Almudena Blázquez Castillo

Getting ready for the Spanish University Entrance Examinations (PAU), and more specifically for the English listening comprehension test is not simply about listening more. It is also about learning how to listen. Exam Trainer / Core Area Competencies / Listening Skills is a practical resource aimed at second-year Baccalaureate students in Catalonia who want to approach B2-level listening comprehension exercises with more confidence. Before each audio recording, students learn to anticipate what they are going to hear: they analyse the title and context, activate topic-related vocabulary, complete mind maps, work on spelling, identify key words, and organise new vocabulary. Then, while listening, they put these strategies into practice through specific comprehension and vocabulary activities. The book is organised into eleven topic-based units — education, travel, technology, community, celebrations, curiosities, professions, music, food, film and television, and the environment — and uses official PAU materials, with QR codes providing access to both the audio recordings and the complete exams. In addition, each topic-based unit includes speaking activities that encourage students to practise English actively and discuss issues related to the listening recordings. More than just a collection of exercises, this book offers a clear approach to listening: prepare, anticipate, identify the key information, and listen with a purpose. A resource designed to turn practice, little by little, into confidence on exam day.