TOEIC Part 2: How to Handle the Question-Response Section with Confidence

Improve your TOEIC Listening Score with Easy-to-Follow Tips

TOEIC Part 2 can feel fast and tricky. You only hear one sentence — either a question or a short statement — followed by three possible responses. There are no choices written on the screen, and you only hear it once. That’s what makes it hard, especially at the 400–600 score level.

But there’s good news: with the right strategy, this part can become your strongest section. Here's how.

Understand What’s Really Being Asked

Part 2 questions often don’t need direct answers. For example, someone might say, “Did you call Mr. Tanaka?” but the best answer could be, “I left him a message this morning.” That’s not a “Yes” or “No” — but it fits. Learn to accept indirect answers that still make sense. Also, try not to focus only on single keywords. Hearing the same word again doesn’t mean it's the right answer.

Let the First Words Guide You

Pay attention to how the sentence starts. Wh-words like “What,” “Where,” or “When” give you clues. If you hear “Where,” you should expect a place in the answer. If you hear “How long,” then a time or duration is probably correct. Also, be careful with Yes/No questions. Many correct answers don’t start with “Yes” or “No.” They might explain, give reasons, or show polite rejection.

Think in English — Don’t Translate

You don’t have time to translate in your head. You’ll miss the next sentence. Try to understand the question or statement in English as it happens. With practice, your brain will get faster. Also, some words sound similar but mean different things. Watch out for homonyms like “right” (correct) and “right” (direction). Train your ears to pick up meaning from the sentence, not just the sounds.

Don’t Let Familiar Sounds Fool You

This is a common trap. Sometimes, one of the choices sounds very familiar. Maybe you studied that phrase. But if it doesn’t match the meaning, it’s not correct. The TOEIC test loves to use “distractors” — answers that sound nice but don’t actually fit the question. Use logic and think about what kind of response would be natural in a real conversation.

Use What You Already Know

You’ve probably heard hundreds of English phrases from movies, lessons, or conversations. In TOEIC Part 2, those “functional phrases” help a lot. Things like “Let me check,” “That depends,” or “I’ll take care of it.” Learn how and when these are used. Also, match the tone of the speaker — if the voice sounds formal, don’t choose a casual answer.

Stay Focused — It’s Fast

You only hear each question once, and there’s no text on screen. So you need to be fully focused. Don’t check your phone. Don’t think about the last question. Just breathe and listen. The gap between the question and the answers is short. Get used to that timing by practicing with real TOEIC audio. Don’t slow it down — train at real test speed.

Choose, Even If You’re Not Sure

There is no penalty for wrong answers. So don’t leave it blank. If you’re not sure, use logic and choose the most natural-sounding reply. Often, two answers sound strange, and one sounds okay. That “okay” one is usually right.

Practice Smart, Not Just Hard

You don’t need to memorize every question type. Instead, practice with real TOEIC-style audio, listen at full speed, and check the script afterwards. Repeat it 2–3 times and ask: What was the purpose? What type of question was it? Why was this answer correct? That’s how you build speed and accuracy — not just by listening, but by thinking.

✅ Conclusion

Part 2 is fast, but you can train your brain to catch the meaning quickly. Stay calm, stay sharp, and don’t let similar-sounding words or tricky answers confuse you. With the right habits, this part of the TOEIC can become your best weapon for a higher score.