50% chance, not 33%. Don't leave it blank.
• If you only remember part of an answer, write the part you're sure of — a blank answer never scores higher than a partial one.

What it isn't

The listening part doesn't test complex academic vocabulary — the content comes from everyday life: announcements, news, conversations, interviews. If you can follow an ordinary radio or TV programme, the format is already familiar to you.

This site's listening exercises follow the same four-task structure and let you practise exactly the play-twice rhythm used in the real exam.

Sources: Eesti keele B1-taseme eksam — eristuskiri (test specification, Harno); Information sheet for the Estonian language proficiency examinee (Harno, 2025). Facts reviewed 14 September 2026.

An explanatory article, not legal advice.