Hey everyone, Grant here from Kōjō Communication Academy 👋
If you've ever taken the Versant Speaking & Listening Test, you'll know that Part C: Conversation Questions looks easy — but once you start, it's a real test of focus and comprehension.
In this section, you'll listen to short conversations between two people and then answer one question in a single clear sentence.
It's not about remembering every word — it's about catching the main idea and responding naturally.
Let's break down how to handle Part C step by step.
🧠 1. What Part C Really Tests
Each question includes a short conversation (2 speakers × 3–5 lines) followed by a Wh-question about it.
Part C measures:
- 🎧 Listening comprehension — Can you catch key ideas and details?
- 🧩 Inference skills — Can you understand what's implied, not just said?
- 💬 Summarization — Can you answer in one complete sentence?
- 🗣️ Pronunciation & fluency — Can you respond clearly and naturally?
Kōjō tip: Focus on the main point, not every word. Listen for key details — time, reason, decision, or emotion — and answer directly.
💬 2. Sample Conversations
Here are three Versant-style examples to show what you can expect:
🏠 Everyday Life
A: "Excuse me, have you seen a small, black wallet anywhere? I think I might have dropped it."
B: "I haven't, sorry. Did you check with the lost and found?"
A: "Not yet, that's a good idea. I'll go there now."
B: "I hope you find it!"
Question: What is the man going to do next?
✅ Answer: He's going to check lost and found.
💼 Workplace
A: "Hi, I'd like to schedule a meeting with Mr. Jones, please."
B: "Of course. When would be a good time for you?"
A: "Tuesday afternoon would work best."
B: "Okay, let me check… We have a slot open at 2:30 PM. Does that work?"
A: "Yes, 2:30 is perfect."
Question: What time is the meeting scheduled for?
✅ Answer: The meeting is scheduled for 2:30 PM.
🛍️ Transactions or Services
A: "Hi, I'd like to return this sweater, please."
B: "Do you have your receipt?"
A: "Yes, here it is. I bought it yesterday, but it's too small."
B: "No problem. Would you like a refund or an exchange?"
A: "An exchange, please. Do you have it in a larger size?"
Question: Why is the man returning the sweater?
✅ Answer: It's too small.
Kōjō tip: Most Part C conversations are about daily life, work, or customer service. Stay calm, identify the topic quickly, and focus on the purpose of the question.
🔎 3. Common Conversation Types & What to Listen For
| 💬 Situation | 🧭 Examples | 🎯 What to Listen For |
|---|---|---|
| 🏠 Everyday life / social talk | Lost items, travel, weather | Main topic & future actions |
| 💼 Workplace / business | Meetings, projects, emails | Purpose & decisions |
| 🛍️ Transactions / services | Shopping, refunds, restaurant orders | Reasons & outcomes |
| ⚙️ Troubleshooting / problems | Tech issues, missed deadlines | Cause & solution |
Essential skills:
- 🎧 Catch details — dates, times, prices, reasons
- 💡 Understand intent — request, offer, complaint, explanation
- 🔍 Infer meaning — read between the lines
- 🗣️ Answer accurately — one clear, complete sentence
🗝️ 4. Grammar and Vocabulary Focus
Most conversations use A2–B2 level English — simple but natural vocabulary, with some idioms like "That's a pity" or "mixed up."
Keep these points in mind:
- ✅ Use the same tense as the question.
- ✅ Keep word order natural (Subject + Verb + Object).
- ✅ Use connectors like because, so, since to give reasons.
- ✅ Answer in one full sentence — not a fragment.
Example:
Q: Why did the woman decline the offer?
✅ A: She declined because she had already bought bowls.
💪 5. Tips for Excelling
- ⭐Listen actively — Focus on the main idea, not every word.
- ⭐Predict the question — Guess what might be asked as you listen.
- ⭐Don't memorize — Grasp key information instead.
