TOEFL iBT® · Listening · 2026
TOEFL Listen to an Announcement: how the task works
Listen to an Announcement is one of the Listening task types in the 2026 TOEFL iBT® test. You hear a short academic announcement and answer questions about it. Here's the format, an original worked example, and tips — then try it in a free full-length mock.
Listening is the second section of the test, after Reading. It has 47 items in total, is two-stage adaptive and takes about 29 minutes. Speakers use accents from three regions — North America, the United Kingdom and Australia — and every item is machine-scored multiple choice.
What the task is
Listen to an Announcement plays a short academic-related announcement of about 40–85 words — the sort of thing you'd hear on campus, in a lecture hall or at a student event, spoken live or broadcast. You then answer questions about it.
Typical content includes a change to a schedule, directions to somewhere, a new rule, or a student's achievement.
A worked example
This is our own illustration of the format (not an official test item).
You hear (a spoken announcement):
"Attention, students. This is a reminder that the science building will close early, at 4 p.m., this Friday so that the new lab equipment can be installed. If you have a class or study session booked after 4, please check the online portal — your room has been moved to the East Wing. Normal hours resume on Monday. Thank you."
1. What is the main purpose of the announcement?
- A. To introduce a new science course.
- B. To warn students that the science building will close early on Friday. ✓ correct
- C. To cancel all classes on Monday.
- D. To report that a teacher has changed.
2. What should students with a class after 4 p.m. on Friday do?
- A. Email the science department.
- B. Wait outside the science building.
- C. Check the online portal for their new room. ✓ correct
- D. Reschedule the class for Monday.
Question 1 asks why the announcement is being made; question 2 checks an important detail (the room move to the East Wing).
How many items, and how it's scored
- 6–10 items — the Listening section includes 6 to 10 Listen to an Announcement questions.
- Machine-scored multiple choice.
- CEFR A2–C1.
- Part of the 47-item, two-stage-adaptive Listening section, which takes about 29 minutes.
What the questions ask you to do
The questions require you to:
- follow the main idea and situation;
- catch important details;
- cope with the grammar used;
- handle vocabulary, including everyday idioms and casual speech;
- infer meaning that isn't spelled out;
- anticipate what happens next; and
- work out why the announcement is being made.
How to prepare
- Catch the purpose in the first line. Announcements usually state their reason early — a closure, a change, a deadline.
- Hold on to the practical detail: a time, a place, a room, a date. That specific fact is a favourite question target.
- Listen for what you are asked to do next — "check the portal", "bring your ID" — since some questions ask about the required action.
- They are short, so concentrate from the first word. At 40–85 words there is little repetition to rescue a lapse in attention.
- Get used to institutional phrasing — "normal hours resume", "with immediate effect" — common in academic announcements.
- Practise with realistic audio. A free full-length mock includes Listen to an Announcement in the 2026 format.
Practise Listen to an Announcement free
Take a full-length practice mock built to the 2026 TOEFL iBT® format — including the Listening section — and get a predicted 1–6 band. No card required.
Avermond Test Prep is an independent preparation service. TOEFL® is a registered trademark of ETS. This product is not endorsed or approved by ETS. Task descriptions and item counts reflect ETS's published January-2026 TOEFL iBT test specifications and may be subject to minor revision before launch.