Argument Listenings: Listening Tests
This blog provides a range of Academic Listening Tests based on TED Talks and includes a free download. The tests are designed to help students develop lecture and note-taking listening skills. The listenings range in length from 10 – 15 minutes long. The test question booklet includes a range of test types from TFNG, gap fills, table completion, mini-summaries, numbers etc.. All tests are interesting, highly-motivating and challenging.
More listening lessons: HBR, TED Talks general Listening, TED Talks 6 min listenings, BBC 6 minute Listenings, Lecture listenings (Stanford, Harvard, Oxford)
Free Download: A TED TALK Test Example
These tests can be used in a variety ways. The main idea is that students listen to the TED Talk Lecture two times and take notes. Then they are given the test question booklet and have 25 minutes to answer the questions from their notes. For lower levels they are given the test question booklet first and have 5 minutes to read the questions then listen two times and answer the questions.
Don’t insist on English – Patricia Ryan
TED TALK: The globalisation of English and its testing systems can have negative affects on students from various backgrounds. Level: ***** [B1/B2/] / Video [10:35]
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Pay per download
Technology Topic
10x TED Talk Test PDF Worksheets
AMAZING VALUE – buy these 10+ min listening worksheets in one PDF book. MEMBERSHIP
Technology Topic
Losing control of Artificial Intelligence (AI)? Sam Harris
TED Talk: An informative talk about the worries of A.I and how we fail to address the seriousness of what A.I could become. Level: ***** [C1] / Video [14:27] / MEMBERSHIP
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Business Topic
Two reasons companies fail – Knut Haanaes 
TED TALK: The reasons that prevent businesses from continuing to be successful, looking at two case studies and four important lessons to learn. Level: ***** [B2/C1] / Video [10:38] / MEMBERSHIP
Money Topic
How College loans exploit students – Sajay Samual
TED TALK: An investigation into the college loan system, three important truths about the process and the possibility of deceptive advertising. Level: ***** [B2/C1] / Video [11.48] / MEMBERSHIP
The World Topic
The global arms trade – Samantha Nut
TED TALK: Discussing the future fragility of society and the environment. The speaker offers possible solutions for a more focused future. Level: ***** [B2/C1] / Video [13:34] / MEMBERSHIP
Happiness Topic
What makes a good life? – Robert Waldinger
TED TALK: Lessons from the longest study on happiness by Harvard. It discusses the success of the study and what the findings were. Level: ***** [B2/C1] / Video [12:46] / MEMBERSHIP
MembershipManufacturing Topics
The next manufacturing revolution – Olivier Scalabre
TED TALK: The manufacturing sector has declined but two new innovative processes hold the key to revolutionise manufacturing again. Level: ***** [B2/C1] / Video [12:26] / MEMBERSHIP
Banking Topic
The Panama papers exposed – Robert Palmer
TED TALK: April 2016 the biggest data leak exposing how the rich and powerful hide money in off-shore bank accounts. What’s next? Level: ***** [B2/C1] / Video [08:01] / MEMBERSHIP
Business Topic
Why work doesn’t happen at work – Jason Fried
TED TALK: the problems with working in an office environment and highlights two main reasons and three possible improvement solutions. Level: ***** [B1/B2/C1] / Video [15:21] / MEMBERSHIP
English Topic
Texting is killing language – John McWhorter
TED TALK: How texting on smart phones is changing the way we view language and how it is a process of linguistic evolution. Level: ***** [B1/B2/C1] / Video [13:48] / MEMBERSHIP
Manufacturing Topic
What happens inside massive warehouses – Mick Mountz
TED Talk: The automation of warehouse picking and packing systems and how robots have increased productivity and efficiency. Level: ***** [B2/C1] / Video [12:06] / MEMBERSHIP
Fair Trade Topic
NEW Fair Trade: a just world starts with you – Benjamin Conard
TEDX Talk: The reality of farming in developing countries and how Fair Trade Certification helps farmers receive fair prices, alleviate poverty and improve local communities. Level: ***** [B2/C1] / Video [09:12] / MEMBERSHIP
Please note: Not in TED TESTS x10 PDF Book yet!
All Topics – PDF Book
10x TED Talk Test PDF Worksheets
AMAZING VALUE – buy these 10+ min listening worksheets in one PDF book. MEMBERSHIP
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