8 original Listen to a Conversation recordings (16 questions) written for the current TOEFL iBT format, each with a full explanation. Free, with no account needed.
Test Ninjas Research · Updated October 1, 2026
How to use this page
Listen once and note who needs what and how it is resolved. Questions about why someone says a line test the speaker’s intent, not the literal words.
Check each answer to see whether you are right; the explanation opens automatically and covers every option, not just the correct one. New to the task? Read the Listen to a Conversation guide first for the format and strategies.
Audio loads only when you press play, and each clip is labeled with its length. Every recording has a transcript you can open after you answer.
16 questions to try
1. Visitor badge color mistaken for route
2 questions
Listen (0:41)
Show transcript
Speaker AEveryone with a yellow badge is heading toward the library. I'm guessing that's the architecture tour?
Speaker BNot necessarily. The badge colors are just for lunch seating today. What does your itinerary say?
Speaker ARoute C. But that group's lining up under the A sign.
Speaker BThen you'd be in for a surprise. A is the river walk. The C group meets by the fountain.
Speaker AThe one by the science building?
Speaker BThat's it. They don't leave until ten, so you've got a few minutes.
Speaker AGood thing I asked. I'd have spent the whole morning by the river.
Speaker BJust hang on to that itinerary. Your guide will want to see it.
Audio in these samples uses AI-generated voices.
Q1Why does the man say, "Not necessarily"?
Show answer and explanation
Answer: C. To question what her guess is based on
The woman is using badge color to decide which tour to follow. The man signals that this is unreliable, since the colors only show lunch seating, and turns her to the itinerary.
Evidence: "I'm guessing that's the architecture tour?" / "Not necessarily. The badge colors are just for lunch seating today. What does your itinerary say?"
Why the other options are wrong
A. To suggest that she eat lunch before the tour — Lunch is mentioned only to explain what the badge colors mean.
B. To indicate that the tour has already left — The tours have not left: "They don't leave until ten."
D. To say that the yellow group is not touring today — The yellow-badge people are going on a tour, the river walk; it is just not her tour.
Q2What does the man imply when he says, "Then you'd be in for a surprise"?
Show answer and explanation
Answer: B. She would end up on an outing she didn't choose
By following the yellow badges, the woman would have joined the A group's river walk instead of her own Route C tour.
Evidence: "Route C. But that group's lining up under the A sign." / "Then you'd be in for a surprise. A is the river walk." / "I'd have spent the whole morning by the river."
Why the other options are wrong
A. The group at the fountain is larger than expected — The size of the C group is never mentioned.
C. Her itinerary lists the wrong meeting place — The itinerary is correct; it is what tells her she belongs to Route C.
D. The architecture tour includes an unexpected stop — "Surprise" is not about the tour's content; he means she would join the wrong tour.
2. Report copies needed before a noon presentation
2 questions
Listen (0:39)
Show transcript
Speaker AHi. I need twenty copies of our group report, with covers. Any chance you can have them done by tomorrow?
Speaker BDepends. Orders in by three are ready at ten the next morning. After three, add a day.
Speaker AIt's three fifteen. And we're presenting at noon tomorrow.
Speaker BOh. Well, you could always print them yourself on the machines over there.
Speaker APerfect. So I just walk up and print?
Speaker BYou'd have to load money onto your card first. And half the business school has the same deadline as you.
Speaker AGreat. So there's a line.
Speaker BThere's a list by the door. I'd jot your name down first.
Audio in these samples uses AI-generated voices.
Q1What can be inferred about the man's order if he places it now?
Show answer and explanation
Answer: B. It wouldn't be done before his talk
The order would miss the cutoff: orders in by three are ready at ten the next morning, and he is asking at three fifteen, so his copies would come a day later, after his noon presentation.
Evidence: "Orders in by three are ready at ten the next morning. After three, add a day." / "It's three fifteen. And we're presenting at noon tomorrow." / "Oh. Well, you could always print them yourself"
Why the other options are wrong
A. It would be ready at ten tomorrow morning — Ten the next morning applies only to orders in "by three." He says "It's three fifteen," so the rule "After three, add a day" applies.
C. It would be charged to his card — The card is mentioned only for the self-service machines: "You'd have to load money onto your card first."
D. It would be printed by noon tomorrow — Noon is when he presents, not when anything would be ready; a late order is ready at ten the day after tomorrow.
