ESOL International English Listening Examination Level C2 Proficient

NOCN ESOL International Listening, Reading, Writing
Level C2 Proficient LIVE Winter 2022

Test Booklet
ESOL International
English Listening Examination
Level C2 Proficient
Instructions to learners
Check that you have the correct paper.
Do not open the paper until you are told to do so.
Complete the information above.
Listen to the instructions.
Use blue or black ink. Do not use a pencil.
You must not use a dictionary.
Total marks available: 31
You have 40 minutes to finish the examination.
NOCN ESOL Listening, Reading and Writing

Level C2 Proficient
Test Booklet – LIVE Winter 2022 Page 1 of 16
Test Booklet
Part 1
You will hear ten sentences twice. Choose the best answer in each situation.
Now read the answers. You have two minutes to read the answers.
Now listen to the sentences and choose the best answer.
Mark the answer on the mark sheet.
1. a. I’m sorry to disturb you. 6. a. Have you hurt yourself?

b. Thank you for your help. b. Please don’t worry about it.
c. Yes, where is the manager’s office? c. Perhaps you should see a doctor.
2. a. It’s starting at six o’clock. 7. a. I’m confused.

b. It should be here in half an hour. b. I haven’t decided yet.
c. It’s coming tomorrow morning. c. I can’t do anything right now.
3. a. I would like a lift home. 8. a. The cooker alarm will ring.

b. What are you going to buy? b. Tell me when you get hungry.
c. Are you running out? c. I’m sorry, I don’t have the time.
4. a. Yes, I’m really looking forward to it. 9. a. Don’t worry about it, I’ll help you.
b. Thank you for the invitation. b. What’s the problem?
c. Yes, Sunday is a good day. c. They’re in aisle two next to the
biscuits.
5. a. What do you want a glass for?
b. Would you like ice in it? 10. a. No, probably not, sorry.
c. Certainly not, madam. b. Why do we need another washing
machine?
c. What would I use it for?

Level C2 Proficient
Test Booklet
Part 2
You will hear two conversations. You will hear them twice.
You have two minutes to read the questions for both conversations.
Now listen to Conversation 1. Now listen to Conversation 2.
Record your answers on the mark sheet. Record your answers on the mark sheet.
1. What advice was the person given? 1. What would the person like to do in the future?
a. Keep the dog outside in a kennel. a. Become a fashion designer.
b. Make your garden secure. b. Own a clothes shop.
c. Take the dog to the park every day. c. Become a clothes buyer.
2. Who will look after the dog during the 2. What does the manager expect them to do?
daytime? a. Work every evening and weekend.
a. Everyone. b. Buy clothes for the shop.
b. Their sister. c. Work some evenings.
c. Their mum.
3. What kind of training does the shop offer?
3. What kind of dog needs rehoming? a. A college day release programme.
a. A large two-year-old male dog. b. A full-time college programme.
b. A small, young poodle. c. A weekend college programme.
c. A female puppy.
4. Which sentence is true?
4. Why do they want to adopt a dog? a. The person will have to pay all their own
a. They miss having a pet. college fees.
b. They love animals. b. The shop only sells children’s clothes.
c. They don’t like cats. c. There will be some difficult customers to
deal with sometimes.
5. What does the student like to do?
a. Walk in the park. 5. Why is the person applying for this job?
b. Run around the garden. a. Because they have now left school.
c. Go jogging. b. Because they are looking for a holiday job.
c. Because they love selling shoes.
Listen to the conversation again and check Listen to the conversation again and check
your answers. your answers.

Level C2 Proficient
Test Booklet
Part 3 – Debate and discussion

You will hear a debate and a discussion. You will hear them twice.
You have two minutes to read the questions and answers on your examination paper for both the
debate and discussion.
Now listen to the debate. Now listen to the discussion.

