How to Answer Multi-Speaker Questions

How to answer a
Multi-Speaker Question
Muhammad Malik
Contributed to ibatefl.com

General Information
Points to remember
 3 male voices and 3 female voices ( approximately 20 – 40 seconds in
length)
 All statements are very similar, you need to listen extremely carefully.
 Do not use any letter more than once. If used you will be penalised!
 The letter must be written inside the box
 The most difficult question in the listening paper! Things could go all wrong
here.
 Answers are not sequential

General Information
The instructions are to use each letter only once.
Even though this is the correct answer for speaker
5, it does not get awarded a mark as it is used
twice.

General Information
These letters are not written clearly enough
to be awarded a mark.

How do I get it right?
 One of the best practices is to underline the keywords in the statements, so
that you can lookout for those key elements when you are listening.
It is better not to write any letters in the box when you hear the recording
for the first time.
 Instead, predicting the answer and writing it near to the statement will be a
better idea.
 When you hear the recording for the second time, you can finalise the
answer and write the letter in the box.
 Here is a real-student sample response. Look at the method she has
followed.

Sample Student Response
All keywords have been
underlined!
Not sure, so wrote it aside
during the first attempt.
Figured out the precise
answer during the second
time.
Has tried to guess the
answer on the first attempt
Remember the examiners are not concerned about what you write
outside the box. It doesn't really matter even if you get your paper
dirty. What matters is what you write inside the box and how you
write it. You can’t eat chicken unless you get your hands dirty!

Example
 Now let us take a look at a past paper question and see how this method
can be applied.
 This question is from June 2016 32/42 variant.

Speaker 1 A I’ve made new friends through sport.
Speaker 2 B Children should spend more time taking part in sporting activities at school.
Speaker 3 C Sport teaches us about rules and cooperation.
Speaker 4 D I’m an enthusiastic fan of sport, although I don’t do any.
Speaker 5 E Sport keeps us fit and healthy.
Speaker 6 F To play sport successfully, you need certain characteristics.
G It’s important to learn how to avoid injuring yourself in sport.
Here is the audio transcript for Speaker 1. ( Female, Teenager)
“ I just love sport. I haven’t always done very much, but now I’ve started playing tennis with a group of my friends at a
local club. I’ve noticed that I feel so much better recently and haven’t been ill either. We have a trainer who gives us
lots of exercises to do. Together we have really long practice sessions and matches against other teams – I can keep
going for much longer than I used to without getting tired like I did before.”
Statement E – contains the keywords, FIT & Healthy. All the parts underlined in RED points to being fit and healthy.

Here is the audio transcript for Speaker 2. ( Male , Teenager)
My favourite thing to do on a free afternoon is to go with my dad and my sister to watch our local football team. I’d be useless
at football if I tried playing it these days, though I liked being in goal when I was younger, even if I did let too many balls into
the net. Our team doesn’t always win, but it’s usually exciting to watch, especially when they score some goals. But you can
see they don’t always play by the rules – that doesn’t set a good example for the kids who are watching.
Statement D – Contains the keyword which are related. Such as ‘go with my dad and my sister to watch our local football
team’ - means he is an enthusiastic fan. ’ I’d useless at football if I tried playing it these days – mean he doesn’t play anymore’

Here is the audio transcript for Speaker 3. ( F, 20s)
We moved quite often when I was younger so I found it hard to get to know people each time I started at a new school. If
you’re a bit of a shy person like me, that can make you lose confidence in yourself. I’ve always liked cricket, and when I started
working, I decided to join the company cricket club. We practise once a week, and get together at other times too. The people
in the team are a great bunch and when I hurt my wrist and had to stop playing for a few weeks, I really missed them!
Statement A – contains the keywords which are related. ‘ People in the team are a great bunch – get together at other times
too – I really miss them.

Here is the audio transcript for Speaker 4. ( F, 20s)
The athlete I most admire is Kerstin Behringer because she has such a good-natured approach - unlike many other
athletes, she respects the officials and is always friendly with her competitors. You don’t have to be arrogant and
unpleasant when you have won a race. I think people can learn important lessons for life by doing sport, like how to
work as a team and how to play fairly. I really admire someone who has managed to get where she is by relying on her
own natural talent.
Statement C – Contains the keywords related to respect, cooperation, rules and lessons for life.

