Answering from a schedule: learn

In this lesson you will

Use 45 seconds of reading time to find the key information in a schedule
Turn short notes in a table into full spoken sentences
Correct wrong information politely: Actually, I'm afraid…
List several items from a schedule clearly in 30 seconds

Before you start

Think about these questions, or answer them aloud.

→When did you last read a timetable, a programme or an agenda? What did you need to find?
→How do you say these aloud: 9:30, 2:15 p.m., $25?

The task

In this part of the TOEIC Speaking test, you see a document on the screen, usually a schedule such as a conference programme, a training day, a travel plan or an interview timetable. You have 45 seconds to read it.

Then you hear three questions, often from a person who is calling for information. After each question you have only about 3 seconds before you start speaking. You have 15 seconds for each of the first two answers and 30 seconds for the last one.

Three typical jobs

The three questions usually ask you to do different things:

Find a detail. What time does the first session start, and where is it? Give exactly what is asked, in a full sentence. Many questions have two parts, so answer both.
Correct a mistake. Sometimes the caller says something that isn't true: I heard the workshop costs twenty dollars. Is that right? Check the schedule carefully and correct it politely.
List several things (30 seconds). Could you tell me about all the sessions in the afternoon? Say how many there are, then give each one in order with its time and one or two details.

Say it, don't read it
On the schedule	Say
9:00–10:30	from nine to ten thirty
12:15 p.m.	at twelve fifteen / at a quarter past twelve
Mon 14 Oct	on Monday the fourteenth of October
Rm 2B	in room two B
$25 / Free	It costs twenty-five dollars. / It's free.
Dr Mensah	Doctor Mensah
CANCELLED	I'm afraid that session has been cancelled.

Useful sentences
Job	Useful language
Give a detail	The workshop starts at… and it's in… / It takes place on…
Confirm	Yes, that's right. It starts at…
Correct politely	Actually, I'm afraid that's not quite right. It's on…, not… / I'm sorry, but that session has been cancelled.
List items	There are two sessions in the afternoon. The first one is… After that,… Finally,…
Extra help	You'll need to… / Don't forget to… / You could go to… instead.

Matching

Quick check: say it aloud

Match each note from a schedule to the way you say it. There is one extra option that you do not need.

Afrom ten to eleven thirty
Bforty dollars
Cat a quarter to three in the afternoon
DDoctor Patel
Ein room three C
Fat a quarter past two
Gon Tuesday the third of June

1.2:45 p.m.
2.Rm 3C
3.10:00–11:30
4.Tues 3 June
5.$40
6.Dr Patel

Greenford Library Skills Day: Saturday 12 April
Time	Session	Room	Leader
9:30–10:00	Welcome and coffee	Main hall	–
10:00–11:30	Writing a strong CV	Room 1	Anna Kowalski
11:45–12:45	Starting a small online shop	Room 2	David Osei
12:45–1:45	Lunch (not provided)	–	–
1:45–3:00	Job interview practice	Room 1	Anna Kowalski
3:15–4:15	Smartphone photography for beginners	Room 3	Mei Tanaka
Note	All sessions are free. Booking required for Job interview practice (12 places).

Audio

Model: three questions and answers

In the exam you usually hear it once.

Try the questions first.

How a strong speaker does it

Question 1 (15 seconds) has two parts, the date and the start time, so the answer gives both. The speaker turns 12 April and 9:30 into natural spoken English.
Question 2 (15 seconds) contains wrong information. The speaker checks the schedule, then corrects it politely: Actually, I'm afraid that's not right. Then she adds one useful fact about booking.
Question 3 (30 seconds) needs a list. The speaker says how many items there are (two sessions), then gives each one in time order, with its time and room: The first one… Then, after lunch…
She never reads the table line by line. She only gives the information the caller asked for.

Greenford Library Skills Day: Saturday 12 April
Time	Session	Room	Leader
9:30–10:00	Welcome and coffee	Main hall	–
10:00–11:30	Writing a strong CV	Room 1	Anna Kowalski
11:45–12:45	Starting a small online shop	Room 2	David Osei
12:45–1:45	Lunch (not provided)	–	–
1:45–3:00	Job interview practice	Room 1	Anna Kowalski
3:15–4:15	Smartphone photography for beginners	Room 3	Mei Tanaka
Note	All sessions are free. Booking required for Job interview practice (12 places).

Your turn: three questions

Read the schedule below for 45 seconds. Use a timer.
Before each task, play the question. Try not to read it first; in the real test you only hear it.
Press Start. You have about 3 seconds before you speak, then 15 or 30 seconds to answer.

Lakeside Hotel Sales Conference: Thursday 6 November
Time	Event	Location	Speaker
8:30–9:00	Registration and breakfast	Lobby	–
9:00–9:45	Opening talk: Our year in numbers	Ballroom	Carla Diaz, Sales Director
10:00–11:00	Workshop: Winning new customers	Room A	Tom Becker
11:00–12:00	Workshop: Using our new booking app	Room B	Priya Nair
12:00–1:00	Lunch	Garden Restaurant	–
1:00–2:00	Panel discussion: The future of online sales	Ballroom	Three regional managers
2:15–3:00	Workshop: Dealing with difficult calls (CANCELLED)	Room A	Tom Becker
3:00–3:30	Closing remarks	Ballroom	Carla Diaz
Note	Please bring your staff ID card. Parking is free for conference guests.

