Before you start
- Turn the sound on and press the first Play button. A man's voice and a woman's voice read the recordings in American English.
- One listening first. In the real ALCPT you hear each recording once: answer after one listening, then replay it or read the text to check.
- if you are just starting.
Your browser cannot read text aloud. Open this page in Google Chrome, Microsoft Edge or Safari, or press Show the text under each question to practice reading.
Press Play, listen, then choose the answer. Press Show the text if you need to read it; the transcript and the explanation also appear after you answer.
Statements 7 questions
One speaker says one or two sentences. Choose what the speaker means, or the fact you heard.
- Listen, then answer.
1What does the speaker mean?
What you heardThis truck is supposed to get an oil change every three thousand miles, and it's gone almost five thousand since the last one.
D. The truck should have had an oil change already. The oil should be changed "every three thousand miles", but the truck has gone "almost five thousand" since the last change. The change is late. - Listen, then answer.
2Who may drive the forklift?
What you heardUnless you've completed the safety course, you're not allowed to drive the forklift.
B. People who have completed the safety course "Unless you've completed the safety course, you're not allowed" means that only people who have finished the course may drive it. - Listen, then answer.
3Where will lunch be served while the kitchen is being painted?
What you heardWhile the kitchen is being painted, lunch will be served in the gym instead of the dining facility.
A. In the gym Lunch will be served "in the gym instead of the dining facility" while the kitchen is being painted. - Listen, then answer.
4When did the instructor collect the tests?
What you heardThe instructor didn't collect the tests until every student had finished.
C. After all the students had finished "Didn't collect the tests until every student had finished" means the instructor waited for everyone to finish. - Listen, then answer.
5What is across from the post office?
What you heardThe post office is on Oak Street, between the bank and the barber shop, and right across from the bowling alley.
D. The bowling alley The post office is "between the bank and the barber shop" and "right across from the bowling alley". - Listen, then answer.
6What will happen to a student who scores 65?
What you heardUnless you score at least seventy on the progress test, you'll have to repeat the unit.
D. The student will repeat the unit. "Unless you score at least seventy" means "if you score less than seventy". Sixty-five is less than seventy, so the student must repeat the unit. - Listen, then answer.
7When does the speaker usually work out?
What you heardThe gym gets too crowded after seventeen hundred, so I usually work out before breakfast.
D. Before breakfast After seventeen hundred (5 p.m.) the gym is "too crowded", so he works out "before breakfast".
Questions 6 questions
You hear a question or a request. Choose the best answer to it.
- Listen, then answer.
8Choose the best answer.
What you heardDo I need an appointment for sick call, or can I just walk in?
A. You can just walk in, but get there early. The woman asks about two choices, an appointment or "just walk in". The best reply picks one of them: she can just walk in. - Listen, then answer.
9Choose the best answer.
What you heardWho's in charge of the office while Major Ramirez is away?
D. Captain Chen is. "Who" asks about a person. "Captain Chen is" names the person in charge. - Listen, then answer.
10Choose the best answer.
What you heardYou've already signed for your room key, haven't you?
D. Yes, I did that this morning. The tag "haven't you?" asks the listener to confirm. "Yes, I did that this morning" confirms that the key was signed for. - Listen, then answer.
11Choose the best answer.
What you heardWhat did you get on the listening test?
B. I got an eighty-five. "What did you get on the listening test?" asks about the score. "An eighty-five" is a score. - Listen, then answer.
12Choose the best answer.
What you heardExcuse me, which way is the language lab?
D. Down this hall, on your left. "Which way" asks for directions. "Down this hall, on your left" tells her where to go. - Listen, then answer.
13Choose the best answer.
What you heardCould you repeat the last question, please?
A. Of course. I'll read it again. "Could you repeat...?" is a polite request. "Of course. I'll read it again" agrees to do it.
Dialogs 7 questions
A man and a woman speak. Most questions ask what the second speaker means.
- Listen, then answer.
14What does the woman mean?
What you heardMan: Have they fixed the washing machines in the barracks yet?
Woman: Two of them are still out of order, so you might have to wait.
A. Two machines are still not working. "Out of order" means not working. Two machines are "still out of order", so they have not been fixed yet. - Listen, then answer.
15What does the man mean?
What you heardWoman: You look pale. Are you all right?
Man: I'm a little under the weather, that's all.
A. He feels a little sick. "Under the weather" means a little sick. It has nothing to do with rain or the weather outside. - Listen, then answer.
16What does the woman mean?
What you heardMan: How much do I owe you for the coffee and the muffin?
Woman: It's on the house today.
