TOEFL iBT Listening Practice Set 1

Below, you will find examples of how to take notes from a conversation and lectures. We

are big believer in using authentic material and believe you should as well. So, if you would like

to follow along with the conversations and lectures we are using, please go to the following link:

http://www.ets.org/c/17722/index.html. We are doing Volume 3 (PDF with transcripts and MP3

audio files). Paste the link into your browser and follow along!!!

Prior to reviewing our notes below, please make an attempt to take notes on your own

and then compare them to our notes. Following an explanation for your note taking, we will

review the answer choices and reveal the traps used for the wrong answers. These are my actual

notes taken from the lectures and conversations based upon an authentic TOEFL iBT practice

exam. We followed the conversation using our A & B model of note taking and did our best to

capture phrases and complete ideas that were expressed. No one gets all of the notes, but the

more complete your note-taking, the easier it becomes to answer the questions.

Before we review the actual questions, let quickly make note of the Answering Process

we explained to you earlier and please find a review of the traps that are contained in the

incorrect answers. To do well, you must be good at spotting wrong answers, since 75% of the

answers are incorrect.

Answering Process

1. Read the question and note the keywords in the questions. These key words direct

you where to look in your notes for the answer. Recall the questions go in

chronological order, so Question 1 will be found in the beginning of your notes.

 2. Look in your notes and read the information following the key words located in the

question. This information will have the actual answer to the question.

3. Find the matching answer. Keep in mind the entire trap answers that ETS uses to fool

and trick students. Review our section we have on trap answers.

When trying to use a process of elimination, keep a look out for the following trap answers:

● Not Mentioned: this trap answer choice contains information that is not contained in the
keyword sentence in the paragraph.

● Extreme: this trap answer contains words that are considered extreme, such as never, always,
impossible, entirely, similar, only.

● Adjectives Qualifiers/Quantifiers: this trap answer will often have exact language from the
passage and some form of qualifier to make it wrong, such as (mostly, equal to, necessary, less
than, more than, must, likely, alone less, most, similar, steady, sever.

● Wrong Verb: another trap answer choice not often cited is when ETS includes a wrong verb
to make a choice wrong. This trap is very tricky as the examiners will use a lot of exact language
to draw you in and then place a wrong verb to make a choice wrong.

● Exact Language: as stated earlier, synonyms are a great tester of English proficiency and so a
popular trap answer is the use of exact language. Very often ETS will use exact language from
one of the sentences surrounding the keyword sentence and then change the verb, use extreme
language or use a qualifier to make it a bad choice.

● Right Answer, Wrong Question: this particular trap answer occurs when ETS picks an
answer choice from a sentence other than the keyword sentence. The answer choice is correct,
but it does not derive from the keyword sentence, so it is wrong.

● Altered Information: this trap answer is also very tricky due to the fact ETS often uses exact
language and then alters either (1) changes in time, (2) changes in place, (3) changes in order, (4)
changes in person [name], (5) change in number or extremity or (6) change in the subject and
object.

● Too Broad: this trap answer choice happens when an answer choice is beyond the scope of the
keyword sentence or the entire main point of the passage.

● Too Narrow: this trap answer occurs when an answer choice does not contain necessary
information or leaves our part of the answer. Half right is wrong!
 Conversation 1 . So, if you would like to follow along with the conversations and

lectures we are using, please go to the following link:

http://www.ets.org/c/17722/index.html. We are doing Volume 3 (PDF with transcripts and MP3

audio files). Paste the link into your browser and follow along!!!

Volume 3 Audio Files Play Track 1

Listening Practice Set 1: Conversation and Questions

 Track 1 (MP3)
 Track 2 (MP3)

I. Main Purpose: drop off forms, process diploma for grad. (Question 1 Source)

II. (first main conversation topic)

A. (Speaker A): check comp., looks okay, but flag on record, grad requirement

need 48 credits, meet dept. chair, in past issues ltr but no more (Question 2

source and Answer)

B. (Speaker B): met chair person, said needed 8 credits for okay, got em, not sure

problem

III. (second conversation topic)

(Speaker A): computer usually reliable, not sure (undecided)

(Speaker B): maybe took basics w/ field exp, no intermediate available, would

count if took intro w/ field. Some student took for ease, but he enjoyed work.

(Question 3 Question source and Answer)

 IV. (third conversation topic)

A. (Speaker A): computer still say basic level

B. (Speaker B): cancel grad?

A. No, contact chair, verify, certify; no deadline but if wait weeks could be

prob. (Question 4 source and Answer)

A. I get on it.

Answer Analysis

1. Why does the man go to see the registrar? DON ’T LOOK AT THE ANSWERS YET, GO

BACK AND CHECK YOUR NOTES. BASED ON CHRONOLOGICAL ORDER, LET’S

LOOK AT THE BEGINNING. Our notes say “Main Purpose: drop off forms, process

diploma for grad.” Now look for the matching answer.

(A) To find out why he is not on the list of graduating students

(B) To explain why he has not fulfilled his graduation requirements

(C) To find out the exact requirements for graduation

(D) To submit a document required for graduation

D, is the Answer choice as it matches exactly what we have in our notes.

A, is incorrect as it falls into the trap of Not Mentioned

B, is incorrect as this information does not come from the purpose section, but instead from the

first comments by the administrator. Trap: correct answer, not for this question.

