L24: "Choose TWO letters" questions

These questions give you five options, A to E, and ask you to choose two. They feel stressful because you have to track five ideas at once. But they follow a clear pattern, and once you see it, they get much easier.

Why this matters

A "choose TWO" question is usually worth two marks, one for each correct letter. So one question block can cost or win you two marks. In Part 3, there can be two of these blocks. That's four marks.

How these questions work

• There are five options. Two are correct.
• The order of your two letters doesn't matter. A and D is the same as D and A.
• The speakers usually mention most or all five options. Three get rejected, or are not quite what the question asks.
• On the computer test, you click two boxes. Make sure you've selected exactly two.

The tally method

Before the audio starts, write the letters A to E down the side of your rough paper.

As you listen, mark each letter:

• ✓ if the speaker accepts it or agrees
• ✗ if the speaker rejects it
• ? if you're not sure

At the end, you should have two ticks. If you have three ticks, look at the question again. Maybe one of them doesn't match the exact question.

Read the question very carefully

The question might ask:

• Which TWO things does the tutor recommend?
• Which TWO problems did the students have?
• Which TWO features of the course does Anna like?

Each one tells you exactly what to listen for. A problem is not a recommendation. Anna's opinion is not her friend's opinion.

A worked example

Which TWO activities will the students include in their presentation?

• A) a short video
• B) a quiz
• C) a role-play
• D) a group discussion
• E) a handout

Ravi: Should we show a short video at the start?

Emma: Good idea. People like that. What about a quiz?

Ravi: We'd need time to write the questions. I don't think we have it.

Emma: Fair enough. A role-play could be fun.

Ravi: I'd feel silly doing that. Let's skip it.

Emma: Okay. Then let's end with a group discussion. That always works.

Ravi: Agreed. And we can email the slides afterwards, so no need for a handout.

Tally: A ✓, B ✗, C ✗, D ✓, E ✗.

All five options were mentioned. Three were rejected. Only two were agreed.

Watch out for half-agreement

Sometimes a speaker says, "Maybe, but let's think about it." That's not a yes. Wait for a clear decision. If there's no clear decision, it's probably not one of the answers.

Try it yourself

Which TWO things does the speaker say are free?

• A) parking
• B) Wi-Fi
• C) breakfast
• D) gym
• E) airport bus

"Parking is £5 a day, and breakfast is extra. But Wi-Fi is included in the price, and so is the gym. The airport bus was free last year, but now it's £8."

Honest note

On some tests, one of the answers is easy and the other is very hard. If you're sure of one, don't let the hard one make you change it.

Your task today

Find two "choose TWO" questions in your practice books. Use the tally method on paper. Check if you ended with exactly two ticks.