Q2 — Define active listening (3 marks)

Question: Explain what is meant by active listening in the context of responding to audience questions. (3 marks)

Mark scheme (3 marks — 1 per developed point):

• Listening is purposeful and attentive, not passive (1).
• Involves decoding both literal and implied meaning of the question (1).
• Demonstrated through non-verbal feedback (eye contact, nodding) and verbal acknowledgement before answering (1).
• Top-band candidates may reference Grice's maxims or paraphrase-checking — credit as third mark.