EXAMPLES OF THE UPDATESTO THE TOEIC® LISTENING
AND READING TESTUPDATES TO THE
LISTENING SECTION

Copyright © 2017 by Educational Testing Service. All rights reserved. ETS, the ETS logo and TOEIC
are registered trademarks of Educational Testing Service (ETS).

UPDATES TO THE LISTENING SECTION• A reduced number of Photograph (Part 1) andQuestion-Response (Part 2) questions• An increased number of Conversation questions (Part 3)

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UPDATES TO THE LISTENING SECTION (CONTINUED)• Conversations will include more natural language such as
more and shorter interactions between speakers• Some conversations will include more than two speakers

4UPDATES TO THE LISTENING SECTION (CONTINUED)• New questions testing the understanding of what is said ina conversation or talk about written information• New questions about understanding the speaker’s words incontext

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LISTENING SECTION COMPARISON CHART
Current Version

Updated Version

Part 1:

StandAlone
QuestionsPhotographs: 10 questions

Photographs: 6 questions

Part 2:StandAlone
Questions

Question-Response: 30 questions

Question-Response: 25 questions

Part 3:

Set-Based
Questions

Conversations: 30 questions• 10 conversations• 3 questions per conversation

Conversations: 39 questions• 13 conversations• 3 questions per conversation

Part 4:Set-BasedQuestions

Talks: 30 questions• 10 talks• 3 questions per talkTalks: 30 questions• 10 talks• 3 questions per talk

Listening Comprehension: 100 questions

Listening Comprehension: 100 questions

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EXAMPLES OF UPDATES IN THE LISTENING SECTION

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EXAMPLES OF UPDATES IN THE LISTENING SECTION (CONTINUED)
Example of more natural language:• W-Am: I heard it’s the research department.
• M-Au: Ah, because they have the most people.

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EXAMPLES OF UPDATES IN THE LISTENING SECTION (CONTINUED)
Familiar Question Type (Part 3)
7. What is the conversation mainly about?
(A) An enlargement of office space(B) A move into a new market(C) An increase in staff numbers(D) A change in company leadership

9EXAMPLES OF UPDATES IN THE LISTENING SECTION (CONTINUED)
New Question Type (Part 3)
8. Why does the woman say: “I can’t believe it”?
(A) She strongly disagrees(B) She would like an explanation.
(C) She feels disappointed.
(D) She is happily surprised.

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EXAMPLES OF UPDATES IN THE LISTENING SECTION (CONTINUED)
Talk with simple written information (Part 4)
ProgramPresenterTime

Ms. Carbajal

1:00–1:50

Mr. Buteux

1:55–2:45

BREAK

2:45–3:00

Mr. Chambers

3:00–3:50

Ms. Ohta

3:55–4:45

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EXAMPLES OF UPDATES IN THE LISTENING SECTION (CONTINUED)
Familiar Question Type
17. What are listeners asked to do?
(A) Stay seated during the break(B) Carry their valuables with them(C) Return any borrowed equipment(D) Share printed programs with others

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EXAMPLES OF UPDATES IN THE LISTENING SECTION (CONTINUED)
New Question Type18.) Look at the graphic. Who will be the final presenter?
(A) Ms. Carbajal(B) Mr. Buteux
Program(C) Mr. Chambers
Presenter
Time(D) Ms. Ohta
Ms. Carbajal
1:00–1:50
Mr. Buteux

1:55–2:45

BREAK

2:45–3:00

Mr. Chambers

3:00–3:50

Ms. Ohta

3:55–4:45

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UPDATES TO THE
READING SECTION

UPDATES TO THE READING SECTION• A reduced number of Incomplete Sentence questions(Part 5)
• A small increase in the next of Text Completion questions(Part 6)
• A small increase in the number of Single- and MultiplePassage questions (Part 7)

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UPDATES TO THE READING SECTION (CONTINUED)• Text Completion questions (Part 6) will have a different
format• Some reading passages will represent examples of written
conversations like text messages, instant messages, oronline conversations• Some question sets will be based on three written sources

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UPDATES TO THE READING SECTION (CONTINUED)• Two new question types testing understanding of theoverall organization of passages
 Text Completion questions (Part 6) that ask test takers tochoose which new sentence fits best in the context of theoverall passage
 Set-Based questions (Part 7) that ask test takers tounderstand where in the passage a sentence belongs• New questions about understanding the writer’s words
in context