- ⭐Infer meaning — Think beyond what's said directly.
- ⭐Keep it short — One sentence is perfect.
- ⭐Speak naturally — Rhythm and tone matter.
Kōjō tip: If you miss a word, don't panic — just answer based on what you understood. A confident, partial answer scores higher than silence.
🧩 6. Self-Study Ideas
- 📱 Use Versant Pro Trainer — Practise Part C sets regularly.
- 🎧 Listen and summarize — Pause short conversations and say what happened in one sentence.
- 🗒️ Create your own Q&A — After listening, write a question and answer it yourself.
- 🗣️ Shadow native speakers — Copy their rhythm and tone.
- 🎙️ Record and review — Compare your answers with model responses and adjust fluency.
🌟 7. Final Thoughts
Part C shows how well you can listen for meaning and respond with clarity.
It's not just about words — it's about understanding and reacting like a fluent communicator.
Remember:
- ✅ Listen carefully
- ✅ Think quickly
- ✅ Answer clearly
Keep training with Versant Pro Trainer, and soon you'll find Part C feeling smooth and natural.
Stay curious, stay sharp, and let your English confidence shine 💬🌱
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Start Free TrialGrant Prentice
Founder, Kōjō Communication Academy
Grant is a native English speaker from the UK with over 20 years of experience in business English training and Versant test preparation. He has helped thousands of professionals improve their communication skills and achieve their career goals.
📖 日本語版
Japanese Translation
こんにちは！Kōjō Communication AcademyのGrantです👋
Versant Speaking & Listening Testを受けたことがある方なら、Part C（会話問題）が一見シンプルそうに見えて、実際は集中力と理解力が試されるセクションだと感じたはずです。
このパートでは、2人の短い会話を聞いて、そのあとに出される質問に英語で1文で答えるというもの。
すべての単語を覚える必要はありません。大切なのは、会話のメインポイントをつかみ、自然に答えることです。
それでは、Part Cをステップごとに見ていきましょう！
🧠 1. Part Cで求められている力
1つの問題には、2人の短い会話（3～5往復）があり、その後にWh-質問（Why, When, Whereなど）が出ます。
Part Cでは次のスキルが測られます：
- 🎧 リスニング理解力 — 重要な情報を聞き取れるか？
- 🧩 推測力（Inference） — 直接言われていない意味を理解できるか？
- 💬 要約力 — 1文で簡潔に答えられるか？
- 🗣️ 発音と流暢さ — 自然で聞き取りやすい英語で話せるか？
Kōjō tip：すべての単語を追うのではなく、時間・理由・行動・感情などのキーワードを意識して聞きましょう。
💬 2. 会話例（Sample Conversations）
Part Cでは、こんな感じの会話が出ます。
🏠 Everyday Life（日常会話）
A: "Excuse me, have you seen a small, black wallet anywhere? I think I might have dropped it."
B: "I haven't, sorry. Did you check with the lost and found?"
A: "Not yet, that's a good idea. I'll go there now."
B: "I hope you find it!"
Question: What is the man going to do next?
✅ Answer: He's going to check lost and found.
（男性は「遺失物取扱所」に確認しに行く予定です。）
💼 Workplace（職場の会話）
A: "Hi, I'd like to schedule a meeting with Mr. Jones, please."
B: "Of course. When would be a good time for you?"
A: "Tuesday afternoon would work best."
B: "Okay, let me check... We have a slot open at 2:30 PM. Does that work?"
A: "Yes, 2:30 is perfect."
Question: What time is the meeting scheduled for?
✅ Answer: The meeting is scheduled for 2:30 PM.
（ミーティングは午後2時半に予定されています。）
🛍️ Transactions / Services（買い物・サービス）
A: "Hi, I'd like to return this sweater, please."
B: "Do you have your receipt?"
A: "Yes, here it is. I bought it yesterday, but it's too small."
B: "No problem. Would you like a refund or an exchange?"
