What does TOEIC Listening assess?
According to ETS, the section tests your understanding of spoken English: 100 questions based on recorded statements, questions, conversations, and talks in English. Candidate guide, paper test (PDF) (opens in a new tab)
The test covers workplace and everyday situations listed in the candidate guide: meetings and office correspondence, recruiting, purchases and deliveries, finance, health, travel—trains, planes, hotels, and station announcements—social outings, and business meals.
In the score
Scored from 5 to 495 based on the number of correct answers; the Reading score is added for a total score from 10 to 990. Candidate guide, paper test (PDF) (opens in a new tab)
The score calculation, in the TOEIC guideHow does the Listening section work?
The four parts appear in this order. Each recording is played once. In the paper format described by ETS, only Parts 3 and 4 also have the questions and four answer choices printed in the test booklet. Candidate guide, paper test (PDF) (opens in a new tab)
| Section | What you hear | What is printed | Questions |
|---|---|---|---|
| Part 1 · Photographs | Four sentences about a photo | The photo | 6 |
| Part 2 · Question-Response | A question or statement, followed by three responses | Nothing | 25 |
| Part 3 · Conversations | 13 conversations, between two or more people | The questions and answer choices | 39 |
| Part 4 · Talks | 10 single-speaker talks | The questions and answer choices | 30 |
The distribution of the 100 questions, according to ETS. Score User Guide, formats standard and MSA (opens in a new tab)
In France, ETS Global offers public sessions at test centers, on a computer or tablet. Find a session (opens in a new tab)
No notes, no scratch paper
In the paper format described by ETS, scratch paper is not allowed, and you cannot write or underline in the test booklet: you have to remember everything. Score User Guide, formats standard and MSA (opens in a new tab)
Part 1: Photographs, describe a photograph
- 6 questions
- A photo
- Four spoken sentences
- One listen
The method
- Before listening, identify what the photo shows: people, objects, setting, and the action taking place.
- Listen for the subject and verb in each statement: is the described action visible?
- Eliminate statements that assume something the photo does not show, even if they mention objects in the image.
The pitfall Choosing a statement just because it names an object in the photo. The verb is what matters: what is happening, not what is present.
The solution, step by step
Correct answer: B — They’re looking at a document.
The method in action
- The photo: two men, a plan, a van; the action: looking at the plan.
- A and C mention the vehicle, but no one is loading or painting it; no one is climbing a ladder, as D says.
- B describes the visible action: the plan is a document. Answer: B.
Key takeaways
Describe what people are doing in the photo, not just the objects you see.
Part 2: Question-Response, the right reply
- 25 questions
- Nothing is printed
- One question, three responses
- One listen
The method
- Identify what the sentence is doing; in a question, Who, When, Where, Why, How point to a person, time, place, reason, or manner.
- Be wary of an answer that repeats a word or sound from the question.
- Accept an indirect response if it truly answers the question.
The pitfall Choosing an answer because it repeats a word from the question. Repetition is often a distractor; the correct response answers the question, sometimes using different words.
You hear one question, once
Why hasn’t the new software been installed yet?
Choose an answer.
The solution, step by step
Correct answer: C — The technician is waiting for the license key.
The method in action
- The first word, Why, calls for a reason.
- A says where, not why; B says the installation took place last week but does not explain the delay mentioned in the question.
- C gives a reason: the technician is waiting for the license key. Answer: C.
Key takeaways
The question word signals what information you need. The response may give it directly or explain why it is unavailable.
Part 3: Conversations, three questions per conversation
- 39 questions
- 13 conversations
- Three questions each
- Questions in print
Conversations between two or more people, played once. Each is followed by three questions, heard and shown in print with four answer choices; some refer to a document, list, or table. Candidate guide, paper test (PDF) (opens in a new tab)
The method
- Read the three questions before listening so you know what to look for.
- Identify who is speaking: the question often asks about the man or the woman.
- Answer as you listen, in question order, without waiting for the conversation to end.
The pitfall Choosing an answer because you heard one of its words. The conversation often mentions several things, but the question asks about only one.
You hear, once only
Woman Kenji, the caterer just called. They can’t deliver lunch for tomorrow’s training session before one o’clock.
Man That’s too late — the session breaks at noon. Why don’t I ask the café on the ground floor if they can prepare sandwiches for twenty people?
Woman Good idea. And could you check whether they have vegetarian options?
Then one of the three questions, heard and read
Choose an answer.
The solution, step by step
Correct answer: B — Contact another food supplier.
The method in action
- Read before listening, the question tells you what to listen for: an offer made by the man.
- The man speaks second: “Why don’t I ask the café on the ground floor…”
- He suggests contacting the café, another food supplier: B says this in different words. A repeats “session,” but the training schedule is not changing; D mentions canceling the order, which the conversation does not say. Answer: B.
