TOEIC Listening Part 1: Photographs — Expert Guide

📸 What Part 1 Tests

Part 1 measures how well you connect spoken English with visual information. You’ll see six black-and-white photographs. For each one, you hear four short statements. Only one matches the photo — and you hear them once only.

🧠 Typical Features

  • Simple grammar (present simple / present continuous)

  • Common S–V–O patterns (“A man is…”, “There are…”)

  • Focus on actions, locations, and descriptions

🚧 Common Challenges

  • Longer, more complex sentences than expected

  • Passive voice usage

  • Similar-sounding distractors (e.g., eating vs. meeting)

  • “One-word wrong” traps — especially prepositions

  • No replay — one chance only

🔍 How to Preview the Photo (in the few seconds before the audio starts)

If there are people:

  • Where are they?

  • What are they doing?

  • What’s their relationship?

If it’s a place:

  • What kind of place is it?

  • What’s in the foreground/background?

If it’s objects:

  • What is it?

  • What’s it made of or used for?

🎯 How to Spot Traps

  1. Wrong action or meaning — the statement doesn’t match the photo.

  2. Partially true — most is correct, but one detail is wrong.

  3. Sound-alikes — similar pronunciation, different meaning.

🛠 Step-by-Step Strategy

  1. Preview the photo.

  2. Listen to all four statements.

  3. Eliminate the wrong ones.

  4. Choose the best answer.

  5. Move on quickly — no second guessing.

💡 Test-Day Tips

  • Focus on the key noun and verb in each sentence.

  • Predict likely descriptions before the audio starts.

  • “Echo” each sentence silently to match it with the photo.

  • Be alert to prepositions — they’re a common trap.

  • Mark your answer immediately; don’t delay.

For more strategies and resources to sharpen your TOEIC photo description skills, visit the English Library Collection and start mastering Part 1 with confidence.

Black and white photograph of a young Japanese woman studying from a textbook
よくある質問（日本語） Q1. TOEICリスニングPart1の形式は？ A1. 写真を見て、4つの短い文を聞き、最も合うものを選びます。音声は一度きり。これは「瞬時の判断」と「正確な識別」が問われるパートです。 Q2. Part1は簡単ですか？ A2. 一見シンプルですが、「受動的リスナーブロック」の人は見落としがちです。動詞や音のニュアンスで引っかける「罠」が多く、注意が必要です。 Q3. TOEIC Part1で問われるスキルは何ですか？ A3. 音声情報と視覚情報を素早く結びつける「反射力」が問われます。ALTでは、単なる聞き取りではなく「パターン認識」と「処理速度」を鍛えます。 Q4. TOEIC Part1で最も効果的な攻略法は？ A4. 音声前に写真を「予測的に観察」し、動詞と前置詞に集中することです。これは「スピードトラップブロック」を避け、「考えすぎブロック」を外すALTの戦略です。 Q5. パート1で似た音の単語に惑わされます。どうすれば？ A5. それは「翻訳者ブロック」の罠です。単語単体ではなく、文全体の「意図」と「トーン」をALTで感じ取る練習をしましょう。 Q6. TOEICリスニング中にメモを取れますか？ A6. いいえ、メモは取れません。しかし、鉛筆で選択肢に軽くマークをつけ、思考を整理する「判断の型」を身につけることは可能です。 Q7. TOEICの「ディストラクター」（ひっかけ）とは何ですか？ A7. 正解に見える誤った選択肢のことです。例えば、写真の一部だけを拾ったり、似た音で惑わせたりします。ALTは「罠のパターン」を識別する力をコーチします。 Q8. TOEIC Part1の練習はどうすればいいですか？ A8. 写真描写の練習、本番形式の音声クリップを聞く、そしてMTCの「学習ブロック診断」で自分の弱点を特定し、ALTで集中的にトレーニングしましょう。 Frequently Asked Questions (English) Q1. What is the TOEIC Part 1 format? A1. You see a photo and hear 4 short sentences, choosing the best match. Audio plays once. This part tests "instant judgment" and "accurate identification." Q2. Is TOEIC Part 1 easy? A2. It seems simple, but people with the "Passive Listener Block" often overlook details. It's full of "traps" using tricky verbs or sound nuances, requiring careful attention. Q3. What skills are tested in TOEIC Part 1? A3. It tests your "reflexive power" to quickly connect audio and visual information. ALT trains "pattern recognition" and "processing speed," not just passive listening. Q4. What's the most effective strategy for TOEIC Part 1 photographs? A4. "Predictively observe" the photo before audio, focusing on verbs and prepositions. This is an ALT strategy to avoid the "Speed Trap Block" and overcome the "Over Thinker Block." Q5. I get confused by similar words in Part 1. What can I do? A5. That's a "Translator Block" trap. Instead of individual words, practice sensing the "overall intent" and "tone" of the sentence with ALT. Q6. Can I take notes during TOEIC Listening? A6. No, but you can lightly mark answer options with your pencil. This helps organize your thoughts and build a "judgment pattern" during listening. Q7. What are TOEIC "distractors"? A7. They are incorrect answers that seem right, often by picking up only part of the photo or using similar sounds. ALT coaches you to identify these "trap patterns." Q8. How do I train for TOEIC Part 1? A8. Practice describing photos, listening to test-like audio clips, and use MTC's "Learning Block Diagnostic" to identify your weaknesses for targeted ALT training.