TOEIC preparation

Test of English for International Communication · ETS

TOEIC tests English for work and everyday life, with situations such as meetings, emails, travel, shopping and office announcements. Most people take the TOEIC Listening & Reading test, a 200-question multiple-choice test. The separate TOEIC Speaking & Writing tests measure productive skills and are often required by employers in addition to, or instead of, Listening & Reading.

Timed practice All 81 TOEIC lessons

Who takes it

Job applications and promotions at international companies
University graduation requirements in some countries (for example in Asia and Europe)
Professionals who need to show workplace English rather than academic English
Learners who want a clear score to track progress over time

Versions

TOEIC Listening & Reading: 200 multiple-choice questions in two timed sections: Listening (Parts 1–4, about 45 minutes) and Reading (Parts 5–7, 75 minutes). Score 10–990.
TOEIC Speaking & Writing: Computer-based tests of productive skills. Speaking has 11 questions (about 20 minutes) and Writing has 8 questions (about 60 minutes). Each is scored 0–200.

Scoring

Listening & Reading 10–990 (each section 5–495); Speaking 0–200; Writing 0–200

Listening and Reading scores go up in 5-point steps and are added for a total out of 990. Speaking and Writing are scored separately in 10-point steps, with no total. ETS's CEFR mapping gives minimum scores for each section: Listening 275 (B1), 400 (B2), 490 (C1); Reading 275 (B1), 385 (B2), 455 (C1); Speaking 120 (B1), 160 (B2), 180 (C1); Writing 120 (B1), 150 (B2), 180 (C1). The total L&R ranges below are estimated by adding the Listening and Reading minimums. ETS says these are guidelines, not rigid cut scores.

B1 Foundation	L&R about 550–780 · Speaking 120+ · Writing 120+
B2 Intermediate	L&R about 785–940 · Speaking 160+ · Writing 150+
C1 Advanced	L&R about 945+ · Speaking 180+ · Writing 180+

Total time: Listening & Reading: about 2 hours of test time (about 2.5 hours with registration questions). Speaking & Writing: about 80 minutes.

Test format

Listening (L&R test)

about 45 minutes · 100 questions in 4 parts

Part 1 – Photographs: 6 questions. You hear four statements about a photo and choose the one that best describes it. Nothing is printed.
Part 2 – Question-Response: 25 questions. You hear a question or statement and three possible replies, and choose the best reply.
Part 3 – Conversations: 39 questions. Conversations between two or three people at work or in daily life, each with 3 questions. Some questions use a chart or graphic.
Part 4 – Talks: 30 questions. Short talks such as announcements, voicemails and presentations, each with 3 questions.

Reading (L&R test)

75 minutes · 100 questions in 3 parts

Part 5 – Incomplete Sentences: 30 questions. Choose the word or phrase that completes a sentence (grammar and vocabulary).
Part 6 – Text Completion: 16 questions. Four short texts, each with four gaps; one gap in each text needs a whole sentence.
Part 7 – Reading Comprehension: 54 questions on single passages (29) and double or triple passages (25): emails, notices, articles, forms, chats and adverts.

Speaking test

about 20 minutes · 11 questions

Read a text aloud: 2 questions. 45 seconds to prepare and 45 seconds to read a short announcement or advert aloud.
Describe a picture: 2 questions. 45 seconds to prepare and 30 seconds to describe a photo.
Respond to questions: 3 questions on an everyday topic, with no real preparation time and 15 or 30 seconds to answer.
Respond to questions using information provided: 3 questions about a schedule or document on screen (45 seconds to read it), with 15 or 30 seconds to answer.
Express an opinion: 1 question. 45 seconds to prepare and 60 seconds to give and support your opinion.

Writing test

about 60 minutes · 8 questions

Write a sentence based on a picture: 5 questions in 8 minutes. Write one sentence about a photo using two given words or phrases.
Respond to a written request: 2 questions, 10 minutes each. Read a short email and write a reply that does what it asks.
Write an opinion essay: 1 question, 30 minutes. Give and support your opinion on an issue; at least 300 words is recommended.

Strategies that work

1In Part 1, look at the photo before the audio starts and think of the people, actions and objects you can see.
2In Part 2, be careful with answers that repeat a word from the question or use a similar-sounding word: they are often wrong.
3In Parts 3 and 4, read the three questions before each conversation or talk so you know what to listen for.
4In Part 5, check the words around the gap first: often you only need the word form (noun, verb, adjective, adverb).
5Keep about 55 minutes for Part 7 and answer every question, because there is no penalty for guessing.
6In the Speaking test, use the preparation time to plan two or three main points, and keep speaking until the time ends.
7In written replies, answer every request in the email and use a clear, polite business tone.

Your TOEIC study plan

Work through these lessons in order, then try the timed practice.

