TOEFL 2026 Listening • Chapter 3

Announcement Listening Mastery

Extract key details from fast campus and classroom announcements with a reliable note strategy.

Task 3
Listening type
Campus
Practical context
~3 Q
Per clip in PrepEx sets
Purpose + details
Core skill

How Announcement Listening Works

In this task, you hear an announcement related to campus or classroom life, then answer multiple-choice questions about purpose, key details, and implications. You need quick comprehension and selective note taking, not full transcription.

Fact check note: ETS lists Listen to an Announcement as one of the four TOEFL iBT Listening task types in the January 2026 format. ETS also lists Listening at 47 items with about 29 minutes base time for the section.

1. Listen once

Catch topic, audience, and action items.

2. Note key data

Record dates, places, changes, conditions.

3. Answer fast

Eliminate distractors tied to partial details.

Typical Announcement Structure

1

Opening context

Who is speaking and why this message matters now.

2

Core update

Schedule change, event detail, room update, policy notice.

3

Required action

What students should do next, by when, and where.

4

Follow-up channel

Office hour, website, email, or help desk contact.

Most Common Question Types

Main purpose

Why the announcement was made.

Specific detail

Time, location, eligibility, deadline, or required document.

Inference

What is implied about student choices or consequences.

Next step

What listeners should do immediately after hearing the message.

Sample Announcement + Questions

Announcement script:

Good afternoon, everyone. This is a reminder that tomorrow's chemistry lab will move from Room 214 to Room 118 because of equipment maintenance. The start time remains 2:00 p.m., but students should arrive ten minutes early to pick up revised safety instructions. If you have not submitted the lab pre-check form, please upload it to the course portal by 11:00 p.m. tonight. Students without that form will not be allowed to participate in the session.

Question 1: What is the main purpose of the announcement?

A) To cancel tomorrow's chemistry lab
B) To explain schedule details and required actions for tomorrow's lab
C) To announce new chemistry course registration
D) To introduce a new lab instructor

Question 2: What must students do before 11:00 p.m.?

A) Arrive at Room 118
B) Upload the lab pre-check form
C) Attend a safety workshop
D) Collect revised instructions in person

Question 3: What can be inferred about students who miss the form deadline?

A) They can still join if they come early
B) They can submit the form in class
C) They cannot participate in the lab session
D) They will be moved to a later lab section

Fast Note-Taking Template

Use short labels to capture only answer-relevant information.

Type: [event / class / policy / facility]
Who: [audience]
What changed: [room / time / rule]
Action: [do what]
Deadline: [date/time]
Consequence: [if not done]
Do not write full sentences. Your notes should be fast markers you can scan while answering.

Common Mistakes That Drop Scores

Mistake: Picking an answer with one correct detail but wrong purpose.

Fix: Confirm the option matches the whole message, not one keyword.

Mistake: Missing condition words like "unless," "only if," or "will not."

Fix: Circle condition language in your notes.

Mistake: Confusing old information with updated information.

Fix: Mark the final version of time or location clearly.

7-Day Announcement Practice Plan

Days 1-2: Pattern recognition

  • Practice 6-8 announcements per day.
  • Label purpose, change, action, deadline in notes.

Days 3-5: Speed and accuracy

  • Run timed sets with mixed question types.
  • Track misses by category: purpose, detail, inference.

Days 6-7: Section simulation

  • Add announcement sets into full listening practice flow.
  • Review only wrong answers and rewrite notes for each.

Ready to Practice Announcements?

Train with realistic announcement audio and instant explanations.

Start Announcement Practice
Chapter 2: Choose a Response Chapter 4: Conversations - Coming Soon