TOEFL Listening now has four tasks, with recordings played once. Learn separate approaches to responses, conversations, announcements and academic talks, plus split-page notes, signal phrases, original transcripts and questions with answers.
14 min read · Updated 10/23/2026
The official ETS table gives Listening 47 items and an approximate 29-minute base time. It uses a two-stage adaptive design, with 35 scored questions; see TOEFL iBT: How the Test Works for the structure. The old format of 2 conversations + 3 lectures and 28 questions is no longer current. There are four task types:
| Task type | Audio | Questions | Skills assessed | Scored questions (lower / upper path) |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Listen and Choose a Response | One short question or statement, not printed on screen | Choose one of four written responses | Meaning, intent and implied meaning | 15 / 11 |
| Listen to a Conversation | Two speakers in conversation | 2 questions per conversation | Main idea, detail, purpose and simple prediction | 8 / 8 |
| Listen to an Announcement | About 40–85 words | ETS does not state the question count | Purpose, key information and next action | 8 / 4 |
| Listen to an Academic Talk | About 100–250 words | 4 questions | Main and supporting ideas, structure and inference | 4 / 12 |
Figures come from the 2026 ETS overview and Technical Manual. Other facts:
The rest of the lesson gives an approach for each task. The lower path has most of its scored questions in Listen and Choose a Response (15); on the upper path, Academic Talk has the most (12).
ETS describes a task in which you hear a question or statement, without seeing it printed, then choose the most appropriate of four written responses. It tests literal and implied meaning: recognising an appropriate reply in a social exchange.
Key approaches:
Four original examples. Read the spoken line aloud yourself or ask someone else to read it:
1. “I was going to print the slides, but the printer’s out of paper again.” A) “Let me grab some from the supply cabinet.” B) “The slides were too long.” C) “I printed it yesterday.” D) “I’ll pay for the paper.” Answer: A. The speaker presents a problem; offering help is the most natural reply. B and C use related words but do not respond to the problem.
2. “Would you mind closing the window? It’s getting cold in here.” A) “Sure, no problem.” B) “Yes, it’s getting cold.” C) “I closed it last week.” D) “The window is very big.” Answer: A. This is a request. B repeats cold but does not answer it.
3. “Didn’t you say the deadline was Friday?” A) “It was, but the professor pushed it back to Monday.” B) “I always submit my work on Fridays.” C) “No, I haven’t seen her this week.” D) “Thanks, I’ll tell him you called.” Answer: A. The question seeks confirmation and further information. B merely uses the word Friday.
4. “I can’t decide whether to take the early or the late bus.” A) “If I were you, I’d take the early one. It’s less crowded.” B) “The bus station is next to the café.” C) “I decided to walk yesterday.” D) “Yes, the late bus has already left.” Answer: A. The speaker cannot decide, so advice is the best reply. C repeats another form of decide.
Listen to a Conversation. ETS describes a short conversation between two people, followed by 2 questions. Topics cover everyday and campus life: food, social activities, education, entertainment, services, hobbies, home, communication and travel. Questions test the main idea, important details, speaker purpose, implied meaning, simple predictions about future actions, and relationships between turns.
Many conversations follow a three-part structure. This is our observation, not an ETS rule:
Try to identify the speakers and the problem in the first 20–30 seconds, then note each option and reaction. Well… and Actually… can signal hesitation; Oh, great! signals agreement.
Listen to an Announcement. An academic or campus announcement of about 40–85 words may concern schedules, directions, rules or student achievements. Questions test the main idea, important details, purpose and what the speaker asks listeners to do next.
For a short announcement, use our four-box notes grid:
| Box | Question | Example note |
|---|---|---|
| WHAT | What is it about? | lab room change |
| WHEN / WHERE | Time and place | tomorrow 9, Room 18 |
| WHY | The reason, if given | water leak |
| TO DO | Required action | bring goggles; email if absent |
The recording plays once, so note numbers such as times, rooms and dates immediately: questions may refer to them. A common mistake is confusing two similar details, such as an old and new room. Record both and connect them with an arrow, →.
Model answers and detailed strategies are included with Pro access. Tests are purchased separately.
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