If you are preparing for the TOEIC Listening & Reading test, you know it is about endurance as much as skill. The test has 200 questions in two sections — Listening (100 questions, 45 minutes) and Reading (100 questions, 75 minutes). The best way to improve is to practice with questions that mirror the real exam. Below are 10 sample questions — 5 from Listening and 5 from Reading — with detailed solutions that show you exactly how to arrive at the correct answer. Use them to spot patterns, identify gaps, and build confidence.
Listening Section Sample Questions
The Listening section has four parts: Photographs, Question-Response, Conversations, and Talks. Here are representative questions from each.
Part 1: Photographs (Question 1)
You will see a photograph and hear four statements. Choose the statement that best describes the photograph.
Sample Photograph Description: A woman wearing a chef's hat is slicing vegetables on a counter in a busy kitchen. Behind her, another person is stirring a pot.
Audio Script (only one statement is correct): (A) She is arranging plates on a shelf. (B) She is cutting vegetables on a counter. (C) She is washing dishes at the sink. (D) She is reading a recipe book.
Solution: The correct answer is (B). The photograph clearly shows the woman slicing vegetables on a counter. Option (A) is incorrect because there are no plates visible. Option (C) is incorrect because she is not at a sink. Option (D) is incorrect because she is not holding a book.
Part 2: Question-Response (Question 2)
You will hear a question and three possible responses. Choose the best response.
Audio Script: Question: "When will the shipment arrive?" Responses: (A) On Thursday morning. (B) By the warehouse. (C) The manager ordered it.
Solution: The correct answer is (A). The question asks about time ("When"), so the response must provide a time. Option (A) gives a specific day and time. Option (B) provides a location, which does not answer "when." Option (C) describes who ordered it, not when it arrives.
Part 3: Conversations (Questions 3-4)
You will hear a conversation between two people and answer two questions.
Audio Script: Woman: "Hi Mark, did you finish the quarterly report?" Man: "Almost. I just need to add the sales figures from the Asia region. Can you send them to me?" Woman: "Sure, I'll email them by 3 PM. The deadline is 5 PM, right?" Man: "Yes, but I'd like to review it before submitting. So please send it as soon as possible."
Question 3: What does the man need from the woman? (A) The quarterly report draft (B) Sales figures from Asia (C) A deadline extension
Solution: The correct answer is (B). The man says, "I just need to add the sales figures from the Asia region. Can you send them to me?" Option (A) is incorrect because he already has the report. Option (C) is not mentioned.
Question 4: When does the man want the information? (A) By 3 PM (B) By 5 PM (C) As soon as possible
Solution: The correct answer is (C). The man says, "please send it as soon as possible." The woman offers to send it by 3 PM, but the man explicitly asks for it sooner. Option (B) is the deadline, not his preference.
Part 4: Talks (Question 5)
You will hear a short talk and answer one question.
Audio Script: "Welcome to the City Business Conference. Today's keynote speaker is Dr. Elena Rossi, a renowned expert in sustainable urban planning. Her talk will begin at 10 AM in the main hall. Following her presentation, there will be a Q&A session for 30 minutes. Please turn off your cell phones."
Question 5: What will happen after the keynote speech? (A) A networking lunch (B) A question-and-answer session (C) A workshop on urban planning
Solution: The correct answer is (B). The talk states, "Following her presentation, there will be a Q&A session for 30 minutes." Option (A) and (C) are not mentioned.
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Reading Section Sample Questions
The Reading section has three parts: Incomplete Sentences, Text Completion, and Reading Comprehension. Here are five representative questions.
Part 5: Incomplete Sentences (Question 6)
Choose the word or phrase that best completes the sentence.
Question: The company’s new policy ______ employees to work from home twice a week. (A) allows (B) allowing (C) allowed (D) allowance
Solution: The correct answer is (A). The sentence needs a present tense verb to agree with the singular subject "policy." "Allows" is the correct third-person singular form. Option (B) is a participle and cannot stand alone as the main verb. Option (C) is past tense, but the context suggests a current policy. Option (D) is a noun.
Part 6: Text Completion (Questions 7-8)
Read the text and choose the correct word or phrase for each blank.
Text: Dear Mr. Tanaka,
Thank you for your inquiry about our software solutions. We are pleased to send you a brochure that ______ our main products. (7) (A) describe (B) describes (C) describing (D) description
We also offer a free 30-day trial. Please visit our website to ______. (8) (A) sign up (B) sign in (C) sign off (D) sign out
Solution for 7: The correct answer is (B). The subject "brochure" is singular, so the verb needs an "-s" ending. "Describes" is correct.
Solution for 8: The correct answer is (A). "Sign up" means to register for a trial. "Sign in" is for existing users, "sign off" means to end a communication, and "sign out" means to leave a system.
Part 7: Reading Comprehension (Questions 9-10)
Read the passage and answer the questions.
Passage: "GreenLeaf Office Supplies has announced a 15% discount on all orders placed before March 31. The discount applies to items in the 'Eco-Friendly' category only. To receive the discount, use promo code ECO15 at checkout. This offer cannot be combined with other promotions."
Question 9: What is the main purpose of this announcement? (A) To introduce a new product line (B) To promote a limited-time discount (C) To announce a company merger
Solution: The correct answer is (B). The announcement clearly states a 15% discount on orders before March 31. Option (A) is incorrect because no new products are mentioned. Option (C) is not discussed.
Question 10: What must customers do to get the discount? (A) Order at least $100 worth of supplies (B) Use the promo code ECO15 at checkout (C) Purchase items from any category
Solution: The correct answer is (B). The passage says, "To receive the discount, use promo code ECO15 at checkout." Option (A) is not mentioned. Option (C) is incorrect because the discount applies only to the 'Eco-Friendly' category.
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How to Use These Samples Effectively
- Time yourself: For Listening, give yourself 30 seconds per question; for Reading, 45 seconds per question. This simulates the real pace.
- Review wrong answers: Note why you chose the incorrect option — was it a vocabulary gap, mishearing, or rushing?
- Repeat: Practice with multiple sets. Consistency is key.