TOEFL Listening Practice Test 1 (2026 Format)
TOEFL iBT Listening in the January 2026 format, with audio: Listen and Choose a Response, conversations, announcements and academic talks, in two modules. 36 questions.
How this practice matches real TOEFL iBT use
Audio uses your browser's built-in voices. In timed mode each recording plays once and its questions appear when it ends, as in the real test. Listening is adaptive in the real test; these use fixed modules.
How to use this practice set
1. Attempt seriously
Use realistic timing, avoid random guessing, and finish the set as one focused session.
2. Review by skill gap
Separate vocabulary gaps, concentration errors, weak task strategy, and careless mistakes instead of looking only at score.
3. Repeat with purpose
After review, move to the next related TOEFL iBT section or repeat weak-question types until your accuracy becomes stable.
Listening (2026 format)
Before you start
- Questions
- 36
- Time
- 30 minutes
- Parts
- 10
- Timed mode plays the recording once, straight through all 10 parts, as in the real test. Practice mode lets you play, pause and replay each part. Turn your sound on.
- Use the numbered navigator to move between questions, and flag any you want to come back to.
- For typed answers, keep within the word limit. Answers over the limit are marked wrong, as in the real test.
- You can submit early. Your score, the correct answers and explanations appear straight away.
TOEFL Listening Practice Test 1 (2026 Format): all 36 questions with answers
Prefer to work through the test on paper? Answer the questions, then open “Show answer” to check.
M1 · Responses: transcript
Narrator:Listen and choose the best response.
Narrator:Number 1.
Woman:Do you know if the bookstore sells graph paper?
Narrator:Number 2.
Man:Why don't we study together before the exam?
Narrator:Number 3.
Woman:I can't find my student ID anywhere.
Narrator:Number 4.
Man:Would you mind closing the window? It's getting cold.
Narrator:Number 5.
Woman:How was the lecture on climate history?
Narrator:Number 6.
Man:Has the professor posted our grades yet?
Narrator:Number 7.
Woman:I'm thinking of dropping my chemistry class.
Narrator:Number 8.
Man:Where should I put these boxes?
You will hear a person speak. Choose the best response. The spoken lines appear in the transcript after you submit.
Q1.Choose the best response.
- A.The paper is due on Friday.
- B.Yes, I bought some there last week.
- C.It's a fifteen-minute walk.
- D.I prefer reading online.
Show answer
Answer: B. Yes, I bought some there last week.
The speaker said: "Do you know if the bookstore sells graph paper?" It answers whether the bookstore sells it.
Q2.Choose the best response.
- A.Because it was cancelled.
- B.I studied biology last year.
- C.That's a great idea. How about Tuesday?
- D.The exam room is on the third floor.
Show answer
Answer: C. That's a great idea. How about Tuesday?
The speaker said: "Why don't we study together before the exam?" 'Why don't we...' is a suggestion, so the natural reply accepts it.
Q3.Choose the best response.
- A.Your ID number is on the form.
- B.I found it very interesting.
- C.The office opens at nine.
- D.Have you checked your coat pocket?
Show answer
Answer: D. Have you checked your coat pocket?
The speaker said: "I can't find my student ID anywhere." The reply helps her look for the lost card.
Q4.Choose the best response.
- A.Not at all.
- B.No, I didn't open it.
- C.It's colder outside.
- D.The window was broken last week.
Show answer
Answer: A. Not at all.
The speaker said: "Would you mind closing the window? It's getting cold." 'Would you mind...?' is answered 'Not at all' to mean 'Yes, I'll do it'.
Q5.Choose the best response.
- A.It's in Hall B.
- B.Longer than I expected, but really interesting.
- C.I'll lecture next week.
- D.The climate is changing quickly.
Show answer
Answer: B. Longer than I expected, but really interesting.
The speaker said: "How was the lecture on climate history?" 'How was...?' asks for an opinion.
Q6.Choose the best response.
- A.She posted the letter yesterday.
- B.My grades are usually good.
- C.Not yet. Maybe tomorrow.
- D.Yes, she's a professor.
Show answer
Answer: C. Not yet. Maybe tomorrow.
The speaker said: "Has the professor posted our grades yet?" It answers whether the grades are available.
Q7.Choose the best response.
- A.Be careful, it might break.
- B.Chemistry is on Mondays.
- C.I dropped my phone too.
- D.Really? Have you talked to your adviser first?
Show answer
Answer: D. Really? Have you talked to your adviser first?
The speaker said: "I'm thinking of dropping my chemistry class." 'Dropping a class' means leaving it; the reply responds to that decision.
Q8.Choose the best response.
- A.Just leave them by the door, thanks.
- B.They're very heavy boxes.
