ALCPT Listening: 55 Important Phrases for Test Practice

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ALCPT Listening

55 Common ALCPT Listening Phrases

Learn short phrases for military work, travel, phone calls, health, and daily life. Each phrase has a simple meaning and three short example sentences.

ALCPT listening questions often use short and common phrases. The words may look easy, but the full phrase can have a different meaning.

For example, fall means “go down.” However, fall in means “stand in a line.” Also, out of order means “not working.”

It is best to learn these words as one group. Read the phrase, learn the meaning, and say the example sentences aloud.

In this article: 55 phrases and 165 short example sentences.

Military and Duty Phrases

These phrases are common in military, base, and work situations. Learn the full phrase, not only one word.

01

report to someone

go to a person and speak to them

Example Sentences

  • Please report to your supervisor at 8:00.
  • All new workers must report to the office.
  • He reported to the captain this morning.
02

take a break

stop work for a short time

Example Sentences

  • Let’s take a break now.
  • The workers took a short break.
  • You can take a break after this task.
03

at attention

standing straight in a military way

Example Sentences

  • The soldiers stood at attention.
  • Please remain at attention.
  • He was at attention when the officer arrived.
04

fall in

stand together in a line or group

Example Sentences

  • The sergeant told the soldiers to fall in.
  • Fall in at 7:00 tomorrow morning.
  • The group fell in near the gate.
05

fall out

leave the line or group

Example Sentences

  • The officer told the group to fall out.
  • You may fall out now.
  • The soldiers fell out after training.
06

be assigned to

be sent to a job, team, or place

Example Sentences

  • She is assigned to the medical team.
  • I was assigned to this base last year.
  • They will be assigned to a new unit.
07

be promoted

move to a higher job or rank

Example Sentences

  • He was promoted last month.
  • She may be promoted next year.
  • Two soldiers were promoted today.
08

be stationed at

work or serve at a place

Example Sentences

  • He is stationed at this base.
  • They were stationed in Germany.
  • She will be stationed at a new location.
09

take place

happen

Example Sentences

  • The meeting will take place on Friday.
  • Training takes place in the morning.
  • The event will take place at the base gym.
10

took place

happened in the past

Example Sentences

  • The ceremony took place yesterday.
  • The accident took place near the gate.
  • The meeting took place in Room 12.
11

on duty

working now

Example Sentences

  • The nurse is on duty tonight.
  • Who is on duty at the front desk?
  • He was on duty all weekend.
12

off duty

not working now

Example Sentences

  • The officer is off duty today.
  • I am off duty after 6:00.
  • They were off duty on Sunday.
13

follow-on training

the next training after the first course

Example Sentences

  • We have follow-on training next week.
  • She will start follow-on training in July.
  • The follow-on training lasts three days.

Forms, Travel, and Transportation Phrases

These phrases are useful at hotels, banks, offices, stations, and airports.

14

fill out a form

write information on a form

Example Sentences

  • Please fill out this form.
  • I need to fill out a medical form.
  • She filled out the form at the front desk.
15

check in

arrive and register at a hotel or airport

Example Sentences

  • We need to check in at the hotel.
  • Please check in two hours before the flight.
  • He checked in at the front desk.
16

check out

leave a hotel, or look at something

Example Sentences

  • We must check out by 11:00.
  • She checked out of the hotel early.
  • Check out this new training room.
17

cash a check

get money for a check

Example Sentences

  • I need to cash a check.
  • You can cash the check at the bank.
  • He cashed his check yesterday.
18

make a reservation

book a room, seat, or table

Example Sentences

  • I want to make a reservation.
  • She made a reservation for two people.
  • Please make a hotel reservation today.
19

take a trip

travel to another place

Example Sentences

  • We will take a trip next month.
  • They took a trip to Tokyo.
  • He wants to take a short trip.
20

take a vehicle

use a car, bus, truck, or other vehicle

Example Sentences

  • You can take a vehicle to the base.
  • We took a vehicle to the training area.
  • They will take a military vehicle.
21

pick up

get a person or thing

Example Sentences

  • I will pick you up at 6:00.
  • Please pick up the package at the office.
  • She picked up her friend at the station.
22

get on

enter a bus, train, plane, or ship

Example Sentences

  • Get on the bus here.
  • We got on the train at Central Station.
  • The passengers are getting on the plane.
23

get off

leave a bus, train, plane, or ship

Example Sentences

  • Get off at the next stop.
  • They got off the bus near the gate.
  • Please get off the train carefully.
24

run out of

have no more of something

Example Sentences

  • We ran out of paper.
  • The car may run out of gas.
  • They have run out of clean water.
25

out of order

not working

Example Sentences

  • The elevator is out of order.
  • This machine is out of order.
  • The copy machine was out of order yesterday.
26

in working order

working correctly

Example Sentences

  • The radio is in working order.
  • Please keep the equipment in working order.
  • All vehicles are in working order.

Social and Communication Phrases

These phrases help you understand greetings, plans, requests, and phone calls.

27

How’s it going?

How are you?

Example Sentences

  • Hi, Ben. How’s it going?
  • How’s it going at your new job?
  • How’s it going today?
28

Glad to meet you.

I am happy to meet you.

