Mastering TOEFL Listening: A Critical Component in Your Prep

Planning overseas education is really easy if you have good scores in your TOEFL exam, sometimes it is observed that many students face a lot of difficulty in attempting the listening module of the TOEFL exam, so, in todays article we shall assure you that with our TOEFL Listening Preparation techniques and TOEFL listening practice strategies, you will be able to score high. Students practicing the TOEFL listening test must remember the aim of the test is to make sure that you are ready to adapt yourself in the new environment of the university education.

Types of Listening questions in the TOEFL Listening Test

1. Basic comprehension questions

· Gist content- Student should understand the main idea

· Gist purpose- Major points in support of the main idea

· Basic Details- Important details of the main idea

2. Pragmatic understanding questions

· Checking the attitude of the speaker and also the level of reliability on the idea

· Analyzing the purpose of the speaker

3. Connecting and synthesizing (combining information from one or two sources) information

· Check the organization of the information that is given

· Students should be able to compare/contrast/, identify cause/effect or steps in the process.

· Should be able to draw inferences

· Making connections from the information given to the conversation in the lecture

· Recognise how introduction and conclusion differs

Strategies to solve Listening questions in the TOEFL listening section

While you practice from the TOEFL listening practice test and check the TOEFL listening practice questions along with their format, you should keep in mind the following strategies to get a high score.

Points to Remember:

· The audio plays only once.

· You must practice and develop the art of taking notes while listening.

· Most of the information will be in chronological order.

· Make notes on key words.

· In case of conversation you may draw a table like the one given below and put in the details of each speaker.

· Create your own symbols for languages

· You may also use sign language like $, @,

· Use abbreviations.

· During note making use discourse markers (connecting words), tone, description, key information.

Strategies according to the TOEFL Listening Question type:

1. Gist content Question:

Format: Questions will be like

· What was the main idea?

· What did ‘X’ want?

· What was the purpose of….?

Strategy:

· First, take notes

· Then Start eliminating the options which :

Contradict the statement

- The ones in which the information is missing

-The ones in with additional information

· Identify the option with the gist

2. Gist Purpose type of Question:

Format: Questions will be like:

· What was the purpose of a certain topic

· Why did ‘X” say ……..?

· Why did ‘X’ ask certain ……..?

Strategy:

· Take the notes carefully

· Eliminate the options containing contradicting information

· Now, Re-affirm the right option by checking:

a) If the information relates to the person

b) Was it the main purpose?

3. Basic Detail Questions:

Format: Questions will be like:

· What did ‘X’ say?

· ‘X’ refers to?

· Where did ‘X’ go?

Strategy:

· Take notes and carefully note the names and numbers

· Analyse the key information/definition

· Read the question and identify the key goal?

· Identify the information by referring our notes

4. Pragmatic understanding of function – TOEFL Listening Question type

· Understand the sub-text of the conversation

· Purpose of a certain type

Format: Questions will be like

· Why did ‘X’ say this…

· What was the intent……

Strategy:

· Read the question

· Listen to the excerpt and focus on the conversation before and after

· Interpret the function

a) What was the result?

b) What role did the dialogue play?

· Look at the options and eliminate:

a) Options that only express what has been said and not the extent

b) Options that are irrelevant

c) Options that contradict

5. Pragmatic understanding of Speakers attitude – TOEFL Listening Question type

Format: Questions will be like

- What does the speaker mean?

- How does ‘X’ feel about…..

- What does the students attitude …….?

Strategy:

- Take detailed notes of intonation

- Read the question (whose attitude)

- In case of excerpt- Re-listen to the conversation and check the attitude towards ‘X’

- Interpret the relationship or attitude between the speaker and the object

- Look at the options to eliminate that are beyond the preview

- Eliminate the option that do not refer to the object or the persons information

- Eliminate the contradictory information

- Select the option that corelates with our interpretation.

6. TOEFL Listening practice test question type- connecting content:

In this TOEFL listening practice test question type you are expected to understand the interrelationship between various sub-topics given in the lecture. For example: How ‘X’ is related to ‘Y’?

Format: Questions will be like:

- What does the lecture imply about ‘X’?

- What would happen if ‘X’ was rearranged?

Strategy:

- Identify the discourse markers

- Use arrows to show relationships

- Read the question to identify items that are being bought under focus

- Browse the notes and establish connections

- Corelate the connection with the options

- Write down the information according to tabulation.

7. TOEFL Listening practice test Question type- Making inferences:

Format: Questions will be like:

- What can be inferred about ‘X’

- What could ‘X’ probably do next?

Strategy:

- Take extensive notes

- Highlight key information

- Read the question and identify the focus area

- Accumulate information

- Draw conclusion

- Match this information/option

We highly recommend students to practice very well before appearing for the exam, students may also download the TOEFL listening practice test pdfs from authenticated websites to practice more and score high.