2026 TOEFL Listening ETS Sample Test
Hi everyone,
Let’s dive into some official TOEFL Listening sample sets from ETS. You can find these in the Teacher Resources section on the ETS website.
Today, we’ll work through both Listening modules. You’ll answer each question first, then I’ll reveal the correct answer and break down exactly how to solve it. We’ll keep a steady pace so you get strong, realistic practice with both sections.
Module 1: 18 questions
Module 2: 16 questions
Here’s the truth: TOEFL is not a game of chance. Taking the test over and over and hoping for a miracle is like throwing money out the window. This exam is a game of skill, and every section matters.
The smartest—and cheapest—move is to prepare thoroughly, master every question type, and walk into the test once and leave TOEFL in the dirt.
That’s what Dr. Byrnes’ TOEFL courses are built for. The lectures and practice materials are created by reverse-engineering ETS’s question logic, so nothing on test day catches you off guard.
If you’re ready to stop guessing, stop retaking, and start winning, visit
https://www.nanheebyrnes.com/p/2026-toefl-listening-course-syllabus_16.html
and explore the full TOEFL courses. Train smarter, test once, and get the score you want.
Alright, let’s get started with Module 1. There’s a timer running, so make sure you have your answer ready before the clock runs out. The first eight are “Choose the Best Response” questions — so, listen carefully!
Module 1
Questions 1-8: Best Response
1. Woman: Who's attending the trade show in Dubai?
(A) I'm going to the concert with friends.
(B) Sheila and I traded work shifts yesterday.
(C) Only the managers are going.
(D) The location is the same as last year.
2. Man: Don't we need to finish the sales report tomorrow?
(A) I took vacation time last week.
(B) Which supervisor does Jack report to?
(C) Yes, the annual sale begins tomorrow.
(D) The deadline isn't until next week.
3. Woman: When will the house be put up for sale?
(A) Tomorrow morning.
(B) Every Tuesday.
(C) It arrived yesterday at 5 o'clock.
(D) She put it up on the shelf.
4. Man: The online store offers multiple delivery options, doesn't it?
(A) I've shopped there many times.
(B) There is only one free option.
(C) Warehouse space is limited.
(D) Inventory is taken every Friday.
5. Man: When is the budget meeting?
(A) He will meet her today.
(B) We've exceeded the budget.
(C) In about an hour.
(D) On the fourth floor.
6. Woman: How long before the furniture arrives?
(A) The couch is so comfortable.
(B) The movers were delayed.
(C) The desk is 1.5 meters long.
(D) We're remodeling the kitchen.
7. Man: Where can I go for a quick lunch?
(A) We had eggs for breakfast.
(B) Not more than twenty minutes.
(C) I love to cook too.
(D) Anne's on Fourth Street is good.
8. Woman: Where is the fashion show next week?
(A) No, the week after!
(B) Formal wear is expected.
(C) At the new convention center downtown.
(D) That play has gotten good reviews.
Solutions
Question 1
The question is: “Who's attending the trade show in Dubai?”
The question asks who, so the response must name people, and the action is attending a trade show. Options A, B, and C mention people so they are candidates. Option A is wrong because it talks about attending a concert, not a trade show. Option B is wrong because it mentions trading work shifts, not attending. Option C “Only the managers are going” uses “going” which means attending. Answer C.
Question 2
Okay, next question: “Don’t we need to finish the sales report tomorrow?”
“Need to finish something” means a deadline. It’s also a yes/no question. The question asks whether the deadline for finishing is tomorrow, so the response must either confirm or correct the timing. Options A and B are irrelevant. Option C “Yes, the annual sale begins tomorrow” looks good at first but talks about irrelevant stuff — we’re talking about finishing the sales report, not beginning annual sales. Option D “The deadline isn’t until next week” corrects the speaker’s mistake and explains the correct deadline. Answer D.
Question 3
Moving on to question 3: “When will the house be put up for sale?”
The question asks when, so the response must give time. Options A and B have time-indicating words. Option A “Tomorrow morning” gives the clear time for the action. Option B is wrong — “Every Tuesday” indicates frequency or interval, but the question for that answer should be “How often?” Answer A.
Question 4
The question is: “The online store offers multiple delivery options, doesn’t it?”
