🟧 Mastering TOEIC Part 2
The Right Answer Sounds Wrong
🎧 “That Can’t Be Right…”
If you’ve ever taken the TOEIC Listening test and thought,
“Wait, that answer doesn’t sound right…” —
you might’ve just skipped the correct one.
That’s the game TOEIC Part 2 plays.
This section has only 25 short questions — no repeats, no second chances. One question, three answer choices. Sounds easy. But TOEIC makes the right answer feel wrong on purpose.
Let’s break down why this happens, how to spot it, and how to train your brain to beat it.
🔍 Part 2 Isn’t a Conversation — It’s a Pattern Test
In real life, you respond naturally, politely, with phrases like:
“Yeah, I heard that too,”
or
“No, I didn’t.”
But TOEIC isn’t real life. It’s not testing how fluent or friendly you are. It’s testing if you can ignore distractions, predict the logic, and select the one answer that fits — even if it sounds awkward.
Two of the three choices usually sound familiar. They echo a word or copy the grammar of the question. That’s no accident — that’s the trap. The right answer? It often sounds odd, short, or even off-topic — but it actually answers the question.
🧠 A Simple Example
Question: “Where is the meeting being held?”
“Yes, I heard about that.” ❌ Sounds friendly. Doesn’t answer the question.
“On the third floor.” ✅ Sounds short. Answers the question.
“No, I don’t think so.” ❌ Sounds like a conversation. Not relevant.
Most people pick the one that feels natural. But TOEIC rewards logic, not comfort. The test trains you to unlearn your instincts — because those instincts are often based on real-life English, not test logic.
🎣 The 3 Classic Part 2 Traps
1. Keyword Echoes
These answers repeat a word from the question — but don’t answer it.
Q: “When is the deadline?”
A: “Yes, the line is long.”
The word “line” feels familiar — but the meaning is wrong.
2. Grammar Mirrors
These choices copy the question’s tense or structure, but lack meaning.
Q: “Did you send the file?”
A: “Yes, I did.”
Feels fine, but TOEIC usually wants specifics. A better answer would be, “I emailed it this morning.”
3. Similar Sounds
These answers confuse the ear, not the brain.
Q: “Did he book the room?”
A: “He looked at the broom.”
It sounds close. It’s totally wrong. These are sound-alike traps — pure distraction.
🔄 Comfort Is the Enemy
The answer that feels smooth, polite, or “normal” is often bait. TOEIC counts on you thinking like a tourist or a language learner — instead of a test-taker.
So what does the right answer sound like? Often:
Short
Blunt
Lacking a yes/no
Slightly awkward
Missing any keywords from the question
If it feels too easy or flows too perfectly — it’s probably wrong.
🚧 Common Traps in Part 2
TOEIC reuses the same tricks across tests. Spot these patterns and you’ll avoid the most common mistakes:
Echo Traps:
Repeat the question’s words, but don’t answer.
Example: “Did you hear the announcement?” → “Yes, I heard it too.”
Sounds okay. Adds no value. Wrong.
Short-Answer Traps:
Grammatically correct but too vague.
Example: “No, she didn’t.” TOEIC prefers more useful replies like “She hasn’t responded yet.”
Feel-Good Replies:
Friendly phrases that don’t answer anything.
Example: “That’s interesting.” or “I think so.” Irrelevant.
Sound-Alike Traps:
Words that confuse the ear, not the meaning.
Example: “Did she attend the fair?” → “Yes, the chair is there.”
Looks like a joke. Shows up on real tests.
🧠 Your New Strategy
When you hear a TOEIC Part 2 question:
Forget what sounds right.
Ignore what mirrors the question.
Choose what answers it — even if it sounds weird.
You’re not here to have a conversation. You’re here to collect points. That means trusting logic, not instincts.
If two choices sound right — they’re probably both wrong.
If one feels “off” but answers the question — go with it.
🔜 Coming Next: The Yes/No Trap
Yes/No questions seem easy. But TOEIC almost never gives you “yes” or “no” as the correct answer.
Instead, you’ll hear:
“Let me check.”
“It was handled this morning.”
“I’m not sure yet.”
These phrases feel incomplete, but they answer the question logically. And that’s what TOEIC wants.
📘 Next article: Mastering TOEIC Yes/No Questions — Say Yes Without Saying Yes
