What 4ES1/02 assesses
A recorded listening exam of four parts taken by all candidates. Each recording is heard twice. It is the second of the two papers that count towards the grade.
The 4ES1 specification gives 50 minutes and 40 marks. The 4XES2 Listening unit is 45 minutes and 50 marks.
- Time: 50 minutes
- Marks: 40
- Weight: 33.33% (one-third) of Pearson Edexcel 4ES1 (Specification, Issue 2 (December 2016); first assessment June 2019)
- How it is assessed: External
- Who takes it: All candidates
4ES1/02 is worth 33.33% (one-third) of the 4ES1 grade and carries 40 marks. Each mark moves the qualification by about 0.83%. The qualification is graded 9–1.
What the examiners reward in 4ES1/02
Listening
- Understand spoken English and identify main points, detail and meaning from recorded material
This is one of the objectives. The 4ES1 overview lists the full set.
Listening marks reward understanding of spoken English at two levels. The first is the explicit information a speaker gives (names, places, times, reasons, numbers). The second is the implied meaning carried by tone, emphasis and how something is said.
Strong answers catch the specific point the question targets, not a neighbouring detail. They are written clearly and spelled correctly, because a heard answer still has to be recorded well to score. Good work shows a student who used the reading time to predict what to listen for.
They noted efficiently without over-writing, and stayed calm through a missed point rather than freezing. We teach the prediction, note-taking and recovery habits that turn attention into marks. We also build the listening stamina that longer recordings demand.
For more detail, see 4ES1 listening in the syllabus.
The trial lesson can work on Pearson Edexcel 4ES1 Paper 2 directly, with timings, mark scheme and your child's own answers.
Question types we practise for 4ES1/02
- ESL listening: note completion: Catching specific detail from spoken English. Skills guide · annotated model response · practice
Where marks are lost on 4ES1/02
Answering ESL listening questions: Not reading the questions before the recording. The student listens with no target and catches the wrong thing, often the option being rejected. Read the full guide.
Preparing for 4ES1/02 with us
A teacher practises 4ES1/02 listening tasks with your child under timed conditions, then goes through the notes and answers. See English as a Second Language tuition for how a session runs.
4ES1/02 is one component of Pearson Edexcel 4ES1, graded on the 9–1 scale. Check the current arrangement for your exam year with your school or the board.