Record your answers on the mark sheet. Record your answers on the mark sheet.
1. The main point of this debate is to discuss: 1. The main point of this discussion is to:
a. The cost of printing emails and a. Explain why Europe has very hot weather.
documents. b. Describe hot weather damage and how to
b. The expectation to use technology. prevent it.
c. The difficulty of reading online c. Give advice on how to save water.
documents.
2. How much water is fresh and drinkable in the
2. The guest’s opinion is: world today?
a. Emails can get lost. a. Over 2.5 percent.
b. Postal services can be very quick. b. Between 2 and 5 percent.
c. It is easy to increase the visibility of text. c. Only 2.5 percent.
3. In the debate, what are organisations 3. According to the discussion, what is the most
doing? important thing we can do to avoid global
a. Reducing the amount of paper they warming?
send in the post. a. Reduce fossil fuel pollution.
b. Spending money on ink and paper. b. Invest money in more efficient water
c. Reducing the number of times you sign systems.
in. c. Develop better steel manufacturing
processes.
4. Which of these things are described as
‘annoying’ and ‘frustrating’? 4. What kind of forest trees are more resistant to
a. Remembering passwords. catching fire?
b. Reading documents online. a. Pine trees.
c. Problems with logging on websites. b. Broad leaf trees.
c. Bare trees.
5. The guest stores documents:
a. In a filing cabinet. 5. Which of these is true?
b. In an electronic folder. a. There will definitely be a water shortage in
c. On a USB stick. the future.
b. Fast moving hot air from Africa is causing
6. How does the host describe society? very hot weather in Europe.
a. Frustrating. c. Mediterranean countries are better at
b. Annoying. coping with very hot weather.
c. Technologically driven.
Listen to the debate again and check your
Listen to the debate again and check your
answers.
answers.
End of Examination.
Level C2 Proficient
Test Booklet
ESOL International
Reading
Level C2 Proficient
Please complete the information above.
Use black or blue ink. Do not use a pencil.
You may NOT use a dictionary.
There are 31 questions in this examination.
You must attempt all the questions.

Level C2 Proficient
Test Booklet
Text 1
Read the text. Answer the questions on your mark sheet.
Birmingham, United Kingdom 1
2
When Birmingham hosted the 2022 Commonwealth Games, the opening ceremony included 3
Birmingham’s beloved lucky mascot, the raging bull, as the star of the show. The bull was a 4
specially designed ten metre high mechanical animal, representing Birmingham’s history as a 5
market town and industrial city. 72 commonwealth nations competed in twenty different sports 6
events during the Games for eleven days. 7
8
9
In 1086, Birmingham was a tiny village in the manor of ‘Bermingeham’, owned by Richard 10
De Bermingeham. In 1154, a circular corn market was created in the village, and bulls were kept 11
on grassland in the centre of the corn market. This grassland was called ‘The Bull Ring’. 12
In 1166, King Henry II granted Peter De Bermingeham permission to open a weekly textile market, 13
which included the Bull Ring. This started Birmingham’s market trading industry and, as the years 14
went by, Birmingham became an important town for trading cloth. By the 1800s, its name had 15
changed to ‘Birmingham’ and its population had grown to over half a milion people, making it 16
the second largest populated town in England. 17
18
In 1889, Queen Victoria granted Birmingham ‘City’ status. By then, you could buy anything you 19
needed in the Bull Ring, which became known as the ‘rag and bone’ market, trading in horses, 20
cloth, spices, meat, vegetables and fish. Today it is called St. Martin’s Rag Market, named after 21
St. Martin’s Church which stands nearby. 22
23
People born in Birmingham affectionately refer to their city as ‘Brum’ and call themselves 24
‘Brummies’. When the city is redeveloped in 2003, a new Bull Ring shopping centre was 25
established, and a life sized, bronze statue of a bull was erected to welcome visitors into the 26
city. Since then, its nose has become polished gold by people rubbing it for luck. So, it was no 27
surprise that in 2022, the Commonwealth Game’s should include Birmingham’s favourite bull to 28
watch over the Games. 29
30
After the Games, the mechanical bull was going to be demolished but Brummies protested and 31
persuaded the Council to keep it, and it now has a permanent home in Birmingham for many 32
years to _________. 33

Level C2 Proficient
Test Booklet
1. The main purpose of this document is to: 6. What is the best word to replace ‘textile’
a. Explain the history of Birmingham’s on line 13?
Bull Ring market. a. Metal.
b. Describe Birmingham’s mascot. b. Wood.
c. Persuade you to visit Birmingham. c. Fabric.
7. There is a spelling mistake on:

