TOEFL 2026 Listening
Shorter clips, implied meaning, practical comprehension
What's New in TOEFL 2026
The old format tested your ability to understand 5-6 minute lectures. The 2026 format tests four different listening skills: choosing appropriate responses in conversation (Task 1), understanding campus conversations (Task 2), extracting information from announcements (Task 3), and following shorter academic lectures (Task 4).
Old Format (Pre-2026)
- ✕ 6 long passages (~36 minutes)
- ✕ Conversations: 3-5 minutes each
- ✕ Lectures: 5-6 minutes each
- ✕ Only conversations and lectures
New Format (2026)
- ✓ 4 task types (~36 minutes)
- ✓ Choose a Response (15-30 sec, NEW)
- ✓ Announcements (45-90 sec, NEW)
- ✓ Shorter conversations & lectures
The 4 Listening Tasks
Task 1: Choose a Response Pragmatic
10-15 clips | 15-30 sec each | 1 question per clip
What You'll Do
Listen to a short conversational exchange (2-4 turns), then choose the most appropriate response to continue the conversation. This tests pragmatic listening—understanding what's appropriate to say next, not just the literal meaning.
Sample Exchange:
Question: What would Speaker B most likely say next?
- A) "I've never been to the library before." (off-topic)
- B) "Thanks! What time does it start?" ✓ (natural follow-up)
- C) "I don't like studying in groups." (abrupt)
- D) "The library is very large." (irrelevant)
Question Types
"What would Speaker B most likely say next?"
"What does Speaker B mean when they say...?"
"How does Speaker A feel about...?"
Example: "I have a meeting in 20 minutes" (in response to lunch invitation) = "No, I can't."
Example: "That's an interesting approach..." (said hesitantly) = "I disagree with that."
Example: "I'll think about it" = Usually means "probably not."
The correct answer captures what the speaker meant, not just what they said.
- Choosing responses that repeat information from the conversation
- Picking answers that are grammatically correct but socially awkward
- Missing implied meanings (indirect refusals, politeness)
- Not considering the relationship between speakers
Task 2: Campus Conversations Detail-Focused
2-3 conversations | 1.5-2.5 min each | 4-6 questions per conversation
What You'll Do
Listen to conversations between students, or between students and university staff/faculty. These are shorter than the current TOEFL (1.5-2.5 minutes vs. 3-5 minutes) but test the same comprehension skills.
Conversation Settings
- Study groups
- Course advice
- Campus life
- Office hours
- Research opportunities
- Assignment help
- Registrar/Admin
- Library services
- Housing issues
Question Types
What to Write Down (and What to Skip)
Write These
- - Why is the student there? (always Q1)
- - Any numbers: dates, times, room numbers
- - The solution or answer given
- - What they agree to do next
Don't Write These
- - Small talk at the start
- - "Oh really?" "I see" fillers
- - Repeated information
- - Every word (you'll miss the next part)
Task 3: Announcements Practical
2-3 announcements | 45-90 sec each | 3-4 questions per announcement
What You'll Do
Listen to practical announcements like those heard on campus—PA systems, event introductions, tour guides, recorded phone lines. This is a new task type that tests real-world listening in everyday academic contexts.
Announcement Types
Library closing, schedule changes, weather alerts
Workshop logistics, conference openings, orientation
Tour guide introductions, building info, directions
Office hours info, event hotlines, automated systems
Sample Announcement (Workshop Intro):
"Good afternoon, everyone, and welcome to our workshop on Academic Writing for International Students. Before we begin, I have a few things to mention. First, please make sure you've signed in on the sheet by the door—we need attendance for the student success center. Today's session will run until 4 PM with a short break around 2:30. Restrooms are located down the hall to your left..."
Sample Questions:
- 1. What is the main purpose of this announcement?
- 2. What time is the break scheduled?
- 3. Why do participants need to sign in?
- Missing specific times, dates, or locations
- Confusing the main purpose with a minor detail
- Not listening for "if/then" conditional instructions
- Ignoring the closing (often contains next steps)
Task 4: Academic Talks (Lectures) Academic
3-4 lectures | 2-3 min each | 4-6 questions per lecture
What You'll Do
Listen to academic lectures on topics from biology, history, art, psychology, and more. These are significantly shorter than the current TOEFL (2-3 minutes vs. 5-6 minutes) but still require careful attention to the professor's main points and examples.
