TOEFL Listening Questions: Check Question Types, Tips, and Sample Papers

TOEFL Listening Questions: Check Question Types, Tips, and Sample Papers

Highlights:

  • Types of Questions: There are in total 7 different TOEFL listening question types.
  • Sections: TOEFL listening section is divided into two sections; lecture and conversation. There are 6 questions per lecture and 5 questions in each conversation.
  • Time: You will be allocated a total of 36 minutes to complete TOEFL listening section.
  • Audio: Once the audio starts playing, it can’t be stopped and replayed.
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Updated on, Feb 21, 2025

byShubhankar Das Content Writer - Study Abroad

TOEFL Listening Questions are designed to examine your ability to understand English conversations and lectures. You will face in total 3 lectures and 2 conversations in this listening section. Every lecture is 3 to 5 minutes each and conversations are 3 minutes long. You need to answer 6 questions per lecture and a total of 10 questions in the conversations. There are seven different types of listening TOEFL questions. You will be allocated 36 minutes to complete the listening section. Improving your note-taking abilities is important to achieve a good listening score. Taking notes while listening to the audio throughout the test will help you answer questions.

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TOEFL Listening Question Types

TOEFL listening section has been updated recently. TOEFL listening now consists of 3 lectures and 2 conversations. TOEFL listening types of questions can be categorized into 7 main parts:

Gist-Content and Gist-Purpose Questions

Gist-purpose questions evaluate your understanding of the principal aim of the audio clip. Gist-content questions will assess the ability to grasp the primary concept of what you heard in the audio clip. 

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Detail Questions

These types of questions are designed to evaluate your ability to identify the main points from the audio.

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Function Questions

Function types of questions examine your ability on how well you can grasp the speaker’s intent and the overall meaning of the audio.

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Attitude Questions

Your ability to understand the speaker’s attitude and intention will examine on the attitude types of questions.

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Organization Questions

Your understanding of the core concept and target of the conversation or lecture will be evaluated by the organization types of questions.

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Connecting Content Questions

These types of questions will be evaluating your ability to integrate information from various areas of the conversation or lecture.

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Inference Questions

Your ability to deduce the meaning of a phrase or sentence in the conversation or lecture will be evaluated on the inference types of questions.

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Additional Information on TOEFL Listening Questions

  • The recording might take place between a faculty and a student, or a librarian, coordinator, administrator, and more;
  • Generally, the context of the audio consists of a student addressing their problems asking for a remedy and the other person providing them with a solution;
  • The lectures are mostly based on knowledgeable topics, which are equally important during real-time lectures;
  • Topics like history, science, business, management, art, social science, gender studies, all are discussed in the lectures;
  • Specialized knowledge is not required as the topics will not extend to US history, or government policies and alike.
  • A preliminary idea about the common phenomenon is needed to answer the questions properly.

TOEFL Listening Preparation Tips

TOEFL listening requires the test taker to be extremely careful as missing any fact might cost them huge marks. Here are few TOEFL listening preparation tips which will guide the candidates in giving the best of them.

  1. Listen to the principal idea: Most of the lecturers have their first question based on the central idea/gist. The professor speaking the passage mostly states the central idea, but the problem arises when it shifts to other specific details. It is always, therefore, recommended keeping the ears glued to the voice;
  2. Notice the speaker’s tone of voice: What is that the speaker is trying to convey, and that can be performed by studying the expressions and gestures;
  3. Pay attention to how the ideas are associated: While listening, write down notes of the vital points for future reference. You can make this a habit while practicing from TOEFL listening papers;
  4. Stay fixated on key points and not specific points: TOEFL listening questions are always based on overall view and not minute details like certain names, locations, or events.
  5. Improve Time Management Skills: TOEFL listening section time per question may vary. But you need to be focused while listening.

TOEFL Listening Practice Questions

Regularly solving sample papers improve your time management skills, and note-taking abilities. Here are TOEFL listening practice questions for your preparation:

Therefore, the above details about TOEFL listening questions will serve the candidates while preparing for the section. You can effectively practice TOEFL listening from ETS official preparation resources. Joining a coaching class, listening to various podcasts, and solving sample questions regularly helps you to improve your score.

FAQs

Ques: How many questions are there in TOEFL listening?

Ans: There are in total 28 questions in TOEFL listening divided into 5 different lectures and conversations. There are 6 questions per lecture and 5 questions per conversation.

Ques: Can you see the questions in TOEFL listening?

Ans: You will not be able to see the questions until the lecture is over. Taking notes during the audio is important to answer properly.

Ques: How can I practice TOEFL listening?

Ans: You can effectively practice TOEFL listening from ETS official preparation resources. Many reputed coaching centers and prep websites offer customized TOEFL listening practice courses.

Ques: How is TOEFL listening scored?

Ans: TOEFL listening section is scored by computer. The total TOEFL listening section score ranges from 0 to 30. Your achieved TOEFL listening score will be calculated on four different proficiency levels.

Ques: Can I take notes during TOEFL listening?

Ans: You can take notes on the audio. TOEFL listening audios can’t be paused to replay. Improving your note-taking abilities is important to answer questions effectively.

Ques: How to score 30 in TOEFL listening?

Ans: TOEFL listening section score ranges from 0 to 30. To achieve the highest score on TOEFL listening, you can join a coaching center, take regular practice tests and practice under timed manner.

Ques: How can I improve my listening in TOEFL?

Ans: To improve your TOEFL listening:

  • Familiarize yourself with multiple nouns, and idioms.
  • Avoid similar words.
  • Learn about expressions of agreement.
  • Practice note-taking skills.
  • Listen to podcasts.
  • Take regular practice tests under timed conditions.

Ques: What is the pattern of TOEFL listening test?

Ans: TOEFL listening section includes 3 lectures and 2 conversations. Every lecture contains 6 questions, and conversations include 5 questions. You will be allocated 36 minutes to answer TOEFL listening questions. 

Ques: How do I prepare for TOEFL listening test?

Ans: You can effectively prepare for TOEFL listening test by joining a coaching class, listening to various podcasts, and solving sample questions regularly. Improve your note-taking abilities to answer the questions effectively.

Ques: Can we pause TOEFL listening?

Ans: Once the audio starts playing, it cannot be paused. Improve your note-taking abilities to take notes and answer effectively. 

*The article might have information for the previous academic years, which will be updated soon subject to the notification issued by the University/College.

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