2. The first market in Birmingham sold:
a. Line 26.
a. Textiles. b. Line 16.
b. Corn. c. Line 6.
c. Bulls.
8. There is a grammatical error on:

3. When did Birmingham become a city?
a. Line 5.
a. In 2003.
b. Line 15.
b. In 1166.
c. Line 25.
c. In 1889.
4. What is Birmingham’s mascot called? 9. The most suitable word to complete the
a. The Brummie Bull. sentence on line 33 is:
b. The Raging Bull. a. Come.
c. The Mechanical Bull. b. Go.
c. Stay.
5. According to the article, which
statement is true? 10. There is a punctuation mistake on:
a. The mechanical bull is ten metres a. Line 14.
tall. b. Line 20.
b. The statue in the shopping centre is c. Line 28.
a life sized, gold bull.
c. The market is now called ‘The Rag
and Bone Market’.

Level C2 Proficient
Test Booklet
Text 2

Birthday Traditions 1
2
Birthdays are happy occasions; you have a party, sing ‘Happy Birthday’, give gifts, and enjoy 3
a cake with candles on top. However, in Mexico beware! They have a birthday tradition that 4
takes you by surprise. You are given a cake, everyone sings, you makes a wish, blow out the 5
candles and just as you are about to eat a slice of the cake, someone sneaks up behind you and 6
pushes your face into the cake. Another Mexican trick is to tie your hands behind your back and 7
shove your face into the whole cake whilst everyone repeatedly shouts ‘Mordida!’, encouraging 8
you to bite the cake. Of course it is important to make sure the cake is soft and has nothing inside 9
that is harmful. 10
11
In Brazil and Jamaica, they do not wait for the cake to be made; they just throw the ingredients of 12
flour and eggs at you, and, in Canada, they rub butter on your nose for good luck! 13
14
Protect your ears in Italy and Argentina. A painful trick is to pull them – one pull for every year, so 15
the older you are, the more your ears are pulled. Also, in Italy, you must open your presents 16
straight away and not keep them for later or you will be considered impolite and discourteous. 17
18
Food is important on your birthday, but sometimes it is not what you _________. In Korea, your 19
birthday treat is seaweed soup with beef or chicken. It is recomended because it contains 20
important vitamins and minerals to help you live a healthy life. In China, you are given a bowl of 21
noodles which symbolise a long life. The longer the noodles, the longer your life will be. 22
23
Fairy bread is very common in Australia and is always served at childrens’ birthday parties. It is 24
white toasted bread covered in butter, sugar and colourful sugar sprinkles, and is very sweet. 25
26
In Russia, you are given a fruit pie filled with your favourite fruit, and your name is put on the top 27
of the pie. It is very tasty and not too sweet. Much better! 28

Level C2 Proficient
Test Booklet
11. According to the text, which statement is 16. There is a grammatical mistake on:
true?
a. Line 16.
a. In China, you are given a noodle cake. b. Line 12.
b. In Mexico, someone might creep up c. Line 5.
on you.
c. They throw flour at you in Canada.
17. There is a spelling mistake on:
a. Line 7.
12. According to the text, which of these is b. Line 20.
the healthiest? c. Line 25.
a. Fairy bread.
b. Fruit pie.
c. Seaweed soup. 18. The best word to complete the sentence
on line 19 is:
13. Which country has a painful birthday a. Expect.
tradition? b. Accept.
a. Argentina. c. Except.
b. Jamaica.
c. Mexico. 19. The best word to replace ‘discourteous’
on line 17 is:
14. What is believed to be disrespectful in a. Unpleasant.
Italy? b. Disrespectful.
a. Pushing your face in a cake. c. Selfish.
b. Not opening your presents
immediately. 20. There is a punctuation mistake on:
c. Eating your cake quickly.
a. Line 8.
b. Line 13.
c. Line 24.
15. What does ‘Mordida’ mean?
a. Bite.
b. Eat.
c. Chew.

