B1 listening: take useful notes
Brief notes can help you keep track of the main point and supporting facts in B1 listening. Capture only information that helps answer the task.
Read the question before listening
Decide whether you need a reason, a time, a change, a recommendation or a conclusion. Use a few keywords to keep the target in mind. Avoid copying complete sentences while the audio continues.
Listen for structure and signals
Notice who is speaking and what the situation is. Words such as eerst (first), daarna (after that), maar (but) and daarom (therefore) signal order, contrast or cause. If a speaker corrects a detail, note the final version.
Use compact notes
Write names, numbers and one or two content words. For example: afspraak / dinsdag / 15.00 / verplaatst. These notes preserve the useful facts while leaving attention for the next sentence. The B1 NT2 audio may include work, study or public-information situations.
Review the evidence after practice
When the recording ends, connect your notes to the question and choose the answer supported by the audio. Review why an alternative was wrong. Some official exam fragments play only once, so practise listening without pausing and replay only during the review stage.
Official information
Sources checked on 12 October 2026. Check the official page before booking or applying.