TOEFL iBT Listening Section: Question Types, Format & Prep Tips
The TOEFL listening section of the iBT exam evaluates the listening comprehension of the test takers in academic settings. It also assesses to what degree test takers are able to understand the academic conversations and lectures. It is one of the most important components of the TOEFL iBT exam. In this blog, we have discussed the TOEFL listening section, along with their question types, format, marking system, and preparation tips.
- TOEFL Listening Section: An Overview
- Types of Prompts in TOEFL iBT Test Listening Section
- How to Answer Questions in the TOEFL Listening Section?
- Types of Questions in the TOEFL iBT Test Listening Section
- What Skills Are Evaluated in the TOEFL Listening Section?
- How is the TOEFL Listening Section Scored?
- Preparation Tips for TOEFL iBT Test Listening Section
- Key Takeaways by AdmitX
- FAQs
TOEFL Listening Section: An Overview
- In the TOEFL iBT listening section, test takers are required to answer 28 questions in total, 6 questions for each of the 3 lecture prompts and 5 questions for each of the 2 conversation prompts.Â
- The section takes approximately 36 minutes to complete and is identical in both the test center and home editions.Â
- It assesses the ability to comprehend academic conversations and lectures in real-life situations.Â
- Each audio clip, whether a conversation or lecture, is played only once, so it’s crucial for test takers to listen attentively.Â
- To manage time effectively, it’s advisable to aim for completing 2 questions per minute.
| Features | TOEFL iBT Exam (Centre & Home Edition) |
| Contents | 5 prompts/tasks |
| Types of Prompts/Tasks | 3 Lectures (3-5 minutes each) 2 Conversations (3 minutes each) |
| No. of Questions | 3 Lectures- 6 questions per lecture 2 Conversations- 5 questions per conversation |
| Total Questions | 28 |
| Total Duration | 36 Minutes |
Types of Prompts in TOEFL iBT Test Listening Section
As stated earlier, the listening section includes three lectures and two conversations. After each audio prompt, a set of related questions will appear on the screen. During the listening, test takers are encouraged to take notes, which they can refer to when answering the questions. Below is an overview of the different types of prompts featured in the TOEFL iBT listening section.
Conversations
- In the TOEFL iBT listening section, two conversations are played one after the other.Â
- These dialogues typically involve a student speaking with a professor or a university staff member about a specific issue or concern.Â
- The student usually seeks help or guidance, explaining their situation or needs during the conversation.Â
- Each of these interactions lasts approximately 2.5 minutes and follows a problem-solution format.
Lectures
- In the TOEFL iBT listening section, three academic lectures are played one after another, covering subjects like history, science, business, social science, and more.Â
- Test takers are not expected to have prior or specialised knowledge in these areas. Each lecture typically lasts around 4 to 5 minutes.
How to Answer Questions in the TOEFL Listening Section?
- Once a conversation or lecture concludes, questions will appear on the screen one by one.
- Each question is read aloud by a narrator as it is displayed.
- However, the answer options are only shown on the screen and are not read out.
- During the audio clips, test takers can take notes to help them answer the questions later.
- Typically, about 30 seconds are allotted to respond to each question.
- A short pause is provided between audio segments to allow test takers to refocus.
Types of Questions in the TOEFL iBT Test Listening Section
The TOEFL iBT listening section includes various question types designed to assess different listening skills:
- Gist Content: Identifying the main idea or overall theme of the conversation or lecture.
- Gist Purpose: Determining the reason behind the speaker’s communication.
- Detail Questions: Extracting specific pieces of information or important details from the passage.
- Function Questions: Understanding the function or intent behind a speaker’s remark.
- Attitude Questions: Interpreting the speaker’s tone, attitude, or viewpoint on a subject.
- Organisation Questions: Recognising how the information is structured or organised.
- Inference Questions: Making logical conclusions based on the information presented in the audio.
What Skills Are Evaluated in the TOEFL Listening Section?
The TOEFL iBT test listening section assesses the following skills in a test taker.
- Active listening skills
- Organisation of ideas
- Attention to detail
- Ability to draw conclusionsÂ
- Understanding the speaker’s tone, attitude, and intent behind the statement
How is the TOEFL Listening Section Scored?
- The TOEFL listening section is evaluated on a scale of 0 to 30.
- This score is combined with the scores from the other sections to calculate the overall TOEFL iBT score, which ranges from 0 to 120.
- There are five defined proficiency levels within the listening section, and a test taker’s placement within these levels indicates their competency in listening skills.
| Reading Section Score | Level of Proficiency |
|---|---|
| 0-8 | Below Low-Intermediate |
| 9-16 | Low Intermediate |
| 17-21 | High Intermediate |
| 22-30 | Advanced |
Preparation Tips for TOEFL iBT Test Listening Section
Here are some effective preparation tips for the TOEFL iBT listening section that can help test takers reach their target score.
- Start by familiarising yourself with the structure and format of the listening section.
- Regularly listen to English news broadcasts, podcasts, or interviews, and make it a habit to jot down important details to improve your note-taking skills.
- In daily conversations, try to focus not just on the words but also on the speaker’s tone and intention, which will help you better understand context and meaning.
- Lastly, dedicate at least two hours a day to practice using the official ETS TOEFL guide to build accuracy and confidence.
Key Takeaways by AdmitX
The listening section of the TOEFL iBT exam is crucial in assessing a test taker’s ability to understand and interpret spoken English used in academic environments. This section evaluates key skills such as active listening, attention to detail, drawing conclusions, and recognizing the speaker’s purpose or intent.
To simulate real-world academic experiences, the audio includes a range of native English accents from various English-speaking countries, helping test takers become familiar with the diversity of speech they may encounter while studying abroad.
FAQs
What is a good score in the TOEFL listening section?
A score between 17-30 is considered good for the TOEFL listening section, which strongly demonstrates the candidate’s high proficiency in listening skills.
How long does it take to complete the TOEFL listening section?
It takes around 36 minutes to complete the TOEFL listening section.
How does TOEFL listening work?
In the TOEFL listening section, test takers listen to 3 lectures and 2 conversations, based on which they are required to answer 28 questions in the time duration of 36 minutes. While hearing audio lectures and conversations, test takers can make notes which can be utilised later to answer questions.
How many questions are there in the TOEFL iBT test listening section?
There are a total of 28 questions in the TOEFL iBT test listening section. 6 questions per lecture (total 3 lectures) and 5 questions per conversation (total 2 conversations).
What TOEFL score is required for the UK universities?
For UK universities, a TOEFL score between 90-110 is generally considered good. However, it might depend on the institutes and courses.Â