Q2Why does the woman mention the business school?
Show answer and explanation
Answer: B. To warn him that he'll have to wait his turn
The woman mentions the business school to warn that many other students are printing for the same deadline, so he will have to wait for a machine.
Evidence: "half the business school has the same deadline as you." / "Great. So there's a line." / "There's a list by the door."
Why the other options are wrong
A. To point out other machines he could print on — She mentions the business school only to say how many people share his deadline; the only machines are the ones "over there."
C. To suggest that his group report is late — The "deadline" is the presentations everyone is preparing for; his report is not late, and she is describing demand for the machines.
D. To explain who gets their orders done first — She says nothing about priority; the business students are simply others who need the machines.
3. Recorded interview speaker labels swapped
2 questions
Listen (0:41)
Show transcript
Speaker AThis interview transcript stops making sense halfway through. I labeled the voices host, guest, host, guest, all the way down.
Speaker BPlay that part again. Hear the pause? The guest just stops for a breath and keeps going.
Speaker AOh no. So I gave her next comment to the host.
Speaker BRight, and after that, every label's off by one. That's why the host seems to answer her own questions.
Speaker ADo I have to redo the whole thing?
Speaker BI wouldn't. The words themselves look fine. It's who said them that's wrong.
Speaker AOK, so I'll go back to that pause and relabel from there.
Speaker BAnd this time, listen to the voices instead of just alternating.
Audio in these samples uses AI-generated voices.
Q1Why does the student reviewing the work say, "Play that part again"?
Show answer and explanation
Answer: D. To show where the mix-up in the labels began
The student reviewing the work replays the section so that the student who made it can hear the guest pause and continue, the point where the alternating labels went wrong.
Evidence: "Play that part again. Hear the pause? The guest just stops for a breath and keeps going." / "So I gave her next comment to the host."
Why the other options are wrong
A. To find the question the host asked next — She wants the student who made the transcript to hear the guest's pause, not a question from the host.
B. To check whether any words were typed wrongly — The words are not the problem: "The words themselves look fine."
C. To point out that the recording is hard to hear — The recording is clear enough for her to hear the guest pause and keep talking.
Q2What does the student reviewing the work imply when she says, "I wouldn't"?
Show answer and explanation
Answer: D. Starting over from the beginning is unnecessary
"I wouldn't" answers the question about redoing the whole transcript: the words are fine, so only the labels from the pause onward need to change.
Evidence: "Do I have to redo the whole thing?" / "I wouldn't. The words themselves look fine. It's who said them that's wrong." / "OK, so I'll go back to that pause and relabel from there."
Why the other options are wrong
A. She would not have alternated the labels herself — She does criticize the alternating method at the end, but "I wouldn't" answers the question about redoing the whole transcript.
B. She would not use this recording for the project — Nothing suggests replacing the recording.
C. The labels do not need to be changed — The labels do need changing; the student who made the transcript will "relabel from there."
4. Hoodie left in the chemistry building
2 questions
Listen (0:39)
Show transcript
Speaker AHi. I left a gray hoodie in the chemistry building on Monday. Has anybody turned one in?
Speaker BNot here. Each building keeps what it finds and brings it over on Fridays.
Speaker AFriday? It's only Wednesday. I've been freezing all week.
Speaker BYou could try their front office. Though, between you and me, a gray hoodie isn't exactly one of a kind.
Speaker AMine's got my name written inside the hood, though.
Speaker BOh, then they've probably emailed you. They do that with anything that has a name in it.
Speaker ATo my school account? I never check that one.
Speaker BWell, there you go. I'd look there before you walk across campus.
Audio in these samples uses AI-generated voices.
Q1What is the student's main purpose in coming to the office?
Show answer and explanation
Answer: B. To look for a piece of clothing he lost
The student has come to the office to find out whether a hoodie he left behind has been handed in.
Evidence: "I left a gray hoodie in the chemistry building on Monday. Has anybody turned one in?"
Why the other options are wrong
A. To get his school email account working — The account comes up only at the end, and nothing is wrong with it: he just never checks it.
C. To complain about the chemistry building's office — The front office is suggested by the employee as a place to check; the student makes no complaint about it.
D. To ask when the buildings send items over — He learns that items come over "on Fridays," but only because the employee explains it; he came to ask whether his hoodie was there.
Q2What does the employee imply when he says, "a gray hoodie isn't exactly one of a kind"?