Academic Topics
Natural Sciences
Biology, Chemistry, Physics, Earth Science
Social Sciences
Psychology, Sociology, Economics
Humanities
History, Philosophy, Linguistics
Arts
Art History, Music, Architecture
Question Types
"What is the lecture mainly about?"
"According to the professor, what do birds use to...?"
"What can be inferred about...?"
"Why does the professor mention Arctic terns?"
"How does the professor organize the lecture?"
"What is the professor's attitude toward...?"
Lecture Note-Taking (What Actually Works)
TOPIC: [What is this lecture about?]
Write this first. It's always stated clearly at the start.
Point 1: [First main idea]
Ex: [Example or evidence given]
When you hear "For example..." or "One case of this..." write it down.
Point 2: [Second main idea]
Ex: [Example or evidence given]
Professors usually cover 2-3 main points in a 2-3 minute lecture.
WHY: [Why does this matter? What's the implication?]
Listen for "This is important because..." or "What this means is..."
Main ideas: "The key point is..." / "What's interesting about this is..." / "The main reason..."
Examples: "For instance..." / "Let me give you an example..." / "One case of this..."
Contrast: "However..." / "On the other hand..." / "Unlike..."
Conclusions: "So what this shows us is..." / "The implication here is..."
When you hear these phrases, write down what comes next. That's what the questions will ask about.
- Trying to write everything (focus on main points and examples)
- Missing the main idea because you're writing details
- Not connecting examples back to the main point
- Ignoring the professor's tone/attitude on controversial points
Your 3-Week Practice Plan
The new format has more variety, so you need to practice each task type. This plan builds your skills systematically.
Week 1: Master the New Tasks
Goal: Get comfortable with Choose a Response and Announcements
- Days 1-2: Choose a Response practice (20-30 questions), focus on pragmatic meaning
- Days 3-4: Announcement listening (5-6 announcements), practice detail note-taking
- Days 5-6: Mixed practice—alternate between both new task types
- Day 7: Review mistakes, identify patterns in errors
Focus: Understanding implied meaning and capturing practical details.
Week 2: Build Academic Skills
Goal: Handle conversations and shorter lectures
- Days 1-2: Conversation practice (4-5 conversations), focus on main purpose
- Days 3-4: Academic Talk practice (4-5 lectures), develop note-taking system
- Days 5-6: Full variety—one of each task type per day
- Day 7: Review notes, refine note-taking strategy
Focus: Efficient note-taking and identifying lecture structure.
Week 3: Full Section Practice
Goal: Build stamina for complete listening sections
- Days 1, 3, 5: Complete listening sections (all 4 task types, ~36 minutes)
- Days 2, 4: Focus on your weakest task type
- Day 6: Final full simulation under test conditions
- Day 7: Light review, rest your ears, build confidence
Focus: Consistency across all four tasks. Trust your preparation!
Ready to Start?
Our TOEFL 2026 listening practice includes all four task types with instant feedback.
Begin Week 1 TodayTest Day Essentials
Do This
- ✓ Listen actively from the first word
- ✓ Write down numbers, times, and names immediately
- ✓ Use abbreviations in your notes (@ = at, b/c = because)
- ✓ For Choose a Response, consider implied meanings
- ✓ Answer main idea questions first, then details
- ✓ If you miss something, keep listening—don't freeze
Avoid This
- ✕ Don't try to write every word you hear
- ✕ Don't spend too long on one question
- ✕ Don't change answers without a good reason
- ✕ Don't panic if you don't know a topic
- ✕ Don't let one hard question affect the next
- ✕ Don't neglect the new task types in practice
You don't need to understand every word. If you miss something, keep listening. The questions test main ideas and key details, not whether you caught every syllable. Shorter clips mean less to track, but you need to stay focused from the first second. Don't zone out during the intro.
Start Practicing
Struggle with implied meaning? Start with Choose a Response. Miss details? Start with Announcements.