Audio

Question 1 (15 seconds)

In the exam you usually hear it once.

Try the questions first.

Speaking task

Question 1: find the details

Use the Lakeside Hotel Sales Conference schedule. Play Question 1 above, then answer both parts of the question in a full sentence.

“Where is the conference, and what time does registration start?”

3 s preparation · 0:15 speaking

Lakeside Hotel Sales Conference: Thursday 6 November
Time	Event	Location	Speaker
8:30–9:00	Registration and breakfast	Lobby	–
9:00–9:45	Opening talk: Our year in numbers	Ballroom	Carla Diaz, Sales Director
10:00–11:00	Workshop: Winning new customers	Room A	Tom Becker
11:00–12:00	Workshop: Using our new booking app	Room B	Priya Nair
12:00–1:00	Lunch	Garden Restaurant	–
1:00–2:00	Panel discussion: The future of online sales	Ballroom	Three regional managers
2:15–3:00	Workshop: Dealing with difficult calls (CANCELLED)	Room A	Tom Becker
3:00–3:30	Closing remarks	Ballroom	Carla Diaz
Note	Please bring your staff ID card. Parking is free for conference guests.

Audio

Question 2 (15 seconds)

In the exam you usually hear it once.

Try the questions first.

Speaking task

Question 2: correct the caller politely

Use the Lakeside Hotel Sales Conference schedule. Play Question 2 above. The caller has the wrong idea: correct it politely, then offer something useful.

“I'd really like to go to Tom Becker's workshop on dealing with difficult calls in the afternoon. That's still happening, isn't it?”

3 s preparation · 0:15 speaking

Lakeside Hotel Sales Conference: Thursday 6 November
Time	Event	Location	Speaker
8:30–9:00	Registration and breakfast	Lobby	–
9:00–9:45	Opening talk: Our year in numbers	Ballroom	Carla Diaz, Sales Director
10:00–11:00	Workshop: Winning new customers	Room A	Tom Becker
11:00–12:00	Workshop: Using our new booking app	Room B	Priya Nair
12:00–1:00	Lunch	Garden Restaurant	–
1:00–2:00	Panel discussion: The future of online sales	Ballroom	Three regional managers
2:15–3:00	Workshop: Dealing with difficult calls (CANCELLED)	Room A	Tom Becker
3:00–3:30	Closing remarks	Ballroom	Carla Diaz
Note	Please bring your staff ID card. Parking is free for conference guests.

Audio

Question 3 (30 seconds)

In the exam you usually hear it once.

Try the questions first.

Speaking task

Question 3: list the events

Use the Lakeside Hotel Sales Conference schedule. Play Question 3 above. Say how many events there are, then give each one in time order with its time and one detail.

“Could you tell me what's happening in the Ballroom during the day?”

3 s preparation · 0:30 speaking

Save words to review them later with flashcards.

schedule
a plan that shows the times of events or activities
“The schedule shows three workshops in the afternoon.”
agenda
a list of things to discuss or do at a meeting or event
“The first item on the agenda is the budget.”
session
a period of time for one activity, such as a talk or class
“The morning session finishes at noon.”
registration
putting your name on a list when you arrive at, or before, an event
“Registration opens at eight thirty.”
workshop
a meeting where people learn a skill by doing practical activities
“I went to a workshop on public speaking.”
panel discussion
a discussion where a group of experts answer questions in front of an audience
“There's a panel discussion after lunch.”
cancelled
stopped, so it will not happen
“The 2:15 workshop has been cancelled.”
book a place
to arrange in advance to go to something
“You need to book a place because there are only twelve seats.”
provided
given to you, so you don't need to bring it or pay for it
“Lunch is not provided, so bring your own.”
lobby
the large entrance area in a hotel or office building
“Let's meet in the hotel lobby.”
venue
the place where an event happens
“The venue is a hotel near the station.”

Key points

You get 45 seconds to read the schedule, then three questions: 15, 15 and 30 seconds, with about 3 seconds before each answer.
Answer exactly what is asked, in full spoken sentences; don't read the table aloud.
Turn notes into speech: 9:00–10:30 → from nine to ten thirty.
Correct wrong information politely: Actually, I'm afraid… / I'm sorry, but that session has been cancelled.
For the 30-second answer, say how many items there are, then give them in order with First, Then and Finally.

Check your answers in the practice exercises to record a score.

Up next · Speaking B1 Foundation

Sentence stress and rhythm

Go to lesson

Warm-up

In this lesson you will

Before you start

The task

Three typical jobs

Quick check: say it aloud

How a strong speaker does it

Choose the best answer

Your turn: three questions

Question 1: find the details

Question 2: correct the caller politely

Question 3: list the events

Key points

Warm-up

In this lesson you will

Before you start

The task

Three typical jobs

Quick check: say it aloud

How a strong speaker does it

Choose the best answer

Your turn: three questions

Question 1: find the details

Question 2: correct the caller politely

Question 3: list the events

Key points