Level C2 Proficient
Test Booklet
Text 3
Three Famous Greek Philosophers
Socrates, the Enigmatic Philosopher (469-399 BC), was the most famous philosopher of ancient Greece
and is still considered to be the founder of Western philosophy. He developed the idea of ethics. If
humans asked themselves questions, they would be able to discover who they really were. He believed
no-one likes doing immoral things but, if they do, it is because they do not realise that there is an
alternative. Doing the right thing brings happiness, and being moral, honest and doing good things gives
us greater knowledge.
Plato, the Metaphysic Philosopher (428-358 BC), was a student of Socrates and teacher of Aristotle.
Plato introduced new political ideas. He believed philosophers should rule the world because only they
know the real truth and have clear knowledge of the world. He believed that two parallel worlds exist;
the real world and the world we all live in now, which is only a reflection of the real world. He said that
children should be separated from their parents at birth and educated in public institutions. Children do
not need to know who their families are in order to find the truth of who they are themselves. When
Plato was 40 years old, he established a ground-breaking educational institution called the Academy;
where a community of young people learned mathematics, music, art and astronomy.
Aristotle, the philosopher of Reason (384-332 BC), was a student of Socrates and Plato. He studied all
the sciences known in ancient Greece, and his ideas have survived for centuries influencing Western
culture, languages and scientific ideas, right up until the 21st century. He believed that good politics
happen when people work together. An individual makes a family, families make cities and cities make
society. This is completely different to Plato’s thinking of individualism.
21. What is the main purpose of this text? 24. What did Plato think about families?
a. To promote Aristotle as the most influential a. Individuals are more important than
ancient philosopher. families.
b. To summarise the ideas of the great b. They form the basis for society.
philosophers. c. Families allow the history of ideas to
c. To give a history of Greek philosophy. survive.
22. In the text, which statement is false? 25. Plato’s contribution to education was his
a. Socrates taught Plato and Aristotle. belief that:
b. Aristotle’s scientific ideas are still influential. a. Children should be taught individually.
c. Plato believed that philosophers don’t make b. Children should be taught a range of
the best leaders. subjects in special establishments.
c. Families were the main support for
23. What did Socrates say about people who do children.
bad things?
a. They deliberately choose to act badly.
b. They are unaware of any other choice.
c. They are told to do bad things.
Level C2 Proficient
Test Booklet
Text 4
Potatoes
Potatoes are 80 percent water and 20 percent flesh, and are a near-perfect food. They are 99.9 percent fat
free and contain vitamins B6, C, E, K, and minerals such as potassium, magnesium and phosphorous. A
medium sized potato contains around 110 calories, compared to one cup of rice which has 225 calories,
and a cup of pasta which has 115 calories. Although high in carbohydrates, potatoes are good for the
stomach, heart, digestion and immune system. In fact, during the Alaskan gold rush in the 1890s, people
traded potatoes for gold because of their high vitamin content.
Potatoes were grown 8,000 years ago in the Andes, in Peru. In the UK, potatoes are omnipresent on their
dinner plates and have a range of familiar nicknames such as ‘spud’, ‘tater’ and ‘tattie’. China is the
world’s largest potato grower, although other countries also grow them. In the USA, all fifty of its states
grow potatoes, with Idaho and Washington being the main American producers. In fact, Idaho is known as
the ‘potato state’ and has its own potato museum!
Potatoes are a versatile vegetable, meaning they can be cooked in many different ways; mashed, boiled,
roasted, baked, fried and made into crisps, or chips. You can also drink potatoes - they have been used to
make vodka and wine.
Potatoes are best stored in cool, dry, dark places. If they start growing and sprouting, they begin to lose
their nutritional value. You should cut off all new growth and never eat its green leaves; they can make
you ill. Never wash a potato before storing it because it will speed up the decaying process. Only wash a
potato before you cook it. Cook potatoes with the skin on because it contains more nutrition than the
flesh.
29. What does the writer say about potatoes in the
26. Why were potatoes highly valued in the UK?
1890s? a. They are easily grown in all parts of the UK.
b. They are a very common food choice.
a. Because they contain a lot of vitamins.
c. They are only boiled and mashed.
b. Because they are low fat.
c. Because they can be cooked in many 30. Which part of the potato contains the most
different ways. nutrition?
27. What type of nutrient are potatoes? a. The leaves.
a. Fat. b. The inner flesh.
b. Carbohydrate. c. The skin.
c. Protein. 31. How can you keep potatoes fresh?
28. A medium sized potato contains: a. Wash and store them in a dark, dry place.
a. More calories than a cup of rice. b. Keep them dry in a dark, cool place.
b. More calories than a cup of pasta. c. Cut off new growth and clean the skins.
c. Less calories than a cup of pasta.
End of Examination.