A: "An exchange, please. Do you have it in a larger size?"
Question: Why is the man returning the sweater?
✅ Answer: It's too small.
（セーターが小さすぎるからです。）
Kōjō tip：Part Cでは、日常生活・職場・買い物やサービスの会話が多く出ます。テーマをすぐに見極めて、「質問の目的」をつかむことがポイントです。
🔎 3. よく出る会話タイプと聞き取りポイント
| 💬 シチュエーション | 🧭 例 | 🎯 聞き取るポイント |
|---|---|---|
| 🏠 Everyday Life / Social Talk | 忘れ物、旅行、天気など | 会話の主題・今後の行動 |
| 💼 Workplace / Business | ミーティング、プロジェクト、メール | 会話の目的・決定事項 |
| 🛍️ Transactions / Services | ショッピング、返品、注文 | 理由と結果 |
| ⚙️ Troubleshooting / Problems | トラブル、締め切りの遅れなど | 原因と解決策 |
Essential Skills（重要スキル）
- 🎧 具体的な情報をキャッチ（日時・金額・理由など）
- 💡 話し手の意図を理解（依頼・申し出・不満・説明など）
- 🔍 行間を読む（暗示された意味を推測）
- 🗣️ 1文で正確に答える（短く明確に）
🗝️ 4. 文法と語彙のポイント
会話の英語レベルはおおよそA2～B2。
"That's a pity" や "mixed up" のような自然なイディオムも出てきます。
覚えておくべきポイント：
- ✅ 質問と同じ時制を使う。
- ✅ 語順は「主語 ＋ 動詞 ＋ 目的語」。
- ✅ 「because、so、since」などで理由をつなげる。
- ✅ 答えは必ず1つの完全文で。
Example:
Q: Why did the woman decline the offer?
✅ A: She declined because she had already bought bowls.
（彼女はすでにボウルを買っていたので断りました。）
💪 5. 高得点を取るためのヒント
- ⭐メインを聞く！ — すべてではなく重要なポイントを意識。
- ⭐質問を予測！ — 聞きながら「何を聞かれそうか」を考える。
- ⭐暗記しない！ — 全文を覚える必要はなし。要点を理解。
- ⭐推測する！ — 直接言われていない内容も読み取る。
- ⭐短く答える！ — 1文でOK。
- ⭐自然に話す！ — リズムとイントネーションを意識。
Kōjō tip：単語を聞き逃しても慢てないでください。理解した範囲で自信を持って答えるほうが、黙ってしまうよりずっと高得点につながります。
🧩 6. 自習アイデア
- 📱 Versant Pro Trainerを活用 — Part Cセットを定期的に練習。
- 🎧 短い会話を聞いて要約 — ポッドキャストや動画を一度止めて、1文でまとめる。
- 🗒️ 自分で質問を作る — 会話を聞いた後、質問を考えて自分で答える。
- 🗣️ シャドーイング — ネイティブのリズムと発音をまねる。
- 🎙️ 録音して確認 — モデル回答と比べて、自分の自然さや明瞭さをチェック。
🌟 7. まとめ
Part Cは、「英語を聞いて意味を理解し、すぐに自然に答える力」を試すセクションです。
単語を並べるだけではなく、「相手の意図を理解して答える」練習がポイントです。
覚えておきましょう：
- ✅ しっかり聞く
- ✅ 素早く考える
- ✅ 明確に答える
Versant Pro Trainerで継続的に練習すれば、Part Cはすぐに自然でスムーズに感じられるようになります。
自信を持って、あなたの“英語リスニング力”を輝かせましょう💬🌱
Grant Prentice
Kōjō Communication Academy 創設者
イギリス出身のネイティブスピーカー。ビジネス英語研修と Versant 対策で20年以上の経験を持ち、何千人もの専門家がコミュニケーションスキルを向上させ、キャリア目標を達成するのを支援してきました。
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