Turn up
Listen once, then type what you hear.
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Read the transcript
You've finished the listening sample. Open the lesson to continue.
Continue this lessonB1 English listening exercises
Follow a short everyday situation, then listen again for the words you missed. Start with a recording below or choose a B1 lesson from the library.
Where can I find intermediate English listening exercises?
You can practise intermediate English listening on MicroEnglish, which has more than 400 short, listening-first lessons. The lessons focus on idioms, phrasal verbs, words and grammar points, and include manageable sentences with supportive feedback. Each lesson ends with dictation practice, so you listen and write the words you hear. The collection is at an intermediate level and is mostly in British English, with a lesson using multiple accents.
- Short lessons focus on listening and manageable sentences.
- Topics include idioms, phrasal verbs, words and grammar.
- Each lesson ends with dictation practice.
Try a short recording
Try a free dictation without an account. Choose an available accent, listen and type the words you hear.
Choose a starting lesson
Start with arrival and meeting phrases. Open Turn up for different meanings, Bump into for an unexpected meeting, or Head back for returning somewhere. These are starting suggestions, not a placement test.
Turn upA late guest can turn up at your door, lost keys can turn up under a sofa, and you can turn up the heating. Context separates arrival, discovery and a higher level.Bump intoIf you bump into an old friend, you meet unexpectedly. If you bump into a table, the surprise may hurt a little more.Head backYou have enjoyed the walk, but it is getting dark. Saying we should head back signals that it is time to start returning, not that you are already home.
What to focus on at B1
Listen for who is speaking, what happened and the main action. On the next replay, check small words around the verb. In turn up and bump into, the whole phrase carries the meaning.
After you check your answer
After checking your answer, explain the sentence in your own words. If most of it is unfamiliar, read the meaning first and return to the recording. If you understood it, replay once at normal speed before moving on.
28 Phrasal Verbs With Take
Take off, take over and take up share one short verb but describe very different actions. Grouping them by idea makes the expressions easier to retrieve than learning a random list.
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A Goose at the Office Door
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A good trajectory
A manager says your work is moving in the right direction, then identifies one weakness. Is the overall message positive or negative?
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A or An: Choosing the Right Article
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A or an before vowels: sound over spelling
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A wardrobe clear-out
Not everything unwanted can go to a charity shop. Which clothes are donated, repaired or sent for textile recycling?
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A year-long cruise
A traveller likes the idea of living at sea for a year, but the headline price does not cover everything. Which practical questions remain unanswered?
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About vs Around: Choosing the Right Word
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Accept or except: choose the right word
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Action Verbs: Choose What Happens
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Active and passive voice: choose clear sentences
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Adapt or adopt: choose the right verb
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Add up
A colleague says the receipts add up, but the explanation does not. The same two words describe two very different judgements.
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Adjective Order: Build Clear Natural Descriptions
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Adjective Order: Rules and Examples
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Adjective clauses: identify the noun
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Adjective clauses: rules and daily examples
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Adjectives of Number: Forms and Examples
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Adjectives of Quantity: How to Choose
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Adverb Placement: Where Adverbs Go
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Adverb exercises: rules and clear practice
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Adverbs of Frequency: Word Order and Rules
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Adverbs of reason: link cause and result
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Adverbs of time: choose natural sentence positions
Start listeningBefore you begin
Is this a CEFR level test?
No. These lessons are grouped by their catalogue level. Use the examples and recordings to judge what you need to practice; completing a lesson does not certify your level.
Can I slow down the recording?
Yes. Use the slower playback control when you need another listen, then return to normal speed when you can follow the sentence.
Is every activity free?
Each lesson has free sample dictations. Other activities may require membership or an active trial. The lesson shows what is available before you start.