Show answer and explanation
Answer: B. Lots of people own one that looks the same
The employee is warning that gray hoodies are very common, so the student's might be hard to identify; the student replies that his name is written inside.
Evidence: "between you and me, a gray hoodie isn't exactly one of a kind." / "Mine's got my name written inside the hood, though."
Why the other options are wrong
A. He should buy another one before Friday — The employee suggests trying the front office and later his email; buying a replacement is never suggested.
C. Gray hoodies are rarely turned in — This reverses the point: the remark is about how common such hoodies are, which would make his hard to pick out.
D. The front office only keeps valuable items — The employee says each building "keeps what it finds," with no limit to valuable things.
5. Rolling suitcase on gravel shortcut
2 questions
Listen (0:36)
Show transcript
Speaker AAccording to the map, the quickest way to the guest house cuts right through the garden. Want to take it?
Speaker BWith these suitcases? Half that path is loose gravel.
Speaker AOh, I didn't notice that. The other way's nearly twice as long, though.
Speaker BSure, but it's paved the whole way, and there's a ramp at the side entrance.
Speaker AFair enough. Dragging these over gravel doesn't sound like much fun.
Speaker BTell me about it. And we'll only be ten minutes later, tops.
Speaker AI'd better text our friend, then. She said she'd meet us at the front gate.
Speaker BGood idea. Otherwise she'll be waiting on the wrong side of the building.
Audio in these samples uses AI-generated voices.
Q1What does the man mean when he says, "Tell me about it"?
Show answer and explanation
Answer: A. He fully shares her view of the gravel path
"Tell me about it" expresses agreement: the man feels the same way about pulling suitcases over gravel.
Evidence: "Dragging these over gravel doesn't sound like much fun." / "Tell me about it. And we'll only be ten minutes later, tops."
Why the other options are wrong
B. He wants her to describe the route in detail — The phrase is not a real request for information; he does not ask her anything.
C. He is annoyed that she chose the garden route — He objected to the garden route at the start, but by now they have both rejected it; nothing shows annoyance.
D. He is unsure how long the paved route takes — In the same turn he estimates the delay: "we'll only be ten minutes later, tops."
Q2What is the most likely reason the woman will text their friend?
Show answer and explanation
Answer: A. To let her know where they will arrive
The chosen route brings them to the side entrance, not the front gate where their friend is waiting, so the woman must tell her about the change.
Evidence: "there's a ramp at the side entrance" / "She said she'd meet us at the front gate." / "Otherwise she'll be waiting on the wrong side of the building."
Why the other options are wrong
B. To check whether the garden path is open — They have already decided not to use the garden path.
C. To ask her to bring a cart for the luggage — The suitcases have wheels and the paved route has a ramp; no cart is needed.
D. To say they will arrive earlier than planned — The paved route is longer; they will be "ten minutes later."
6. Laptop keeps dropping the library Wi-Fi
2 questions
Listen (0:36)
Show transcript
Speaker AHi. My laptop keeps dropping the Wi-Fi, but only here in the library. In my dorm it's fine.
Speaker BLet me guess. Every hour or so? And then it asks you to sign in again?
Speaker AYeah. How'd you know?
Speaker BCan I see your settings? Yep, you're on the guest network. It cuts everybody off after an hour.
Speaker ABut that's the only network that shows up in here.
Speaker BRight, the student one's hidden. You have to type its name in once. Here, I'll add it for you.
Speaker AAnd I won't have to do this every time?
Speaker BNot unless you reset your laptop. Then it'll forget everything, and you'll be right back here.
Audio in these samples uses AI-generated voices.
Q1Why does the employee say, "Let me guess"?
Show answer and explanation
Answer: C. To show she has run into this problem before
The employee recognizes a common problem and predicts its symptoms before checking; the guest network "cuts everybody off after an hour."
Evidence: "Let me guess. Every hour or so? And then it asks you to sign in again?" / "Yeah. How'd you know?" / "you're on the guest network. It cuts everybody off after an hour."
Why the other options are wrong
A. To ask how long the student usually studies there — "Every hour or so" describes how often the connection drops, not how long the student studies.
B. To suggest that the laptop battery is running low — Nothing is said about the battery; the cause turns out to be the guest network.
D. To find out when the student last signed in — Signing in is mentioned, but the employee is describing the pattern of the problem, not asking when the student last signed in.