This is a tag question, which is a form of yes/no question. The question is whether multiple delivery options are offered, so the response must be about delivery options. Option A is not about delivery options. Option B “There is only one free option” addresses options directly (it implies multiple options exist but clarifies only one is free). Options C and D are irrelevant to options. Answer B.
Question 5
The question is: “When is the budget meeting?”
This is a when question, so the correct response must give time. Option C, “In about an hour,” clearly tells us when the meeting will happen—approximately 60 minutes from now. Answer: C.
Question 6
Next, question 6: “How long before the furniture arrives?”
The expression “How long before…” is used when something has not happened yet and the speaker is waiting. The correct answer can either tell us when it will happen or why it hasn’t happened yet. Option B, “The movers were delayed,” explains the delay indirectly, which correctly answers the question. Answer: B.
Question 7
Question 7 asks: “Where can I go for a quick lunch?”
This is a where question, so we need a place. Option D, “Anne’s on Fourth Street is good,” gives a clear location. In spoken English, a possessive like “Anne’s” often means a place, such as a restaurant. Answer: D.
Question 8
Finally, question 8: “Where is the fashion show next week?”
Again, this is a where question, so the answer must give a location. Option C, “At the new convention center downtown,” clearly states where the event will be held. Answer: C.
Conversation 1
Man: Going to the farmers market on Saturday?
Woman: Yes, I need to pick up some fresh vegetables.
Man: Me too. I love the produce there. I wish it were closer to downtown though.
Woman: Yeah, changing two bus lines is a bit much.
Man: Maybe let's try to recruit Michael and Sarah to come with us. Taking a rideshare wouldn't be so expensive if we split the fare among the four of us.
Woman: That's a thought. Though I’m pretty sure the two of them are going to a wedding this Saturday.
9. What do the speakers dislike about the farmers market?
(A) Its location is inconvenient.
(B) Its supply of vegetables is limited.
(C) It is often closed on Saturdays.
(D) It can be expensive.
10. Why does the woman mention a wedding?
(A) To make a point about rideshare prices
(B) To explain why she needs to buy vegetables
(C) To invite the man to an event
(D) To identify a problem with the man's plan
Solutions
Question 9
The question asks: “What do the speakers dislike about the farmers market?”
First, focus on negative comments in the conversation. The man says, “I wish it were closer to downtown,” and the woman adds that changing two bus lines is “a bit much.” Both comments show that the problem is distance and transportation, not the food or price. This means they dislike the location.
Correct answer: (A) Its location is inconvenient.
Question 10
The question asks: “Why does the woman mention a wedding?”
The man suggests inviting Michael and Sarah so they can split the rideshare cost. The woman responds by saying those two are going to a wedding, which means they won’t be able to come. She mentions the wedding to point out a problem with the man’s plan, not to talk about prices or invite anyone.
Correct answer: (D) To identify a problem with the man’s plan.
Conversation 2
Man: Are you going to the book club meeting tonight?
Woman: I haven’t finished the book yet.
Man: That’s OK! And yeah, Jake Homgren’s novels can be a slog sometimes. But the philosophical insights in them are fascinating.
Woman: Maybe if I hear other club members’ perspectives, it’ll help me follow the book better and make the reading go faster.
Man: This was exactly my experience when we discussed Chen Wang’s poems last week.
11. What do the speakers imply about the book that will be discussed tonight?
(A) It provides diverse perspectives.
(B) It is less philosophical than its author’s other books.
(C) It is very popular among book club members.
(D) It is difficult to understand.
12. What does the man say about Chen Wang’s poems?
(A) They are similar to novels in some ways.
(B) They lack philosophical insights.
(C) He could read them more quickly after a book club discussion.
(D) A book of them took him a week to read.
Solutions
Question 11 The question asks: “What do the speakers imply about the book that will be discussed tonight?”
Listen for indirect clues, not direct statements. The woman says she hasn’t finished the book yet, and the man says the author’s novels “can be a slog sometimes.” The woman also says she hopes hearing others’ perspectives will help her follow the book better. All of this implies that the book is hard to understand or slow to read.Correct answer: (D) It is difficult to understand.
Question 12 The question asks: “What does the man say about Chen Wang’s poems?”
