The TOEFL iBT Listening Section measures the candidates’ ability to understand spoken English. The test requires candidates to listen to academic lectures and conversations in which the speech sounds are natural and answer questions related to the same. Candidates can take notes during the speech. Most of the questions that follow the lectures and conversations are multiple-choice questions with four answer choices and a single correct answer.
- TOEFL Listening Sub-Exam Pattern
- Components of the Listening Exam Syllabus
- TOEFL Preparation Tips for Listening Section
- TOEFL Listening Practice Skills for Beginners
TOEFL Listening Sub-Exam Pattern
| Listening Topics |
Number of questions |
Duration |
|---|---|---|
| 4–6 Academic Lectures (3–5 minutes long) |
6 Questions/Lecture |
60–90 Minutes |
| 2–3 conversations, (3 minutes long) |
5 Questions/Conversation |
Components of the Listening Exam Syllabus
The TOEFL Listening Syllabus is basically made up of two elements, they are:
- Academic Lectures: The academic lectures in the TOEFL iBT reflect a typical conversation that occurs in the classroom. These conversations could be of different kinds. In some of the conversations, the professor could be doing all the talking with an occasional comment by a student, while in others, you could have the professor engage the students in a discussion by asking questions.
- Conversations in an Academic Setting: The conversations in the TOEFL iBT test include conversations that take place in an office environment or during a service encounter with university staff. The conversations generally encompass academic topics and information related to course requirements and could include conversations regarding housing payment, registering for a class or requesting information at the library.
Also, Read
| Important Tips for TOEFL | TOEFL Exam Preparation Tips |
| Exam day tips for IELTS: How to approach each section | IELTS Exam: Tips to Achieve a High Score |
TOEFL Preparation Tips for Listening Section
Candidates looking to clear the TOEFL test should adhere to the following guideline to be able to score well in their TOEFL iBT Listening Section. The guidelines are as follows
- Listening to English frequently and reading a wide variety of academic materials to increase vocabulary and improve listening skills
- Watching movies and television shows and listening to the radio are also excellent opportunities to build listening skills
- Candidates can also take the help of recorded books, lectures, and presentations which are equally valuable to better their listening abilities. Candidates can take the help of the Internet for such information.
TOEFL Listening Practice Skills for Beginners
- Beginners are advised to listen to different kinds of material on a variety of topics, of increasing length and difficulty
- Candidates can start with recordings on familiar topics and gradually progress to topics that are new to them
- Candidates who are new to this process can listen to the recordings first with English subtitles, if they are available and then, without subtitles
- Candidates are advised to take notes as they listen and note down the main ideas and important details
- Candidates are advised to write down keywords only, not every word. Candidates are advised to keep a track of new words and use them in their daily conversations.
- Students should ask themselves the basic information presented in the recording (Who? What? When? Where? Why? How?)
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The ideal duration depends on the TOEFL test taker's English proficiency and target score. Generally, dedicating 3-6 months with consistent practice sessions should yield the desired TOEFL scores. TOEFL test takers are further advised to analyze their practice test scores and identify areas needing improvement to tailor their study plan.
There is no such thing as failing or passing the TOEFL exam. The TOEFL exam is held online at a test centre near you and is also being conducted in the safety of your home via the online method. Candidates who have prepared for the TOEFL would qualify for the exam. Candidates should note that higher TOEFL scores would automatically increase their chances of securing a seat in the university and also make them a front runner for any scholarships being offered by the university. A low TOEFL score would require the student to re-take the exam to improve his/her performance.
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If you want a TOEFL preparation strategy without coaching, use self-study resources like ETS, do listening practice with podcasts, improve reading skills with articles, try speaking practice by recording yourself, and do writing practice with essays for better TOEFL score.