Turn up
Listen once, then type what you hear.
0:00
Read the transcript
You completed the real listening sample. Open the lesson to continue.
B1 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 practise B1 English listening?
You can practise B1 English listening on MicroEnglish, which has more than 270 short, listening-first lessons. All lessons are at B1 level and include micro-listening, phrasal verb, grammar, advice, word focus and idiom lessons. They use British English, with one lesson using multiple accents. Each lesson teaches one idiom, phrasal verb, word or grammar point, then ends with dictation practice. The hub supports intermediate confidence through manageable sentences and supportive feedback.
- More than 270 lessons are available at B1 level.
- Most lessons use British English.
- Lessons focus on listening before dictation practice.
Try a short recording
The first dictation is free to try 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 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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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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Adjectives of Number: Forms and Examples
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Adverbs of reason: link cause and result
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Advice or advise: asking for help and suggesting a next step
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Advice that changed meaning
The speaker has remembered one sentence for years, but no longer understands it in the same way. What changed?
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And I or and me: how to choose
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Articles exercises with answers: Choose A An The
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Articles in English: How to Choose
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Awesome Meaning: Praise and Clear Feedback
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Back down
A manager changes a policy after staff challenge it. She does not move backwards, but people say she backed down.
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Back up
A colleague backs you up, research backs up a claim, and software backs up a file. What changes when the object changes?
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Beside, Besides, or Except: Choose the Right Word
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Blow away
A performance blows the audience away while a gust blows the programmes away. Emotion and wind create different meanings with the same form.
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?
The first guided dictation in each lesson is available as a free sample. Other activities may require membership. The lesson shows what is available before you start.