The man says that discussing the poems in the book club helped him in the same way—it made the reading easier. This matches the idea that discussion helped him read more efficiently. He does not say anything about popularity, length, or lack of philosophy. Correct answer: (C) He could read them more quickly after a book club discussion.
Announcement
Good afternoon, everyone. Just a reminder that the annual Spring Festival will be held this Saturday to celebrate the coming warm weather and the end of the school year.
It will take place on the main campus lawn from 1 to 4 P.M. There will be food stands, games, and from 3 to 4 P.M., live music from student bands. We hope you can all join us for a fun-filled day!
13. What is the purpose of the event?
(A) To support professional musicians
(B) To raise funds
(C) To increase awareness of an issue
(D) To celebrate spring
14. What can students do during the last hour of the event?
(A) Listen to music
(B) Attend lectures
(C) Watch a sports competition
(D) Purchase arts and crafts
Solutions
Question 13 The question asks: “What is the purpose of the event?”
Listen for why the event is being held. The speaker says the Spring Festival will celebrate “the coming warm weather and the end of the school year.” This shows the event is meant for celebration, not fundraising, professional support, or awareness campaigns. Correct answer: (D) To celebrate spring.
Question 14 The question asks: “What can students do during the last hour of the event?”
The speaker specifies: “from 3 to 4 P.M., live music from student bands.” This is exactly the last hour of the event, so students can listen to music. Other options like lectures, sports, or arts and crafts are not mentioned for this time slot. Correct answer: (A) Listen to music.
Lecture: Psychology
Professor: The bystander effect is a social psychological theory according to which individuals are less likely to offer help to a victim when other people are present. The theory was first proposed by researchers in the 1960s, based on observations. The bystander effect can be explained through two primary factors: diffusion of responsibility and social influence. Diffusion of responsibility occurs when people believe that someone else will take action, and so they feel less personal responsibility. Social influence involves looking to others for cues on how to behave, especially in ambiguous situations. If others are not helping, individuals may interpret the situation as non-emergency and refrain from intervening. More recent studies, however, have disputed the claim that the presence of more bystanders can decrease the likelihood of assistance. One study from 2019 that analyzed video footage from multiple cities found that in 9 out of 10 incidents, at least one bystander did take action to help. This study found that a bystander was actually more likely to intervene when more bystanders were present. Some factors that may influence bystander behavior include the level of danger and whether bystanders know each other.
15. What is the main topic of the talk?
(A) How a social psychological theory was developed
(B) How the presence of others can affect a decision
(C) How to help people in different emergencies
(D) How to identify emergency situations
16. According to the talk, how might social influence affect behavior?
(A) A person may interpret a situation as less urgent if no one around them intervenes.
(B) A person may be unwilling to be the first to act.
(C) An individual is more likely to act to impress others.
(D) An individual is less likely to act when asked directly.
17. Why does the speaker discuss a study from 2019?
(A) To show that new evidence challenges earlier findings
(B) To illustrate improved research methods
(C) To argue that helping is dangerous
(D) To show that few bystanders assist victims
18. What is NOT mentioned as a factor influencing bystander behavior?
(A) The number of bystanders
(B) The degree of danger
(C) The location of the incident
(D) The familiarity among bystanders
Module 2
Questions
1. Man: Who should present at the research seminar?
(A) Other research.
(B) Dr. Wang can.
(C) At Jenna’s house.
(D) On Thursday.
2. Woman: Where’s the nearest movie theater?
(A) An afternoon showing.
(B) Five large screens.
(C) I’m not available.
(D) I’m not familiar with this area.
3. Man: Tom told me he likes playing chess.
(A) I’ve never seen him play before.
(B) I just took my turn.
(C) Some pieces are missing.
(D) That’s tomorrow.
4. Woman: Would you like to join us for a coffee break?
(A) Two sugars, please.
(B) On the left.
(C) Sure, that’s great.
(D) I lost mine.
5. Man: Would you rather watch TV or read a book?
(A) I lost my bookmark.
(B) At 3 o’clock.
(C) I prefer watching shows.
(D) Over on the bookshelf.
6. Woman: Where can I find more printer paper?
(A) There’s some in the cabinet.
(B) The technician called.
(C) First thing in the morning.
(D) I finished reading the paper.
