CELPIP Listening Part 5: Discussion Strategy

CELPIP Listening Part 5 is Listening to a Discussion. The current official format contains 8 questions, and the March 2026 CELPIP Listening Pro study pack suggests approximately 9 minutes.

Part 5 is especially important because it uses a video discussion, not a standard audio-only information recording. The official study material describes a casual conversation among three people, generally one man and two women. You watch and hear the clip once. After it ends, all eight questions are displayed together.

Quick strategy: create three speaker columns and track position + reason + reaction. Also watch facial expressions and body language because the video can provide useful context for attitude and agreement.

This corrects older MyCELPIP content that incorrectly labelled Part 5 as “Listening for Information.” Listening for Information is Part 3. Part 5 is Listening to a Discussion.

Verify the current format on the official CELPIP-General page and in the 2026 CELPIP Listening Pro Study Pack.

CELPIP Listening Part 5 format

• Part: Listening to a Discussion
• Questions: 8
• Approximate practice timing: 9 minutes
• Medium: video + audio
• Speakers: generally three
• Style: casual discussion
• Clip length: about 2 minutes in official study material
• Playback: once
• Questions: all eight shown together after the video

Why Part 5 is different

You are processing three information channels:

1. what each speaker says;
2. how speakers respond to one another;
3. visible cues such as expression and body language.

Questions can test:

• who holds a certain view;
• why someone agrees/disagrees;
• what detail a speaker mentions;
• attitude or reaction;
• inference;
• relationships between viewpoints.

Three-speaker note map

Draw three short columns:

A | B | C

Under each, write only:

• position;
• reason;
• change/reaction.

Example:

A: remote 3d / commute
B: office / teamwork
C: hybrid / clients
A→C: agrees Fri office
B: concern desk space

This protects speaker identity.

Use the video, but do not stare at it

Useful visual cues may include:

• nodding;
• hesitation;
• surprise;
• disagreement;
• amusement;
• who a speaker addresses;
• gestures toward objects or people.

However, spoken content remains central. Do not miss an important sentence because you are trying to interpret every facial expression.

Original mini-discussion

Three coworkers discuss whether their team should move its weekly planning meeting from Monday morning to Friday afternoon.

• Nora supports Friday because Monday mornings are already busy with client emails.
• Evan prefers Monday because he wants clear priorities at the start of the week.
• Leila suggests keeping a short Monday check-in and moving the longer planning discussion to Friday. Nora immediately agrees. Evan hesitates but says he could accept the compromise if the Monday check-in stays under 15 minutes.

Question: Who proposes a compromise?

A. Nora
B. Evan
C. Leila
D. Nora and Evan

Best answer: C.

Question: Under what condition does Evan accept the compromise?

A. The Friday meeting is cancelled.
B. Monday's check-in remains brief.
C. Clients stop emailing on Monday.
D. Nora leads both meetings.

Best answer: B.

Question: Which two speakers end up most closely aligned?

Best answer: Nora and Leila.

Nora immediately accepts Leila's hybrid suggestion.

Common Part 5 mistakes

1. Calling Part 5 “Listening for Information”

That is Part 3. Part 5 is Listening to a Discussion.

2. Previewing questions before the video

The questions appear after the video. Take notes that preserve the discussion structure.

3. Mixing speakers

Three-speaker tracking is the central challenge. Use labels.

4. Ignoring attitude changes

A speaker may begin opposed and later accept a compromise.

5. Ignoring visual cues entirely

The official guide specifically notes that visual information, facial expressions, and body language can help.

6. Letting video distract from content

Visual cues support meaning; they do not replace listening.

Practice routine

Use three-person discussion clips. After one watch, reconstruct:

Speaker	Position	Main reason	Final reaction
A
B
C

Then answer questions about agreement, disagreement, detail, attitude, and inference.

Practice CELPIP Listening Part 5

Use CELPIP Listening Practice for discussion tasks. Compare Parts 5 and 6 in the Listening Parts 5 & 6 strategy guide, review the full 2026 CELPIP Listening Guide, then take a full CELPIP mock test.

Frequently asked questions

How many questions are in Part 5?

The current official format has 8 questions.

Is Part 5 audio or video?

The official 2026 Listening Pro material describes Part 5 as a video discussion.

How many speakers are there?

The official study material generally uses three speakers—one man and two women.

Do I see the questions before the video?

No. The full question set appears after the recording.