Listening Part C

The Listening Comprehension Part C of the TOEFL test includes three talks, each accompanied by several questions. The talks and questions are presented through a recording and are not included in the test book. Test-takers are required to pick the correct answer from four options provided in the test book. Similar to the conversations in Listening Part B, the topics typically revolve around aspects of school life or current news. Additionally, the talks often consist of condensed versions of lectures from American college or university courses.

Below are some strategies to help you handle the Listening Part C questions in the TOEFL exam:

Preview answers when possible. If time allows, review the answer choices for Listening Part C to predict:
- The topics likely to be discussed.

- The questions corresponding to each group of answers.
Focus on the first sentence of the talk. This usually provides the main idea, subject, or topic, which is often asked about in the questions.
Analyze the context of the talk. Pay attention to who is speaking, the time and place of the discussion, and the possible academic course related to the lecture. These details often form the basis of inference questions.
Match details in the talk to answer options in the test book. Follow along with the recording and identify correct answers as details are often presented in sequence and closely match the recording.
Guess if unsure. Avoid leaving any answers blank, even if you're uncertain.
Plan ahead during spare time. Use any leftover time to prepare for the upcoming questions.

Skills to Develop for BEFORE Listening Part C:

Skill 1 - ANTICIPATE THE TOPICS

Predicting the topics for Listening Part C is an effective strategy for improving understanding during the test.
Focus on identifying general themes, such as subjects related to school, literature, or scientific discussions.
Review the answer options in the test booklet to make an educated guess about the possible topic of the upcoming talk.

Skill 2 - ANTICIPATE THE QUESTIONS

Improving your ability to answer questions in Listening Part C involves anticipating the types of questions you may encounter.
Focus on the answer choices to deduce what the question might be and listen carefully for details in the recording.
This method allows you to prepare for specific question types, such as "How long does something last?" or similar queries.

Skills to Develop for WHILE Listening Part C:

Skill 3 - DETERMINE THE TOPIC

In Listening Part C, focus on identifying the topic or main idea of the talk as it is often introduced in the first sentence.
Pay close attention to the initial part of the talk, as it typically contains a topic sentence that sets the context for the entire discussion.
Use clues from the beginning of the talk to determine what the speaker will primarily discuss.

Skill 4 - DRAW CONCLUSIONS ABOUT WHO, WHAT, WHEN, WHERE

While listening to talks in Part C, try to visualize the situation by asking key questions like who is speaking and when or where the talk takes place.
Consider the subject of the talk, such as the topic or event being discussed, and the source of the information provided.
Using these clues helps in understanding the broader context and answering questions more effectively.

Skill 5 - LISTEN FOR ANSWERS IN ORDER

In Listening Part C, you can either focus solely on the talk or follow along with the answer choices while listening.
Since detail questions are answered in order during the recording, reading the answer options as you listen can help identify the correct response more easily.
Choose the method that works best for you, whether it’s listening attentively to the recording or combining listening with reading the answer choices.