- C.I put them there yesterday.
- D.About twenty minutes.
Show answer
Answer: A. Just leave them by the door, thanks.
The speaker said: "Where should I put these boxes?" It answers 'where'.
M1 · Conversation 1: transcript
Narrator:Listen to a conversation between a student and an officer at the campus housing office.
Officer:Hi, how can I help?
Student:Hi. I'm in Maple Hall, and the heating in my room hasn't worked for three days. I reported it online on Monday, but nobody's come.
Officer:I'm sorry about that. Let me check. I can see your request. It looks like it was sent to the wrong building's maintenance team. I'll send it to the right team now and mark it urgent.
Student:Thanks. Is there anything I can do in the meantime? It's really cold at night.
Officer:We can lend you a portable heater. You can pick one up here at the front desk today. You just need to sign for it.
Student:That would be great.
Choose the best answer.
Q9.Why did the student come to the housing office?
- A.To follow up on a heating problem
- B.To request a room change
- C.To pay a housing fee
- D.To report a noisy neighbour
Show answer
Answer: A. To follow up on a heating problem
She reported the heating problem on Monday and nobody has come.
Q10.What will the student do today?
- A.Move to another building
- B.Collect a portable heater
- C.Fill in the online form again
- D.Call the maintenance team
Show answer
Answer: B. Collect a portable heater
'You can pick one up here at the front desk today.'
M1 · Conversation 2: transcript
Narrator:Listen to a conversation between two students.
Man:Hey, did you see the email about our history presentation? It's been moved to next Wednesday.
Woman:Oh, good, that gives us more time. I still haven't finished my slides on the trade routes.
Man:Same here. I was thinking we could meet on Monday afternoon to practise the whole thing.
Woman:Monday's hard for me. I work until five. Could we do Tuesday morning instead? We'd still have a full day to make changes.
Man:Tuesday morning works. Let's book a study room in the library.
Choose the best answer.
Q11.What change has been made to the presentation?
- A.Its topic
- B.Its date
- C.Its length
- D.Its location
Show answer
Answer: B. Its date
'It's been moved to next Wednesday.'
Q12.Why does the woman suggest meeting on Tuesday?
- A.The library is closed on Monday.
- B.The professor is free on Tuesday.
- C.She works on Monday afternoon.
- D.The presentation is on Tuesday.
Show answer
Answer: C. She works on Monday afternoon.
'Monday's hard for me. I work until five.'
M1 · Announcement: transcript
Narrator:Listen to an announcement on campus.
Announcer:Attention, students. The north entrance to the science building will be closed from Monday for two weeks while the steps are repaired. Please use the east entrance, next to the café. Students who need step-free access should use the ramp on the west side, which will remain open. Also, the building's opening hours will be extended until 10 p.m. during the exam period, starting next Friday.
Choose the best answer.
Q13.What is the main purpose of the announcement?
- A.To announce a new café
- B.To advertise exam support
- C.To cancel classes
- D.To inform students about entrance changes
Show answer
Answer: D. To inform students about entrance changes
It explains which entrances to use while the north entrance is closed.
Q14.What will happen starting next Friday?
- A.The building will stay open later.
- B.The north entrance will reopen.
- C.The ramp will close.
- D.Exams will be held in the building.
Show answer
Answer: A. The building will stay open later.
'opening hours will be extended until 10 p.m. during the exam period, starting next Friday'.
M1 · Academic Talk: transcript
Narrator:Listen to part of a talk in a psychology class.
Professor:Today let's look at something everyone does but scientists still argue about: yawning. For a long time, the popular explanation was that we yawn because our blood needs more oxygen. But when researchers tested this, giving people air with extra oxygen or extra carbon dioxide, it didn't change how often they yawned. So that idea has largely been abandoned.
Professor:A more recent theory is that yawning helps cool the brain. When you yawn, you take in a large breath of air and stretch your jaw, which increases blood flow to the head. Supporting this, studies have found that people yawn more when the air is moderately warm than when it's very hot or very cold. When the air is hotter than the body, breathing it in wouldn't cool anything.
Professor:Then there's contagious yawning: seeing someone else yawn makes you yawn. Interestingly, this seems linked to social connection. People are more likely to catch a yawn from family members and friends than from strangers. And children don't usually show contagious yawning until about age four or five, around the time they develop a better understanding of other people's feelings.
Choose the best answer.
Q15.What is the talk mainly about?
- A.How to stop yawning
- B.Theories about why people yawn
- C.The effect of sleep on the brain
- D.How animals communicate
Show answer
Answer: B. Theories about why people yawn
The talk compares the oxygen theory, the cooling theory and contagious yawning.
Q16.What happened when researchers changed the amount of oxygen in the air?