7. Man: Can I call you if I have questions about tomorrow’s delivery?
(A) Yesterday morning.
(B) I forget what it’s called.
(C) In the copy room.
(D) It’s better if you text.
8. Woman: I can’t figure out how to fix my bicycle.
(A) A broken chain.
(B) Every day.
(C) Ask Kenny.
(D) The new trail.
Conversation 1
Woman: How are preparations for tomorrow’s meeting with the board coming along? Is your marketing presentation all set?
Man: Almost. I’ve finalized the slides, but I still need to print the handouts — and the printer’s acting up.
Woman: Again? That’s the third time this week. Do you want me to check it out? The last couple of times I had an issue, I managed to get it working again.
Man: That would be great. I’ve already tried fiddling with it, but no luck.
Woman: I’ll head down to the copy room right now and see what I can do.
9. What problem are the speakers discussing?
(A) A computer file is not opening.
(B) A piece of equipment is not working.
(C) A presentation time has been changed.
(D) Some slides are not displaying properly.
10. What does the woman offer to do?
(A) Attempt to repair a printer
(B) Review the man’s handouts
(C) Help the man practice a presentation
(D) Make copies of the man’s presentation
Announcement 1
Man:
Attention everyone! The student lounge will be closed next week from Monday to Friday for renovations. Please use the library or other study areas during this time. We apologize for any inconvenience.
11. What is the main purpose of the announcement?
(A) To request help with renovations
(B) To apologize for inconvenience
(C) To announce the availability of new study areas
(D) To inform students about the lounge closure
12. What are students advised to do during the lounge closure?
(A) Request alternative study spaces
(B) Schedule meetings elsewhere
(C) Use the library or other study areas
(D) Participate in renovation activities
Lecture: Economics
Professor:
Behavioral economics combines insights from psychology and economics to understand how people make decisions. Unlike traditional economics, which assumes people act rationally, behavioral economics recognizes that decisions are often affected by biases and emotions.
One key concept is heuristics — mental shortcuts people use for quick decisions. Heuristics are useful but can cause systematic judgment errors. For instance, the availability heuristic makes people overestimate rare—but dramatic—events like plane crashes while underestimating common risks like car accidents.
Another concept is loss aversion, which suggests people feel the pain of loss more strongly than the pleasure of an equivalent gain. This can cause risk-averse behavior — for example, investors might hold onto losing stocks too long, hoping they’ll rebound.
Understanding such biases helps policymakers design better economic interventions. Next, we’ll look at how nudges, or subtle changes in how choices are presented, can help people make better decisions.
13. What is the main topic of the talk?
(A) How the field of behavioral economics developed
(B) Why an assumption in traditional economics is not always correct
(C) Some examples of unusual human behavior
(D) The role of policymakers in economics
14. According to the speaker, what is a problem with using heuristics?
(A) They do not allow decisions to be made quickly.
(B) They can result in mistakes in judgment.
(C) They ignore emotional consequences.
(D) They cause people to focus too much on gains.
15. Why does the speaker mention stocks?
(A) To give an example of people avoiding losses
(B) To highlight the pleasure of gains
(C) To describe the importance of rational decision-making
(D) To discuss the benefits of heuristics
16. What will the speaker most likely discuss next?
(A) A popular practice among investors
(B) A method economists use to test behavior
(C) An example of an intervention by policymakers
(D) A way to help people make better decisions
Solutions
Question 1
The man asks, “Who should present at the research seminar?” He is asking who is qualified to give the presentation. Option (B) “Dr. Wang can” shows that Dr. Wang is able and qualified, so it correctly answers the question.
Question 2
The woman asks, “Where’s the nearest movie theater?” She wants a location. Option (D) “I’m not familiar with this area” indicates that the speaker cannot answer because they don’t know the location. The other choices mention a time, number of screens, or availability, which do not answer the question.
Question 3
The man says, “Tom told me he likes playing chess.” This question tests your ability to respond appropriately in small talk. The correct response is related to Tom playing chess. Option (A) “I’ve never seen him play before” is the most suitable reaction.
Question 4
The woman asks, “Would you like to join us for a coffee break?” This is an invitation, so the response must accept or decline. Option (C) “Sure, that’s great” directly accepts the invitation.
