TOEIC Listening Part 4: Mastering Short Talks

Part 4 can feel relentless — one voice, no pauses, no chance to ask questions. But once you understand how these short talks are built, you can follow them with more clarity, catch the right details, and avoid falling for distractors.

🎯 What Part 4 Tests

You’ll hear 10 short talks — each from a single speaker — with three multiple-choice questions per talk (30 questions total).
You get just one listen, but you’ll see the questions in your booklet or on-screen as you hear the audio.
Topics include announcements, voicemails, instructions, ads, presentations, and public notices.

⚠️ Why Part 4 Feels Tough

  • No dialogue clues — you can’t rely on hearing a question and answer.

  • Longer or more formal sentences — harder to process quickly.

  • Key details spread out across the talk.

  • Distractors copy words from the audio but twist the meaning.

  • Inference questions — correct answers aren’t always stated directly.

  • Visual links — charts, schedules, or forms appear in some questions.

📝 Question Types You’ll Face

  • Purpose — why is the speaker talking?

  • Details — when, where, what happened.

  • Next steps — what will happen after this talk.

  • Tone — the speaker’s mood or attitude.

  • Function — what a phrase means in context.

  • Visual link — matching the talk to a chart or graphic.

🛠️ Strategy for Success

  1. Skim Question 1 before the audio starts.

  2. Identify context fast — voicemail, meeting, announcement, ad?

  3. Catch the speaker’s role — are they a manager, announcer, guide?

  4. Focus on opening and closing lines — they often frame the key message.

  5. Eliminate “sound-alike” traps — similar wording but wrong meaning.

  6. For visuals, scan before listening so you know what to watch for.

  7. If you miss one, reset immediately — don’t let it ruin the next question.

🚫 Traps to Avoid

  • Choosing answers with identical words from the talk but wrong meaning.

  • Skipping the first sentence — it often sets the tone and purpose.

  • Confusing urgency with rudeness in tone questions.

  • Misreading the speaker’s intent — is it a sale, a warning, or an update?

  • Falling for a visual that looks right but wasn’t mentioned.

  • Assuming the final sentence always has the answer — it doesn’t.

💡 Real-World Examples

  • Station announcement about a platform change.

  • Voicemail from a team leader requesting action.

  • Weather or traffic update for commuters.

  • Hotel front desk giving check-out instructions.

  • Product advertisement for a new launch.

  • Public service notice about construction delays.

Final Word

Part 4 rewards sharp focus and quick context recognition. Train your ear to pick up a speaker’s purpose, filter out distractions, and connect the audio to any visuals provided.

For more strategies and resources to strengthen your TOEIC short talk skills, visit the English Library Collection and start mastering Part 4 with confidence.

FAQs Sakura Can Answer Q: What is Part 4 of TOEIC? A: It’s the short talk section. One person speaks. You answer three questions. Q: How many questions total? A: 10 talks × 3 questions = 30 questions Q: Are there visuals? A: Yes, some talks include a chart, note, or schedule. The question will refer to it. Q: Are the answers spoken directly? A: Not always. You may need to understand the speaker’s intention or what they will do next. Q: Can Sakura help me practise this? A: Yes! Sakura can give example short talks and ask you practice questions. Q: How do I understand the speaker’s role? A: Listen to the opening. For example: “Good evening, passengers” = announcer “Thanks for coming to today’s briefing” = presenter Q: What accents are used? A: American, British, Australian, and Canadian Q: What’s the biggest mistake students make? A: Choosing an answer that copies a phrase from the audio — but doesn’t match the real meaning. Q: What should I listen for first? A: Listen for purpose, tone, and major changes. Focus especially on the beginning and ending of the talk.