C, is incorrect as it uses the trap of ExtremeLanguage “exact”

I could not express enough, how important it is to be able to recognize correct trap answers

equally as good as spotting the correct answers. 75% of the choices are wrong!! And if you are

not good at spotting trap answers, you will pick them every time since they look so beautiful and

easy!

2. According to the registrar, what step is currently taken to ensure that students fulfill their

graduation requirements? The words “graduation requirements” are the key words and so

we go to our notes and find this language (see underlined in notes). Now, read this

information, determine the answer for yourself and THEN look at the Answers. Our notes

say the following: “check comp., looks okay, but flag on record, grad requirement need 48

credits, meet dept. chair, in past issues ltr but no more”

(A) Academic records are regularly checked by the registrar’s office.

(B) Students meet with a department chairperson to plan their course work.

(C) Students receive letters listing the courses that they still need to take.

(D) Warning letters are sent to students who have fallen behind in their course work.

B, is correct as this answer choice is found directly in our notes “meet dept. chair”

A, is incorrect as this answer choice is the trap Not Mentioned in our notes, so we know it’s

wrong.
C, is incorrect as it uses exact language and falls into the trap of Incorrectly Stated, the notes

say this was “in past”

D, is incorrect as this information falls in to trap of Not Mentioned in our notes.

3. Why does the man mention his classmates? The key words from the Purpose question are

“his classmates”, so I go to the notes and look for this language or SYNONYM of this

language and it is found (see underlined above). Read this information and then find the

matching answer choice. Our notes say the following: “maybe took basics w/ field exp, no

intermediate available, would count if took intro w/ field. Some student took for ease, but he

enjoyed work.”

(A) To explain how he obtained information about field research

(B) To point out that many students like to do field research

(C) To show that it is difficult to get intermediate-level credits

(D) To emphasize his motivation to do field research in two of his courses

D, is the correct Answer; recall how we mentioned to pay close attention to transition words such

as “but” as this will often reveal the answer with listening purpose questions. Our notes say “but

he enjoyed the work” and this is what language the Answer must be attached to. The only answer
that deals with his enjoyment is emphasizing his motivation as compared to the other

classmates. Correct choices rely upon finding similar/synonym language!

A, is incorrect as it mentions traps Exact Language (field research) to draw you in and then uses

a Wrong Verb (obtained) not mentioned and therefore wrong.

B, is incorrect as it falls into trap Exact Language (students) and Incorrectly Stated since the

notes just say they did it for “ease” which is not the same as “liking to do”

C, is incorrect as there is no mention “difficult” in the notes and thus we are dealing with the

Qualifier trap.

4. Why does the registrar tell the man to contact his chairperson immediately? The key words

from the question are “contact his chairperson”, so first we need to look at notes and find

this language (see underlined). Then read this information and find answer for yourself.

Our notes say “contact chair, verify, certify; no deadline but if wait weeks could be prob.” Let’s

find a match for this language!

(A) A deadline has already passed.

(B) The man has a limited time to resolve his problem.

(C) The man first needs to find out if the chairperson will help him.

(D) Issuing a new grade may take longer than expected.

B, is the correct Answer since the notes say “but if wait weeks could be problem” and this

answer choice matches this particular language. Also, once again if you follow the transition

words “but”, the answer will shortly follow.

A, is incorrect as it falls into trap of “Exact Language” (deadline) and Incorrectly Stated since

the notes say “no deadline” and this answer says “deadline passed.” Be very careful with exact

language!

C, is incorrectly stated as this falls into the trap of Not Mentioned in the notes section of the

Question source.

D, is incorrectly stated as this falls into the trap of Not Mentioned in the notes section of the

Question source.

5. Listen to Track 2. When doing Replay Questions, we advise students to take notes from

the replay. The key language is “computer reliable, not sure what’s going on here.” So, our

goal with this language is to determine the underlying FUNCTION of this language in the

context of how it was said.

(A) She is uncertain about the reliability of the computer.

(B) She will approve the man’s form despite her doubts about it.

(C) She needs more information about the man’s credits.

(D) She needs to call someone to help her fix computer errors.

C, is the correct answer choice as the function of the language has nothing to do with the ability

of the computer, but simply the woman saying she needs more information to determine the

man’s status. Also, this answer is in agreement with the Main Purpose, which is to determine the

validity of the man’s diploma status.

A, is incorrect as it relies upon the trap Exact Language (computer reliable). Remember, this

conversation has nothing to do with the reliability of computers but whether the man qualifies for
a diploma as stated in the main purpose. Don’t be that student that says “I heard remember her

saying something about the computer being reliable and this answers says the “computer

reliable”, so I will pick this answer!” It’s wrong, don’t pick Memory answers, but instead focus

on the underlying function.

B, is incorrect as it falls into the trap of Not Mentioned and Wrong Verb (no underlying

indication of “approval” of his form despite a doubt)

D, is incorrect as it falls into the Exact Language trap with the mention of “computer” and

relating the word “reliable” to the word “fix”. Again ETS is hoping you will be one of those

students who student that says “I heard remember her saying something about the computer

being reliable and this answers says the “computer fixed”, so I will pick this answer!” It’s wrong,

don’t pick Memory answers, but instead focus on the underlying function of verifying his

information.