- A.People yawned more.
- B.People yawned less.
- C.The rate of yawning did not change.
- D.People fell asleep.
Show answer
Answer: C. The rate of yawning did not change.
'it didn't change how often they yawned'.
Q17.According to the cooling theory, why do people yawn less when the air is very hot?
- A.Hot air makes people tired.
- B.People breathe less in the heat.
- C.The jaw cannot stretch.
- D.Breathing in hot air would not cool the brain.
Show answer
Answer: D. Breathing in hot air would not cool the brain.
'When the air is hotter than the body, breathing it in wouldn't cool anything.'
Q18.What does the professor suggest about contagious yawning?
- A.It is connected to social bonds.
- B.It is strongest among strangers.
- C.It begins in early infancy.
- D.It has been fully explained.
Show answer
Answer: A. It is connected to social bonds.
'this seems linked to social connection'.
M2 · Responses: transcript
Narrator:Listen and choose the best response.
Narrator:Number 19.
Man:Are you going to the career fair this afternoon?
Narrator:Number 20.
Woman:This printer keeps jamming.
Narrator:Number 21.
Man:Didn't you say you'd already finished the reading?
Narrator:Number 22.
Woman:Could you remind me what time the seminar starts?
Narrator:Number 23.
Man:I heard the parking fees are going up again.
Narrator:Number 24.
Woman:Should I bring anything to the study group?
Narrator:Number 25.
Man:You look tired. Late night?
Narrator:Number 26.
Woman:Do you want me to save you a seat?
You will hear a person speak. Choose the best response. The spoken lines appear in the transcript after you submit.
Q19.Choose the best response.
- A.The fair was very fair.
- B.My career is in engineering.
- C.I'd like to, but I have a lab until four.
- D.It's in the afternoon newspaper.
Show answer
Answer: C. I'd like to, but I have a lab until four.
The speaker said: "Are you going to the career fair this afternoon?" It answers whether she is going.
Q20.Choose the best response.
- A.I'll print it later.
- B.Jam is in the kitchen.
- C.It printed forty pages.
- D.Try the one in the computer lab instead.
Show answer
Answer: D. Try the one in the computer lab instead.
The speaker said: "This printer keeps jamming." The reply offers a solution to the problem.
Q21.Choose the best response.
- A.I thought I had, but I missed a chapter.
- B.Reading is my favourite hobby.
- C.Yes, I'll say it again.
- D.The book is on the shelf.
Show answer
Answer: A. I thought I had, but I missed a chapter.
The speaker said: "Didn't you say you'd already finished the reading?" The question shows surprise; the reply explains.
Q22.Choose the best response.
- A.I'll remind myself.
- B.Half past two, in the usual room.
- C.It was a great seminar.
- D.About an hour long.
Show answer
Answer: B. Half past two, in the usual room.
The speaker said: "Could you remind me what time the seminar starts?" It gives the start time.
Q23.Choose the best response.
- A.I parked near the library.
- B.The fees were paid on time.
- C.Again? That's the second time this year.
- D.It's going up the hill.
Show answer
Answer: C. Again? That's the second time this year.
The speaker said: "I heard the parking fees are going up again." The reply reacts to the news.
Q24.Choose the best response.
- A.The study group studied.
- B.I brought it yesterday.
- C.Yes, it's very far.
- D.Just your notes from last week.
Show answer
Answer: D. Just your notes from last week.
The speaker said: "Should I bring anything to the study group?" It says what to bring.
Q25.Choose the best response.
- A.Yes, I was finishing an essay until two.
- B.The night was dark.
- C.I'm tired of this book.
- D.It's too late to start.
Show answer
Answer: A. Yes, I was finishing an essay until two.
The speaker said: "You look tired. Late night?" It confirms and explains the late night.
Q26.Choose the best response.
- A.I've saved some money.
- B.Thanks, I'll be there in five minutes.
- C.The seats are blue.
- D.No, I didn't sit there.
Show answer
Answer: B. Thanks, I'll be there in five minutes.
The speaker said: "Do you want me to save you a seat?" It accepts the offer.
M2 · Conversation 1: transcript
Narrator:Listen to a conversation between a student and a professor.
Professor:Come in, Marcus. What can I do for you?
Marcus:Hi, Professor Allen. I wanted to ask about the research paper. I'd like to write about renewable energy policy, but I'm finding too many sources, and I don't know how to narrow it down.
Professor:That's a common problem. Rather than covering all renewable energy, why not focus on one country and one type, say, wind power in Denmark? That would make your research much more manageable.
Marcus:That makes sense. Should I still include a comparison with other countries?
Professor:A short comparison in the conclusion would be fine, but keep the main focus narrow.
Choose the best answer.