Here is the audio transcript for Speaker 5. ( M, 30s)
As a child, I was always naturally quite fit and I loved playing football when I was at school, but I seemed to end up in
hospital so many times! I’ve broken my leg twice and damaged my knee quite badly once so I had to stay at home for
two weeks! Now I’ve learned to warm up properly before playing, and not to push myself too far. I may not be as quick
as I once was, but I still look forward to getting together with my friends for a game.
Statement G – contains the keywords related to injury and avoiding them.

Here is the audio transcript for Speaker 6.( M, Teenager)
We all had to do athletics and team sports each week when I was younger. I was no good at sport, so no one wanted
me on their team. When we were given the choice of doing extra sport or going to the library, I went for that option as
I much preferred reading books. But now I’m older I think it would have been better to have done more sport as it
helps young people gain confidence.
Statement B – contains the details which are required.

Your turn
 Take a look at the following multi-speaker question.
 Don’t forget to follow the method we have learned.

You will hear six people talking about a musical instrument they play. For each of Speakers 1 to 6, choose from the list A
to G, which opinion each speaker expresses. Write the letter in the box. Use each letter only once. There is one extra
letter which you do not need to use. You will hear each speaker twice.
Speaker 1 A Doesn’t like to be made to practice.
Speaker 2 B Playing is the best way to learn an instrument.
Speaker 3 C Is the driving force of a band.
Speaker 4 D Is the leader of a band.
Speaker 5 E Music is not about achieving perfection.
Speaker 6 F Music is about achieving perfection.
G Teaching music is not very fulfilling.

Hi there, everyone. Well, I love my guitar. I've been playing since I was about 12. Just picked it up, and learned with my
friends as we went along. At first, I had a cheap acoustic guitar, but as I progressed and improved I bought guitars
which were made of better-quality wood to get a richer sound. I spent over $2,000 on my last guitar. I only play
acoustics, though – I never took to the electric guitars. I think that learning by playing is the best way, and that being in
a group is therefore essential. I don't read music, as I can play everything by ear.
Statement B

I’m a violinist. I do this professionally as I regularly play in an orchestra. I learned by having several lessons a week
when I was younger, with a personal tutor. She taught me everything I know. I don't really approve of learning by
playing alone – I think that the theory and history of the instrument is just as important. I practise mostly on my own
and I have been reading music sheets since I was 5 years old. When I'm not with the orchestra, I do some teaching.
However, I don't really enjoy this, as it's not very challenging. I like to be performing.
Statement G

I wasn't too keen on playing the piano when I was young, probably because it seemed such a lonely task, so I admire
you for practising so much on your own. My parents forced me to have lessons and I hated it. I would rather have been
out on the football pitch with my friends. I even picked up a guitar – to annoy my parents, I think – and got quite good
at that. Mind you, when I look back, I do thank my parents now. I left school at 18 and went straight into a band,
playing keyboards, and we became one of the biggest bands ever. So it turns out that the piano was actually pretty
good for me in the end.
Statement A

I'm a bit more unusual than you three. I play a less well-known instrument. I play the xylophone. The word means
'wooden sound' in Greek and that's basically it, really. I hit a series of wooden bars with a mallet and as each piece of
wood is tuned to a musical pitch, if you hit them right you make music! I first saw this being done when I was in Africa,
on a marimba, and just got hooked. I don't do it professionally; I just play for pleasure. I play at local events, though –
like fairs, and I like to have a laugh. In my view, that's what music is all about, having a good time. So what if we hit a
few bad notes now and again?
Statement E

I'm probably the loudest person here as I play the drums. I've always been loud, though, so maybe the drums suit my
character. I'm in a band, too, and, like the piano player, went straight into professional music when I left school. Unlike
the piano player, my parents didn't make me have lessons, though. In fact, they hated my drum kit and couldn't wait
for me to leave home. I love the power of the drums. And let's not forget, the drummer controls the musical beat, the
timing, so he's got to be the most important player in the band.
Statement C

Well, I've listened to you all and I am very different to all of you in that I don't play an instrument. But I'd say that I was
the most musically aware person in the room. I'm a conductor, of a famous orchestra. My job is to make everything
sound perfect. If we hit a bad note when we're playing then I ask them to go right back to the beginning and start
again. No room for error in what we do. My work is my life. I travel a lot as a conductor. I was in New York last week
and I'm in Rome next week, working with two different orchestras. I take my music very seriously.
Statement F

Final Words
• Using the right method really makes a difference.
• Remember what differentiates between a high achiever and a low
achiever is the attitude and the approach.
• Good luck to everyone in the up coming exams.

How to Answer Multi-Speaker Questions

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