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Lesson map by task

TOEIC task	Lessons
Listening Part 1 – Photographs	TOEIC Part 1: photographs B1 B1 listening review test B1 Describing a picture B1
Listening Part 2 – Question-Response	Question–response: choosing the right reply B1 B1 listening review test B1
Listening Part 3 – Conversations	Understanding everyday conversations B1 Booking calls: form completion B1 Following directions in town B1 Shops, services and problems B1 Campus and workplace conversations B1 B1 listening review test B1 Predicting answers before you listen B2 Beating multiple-choice distractors B2 Map and plan labelling B2 Conversations with graphics B2 B2 listening review test B2 Recognising paraphrase at natural speed C1 Full listening practice test C1 Following multi-speaker discussions C1 Full listening practice test 2 C1
Listening Part 4 – Talks	Announcements and instructions B1 Following directions in town B1 Telephone messages and voicemail B1 Tours and guided talks B1 B1 listening review test B1 Business talks: ads, reports and meetings B2 Different accents and speeds B2 B2 listening review test B2 Full listening practice test C1 Statistics and trends in talks C1 Full listening practice test 2 C1
Mock test	B1 listening review test B1
Reading Part 5 – Incomplete Sentences	Word forms and verb tenses in context B1 B1 reading review test B1 Grammar in context and word completion B2
Reading Part 6 – Text Completion	Reference words: it, this, they B1 Word forms and verb tenses in context B1 Grammar in context and word completion B2
Reading Part 7 – Reading Comprehension	Skimming for the main idea B1 Scanning for details B1 Guessing vocabulary from context B1 Notices, emails and ads B1 Instructions and procedures B1 Timetables, tables and forms B1 Fact or opinion? B1 Short news articles B1 Multiple-choice reading strategies B1 B1 reading review test B1 TOEIC Part 7: multiple passages B2 Everyday texts at speed B2 Recognising paraphrase in reading B2 B2 reading review test B2 Time management strategies C1 Full reading practice test C1
Speaking – Describe a picture	Describing a picture B1 B1 speaking review test B1 When you don't know the word B2
Speaking – Express an opinion	Simple opinions with reasons B1 Fluency: fillers and discourse markers B2 Giving and supporting opinions B2 B2 speaking mock test B2 Full speaking practice test C1 Causes, effects and solutions C1 Full speaking practice test 2 C1
Speaking – Read a text aloud	Pronunciation basics: sounds and word stress B1 Listen and repeat B1 Sentence stress and rhythm B1 Intonation and connected speech B2 Problem sounds and stress in long words B2 Chunking, pausing and stress for meaning C1
Speaking – Respond to questions	Talking about yourself B1 Simple opinions with reasons B1 B1 speaking review test B1
Speaking – Respond to questions using information provided	Answering from a schedule B1 B1 speaking review test B1 Questions about schedules and documents B2
Writing – Respond to a written request	Formal vs informal emails B1 Complaint and request letters B1 Verb tenses in your writing B1 Spelling, capitals and common mistakes B1 Short messages at work B1
Writing – Write a sentence based on a picture	Sentence structure and punctuation B1 Describing people, places and experiences B1 Writing a sentence about a picture B1 Describing a picture B1
Writing – Write an opinion essay	Writing a clear paragraph B1 Linking words and cohesion basics B1 Giving reasons and examples B1 B1 writing review test B1 Opinion essay structure B2 Introductions and conclusions B2 Complex sentences and advanced cohesion C1 Editing to band 7+: common errors C1 Developing arguments in depth C1 Coherence and paragraphing for band 7+ C1 Grammatical range in essays C1 TOEIC opinion essay at a high level C1

Exam information last checked 2026-10. Formats change, so confirm details on the official TOEIC website before you book.

TOEIC preparation

Who takes it

Versions

Test format

Listening (L&R test)

Reading (L&R test)

Speaking test

Writing test

Strategies that work

Your TOEIC study plan

Understanding everyday conversations

Question–response: choosing the right reply

Announcements and instructions

Scanning for details

Notices, emails and ads

Pronunciation basics: sounds and word stress

Describing a picture

Formal vs informal emails

Grammar in context and word completion

Beating multiple-choice distractors

Giving and supporting opinions

Opinion essay structure

Time management strategies

Lesson map by task

TOEIC preparation

Who takes it

Versions

Test format

Listening (L&R test)

Reading (L&R test)

Speaking test

Writing test

Strategies that work

Your TOEIC study plan

Understanding everyday conversations

Question–response: choosing the right reply

Announcements and instructions

Scanning for details

Notices, emails and ads

Pronunciation basics: sounds and word stress

Describing a picture

Formal vs informal emails

Grammar in context and word completion

Beating multiple-choice distractors

Giving and supporting opinions

Opinion essay structure

Time management strategies

Lesson map by task