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100+ Free PEIC Level 5 (C2) Practice Questions

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Listening (Section 1): A man says: "To play devil's advocate, what if the demand never materialises?" Why is the man raising this point?

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Key Facts: PEIC Level 5 (C2) Exam

PEIC Level 5 is Pearson's C2 (Proficient) English certificate, awarded by Edexcel; its written paper scores 75 and the spoken test 25, with Listening Section 1 and Reading Sections 4 and 5 using multiple-choice questions on idiom, attitude, implied meaning and main ideas.

Sample PEIC Level 5 (C2) Practice Questions

Try these sample questions to test your PEIC Level 5 (C2) exam readiness. Each question includes a detailed explanation. Start the interactive quiz above for the full 100+ question experience with AI tutoring.

1Listening (Section 1): You hear a woman say: "Right, if everyone could just take their seats, we'll get the minutes from last time approved before we move on to the budget." Where is this speaker most likely to be?
A.Chairing a formal meeting
B.Leading a guided museum tour
C.Announcing departures at an airport
D.Teaching a cookery class
Explanation: Phrases such as "approve the minutes" and "move on to the budget" are fixed expressions tied to running a formal meeting. Recognising this register and procedural vocabulary is exactly what the Level 5 listening section tests. The other settings would not use the language of minutes and budget items.
2Listening (Section 1): A man says to a colleague: "Honestly, I'm in two minds about the whole relocation idea." What does the speaker mean?
A.He strongly opposes the relocation
B.He has already relocated twice
C.He is undecided about the relocation
D.He thinks the relocation is two months away
Explanation: The idiom "in two minds" means unable to decide between two options, signalling hesitation rather than a firm position. C2 listening frequently checks comprehension of idiomatic expressions of attitude. The phrase has nothing to do with counting or timing.
3Listening (Section 1): A speaker says: "I must say, the service was second to none." What is the speaker's attitude towards the service?
A.Mildly disappointed
B.Highly impressed
C.Completely indifferent
D.Slightly suspicious
Explanation: "Second to none" means the best possible, so the speaker is expressing strong approval. Identifying attitude conveyed through idiom is a core C2 listening skill. The expression is unambiguously positive.
4Listening (Section 1): Two people are talking. One says: "Could you pop in for an X-ray before you see the consultant?" What is the relationship between the speakers?
A.Two surgeons during an operation
B.A pharmacist and a delivery driver
C.A dentist and a sales representative
D.A receptionist and a patient in a hospital
Explanation: References to an X-ray and seeing a consultant point to a hospital outpatient context, and the polite request to "pop in" fits front-desk to patient interaction. Inferring speaker roles from situational vocabulary is a key Level 5 listening skill. The other pairings do not match this exchange.
5Listening (Section 1): A speaker says: "We're going to have to go back to the drawing board with this proposal." What does the speaker intend to do?
A.Submit the proposal without any changes
B.Start planning the proposal again from scratch
C.Draw a diagram to illustrate the proposal
D.Postpone the proposal until next year
Explanation: "Go back to the drawing board" means to abandon a failed plan and begin afresh. Recognising this idiom of intention is typical of C2 listening items. It implies starting over rather than continuing or merely delaying.
6Listening (Section 1): You hear an announcement: "Passengers for the 14:20 to Edinburgh are advised that the service is now boarding at platform six." What is the main purpose of the announcement?
A.To apologise for a cancelled service
B.To advertise discounted ticket prices
C.To explain a change to the catering menu
D.To tell travellers where and when to board a train
Explanation: The announcement gives a destination, time and platform, which is information for boarding a train. Identifying the function of a short spoken text is exactly what Section 1 assesses. There is no apology, advertisement or menu mentioned.
7Listening (Section 1): A speaker says: "I'll be honest, the figures are a bit of a mixed bag this quarter." What does the speaker mean about the figures?
A.They contain both good and poor results
B.They are all extremely positive
C.They are completely unreliable
D.They have not yet been calculated
Explanation: A "mixed bag" describes something containing a variety of good and bad elements. Interpreting this idiom of evaluation is a standard C2 listening task. It indicates a blend of outcomes rather than uniformly good, useless, or missing data.
8Listening (Section 1): A woman tells a friend: "I only entered the competition for a laugh, but I ended up winning the lot." What is implied about her win?
A.She had practised hard to win the prize
B.She found the competition extremely stressful
C.She did not expect to win when she entered
D.She regrets having taken part at all
Explanation: Entering "for a laugh" means she took part casually for fun, so "ended up winning" implies a surprising, unplanned result. C2 listening rewards inference of implied meaning from such contrasts. The phrasing signals surprise, not effort, stress, or regret.
9Listening (Section 1): A man says: "Whatever you do, don't take what she said with a pinch of salt — she really meant it." What is the man advising?
A.To add seasoning before tasting the food
B.To ignore most of what the woman said
C.To repeat the woman's words to others
D.To treat the woman's words as completely serious
Explanation: To "take something with a pinch of salt" means to treat it sceptically, so "don't" reverses this and urges full belief. C2 items often test idioms within a negated context. The follow-up "she really meant it" confirms the words should be taken seriously.
10Listening (Section 1): A speaker says: "To cut a long story short, we missed the connection and had to stay overnight." What is the speaker doing with this phrase?
A.Apologising for a mistake
B.Summarising events briefly
C.Promising to explain later
D.Complaining about the price
Explanation: "To cut a long story short" is a discourse marker that signals the speaker is about to give a brief summary. Recognising such signposting language is a C2 listening focus. It introduces a condensed account rather than an apology, promise, or complaint.

