This document provides an overview of the Listening section of the TOEFL iBT exam. It describes the two types of listening materials - conversations and lectures. Conversations can be about office hours or service encounters, while lectures are approximately 5 minutes from university settings. Questions test basic comprehension, pragmatic understanding, and connecting information across arts, life sciences, physical sciences, and social sciences topics. The 8 types of questions and strategies for recognizing them are also outlined.

1. Toefl iBT
Listening Section

2. Listening Materials
• There are two types of Listening materials on the
TOEFL iBT, conversations and lectures. Both are based
on the actual speech that is used in North American
colleges and universities.

3. Conversations
There are two types of conversations in TOEFL:
• Office hours
 Professor’s office, academic content
• Service encounters
 University campus, non-academic content
Each conversation is followed by five questions

4. Lectures
The lecture excerpt may be:
• A professor speaking
• A student asking the professor a question,
• The professor asking the students a question
Each lecture is approximately 5 minutes in length
and is followed by six questions.

5. Lectures
• The content of the lectures reflects the content that is presented
in introductory-level academic settings.
• You will not be expected to have any prior knowledge of the
subject matter.
• In general these topics are divided into four major categories:
1. Arts
2. Life Science
3. Physical Science
4. Social Science
It’s concerned with the study of inanimate natural
objects, including physics, chemistry, astronomy,
and related subjects.
It comprises the branches involving the scientific
study of organisms such as microorganisms,
plants, and animals including human beings.
The scientific study of human society and social
relationships.
It makes reference to the theory and physical
expression of creativity found
in human societies cultures.

6. Types of Questions
Basic Comprehension Questions
1. Gist-Content
2. Gist-Purpose
3. Detail
Pragmatic Understanding Questions
4. Understanding the Function of What Is Said
5. Understanding the Speaker’s Attitude
Connecting Information Questions
6. Understanding Organization
7. Connecting Content
8. Making Inferences

7. 1. Gist-Content Questions
• Understanding the general topic or main idea. It may
be expressed explicitly or implicitly.
How to Recognize Gist-Content Questions
• Gist-Content questions are typically phrased as follows:
 What problem does the man have?
 What are the speakers mainly discussing?
 What is the main topic of the lecture?
 What is the lecture mainly about?
 What aspect of X does the professor mainly discuss?

9. 2. Gist-Purpose Questions
• Understanding the purpose of the conversation rather
than on the content.
How to Recognize Gist-Purpose Questions
• Gist-Purpose questions are typically phrased as follows:
 Why does the student visit the professor?
 Why does the student visit the registrar’s office?
 Why did the professor ask to see the student?
 Why does the professor explain X?

11. 3. Detail Questions
• Understanding and remembering explicit details or
facts from a lecture or conversation.
How to Recognize Detail Questions
• Detail questions are typically phrased as follows:
 According to the professor, what is one way that X can affect Y?
 What is X?
 What resulted from the invention of the X?
 According to the professor, what is the main problem with the X
theory?

13. 4. Understanding the Function of What Is Said Questions
• Understanding the function of what is said. It often
involves replaying a portion of the listening passage.
How to Recognize Understanding the Function of What Is
Said Questions
• These questions are typically phrased as follows:
 What does the professor imply when he says this: (replay)
 What can be inferred from the professor’s response to the
student? (replay)
 What is the purpose of the woman’s response?(replay)
 Why does the student say this? (replay)

15. 5. Understanding the Speaker’s Attitude Questions
• Understanding a speaker’s attitude or opinion,
feelings, likes and dislikes, or reason for anxiety or
amusement.
How to Recognize Understanding the Speaker’s
Attitude Questions
• These questions are typically phrased as follows:
 What can be inferred about the student?
 What is the professor’s attitude toward X?
 What is the professor’s opinion of X?
 What can be inferred about the student when she says this:
(replay)
 What does the woman mean when she says this: (replay)

17. 6. Understanding Organization Questions
• These questions ask about how information is arranged
and/or prioritized in the excerpt.
How to Recognize Understanding Organization
Questions
• These questions are typically phrased as follows:
 How does the professor organize the information about X?
 How is the discussion organized?
 Why does the professor discuss X?
 Why does the professor mention X?

18. 7. Connecting content questions
• These questions are designed to test your
understanding of how ideas in the excerpt are related.
How to Recognize Connecting Content Questions
• Connecting Content questions are typically phrased as
follows:
 What is the likely outcome of doing procedure X before
procedure Y?
 What can be inferred about X?
 What does the professor imply about X?

20. 8. Making Inferences Questions
In this kind of question you have to reach a conclusion
based on facts presented in the listening passage.
How to Recognize Making Inferences Questions
• Making Inferences questions are typically phrased as
follows:
 What does the professor imply about X?
 What will the student probably do next?
 What can be inferred about X?
 What does the professor imply when he says this: (replay)

23. Let’s practice
• https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=BTMIhbO
BIxU