TOEFL PBT/ITP: SKILL 1 on the listening PART A

Introduction

Listening Skills TOEFL

The first section tested on TOEFL PBT test is the Listening Comprehension section. On the Listening section, you will be tested about the understanding conversation, or talk in English. There are three parts on the listening section; Part A, Part B, and Part C. in this post, I will share the strategies or skills on the listening Part A

There are thirty questions on the listening section part A, you will hear the short conversation between two people, after the conversation, is finished, then you will hear the question by Narrator. You must choose the answer on your test booklet. The questions on part A sometimes talk about daily life, a common topic at the universities, certain structure and expressions. For structures (Passive, negative, wishes, and condition). Functional expressions (an agreement, uncertainty, suggestion, surprise). Idiomatic expressions (Idiom, phrasal verb).

You should know that the questions on part A generally progress from easy to difficult.

The answer to the conversation usually contains restatement, and the answer probably has a different sound with the conversation you hear.

Example the Listening part A

On the recording you will hear:

(Man): I always want to visit Hawaii with you?

(Woman): Why not next month?

(Narrator): What does the woman mean?

In the test book you will read:

A. Next month, it’s not good for the trip

B. She doesn’t want to go Hawaii

C. She suggests taking the trip next month

D. She’s curious about why he doesn’t want to go

From the sample question above, we should listen on the second line because the narrator asks her though. From the statement of woman we know she suggest the trip in the next month, so the best answer for the sample question above is (C). She suggests the trip next month.

Let’s see the other skills on The Listening Comprehension Part A

Getting to know the questions frequently asked questions on Part A

What does the woman/man mean?

What does the woman say about the man/woman/mark?

Who is the man/woman?

What will the man probably do next?

Where does this conversation take place?

What does the woman/man imply?

What does the woman/man suggest?

What had the man though?

What can be said about the woman/man?

Every question begins with a question word, so you should understand the types of question world, and how the questions are used for. Some question words that are often used on Part A such as; What, Who, When, Where, How, Which

Those are some question asked by narrator on the Listening section Part A

Tip: Learn all types of questions on Part A; make sure you understand all the questions.

Focus on the second speaker

In the short conversation part A, you don’t need to understand the entire conversation to guess the answer. You should concentrate on the second speaker, on the second speaker; there are several key words that can be used to guess the answer. The narrator will ask the idea of the second speaker, so when the second speaker says, try to get the key words.

Example:

(Man): John really made a big mistake this time.

(Woman): yes, He forgot to turn in his research paper.

(Narrator): What does the woman mean?

In your test booklet, you will read:

A. it was the first time John made a mistake.

B. He forgot to write his paper.

C. He turned in his research paper in the wrong place.

D. He didn’t remember to submit his assignment.

From the second speaker, we have the key word; forgot, turn in, and research paper. Please be note that the answer is not always same with sound you hear because the answer is sometimes restatement or synonym of the key words. So don’t always focus to guess the familiar sound you hear in the second speaker.

That is the skill one for the listening section Part A, keep visiting book87.com to get more skills on the TOEFL test PBT.

If you would like to train your ability in doing the TOEFL test, please read, and download the TOEFL Practice test with audio mp3.

Always focus on your study because the TOEFL Preparation needs high attention to have good scores.

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