About the PEIC Level 5 (C2) Exam

The Pearson English International Certificate (PEIC), formerly PTE General, is a globally recognised general English qualification awarded by Edexcel and accredited by Ofqual. Level 5 is the highest level, certifying mastery of English at CEFR C2 (Proficient). The certificate assesses listening, reading, writing and speaking and never expires. In the paper-based test there are nine written sections (scored out of 75) plus a separate spoken test (scored out of 25). This practice bank focuses on the multiple-choice Listening (Section 1) and Reading (Sections 4 and 5) components, which require candidates to understand idiomatic and colloquial speech, speaker attitude and implied meaning, and the main ideas, opinions and inferences of extended authentic texts. The test is taken at registered centres across more than 30 territories, with sessions held throughout the year, and a computer-based, optionally home-proctored version is also available.

Questions

100 scored questions

Time Limit

Written test 2 hours 30 minutes at Level 5; the full assessment including the spoken test is about 2 hours 55 minutes (computer-based version around 1 hour 45 minutes).

Passing Score

Written paper scored out of 75, spoken test out of 25 (100 total). Level 5 certifies CEFR C2, reported as Pass, Pass with Merit or Pass with Distinction; the GSE band for C2 is 85 to 90.

Exam Fee

Set by each registered test centre and varying by country; Level 5 is typically around GBP 100, with higher levels costing more than lower ones. (Pearson (awarded by Edexcel, accredited by Ofqual))

PEIC Level 5 (C2) Exam Content Outline

40%

Listening Section 1: multiple choice

Three-option multiple-choice items on short monologues and dialogues, testing speaker role and relationship, topic and situation, function, attitude, feelings, implied meaning and idiomatic language.

30%

Reading Section 4: multiple choice

Multiple-choice comprehension of short texts such as notices, emails, signs and advertisements, testing precise specific information and the meaning of connectors and qualifying phrases.

30%

Reading Section 5: multiple choice

Multiple-choice questions on a longer authentic text, testing main ideas, the writer's opinion and attitude, implied meaning and inference at C2 level.

How to Pass the PEIC Level 5 (C2) Exam

What You Need to Know

  • Passing score: Written paper scored out of 75, spoken test out of 25 (100 total). Level 5 certifies CEFR C2, reported as Pass, Pass with Merit or Pass with Distinction; the GSE band for C2 is 85 to 90.
  • Exam length: 100 questions
  • Time limit: Written test 2 hours 30 minutes at Level 5; the full assessment including the spoken test is about 2 hours 55 minutes (computer-based version around 1 hour 45 minutes).
  • Exam fee: Set by each registered test centre and varying by country; Level 5 is typically around GBP 100, with higher levels costing more than lower ones.

Keys to Passing

  • Complete 500+ practice questions
  • Score 80%+ consistently before scheduling
  • Focus on highest-weighted sections
  • Use our AI tutor for tough concepts

PEIC Level 5 (C2) Study Tips from Top Performers

1Build a wide repertoire of idioms, phrasal verbs and colloquial expressions, since Section 1 listening turns on understanding figurative and informal language.
2Practise inferring speaker attitude, role and relationship from short dialogues rather than just literal content.
3For Reading Section 4, read notices, emails, signs and instructions closely for precise detail and qualifying words such as 'however' and 'unless'.
4For Reading Section 5, practise identifying the writer's main point, opinion and implied meaning in articles, reviews and essays.
5Expose yourself daily to authentic English: podcasts, interviews, broadsheet articles and reviews build the C2 comprehension the test demands.
6Use the official Pearson PEIC Level 5 practice papers to get used to the three-option format and the pace of the written sections.

Frequently Asked Questions

What is the Pearson English International Certificate Level 5?

It is the highest level of the Pearson English International Certificate (formerly PTE General), certifying English at CEFR C2 (Proficient). It is awarded by Edexcel, accredited by Ofqual, and assesses listening, reading, writing and speaking.

How is the PEIC Level 5 test scored?

The written paper is scored out of 75 and the spoken test out of 25, for a total of 100. Level 5 certifies CEFR C2, with the GSE band 85 to 90, and results are reported as Pass, Pass with Merit or Pass with Distinction.

What do the Listening and Reading multiple-choice sections test at C2?

Section 1 (Listening) uses three-option multiple choice to test understanding of speaker role, attitude, implied meaning and idiomatic language. Reading Sections 4 and 5 test detailed comprehension of short texts and the main ideas, opinions and inferences of an extended text.

How long is the PEIC Level 5 written test?

The written test at Level 5 lasts 2 hours and 30 minutes. With the separate spoken test the full assessment is about 2 hours and 55 minutes; the computer-based version takes around 1 hour and 45 minutes.

Does the PEIC certificate expire?

No. The Pearson English International Certificate never expires, so candidates do not need to re-sit the test periodically to prove their level of English.

How much does the PEIC Level 5 test cost?

Fees are set by each registered test centre and vary by country. Higher levels cost more than lower ones, and Level 5 is commonly around GBP 100, depending on the centre.