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READING SECTION COMPARISON CHART
Current Version

Updated Version

Part 5:

StandAlone
Questions

Incomplete Sentences: 40 questions

Incomplete Sentences: 30 questions

Part 6:

StandAlone
Questions

Text Completion: 12 questions

Text Completion: 16 questions

Set-BasedQuestions

Single Passage: 28 questions• 9 single passages• 2–5 questions per passage

Single Passage: 29 questions• 10 single passages• 2–4 questions per passage

Set-BasedQuestions

Double Passages: 20 questions• 4 double passages• 5 questions per set

Multiple Passages: 25 questions• 2 Set-Based double passages• 3 Set-Based triple passages• 5 questions per set

Reading Comprehension: 100 questions

Reading Comprehension: 100 questions

Part 7:18

EXAMPLES OF UPDATES IN THE READING SECTION
Familiar Question Type, different format (Part 6)
Current

Updated19

EXAMPLES OF UPDATES IN THE READING SECTION (CONTINUED)
New Question TypeTo all Pak Designs project leaders:
In the coming weeks, …
For that reason, we are urging experienced project leaders to attend each one of
the interactive seminars that will be held throughout the coming month.
---134.--- .
Thank you for your support.
James Pak
Pak Designs

134. (A) Let me explain our plans for onsite staff training.
(B) We hope that you will strongly consider joining us.
(C) Today’s training session will be postponed until Monday.
(D) This is the first in a series of such lectures.
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EXAMPLES OF UPDATES IN THE READING SECTION (CONTINUED)
New type of reading text showing short exchanges between
multiple writers (Part 6)…
SAM BACH
12:10
I do. Would you mind meeting me at the door
after I go through customs?
AKIRA OTANI
12:15
Sure thing. Parking spots can be hard to find, but
now I’ll have extra time to drive around and look.
SAM BACH
12:16
Yes, sorry about that. See you then!

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EXAMPLES OF UPDATES IN THE READING SECTION (CONTINUED)
New Question Type…
SAM BACH
12:10
I do. Would you mind meeting me at thedoor after I go through customs?
AKIRA OTANI
12:15
Sure thing. Parking spots can be hard tofind, but now I’ll have extra time to drivearound and look.

At 12:15, what does Mr. Otani mean when he writes, “Sure thing”?
(A) He has confirmed the arrival time of a flight.
(B) He is certain he will be able to find a parking place.
(C) He agrees to wait at the door near the customs area.
(D) He knows Mr. Bach must pass through customs.

SAM BACH
12:16
Yes, sorry about that. See you then!

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EXAMPLES OF UPDATES IN THE READING SECTION (CONTINUED)
The desired start and end date for display should be written in thefront bottom right corner. — [1] —. Any notices that do not meet theserequirements will not be considered and will be discarded. — [2] —.
— [3] —. Submissions are now being accepted at the Mooringtown
Library front desk. Please have the actual notice, in the format in which
you would like it to appear, with you when you arrive. Within one
business day, you will receive a call confirming that your notice has
been added to the board. — [4] —.

“The name and telephone number of the person posting
the notice must be clearly marked on the back.”

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EXAMPLES OF UPDATES IN THE READING SECTION (CONTINUED)(Part 6)24

EXAMPLES OF UPDATES IN THE READING SECTION (CONTINUED)
The desired start and end date for display should be written in thefront bottom right corner. The name and telephone number of theperson posting the notice must be clearly marked on the back. Anynotices that do not meet these requirements will not be considered
and will be discarded.
Submissions are now being accepted at the Mooringtown Libraryfront desk. Please have the actual notice, in the format in which
you would like it to appear, with you when you arrive. Within one
business day, you will receive a call confirming that your notice has
been added to the board.

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EXAMPLES OF UPDATES IN THE READING SECTION (CONTINUED)

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EXAMPLES OF UPDATES IN THE READING SECTION (CONTINUED)

Familiar Question Type
199. Which color does Mr. Phan indicate that he likes?
(A) Caspian Blue
(B) Deep Sea Blue(C) Stormy Blue
(D) Misty Gray

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EXAMPLES OF UPDATES IN THE READING SECTION (CONTINUED)

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THANK YOU.

Copyright © 2017 by Educational Testing Service. All rights reserved. ETS, the ETS logo and TOEIC
are registered trademarks of Educational Testing Service (ETS).