Exam guidesTOEICListening

TOEIC · Listening

TOEIC Listening: Parts 1–4

Understand the four parts of the standard Listening & Reading test’s listening section.

Professor Scott Mendoza

Time
About 45 min
Questions
100
Parts
1–4

The format, explained

Part 1 · photographs · 6 questions

Choose the spoken description that fits a photograph.

Part 2 · question–response · 25 questions

Choose a suitable response to a spoken question or statement.

Part 3 · conversations · 39 questions

Follow an exchange and answer questions about it. Some tasks also involve a visual.

Part 4 · talks · 30 questions

Understand a single speaker, such as someone making an announcement, and answer related questions.

Official format references

Where to start practising

  1. In photo practice, distinguish what is actually visible from what merely seems likely.
  2. For short exchanges, identify the communicative purpose before matching familiar vocabulary.
  3. After a practice conversation, explain the decision or next action in one sentence.

Common questions

Will the recording repeat during the test?

In this standard format, recordings are played once. Replaying audio can still be useful later when you review practice mistakes.

Is workplace expertise required?

These tasks assess English comprehension. Build familiarity with common situations, but do not treat specialist business facts as a substitute for understanding the recording.

Official format references

Format facts are based on these official sources. Check the provider’s current instructions before booking. The study advice is Professor Scott’s independent guidance.

Format reviewed:

Put the English into practice

Read & practise

Short lessons for related English foundations. These are not official exam questions or complete test simulations.

English collocations: words that work together

Practice “make a decision,” “do homework” and “heavy rain.”

Read & practise

Respond to good news and disappointing news

Acknowledge the feeling before asking for more details.

Read & practise

Could you…? Make a clear, polite request

Ask someone to do something with could you and a specific action.

Read & practise

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