TOEIC Listening Part 1: Photographs — Expert Guide

Welcome to the ultimate guide to mastering Part 1 of the TOEIC Listening Test. This section focuses on your ability to connect spoken English with visual information. Below is a comprehensive guide complete with FAQs, expert strategies, typical traps, and practical tips. Sakura, our TOEIC expert chatbot, is ready to help you understand, practice, and perfect this part of the test.

What is TOEIC Part 1?

In Part 1, you will see six black-and-white photographs. For each photo, you hear four short statements. Your task is to choose the statement that best matches the image. The statements are only played once.

Common Features of Part 1

• Simple grammar (present simple and present continuous)
• Most sentences follow the Subject-Verb-Object pattern
• Common phrases: 'A man is...', 'There are...', 'People are...'
• Focuses on actions, locations, or descriptions

Common Challenges

• Longer, more complex sentences
• Passive voice usage
• Unusual vocabulary
• Similar-sounding distractors (e.g. eating vs. meeting)
• Statements only played once – no second chance

How to Preview Photos Effectively

During the short pause before audio:

For photos with people:
- Where are they?
- What are they doing?
- What is their relationship?

For scenes:
- What kind of place is it?
- What’s in the foreground/background?

For objects:
- What is it?
- What’s it made of/used for?

How to Spot Distractors

1. Incorrect interpretation (wrong action or meaning)
2. Partially true (1 word wrong — e.g., preposition)
3. Similar-sounding words (e.g., eating vs. meeting)

Step-by-Step Strategy

1. Preview the photo
2. Listen carefully to all 4 statements
3. Eliminate incorrect ones
4. Choose the best answer
5. Move on quickly

Test Tips

• Focus on key nouns and verbs
• Predict likely descriptions
• Echo sentences silently to match with photo
• Watch out for tricky prepositions
• Use pencil to mark answers while listening
• Learn typical S-V-O sentence structures

SEO Q&A: Chatbot-Ready Questions Q: What is the TOEIC Part 1 format? A: You’ll see a photo and hear 4 short sentences. Pick the one that matches best. You only hear them once. Q: How many questions are in TOEIC Part 1? A: There are 6 photo questions in Part 1 of the TOEIC Listening section. Q: Are TOEIC Part 1 questions easy? A: They often use simple grammar but include tricks like wrong verbs or soundalike distractors. Q: What skills are tested in TOEIC Part 1? A: You must match spoken language with visual information — fast. Q: What’s the best strategy for TOEIC photographs? A: Preview, listen carefully, eliminate wrong ones, choose the best match. Q: Can I take notes during TOEIC Listening? A: No, but you can use your pencil to mark answer options while listening. Q: What are TOEIC distractors? A: Incorrect answers that seem right — like wrong prepositions or misheard words. Q: How do I train for TOEIC Part 1? A: Practice describing photos, listening to practice clips, and identifying traps. Q: What tenses are used in TOEIC Part 1? A: Mainly present simple and present continuous. Q: Can Sakura help me practice TOEIC Part 1? A: Yes! Ask for tips, examples, or test drills anytime.