Example Sentences

  • Glad to meet you, Captain Lee.
  • I’m John. Glad to meet you.
  • Glad to meet you at last.
29

Nice to meet you.

a polite greeting for a new person

Example Sentences

  • Hello, I’m Amy. Nice to meet you.
  • Nice to meet you, Mr. Brown.
  • It was nice to meet you today.
30

How about Saturday?

Is Saturday good for you?

Example Sentences

  • How about Saturday morning?
  • Friday is busy. How about Saturday?
  • How about Saturday at 2:00?
31

Let’s get together.

Let’s meet and spend time together.

Example Sentences

  • Let’s get together this weekend.
  • We should get together after work.
  • Let’s get together for lunch.
32

Do you mind if…?

Is it okay if I do this?

Example Sentences

  • Do you mind if I sit here?
  • Do you mind if I open the window?
  • Do you mind if I use your phone?
33

do someone a favor

help someone

Example Sentences

  • Can you do me a favor?
  • She did her friend a favor.
  • Please do us a favor and close the door.
34

I’d like you to meet…

I want to introduce this person.

Example Sentences

  • I’d like you to meet my supervisor.
  • I’d like you to meet Captain Jones.
  • I’d like you to meet our new team member.
35

leave a message

give a message for a person who is not there

Example Sentences

  • Can I leave a message?
  • She left a message for the manager.
  • Please leave a message after the tone.
36

take a message

write or remember a message for another person

Example Sentences

  • Can I take a message?
  • He took a message for his supervisor.
  • Please take a message for Ms. Hill.
37

help yourself

take what you want

Example Sentences

  • Please help yourself to some coffee.
  • Help yourself to the food on the table.
  • There are clean towels. Help yourself.
38

take someone for granted

not show thanks because you think the person will always help

Example Sentences

  • Do not take your family for granted.
  • He took his team for granted.
  • We should not take good workers for granted.

Hospital and Health Phrases

These phrases are common when people talk about pain, medicine, fever, and recovery.

39

What’s the matter?

What is the problem?

Example Sentences

  • You look sick. What’s the matter?
  • What’s the matter with your leg?
  • The doctor asked, “What’s the matter?”
40

What’s wrong?

What is the problem?

Example Sentences

  • What’s wrong with the computer?
  • You look worried. What’s wrong?
  • The nurse asked me what was wrong.
41

take medicine

use medicine

Example Sentences

  • Take this medicine after dinner.
  • He takes medicine every morning.
  • Did you take your medicine today?
42

get a prescription filled

go to a pharmacy and get the medicine on a prescription

Example Sentences

  • I need to get this prescription filled.
  • She got her prescription filled at the pharmacy.
  • You can get the prescription filled downstairs.
43

run a temperature

have a fever

Example Sentences

  • He is running a temperature.
  • She ran a temperature last night.
  • The child may run a temperature after the shot.
44

pass out

become unconscious

Example Sentences

  • He passed out in the hallway.
  • She may pass out if she gets too hot.
  • The man passed out and fell down.
45

pull through

get better after a serious illness or injury

Example Sentences

  • The doctors think he will pull through.
  • She pulled through after the accident.
  • We hope the patient can pull through.
46

bed rest

staying in bed to get better

Example Sentences

  • The doctor told me to get bed rest.
  • She needs two days of bed rest.
  • Bed rest may help you feel better.

Common Idioms and Other Useful Phrases

These short phrases are common in everyday conversations. Do not translate every word.

47

right away

now; very soon

Example Sentences

  • Please call me right away.
  • I will do it right away.
  • The doctor came right away.
48

right here

in this exact place

Example Sentences

  • Please wait right here.
  • Your bag is right here.
  • The meeting will be right here.
49

in a hurry

needing to move or act fast

Example Sentences

  • I am in a hurry this morning.
  • She left in a hurry.
  • Do not drive fast when you are in a hurry.
50

little by little

slowly, one small step at a time

Example Sentences

  • My English is getting better little by little.
  • The pain went away little by little.
  • We cleaned the room little by little.
51

once in a while

sometimes, but not often

Example Sentences

  • I eat out once in a while.
  • He calls me once in a while.
  • We have training at night once in a while.
52

from time to time

sometimes

Example Sentences

  • I visit the base library from time to time.
  • The machine stops from time to time.
  • She works at night from time to time.
53

make sense

be clear or easy to understand

Example Sentences

  • Your answer makes sense.
  • This map does not make sense to me.
  • The instructions make sense now.
54

keep an eye on

watch someone or something carefully

Example Sentences

  • Please keep an eye on my bag.
  • Can you keep an eye on the children?
  • The mechanic will keep an eye on the engine.
55

back on one’s feet

healthy or strong again after a problem

Example Sentences

  • He is back on his feet after the illness.
  • She will be back on her feet soon.
  • The team helped him get back on his feet.

How to Study These ALCPT Phrases

STEP 1

English → Meaning
Look at the English phrase. Say the meaning quickly.

STEP 2

Meaning → English
Look at the meaning. Try to say the English phrase.

STEP 3

Read Aloud
Read the three example sentences. Say them slowly, and then say them again at normal speed.

You do not need to study all 55 phrases in one day. Study five to ten phrases each day. Review old phrases before you learn new ones.

Final Review

ALCPT listening is easier when you know common phrases. Learn the phrase as one group, not as separate words.

Start with the phrases you see at work, on base, at a hospital, or when you travel. Read the examples aloud and review them many times.

Small daily practice can help you understand more English on the test.