Listening tests

This guidance relates to the following qualifications:

• AS and A Level Languages: Gujarati, Persian, Portuguese and Turkish
• AS and A Level Music - H143, H543
• GCSE Music (9-1) - J536

For Languages listening tests, centres should refer to the JCQ Instructions for conducting MFL Listening exams; dictionaries are not permitted in any Languages listening test.

We strongly advise holding listening tests in a room which is suitable for no more than 30 candidates:

• If a centre has equipment which is especially powerful, more candidates may be accommodated without special permission, applications for special consideration will not be considered on the grounds of inaudibility. 
• Language laboratories may be used, but particular care must be taken to ensure adequate supervision. 
• The use of digital playback is permitted and the normal security requirements apply. Certain specifications allow the use of personal CD players with headphones. 

Centres will be supplied with a CD in audio and MP3 format.

These CDs must be spot-checked for recording and sound quality upon receipt. 

The CDs must not be listened to in full and must not be removed from the centre for checking. 

If equipment fails during the exam, please contact us to make alternative arrangements for the conduct of the recorded listening test.

The CD(s) must be spot-checked for recording and sound quality two working days before the date of the exam, preferably in the exam room using the playback equipment that will be used for the tests. 

For AS and A Level, a single selected CD should be fully checked using the same equipment to be used by candidates if possible. 

CDs must not be removed from the centre for checking. 

In AS and A Level specifications, the listening CD is operated by individual candidates (personal playback machines used must have a fast-rewind facility). However, where recordings are controlled by the invigilator, the CD must not be stopped except in the case of a serious emergency. 

In the event of the CD being stopped in a serious emergency, it should be restarted at exactly the same place. 

A statement from the invigilator indicating at which point on the recording the interruption took place, the nature of the incident and the length of the interruption, should be included with the candidates’ scripts. 

If there is good reason to doubt whether certain items have been heard by all candidates, these items should be identified in the report and the reason for doubt given.