Before you start
- Turn the sound on and press the first Play button. The recordings are read by your browser in American English, with a man's voice and a woman's voice for the conversations.
- Listen first, read after. Try to understand the recording before you look at the choices, as in the real test.
- if you are just starting. Move back to normal speed as soon as you can.
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. The transcript and the explanation appear after you answer.
Short statements 8 questions
You hear one sentence. Listen for numbers, times, places and the order of events.
- Listen, then answer.
1When does the flight leave?
What you heardThe flight to San Antonio leaves at fourteen fifteen, not at four fifteen.
B. At 2:15 in the afternoon In military time, fourteen fifteen (1415) is 2:15 p.m. The speaker corrects the mistake "four fifteen". - Listen, then answer.
2How many students passed the second test?
What you heardOnly fifteen students passed the first test, but fifty passed the second one.
A. 50 Fifty (stress on FIF-) passed the second test. Fifteen (stress on -TEEN) passed the first one. - Listen, then answer.
3What must you do first?
What you heardBefore you clean your weapon, make sure it is unloaded.
D. Check that the weapon is unloaded. "Before you clean it, make sure it is unloaded": the check comes first. - Listen, then answer.
4What is true about the new truck?
What you heardThe new truck is heavier than the old one, but it uses less fuel.
D. It uses less fuel than the old truck. The new truck is heavier, but it uses less fuel. - Listen, then answer.
5When is the meeting now?
What you heardThe meeting has been moved from Tuesday to Thursday, at the same time.
C. On Thursday "Moved from Tuesday to Thursday": the new day is Thursday, at the same time as before. - Listen, then answer.
6How many boxes of paper do they need?
What you heardWe need two boxes of paper for each classroom, and there are six classrooms.
A. Twelve Two boxes for each of six classrooms: 2 x 6 = 12 boxes. - Listen, then answer.
7What will happen if it rains?
What you heardIf it rains tomorrow, the field exercise will start an hour later.
A. The exercise will begin later. If it rains, the exercise still takes place, but it starts an hour later. - Listen, then answer.
8How much did the woman pay?
What you heardThe jacket was eighty dollars, but I got it for half price.
B. $40 Half of eighty dollars is forty dollars.
Questions and answers 4 questions
You hear a question. Choose the best answer to it.
- Listen, then answer.
9Choose the best answer.
What you heardHow long have you been stationed at this base?
A. Since last March. "How long" asks about a period of time. "Since last March" gives the start of that period. - Listen, then answer.
10Choose the best answer.
What you heardWould you mind closing the window?
D. Not at all. I'll do it now. "Would you mind...?" is a polite request. "Not at all" means "I don't mind": the speaker agrees to help. - Listen, then answer.
11Choose the best answer.
What you heardCan I give you a hand with those boxes?
B. Thanks, that would be great. "Give someone a hand" means help them. The best answer accepts the help. - Listen, then answer.
12Choose the best answer.
What you heardHow often do you have English class?
C. Five days a week. "How often" asks about frequency: five days a week.
Short conversations 8 questions
You hear a man and a woman. Listen to the second speaker carefully: the answer is usually there.
- Listen, then answer.
13What does the man mean?
What you heardWoman: Are you coming to the briefing at zero eight hundred?
Man: I wouldn't miss it for the world.
D. He will certainly go to the briefing. "I wouldn't miss it for the world" means "I will certainly be there." - Listen, then answer.
14Where is the personnel office?
What you heardMan: Excuse me, where can I get my ID card renewed?
Woman: At the personnel office. It's on the second floor of Building 4, next to the post office.
A. On the second floor of Building 4 The woman says "the second floor of Building 4, next to the post office". - Listen, then answer.
15Why did Sergeant Lopez miss physical training?
What you heardMan: Why didn't Sergeant Lopez come to physical training this morning?
Woman: He hurt his ankle playing basketball yesterday.
B. He was injured. He hurt his ankle yesterday (an injury), so he could not train this morning. The basketball game was yesterday. - Listen, then answer.
16What does the man mean?
What you heardWoman: How did the inspection go?
Man: It was a piece of cake.
A. The inspection was easy. "A piece of cake" means something very easy. - Listen, then answer.
17How will the man travel to Dallas?
What you heardWoman: Are you driving to Dallas this weekend?
Man: I was going to, but my car is in the shop, so I'll take the bus.
A. By bus "I was going to (drive), but my car is in the shop" (being repaired), "so I'll take the bus". - Listen, then answer.
18What does the woman mean?
What you heardMan: I think the new schedule is much better.
Woman: I couldn't agree more.
A. She completely agrees with the man. "I couldn't agree more" means "I agree completely." - Listen, then answer.
19Where is the flashlight?
What you heardMan: Have you seen my flashlight?
Woman: It's on the shelf, behind the first aid kit.
C. Behind the first aid kit The woman says it is "on the shelf, behind the first aid kit". - Listen, then answer.
20What happened to the woman's request?
What you heardMan: Did the captain approve your leave request?
Woman: No, she turned it down.
D. It was refused. To "turn down" a request means to refuse it.
How to improve your listening
Listening is one of the two skills the ECL measures, and half of the ALCPT. Five minutes of daily practice makes a difference: learn the sounds of fast American English, practice numbers and military time aloud, and repeat sentences right after you hear them. Read how to practice listening for the ECL for a full method. In the trainer, the Listen button reads every one of the 2,095 questions and its four choices.