Level C2 Proficient
Test Booklet
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Level C2 Proficient
Test Booklet
ESOL International
Writing
Level C2 Proficient

Please complete the information above.
You must write a minimum of 200–250 words for Task 1
and 250–300 words for Task 2.
Use black or blue ink. Do not use a pencil.
You may NOT use a dictionary.
There are two tasks. You must attempt both tasks.
Formal writing Task 1, you must complete either Option 1 OR Option 2.
Informal writing Task 2, you must complete the set task.
Allow time to check your work before the end of the examination.
You can ask for more writing paper if required.

Level C2 Proficient
Test Booklet
Option 1 Formal Writing Task 1 – Allow around 35 minutes for this task
You recently visited your local park, and were shocked to see how bad the area has become.
Write a letter to the local council informing them of what you found and what you would like them
to do to improve the park.
You could write about:

• the poor state of the park
• who uses the park
• what you want the council to do
• why it is important to improve the park facilities.
OR
Option 2 Formal Writing Task 1 – Allow around 35 minutes for this task
Write a short report about the advantages and disadvantages of buying things online.

• different kinds of ways to buy things online
• the convenience of buying online
• the dangers of making online payments
• suggestions on how to keep safe when buying things online.
You must write 200 – 250 words. (12 Marks)
Informal Writing Task 2 – Allow 35 minutes for this task
You are planning on visiting England. Write an email to your English friend telling them when you will be
arriving and ask them to meet you and spend some time with you.

• when you are arriving and where you will be staying
• how long you are staying in England, and why
• reasons why you want to spend some time with your friend
• things you and your friend could do together.
You must write 250 – 300 words. (12 Marks)
You will be assessed on:
• use of conjunctions, • content • word order

adjectives and vocabulary • use of appropriate tenses • legibility of
writing
End of Examination for Writing – Level C2

Level C2 Proficient
Test Booklet
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Level C2 Proficient
Test Booklet
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Level C2 Proficient

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NOCN ESOL International Listening, Reading, Writing

Level C2 Proficient LIVE Winter 2022

English Listening Examination

NOCN ESOL Listening, Reading and Writing

Now listen to the sentences and choose the best answer.

Mark the answer on the mark sheet.

1. a. I’m sorry to disturb you. 6. a. Have you hurt yourself?

2. a. It’s starting at six o’clock. 7. a. I’m confused.

3. a. I would like a lift home. 8. a. The cooker alarm will ring.

NOCN ESOL Listening, Reading and Writing

NOCN ESOL Listening, Reading and Writing

Part 3 – Debate and discussion

Now listen to the debate. Now listen to the discussion.

NOCN ESOL Listening, Reading and Writing

NOCN ESOL Listening, Reading and Writing

7. There is a spelling mistake on:

8. There is a grammatical error on:

NOCN ESOL Listening, Reading and Writing

Read the text. Answer the questions on your mark sheet.

NOCN ESOL Listening, Reading and Writing

NOCN ESOL Listening, Reading and Writing

NOCN ESOL Listening, Reading and Writing

This page is intentionally blank

NOCN ESOL Listening, Reading and Writing

Check that you have the correct paper.

NOCN ESOL Listening, Reading and Writing

You could write about:

You could write about:

You must write 200 – 250 words. (12 Marks)

Informal Writing Task 2 – Allow 35 minutes for this task

You could write about:

You must write 250 – 300 words. (12 Marks)

You will be assessed on:

• use of conjunctions, • content • word order

NOCN ESOL Listening, Reading and Writing

This page is intentionally blank

NOCN ESOL Listening, Reading and Writing

Tel: +44 (0) 0300 999 1177

NOCN ESOL Listening, Reading and Writing

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