B. The man does not have to pay. "On the house" means free, paid for by the business. The man does not have to pay. - Listen, then answer.
17What does the woman mean?
What you heardMan: Can I take the van to the training area this afternoon?
Woman: Not unless you want to push it. The battery's dead.
B. The van cannot be driven right now. "Not unless you want to push it" is a joke that means no. The van will not start because "the battery's dead". - Listen, then answer.
18What does the man mean?
What you heardWoman: We're getting pizza tonight. Do you want to come?
Man: I'd love to, but I really need to hit the books.
D. He has to study. "Hit the books" means study hard. He would like to go, but he has to study. - Listen, then answer.
19What does the woman mean?
What you heardMan: Are you going to apply for the instructor course in Texas?
Woman: I already did, but it's a long shot.
A. She does not expect to be accepted. "A long shot" is something with little chance of success. She has applied, but she does not think she will be accepted. - Listen, then answer.
20Why was the woman late?
What you heardMan: Where were you? We waited for you for half an hour.
Woman: Sorry. I was reading in the library and lost track of time.
C. She did not notice how late it was. To "lose track of time" means to stop noticing the time. She was busy reading and did not see how late it was.
Conversations and short talks 5 questions
Longer recordings: a conversation, a weather report, a briefing. Listen for the detail the question asks about.
- Listen, then answer.
21Why does the man tell the woman to take a tarp?
What you heardWoman: I need a vehicle this afternoon to pick up twenty boxes of uniforms from the warehouse.
Man: All the trucks are out, but you can take the pickup.
Woman: Will twenty boxes fit in the back?
Man: They should. Just take a tarp to cover them.
Woman: A tarp? But it's sunny outside.
Man: Not for long. It's supposed to rain later this afternoon.
A. Rain is expected later today. The man wants the boxes covered because "it's supposed to rain later this afternoon". - Listen, then answer.
22What will the man and the woman probably do after class?
What you heardMan: Are you going to the gym after class?
Woman: I was planning to, but it's closed for repairs until Monday.
Man: Then let's go running on the track. It's open until dark.
Woman: Good idea. I'll meet you there at seventeen hundred.
A. Go running on the track The gym is "closed for repairs until Monday", so the man suggests the track, and the woman agrees to meet him there. - Listen, then answer.
23In which direction is the bridge?
What you heardMan: According to the map, the bridge is about two kilometers north of here.
Woman: Are you sure? I thought it was south of here.
Man: Let me look again. Oh, you're right. I was holding the map upside down.
D. To the south The man first says "north", but then he sees he was "holding the map upside down". The woman was right: the bridge is to the south. - Listen, then answer.
24What will the weather be like this afternoon?
What you heardGood morning. Here is today's weather for the base. Thick fog will stay with us until about ten o'clock, so drive slowly and use your low beams. This afternoon will be sunny and warm, with a high of seventy-eight degrees. Thunderstorms will move in after nine tonight, so put away any loose equipment before you go home.
A. Sunny and warm The report says "this afternoon will be sunny and warm". The fog is in the morning, and the storms come tonight. - Listen, then answer.
25What is the last part of the test?
What you heardListen up. Tomorrow's fitness test will start at zero six hundred on the track behind the gym. You will do push-ups first, then sit-ups, and you will finish with a two-mile run. If you have an injury, report to me before the test begins.
C. A two-mile run The speaker says "push-ups first, then sit-ups", and "you will finish with a two-mile run".
Tips for the ALCPT listening part
- Read the four answers while you listen. They tell you what to listen for: a time, a place, a reason.
- Listen to the end. Many items change direction at the end: "not until", "unless", "instead".
- Know the idioms. Dialogs often answer with an idiom ("under the weather", "a long shot"). The American idioms list has the common ones.
- Numbers and military time. Fifteen and fifty, zero six hundred and sixteen hundred: say them aloud until they are automatic.
For the full test, take the ALCPT practice test (listening and reading), or the timed ALCPT exam in the trainer, with 50 listening questions played once and 50 reading questions in 35 minutes.
Questions people ask
How many listening questions are on the ALCPT?
Half of the test: 50 of its 100 questions, in about 20 minutes, according to the 2025 ALCPT handbook. The reading part follows, with 50 questions in about 35 minutes.
How is the listening part of the ALCPT given?
You hear each recording once, then you choose one of four printed answers. There is no time to replay, so practice answering right after one listening.
How can I practice ALCPT listening at home?
Use these 25 questions, then the trainer: its Listening section has 155 recordings, and its timed ALCPT exam plays 50 recordings once each before the reading part, as in the real test.