TOEIC Listening and Reading Tests

There are two versions of the TOEIC Listening and Reading tests:

• The older or "classic" TOEIC Listening and Reading Test
• The New TOEIC Listening and Reading Test

Similarities

Both versions of the TOEIC Listening and Reading Tests:

• are paper and pencil tests, not computer-based tests
• are of the same length – two hours in total. The Listening section takes 45 minutes and the reading section takes 75 minutes.
• are of equal difficulty
• contain the same amount of business-related contexts.

Differences

The most important changes in the new Listening and Reading test are:

• varied accents – American, Canadian, British, and Australian
• fewer conversations – with more questions about each one
• questions about inter-related passages
• fewer questions about photographs
• no error-recognition questions, which were essentially grammar questions

It is best to check with the local ETS office to find out which version of the test you will be taking, so you know what to expect. Sometimes, different test centres in the same city offer different versions of the test, so check carefully. This happens because the TOEIC is in a process of transition and it will take some time before consistency is established in the various centres, cities, and countries.