VSTEP Listening Part 3 Tips: Lectures and Long Talks
Quick answer: VSTEP Listening Part 3 has 3 long talks (lectures, talks or discussions) with 5 questions each, 15 in total — the hardest part and the one that separates B2 from C1. Listen for the structure of the talk (introduction – main points – conclusion), catch signpost words such as "firstly", "however" and "the main reason", and take short keyword notes.
Why Part 3 is hard
- Talks last 3–5 minutes on academic topics (science, psychology, history, business).
- Lots of subject vocabulary, often explained by the speaker straight after.
- Questions target the main idea, purpose and the speaker's view, not just details.
Listen for the lecture's structure
Most lectures follow topic introduction → 2–3 main points → examples → conclusion. The opening sentences usually give the topic — the answer to "What is the talk mainly about?". Signpost words tell you which point is coming:
| Function | Signposts |
|---|---|
| Listing | First of all, Secondly, Another factor, Finally |
| Contrast | However, On the other hand, In contrast, Surprisingly |
| Cause and effect | As a result, This leads to, That's why |
| Emphasis | The key point is, What's important here, Remember that |
| Definition | In other words, This refers to, which means |
Effective note-taking
- Write only keywords, numbers and relationship arrows (→, ≠, ↑, ↓).
- Split your scratch paper into blocks matching the five questions so you don't get lost.
- When the speaker stresses or repeats something, there is almost always a question on it.
Inference and attitude questions
Questions like "What can be inferred about…?" or "What is the speaker's attitude toward…?" have no word-for-word answer. Eliminate options that are too strong (always, never, completely) or mention things the talk never said, then choose the one that fits the speaker's overall tone.
Practice to level up
- Listen to one short (5-minute) academic lecture every day.
- After each test, read the transcript and mark the signpost leading to each answer.
- Keep topic-based lists of academic vocabulary and review them with spaced repetition.
- Do dictation on long sentences you missed to get used to natural speed.