Question 5
The man asks, “Would you rather watch TV or read a book?” He is asking for a preference between two choices. Option (C) “I prefer watching shows” correctly gives a choice.
Question 6
The woman asks, “Where can I find more printer paper?” She wants a location. Option (A) “There’s some in the cabinet” directly answers the question.
Question 7
The man asks, “Can I call you if I have questions about tomorrow’s delivery?” He is asking for the best way to contact. Option (D) “It’s better if you text” gives clear advice about communication. Other answers refer to unrelated times, names, or places.
Question 8
The woman says, “I can’t figure out how to fix my bicycle.” She is looking for help or advice. Option (C) “Ask Kenny” provides guidance. The other choices mention a part, frequency, or location, which don’t solve the problem.
Q9: The speakers are discussing a problem with a piece of equipment. The man needs to print handouts for his presentation, but the printer isn’t working properly. The correct answer is (B) A piece of equipment is not working.
Q10: The woman offers to try and fix the printer herself since she has managed similar issues before. The correct answer is (A) Attempt to repair a printer.
Q11: The main purpose of the announcement is to inform students that the student lounge will be closed for renovations. The correct answer is (D) To inform students about the lounge closure.
Q12: During the lounge closure, students are advised to use alternative spaces such as the library or other study areas. The correct answer is (C) Use the library or other study areas.
Alright, these are the last set of questions. The lecture itself is fairly easy to understand, but some of the questions can be tricky, so let’s go through them carefully.First, let’s focus on the big idea of the lecture. The talk begins by introducing a key assumption in traditional economics: the idea that people always make rational decisions. Behavioral economics challenges this assumption. The speaker then provides two examples showing how real human decision-making is often influenced by psychological biases and emotions. These two examples are heuristics and loss aversion. Finally, the lecture concludes by explaining that understanding these biases is useful for policymakers, because it can help them design tools—such as nudges—to help people make better decisions.Now let’s look at the questions.
Question 13: What is the main topic of the talk? Even though the lecture begins by defining behavioral economics, the main focus is not the field itself. Instead, the speaker uses heuristics and loss aversion as evidence to challenge the core assumption of traditional economics—that humans are rational decision-makers.
Let’s go through the choices.
(A) How the field of behavioral economics developed
The lecture does mention that behavioral economics combines psychology and economics, but it does not discuss the history or development of the field. For this answer to be correct, we would expect information about key researchers, historical stages, or how the field evolved over time. None of that appears here, so this is not correct.
(B) Why an assumption in traditional economics is not always correct
This is the best answer. The lecture explains that people do not always act rationally and supports this claim with examples of cognitive biases and emotional responses. This directly addresses why the traditional assumption fails.
(C) Some examples of unusual human behavior
The behaviors described—using heuristics and avoiding losses—are presented as common, not unusual. They are normal patterns of human decision-making, so this choice misrepresents the speaker’s point.
(D) The role of policymakers in economics
Policymakers are only mentioned briefly at the end of the lecture. This is a supporting idea, not the main focus.
So, the correct answer for Question 13 is (B).
Question 14: According to the speaker, what is a problem with using heuristics?
This question is straightforward. The speaker clearly states that while heuristics help people make quick decisions, they can also lead to systematic judgment errors.
The correct answer is (B) They can result in mistakes in judgment.
Question 15: Why does the speaker mention stocks?
The speaker mentions stocks when explaining loss aversion. Investors often hold onto losing stocks because they feel the pain of loss more strongly than the pleasure of gain.
So, the correct answer is (A) To give an example of people avoiding losses.
Question 16: What will the speaker most likely discuss next?
To answer this type of question, always pay close attention to the final sentence. The professor says that next, they will look at how nudges can help people make better decisions.
Let’s consider the choices briefly.
Choices A and B are not relevant.
Choice C mentions interventions by policymakers, which is related but too broad.
Choice D clearly matches what the speaker signals next and accurately reflects the scope.
So, the correct answer is (D) A way to help people make better decisions.
The lecture itself is easy to follow, but the questions are tricky because several answer choices are tempting. For difficult questions like 13 and 16, the key strategy is to narrow down the plausible choices and then check the scope. The correct answer is usually neither too broad nor too narrow—it matches the speaker’s focus exactly.
Make sure to jot down your answers for Questions 13 and 16 in the comments.