How many questions are in the TOEFL Listening section?

ETS publishes a 47-item Listening base form across four task types: Listen and Choose a Response (15 to 19), Listen to a Conversation (10), Listen to an Announcement (6 to 10) and Listen to an Academic Talk (8 to 16). ETS notes that Listening item counts may vary and may include non-scored pretest items.

TOEFL iBT® test format · Listening

The TOEFL iBT® Listening section (2026)

Q: How long is the TOEFL Listening section?

The published base time is about 29 minutes. Listening is the second section and is a two-stage adaptive test with a router module followed by a lower or upper module, so actual time may vary.

Q: What accents are used in TOEFL Listening?

Speakers have accents from three regions: North America, the United Kingdom and Australia.

Listening is the second section. ETS publishes a 47-item base form taking about 29 minutes, and the section is two-stage adaptive. It measures how well you understand conversations and talks in academic and campus-life settings. Speakers use accents from North America, the UK and Australia. Below is how the section works and its four task types — then try it in a free full-length mock.

Section at a glance

Task type	Items	CEFR	Guide
Listen and Choose a Response	15–19	A1–B2	Read guide →
Listen to a Conversation	10	A2–C1	Read guide →
Listen to an Announcement	6–10	A2–C1	Read guide →
Listen to an Academic Talk	8–16	A2–C2	Read guide →

These are ETS's base figures. Listening time and item counts may vary, and totals may include non-scored pretest items; scored responses use machine-scored formats. The split between task types varies within the published ranges.

How long is the TOEFL Listening section in 2026?

The published base form takes about 29 minutes for 47 Listening items. Because Listening is two-stage adaptive and forms can include non-scored calibration items, treat 29 minutes as the planning figure rather than a guaranteed stopwatch total.

Listening comes after Reading in a TOEFL iBT test that takes about 90 minutes overall. See the complete TOEFL timing and pacing guide for the section-by-section schedule, or review what changed in the January 2026 TOEFL if your study material still teaches the retired version.

How the section works

Listening is a two-stage adaptive test: a router module is followed by a lower or upper module depending on your performance. The tasks are set in academic and everyday contexts, and speakers use accents from three regions — North America, the United Kingdom and Australia.

The four Listening task types

Listen and Choose a Response

You hear a short question or statement (not shown on screen) and choose the most appropriate reply from four options.

15–19 items · A1–B2 · Full guide →

Listen to a Conversation

A short conversation between two speakers, followed by two questions (about five conversations across the 10 items).

10 items · A2–C1 · Full guide →

Listen to an Announcement

A short academic announcement (~40–85 words) — a schedule, direction, rule or achievement — followed by questions.

6–10 items · A2–C1 · Full guide →

Listen to an Academic Talk

A short lecture-style talk (~100–250 words, no background knowledge needed) with four questions each.

8–16 items · A2–C2 · Full guide →

Practise the Listening section free

Take a full-length practice mock in the 2026 TOEFL iBT® format and get a predicted 1–6 band. No card required.

Take a free mock → All four sections

Avermond Test Prep is an independent preparation service. TOEFL® is a registered trademark of ETS. This product is not endorsed or approved by ETS. Item counts and timings reflect ETS's published January-2026 TOEFL iBT test specifications and may be subject to minor revision before launch.