Listening

CELPIP Listening Part 6: Listening to Viewpoints — Strategy

Master CELPIP Listening Part 6 by tracking competing opinions in a monologue and answering 6 questions about who thinks what, why, and how.

6 min read

Key strategies

1.Identify the speaker's central viewpoint within the first few sentences, since the whole monologue builds around it.
2.Track each opinion separately and note the reasons or evidence given to support it, because questions often test reasons rather than facts.
3.Listen for signpost words like 'however,' 'on the other hand,' and 'in fact' that signal a shift or contrast between viewpoints.
4.Pay attention to tone and degree words such as 'strongly,' 'somewhat,' or 'reluctantly' to judge how firmly an opinion is held.
5.Remember the audio plays only once, so take quick keyword notes instead of trying to write full sentences.
6.Predict the answer in your head before the options appear, then match it to the closest choice and avoid options with extreme wording.

What Part 6 Tests

Listening to Viewpoints is the final and one of the most demanding sections of the CELPIP Listening test. You hear a single person speaking for about 2–3 minutes, presenting their opinions on a topic — often weighing different sides of an issue. You then answer 6 questions. As with all Listening parts, the audio plays only once, so focused listening and quick note-taking are essential.

Why It's Challenging

Unlike a conversation, this is an extended monologue. The speaker may describe several viewpoints — their own and others' — and even change their mind. Questions test your ability to understand opinions, reasons, attitudes, and implications, not just facts. You must follow who holds which view and why.

Core Strategy

1. Catch the main viewpoint early. Speakers usually state their general position near the start. Anchor everything to it.

2. Separate opinions from reasons. A question might ask not what the speaker believes, but the reason they give. Note reasons with quick symbols (e.g., "cost → bad").

3. Follow the contrasts. Words like however, although, on the other hand, in contrast, surprisingly mark a turn. The opinion after these words is often tested.

4. Read attitude and tone. Degree words (absolutely, slightly, hesitantly) and tone reveal how strong an opinion is. Questions may ask how the speaker feels, not just what they say.

Note-Taking That Works

Write keywords, not sentences. Use a simple column: viewpoint on the left, supporting reason on the right. Abbreviate and use arrows. If you miss a detail, keep listening — do not freeze, or you will lose the next point too.

Answering the Questions

Questions follow the order of the audio, so move forward steadily. Predict the answer mentally before scanning the choices, then pick the closest match. Be cautious of options with extreme language (always, never, completely) — these are often distractors when the speaker was more measured. Eliminate choices that twist the speaker's meaning or add information that was never stated.

Final Tip

Practise with opinion podcasts and editorials. Pause and summarize the speaker's position and reasons aloud — this trains the exact skill Part 6 rewards.