TOEFL Listening
The TOEFL iBT Listening section uses lectures and conversations typical of academic settings. This page outlines structure, question types, scoring, and common weakness patterns.
Quick facts
- Format: Internet-based test
- Section length: 41–57 minutes
- Score range: 0–30 (section)
- Total score: 0–120 (four sections combined)
Structure
Listening includes lectures and conversations. Lectures (3–5 minutes each) simulate classroom teaching; conversations (about 3 minutes each) simulate student–professor or student–staff interactions. You hear each recording once. Questions appear after each audio. Total time: 41 minutes (shorter set) or 57 minutes (longer set). The longer set may include an unscored experimental lecture or conversation.
The test may use adaptive design in some administrations. Check ETS for the current format in your region.
Common question types
Detail and purpose
Multiple choice (single or multiple answers); purpose, attitude, inference.
Organisation and function
Ordering or matching; understanding how information is structured or why something is said.
Scoring
Raw scores are converted to the 0–30 scaled score. Listening uses automated scoring. See the Scoring page for details.
Common candidate weakness patterns
Typical patterns observed in Listening:
- Listening note issues: failing to capture key points; notes illegible or too dense
- Being thrown by distractors; choosing answers that repeat words from the audio but misrepresent meaning
- Purpose and attitude questions: misreading tone or intent
- Ordering and matching: losing track of sequence or relationships when not taking notes
- Integration weaknesses: not connecting lecture content to later Speaking or Writing tasks that reuse the same material
- Fatigue: concentration dropping in later lectures, especially in the longer set
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