TOEFL SKILL PBT: The Listening Comprehension section you should know

Introduction

On The TOEFL test especially PBT Format, The listening section is the first section tested in both PBT and ITP Test Models. The questions are the same whether that is PBT or ITP. The listening Comprehension section takes around 45 minutes long including the directions in each part. In this section, there are three parts; Part A, B, and C with a total of 50 questions.

Part A

Part A is a short talk question. You will hear the English conversations between two people with an American accent. After the conversations finish, there will be a question. Please be noted all questions on listening are not printed, so you must listen very carefully for each conversation. The Questions on Listening part A are 30 questions.

Normally the conversations talk about daily life, Idiom, and some grammar parts such as Passive voice, wishes, negative expressions, and question tag. You should study the grammar usually tested on listening comprehension. It is important to note that no prior knowledge of the topics covered in any part of the TOEFL test is necessary to get high scores. It’s because they frequently use common American expressions. When doing with listening comprehension task on the paper-based test, you should try to figure out what the next listening selection will be about. You should look at the multiple-choice and try to guess what the next question will be possible before the speakers begin that selection.

The purpose of the listening part A is to measure your understanding of the conversation on common or daily topics.

‘If you have time before the conversation begins, look at the multiple-choice on test booklet, then try to guess the questions’.

On listening to part A, every question begins with a question word, such as What, Who, When, Where, Why, How. I will give the examples of listening section part A:

What does the man/woman mean?

Where does the conversation probably take place?

Who is the man/woman?

What does the man/woman probably do?

As you listen to each short conversation, try to focus on the second speaker. Pay attention to the second speaker is important because, on the second line, the answer to the question is generally found in the second line. The answer is probably a restatement of the keyword or idea on the second speaker. If you don’t understand the conversation at all, choose the answer that sounds the most different from what you hear.

Never leave any answer blank because there is no penalty for answering the wrong answer.

Part B

The next section after listening part A is finished; you will face the next part that is part B. in Part B, you will hear the long conversation between two people and then followed by a number of questions. The questions on Part B will be about history, science, or university organization. When you hear the conversation, look at four multiple choices, try to guess what question will be about? To identify the question, you pick up the key world on the conversation. For example if the answer on your test booklet identifying the time. You should notice that the question is probably asking the time. The key is to preview the answer before the conversation begins. Sometimes the first question asks about the topic of the conversation, you must know how to identify the topic. Generally, the topic can be found in the first line on the conversation, focus on the first line.

As you listen, Draw conclusions about the situation of the conversation; who is talking, when are they talking, where are they talking, what are they discussing. While listening, follow along with the answer, the question often in order. So, you should always check the answer for each question.

Part C

The last part of the Listening comprehension TOEFL PBT is a talk. In this part, you will hear short lectures. The information presented on lecture sometime about description, of course, attendance policy, and academic lectures. The purpose of this part is to test oral comprehension or presentations. Generally, this part contains three talks in which each talk will be followed by a number of questions. All talks are not written on the book, so we need high attention in order to answer each question. Listen carefully in the first sentence of the talk because sometimes it consists of the main idea or topic.

For more skills in Listening Comprehension please stay with us and we will help your English as much as I can.

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