Key takeaways
Read the questions before listening to know whom to listen to and what to look for.
Part 4: Talks, single-speaker talks
- 30 questions
- 10 talks
- Three questions each
- Questions in print
Single-speaker talks—such as a phone message or announcement—played once, each followed by three questions, heard and shown in print with four answer choices. Candidate guide, paper test (PDF) (opens in a new tab)
The method
- Read the three questions before listening.
- Recognize the type of talk from the first few words: a message, announcement, tour, or presentation.
- Listen for the requested detail: a location, time, or instruction.
The pitfall Choosing the first location or time you hear. A talk often mentions several; only the one asked about matters.
You hear, once only
Speaker Hello, this is Priya Shah from Northgate Office Supplies, returning your call about your order. The desks you ordered are in stock, and we could send them this Thursday. The matching chairs, however, won’t reach our warehouse until the twentieth, so we can also deliver everything together on the twenty-second, at no extra charge. Please call me back to let me know which you prefer.
Then one of the three questions, heard and read
Choose an answer.
The solution, step by step
Correct answer: B — On the twentieth.
The method in action
- Read before listening, the question asks when the chairs will arrive at the supplier’s warehouse.
- The opening words, “this is Priya Shah… returning your call,” signal a phone message.
- Thursday, mentioned first, is the proposed date for shipping the desks; “The matching chairs, however, won’t reach our warehouse until the twentieth”: answer B. The 22nd is the proposed date for a combined delivery.
Key takeaways
A talk includes several details of the same kind; the question tells you which one to listen for.
How long does the Listening section last?
The whole section
≈ 45 min
100 questions, at the pace of the recording
There is no separate time limit for each question: the recording keeps going, and nothing is replayed. Manage your lead instead: read the next questions as soon as you mark an answer so you know what to listen for next. Candidate guide, paper test (PDF) (opens in a new tab)
The Reading section is self-paced: 75 minutes for 100 questions across its three parts. The section guide Reading
Errors and blank answers
No penalty: leaving an answer blank does not protect your score. Your score depends on the number of correct answers, and ETS says there is no penalty for guessing. Candidate guide, paper test (PDF) (opens in a new tab)
The score calculation, in the TOEIC guideWhich practice set should you choose after the examples in this guide?
The examples in this guide include a recording and transcript. The voices are synthetic. Transcripts remain visible in the examples; hide them if you want to practice listening alone. The practice sets below extend each part with Upsilar exercises and explanations. Keep your first listening attempt separate from your review with the transcript open.
For photographs, practice checking the subject, verb, and position together: seeing an object does not make the whole statement correct. TOEIC Part 1: Describe a Photograph Accurately
For question-response items, identify the purpose of the reply: direct information, polite refusal, suggestion, or referral to someone who knows. TOEIC Part 2: Understand Direct and Indirect Responses
For conversations, track the problem, constraints, and decision, and match each suggestion to the right speaker. TOEIC Part 3: Follow a Conversation and Anticipate Useful Information
For announcements, connect each number and location to its purpose: departure time, booking deadline, or meeting point. TOEIC Part 4: Understand the Purpose of an Announcement or Message
Learning path added September 28, 2026. The practice-set exercises are also included in the 200-question bank, so reusing them is not an assessment using unseen items.
Why did you miss information?
- The transcript remains unclearWork on vocabulary and sentence structure; slowing the audio will not make an unfamiliar word familiar.
- The transcript is clear, but the audio was notIsolate a short phrase, compare the written words with what you heard, then listen again without the transcript.
- You understand the words, but the answer is still wrongLook for a restriction, recipient, or final decision that your first interpretation missed.
- A previous question is still taking your attentionPractice moving on to the next recording; dwelling on an answer should not make you miss the message that is starting.
Review should lead to a specific action. “Listen more” is too vague; “distinguish a request from an indirect refusal” or “recognize a linked phrase without a transcript” helps you choose a new exercise. TOEIC accents: recognize words in connected English
To hear the test using official materials, ETS Global offers a sample with an audio file in its preparation section. Use those resources from the publisher to supplement Upsilar exercises. The test in France (opens in a new tab)
Listening FAQs
Are recordings repeated?
No. ETS specifies this for all four parts: every recording is played once.
Are the questions printed in the test booklet?
For Parts 3 and 4, yes, in the paper format described by ETS: each question is heard and printed with its four answer choices. For Parts 1 and 2, the questions and answer choices are not printed; the Part 1 photographs are.
Can you take notes during the Listening section?
No, in the paper format described by ETS: no scratch paper, notes, or underlining in the test booklet.
How long does the Listening section last?
About 45 minutes for 100 questions. The recording sets the pace: you cannot speed it up or replay it.