Q27.What is Marcus's problem?
- A.He can't find any sources.
- B.He missed the deadline.
- C.His topic is too broad.
- D.He doesn't understand the assignment.
Show answer
Answer: C. His topic is too broad.
He is 'finding too many sources' and doesn't know how to narrow the topic down.
Q28.What does the professor say about comparing countries?
- A.It should be the main focus.
- B.It should be avoided completely.
- C.It needs special permission.
- D.A short comparison in the conclusion is acceptable.
Show answer
Answer: D. A short comparison in the conclusion is acceptable.
'A short comparison in the conclusion would be fine.'
M2 · Conversation 2: transcript
Narrator:Listen to a conversation between two students.
Lena:I finally got that job at the campus bookshop!
Sam:Congratulations! How many hours?
Lena:Twelve a week, mostly weekends. That's actually why I chose it over the café job. The café wanted me on weekday mornings, and that's when I have most of my classes.
Sam:Makes sense. Do you get a discount?
Lena:Twenty percent off textbooks, which will save me a lot next semester.
Choose the best answer.
Q29.Why did Lena choose the bookshop job?
- A.It pays more.
- B.It is closer to home.
- C.Her friend works there.
- D.The hours fit around her classes.
Show answer
Answer: D. The hours fit around her classes.
The café wanted weekday mornings, 'when I have most of my classes'.
Q30.What benefit does the job offer?
- A.A discount on textbooks
- B.Free coffee
- C.Extra holidays
- D.Free parking
Show answer
Answer: A. A discount on textbooks
'Twenty percent off textbooks.'
M2 · Announcement: transcript
Narrator:Listen to an announcement in the library.
Announcer:Good afternoon. This is a reminder that the library will close early today, at six o'clock, for staff training. The twenty-four-hour study room on the ground floor will remain open as usual, and you can still return books using the drop box outside the main entrance. Normal opening hours resume tomorrow. Thank you.
Choose the best answer.
Q31.Why is the library closing early?
- A.For staff training
- B.For repairs
- C.For a public holiday
- D.For an exam
Show answer
Answer: A. For staff training
'the library will close early today ... for staff training'.
Q32.What can students still do this evening?
- A.Borrow books at the desk
- B.Use the 24-hour study room
- C.Speak to a librarian
- D.Print documents
Show answer
Answer: B. Use the 24-hour study room
'The twenty-four-hour study room ... will remain open as usual.'
M2 · Academic Talk: transcript
Narrator:Listen to part of a talk in an earth science class.
Professor:Scientists who want to know what Earth's climate was like hundreds of thousands of years ago often turn to an unusual source: ice. In Antarctica and Greenland, snow has fallen and been compressed into ice, layer by layer, for a very long time. By drilling deep into these ice sheets, researchers extract long cylinders called ice cores.
Professor:Each layer of an ice core represents a period of time, a bit like the rings of a tree. Near the surface, individual years can often be counted. Deeper down, the layers are squeezed together, and scientists use other methods to estimate their age.
Professor:What makes ice cores so valuable is the air trapped inside. As snow turns to ice, tiny bubbles of the atmosphere are sealed in. By analysing these bubbles, researchers can measure the levels of gases such as carbon dioxide at the time the ice formed. The oldest continuous ice core record, from Antarctica, goes back about 800,000 years, and it shows that carbon dioxide levels and temperatures have risen and fallen together throughout that time.
Choose the best answer.
Q33.What is the talk mainly about?
- A.How glaciers move
- B.How to drill in Antarctica
- C.How ice cores reveal information about past climates
- D.Why Greenland's ice is melting
Show answer
Answer: C. How ice cores reveal information about past climates
The talk explains what ice cores are and what they show about past climate.
Q34.Why does the professor mention tree rings?
- A.To show that trees are older than ice
- B.To describe how cores are drilled
- C.To compare temperatures
- D.To explain how layers represent periods of time
Show answer
Answer: D. To explain how layers represent periods of time
Each layer 'represents a period of time, a bit like the rings of a tree'.
Q35.What can scientists measure using air bubbles in the ice?
- A.Past levels of gases such as carbon dioxide
- B.The age of nearby trees
- C.The thickness of fresh snow
- D.Past wind speeds
Show answer
Answer: A. Past levels of gases such as carbon dioxide
'researchers can measure the levels of gases such as carbon dioxide at the time the ice formed'.
Q36.What does the oldest ice core record show?
- A.Temperatures stayed the same.
- B.Carbon dioxide and temperature changed together.
- C.Carbon dioxide has never been higher.
- D.The ice melted 800,000 years ago.
Show answer
Answer: B. Carbon dioxide and temperature changed together.
'carbon dioxide levels and temperatures have risen and fallen together'.