telc B2 Listening: 3 Parts, One Hearing and a True/False Strategy
Level:B2Duration:~3 h + 15 minFee:Varies by centreValidity:UnlimitedFormat:Written + Oral
Last updated: 30 September 2026 · Verified against official telc sources
telc B2 Listening has three parts and 20 true/false items. According to telc’s official preparation booklet, every text is played only once, as in real radio and announcements. You have to decide on the spot and mark the answer sheet immediately.
The parts
| Part | Text | Items | Points |
|---|---|---|---|
| Part 1 – gist | Radio news: 6 reports, 5 statements (one report has none) | 5 | 25 |
| Part 2 – detail | Radio interview with two speakers, about 7 min | 10 | 25 |
| Part 3 – selective | 5 short announcements: traffic, weather, venues and events | 5 | 25 |
Strategy by part
- Part 1: use the roughly 30 seconds to read the statements. First decide whether a statement matches the report, then whether it is true; listen for the main tendency.
- Part 2: statements follow the order of the interview. Mark key words during the one-minute reading time and stay focused through off-topic passages.
- Part 3: statements usually contain two names or numbers; underline them and wait for that spot in the announcement.
- Expect paraphrase: telc expresses the information with other words or spreads it across several sentences.
Training for a single hearing
- Never rewind in practice; replay only for analysis afterwards.
- Get used to regional accents: telc notes that regional pronunciation may occur, so include Austrian and Swiss broadcasts.
- Don’t get stuck on a missed item; mark an answer and move on.
- Log the error type: negation, number/name, speaker’s view, paraphrase.
Official sources
The exam rules and figures in this guide were checked against the official sources below.
Related guide
Practise deciding on one hearing
Take telc B2 Listening sets on Zertifly at exam pace and target the error types that cost you points.