Q2What does the employee imply when she says, "you'll be right back here"?
Show answer and explanation
Answer: D. The student would need the same help again
After a reset the laptop would lose the student network, and the student would need the employee to add it again.
Evidence: "Not unless you reset your laptop. Then it'll forget everything, and you'll be right back here."
Why the other options are wrong
A. Resetting the laptop would solve the problem faster — The reverse: resetting the laptop is what would undo the fix.
B. The student should do her work in the library — "Here" refers to the help desk, which the student is visiting in the library; the employee is not telling her where to study.
C. The repair will have to be finished at the dorm — The dorm is where the Wi-Fi already works; no repair is planned there.
7. Shared kettle minimum fill mark
2 questions
Listen (0:36)
Show transcript
Speaker AI just need half a cup of hot water for my tea, so I'll only put that much in the kettle.
Speaker BCareful. See that line near the bottom? That's the minimum. Half a cup won't even reach it.
Speaker ASeems like a waste, though, boiling water I'm not going to use.
Speaker BMaybe, but the instructions say not to run it below the line.
Speaker AHuh. The one at home doesn't even have a line like that.
Speaker BWell, this one does. Fill it to the line, and just pour what you need.
Speaker AAnd what do I do with the rest?
Speaker BLeave it. Someone's always making coffee in here, so it won't sit there long.
Audio in these samples uses AI-generated voices.
Q1Why does the student making tea say, "Seems like a waste, though"?
Show answer and explanation
Answer: B. To voice a reservation about the advice
The student making tea is not refusing; he is expressing a doubt about heating more water than he needs.
Evidence: "That's the minimum. Half a cup won't even reach it." / "Seems like a waste, though, boiling water I'm not going to use." / "Maybe, but the instructions say not to run it below the line."
Why the other options are wrong
A. To complain that the kettle heats too slowly — Heating speed is never mentioned.
C. To offer to make coffee with the extra water — Coffee comes up at the end, from the other student, as the reason the leftover water will be used.
D. To explain why he prefers the kettle at home — He mentions the kettle at home only later, to say it has no minimum line; he does not say he prefers it.
Q2What does the student familiar with the kettle imply when he says, "Someone's always making coffee in here"?
Show answer and explanation
Answer: B. Other people will use up the remainder
The leftover water will soon be used by someone making coffee, which answers the concern that heating the minimum wastes water.
Evidence: "Seems like a waste" / "And what do I do with the rest?" / "Leave it. Someone's always making coffee in here, so it won't sit there long."
Why the other options are wrong
A. The kitchen is usually too busy to use — People using the kitchen is the reason the water gets used, not a complaint about crowding.
C. The kettle has to be refilled constantly — Refilling is never mentioned.
D. Coffee would be a better choice than tea — He is not suggesting a different drink; the coffee is other people's.
8. New box office job clashes with a discussion section
2 questions
Listen (0:37)
Show transcript
Speaker AProfessor, got a minute? I just got a job at the theater box office, and they can only give me Thursday afternoons.
Speaker BWhich is when your discussion section meets, I'm guessing.
Speaker ATwo to three. And my shift starts at two thirty. Could I switch to another section?
Speaker BThere's one Tuesday at four and one Thursday at noon. The Tuesday one's full, though.
Speaker AAnd the noon one? The box office is a ten-minute walk.
Speaker BIt runs an hour and fifteen minutes. The thing is, the department frowns on switching after week three.
Speaker AOh. We're in week four.
Speaker BLet me talk to the coordinator. No promises, but it's worth a shot.
Audio in these samples uses AI-generated voices.
Q1What can be inferred about the Thursday noon section?
Show answer and explanation
Answer: B. It would leave her time to reach work
Adding the section's length to its start time shows it ends at one fifteen, over an hour before her two-thirty shift, so the timing works; the obstacle is the department's policy, not the schedule.
Evidence: "one Thursday at noon" / "my shift starts at two thirty" / "It runs an hour and fifteen minutes."
Why the other options are wrong
A. It meets too far from the box office — She says "The box office is a ten-minute walk," so distance is not a problem.
C. It overlaps with her Thursday shift — It is on Thursday, but it ends at one fifteen, well before the shift at two thirty.
D. It has no room for more students — It is the Tuesday section that is full: "The Tuesday one's full, though."
Q2What does the professor mean when he says, "No promises, but it's worth a shot"?
Show answer and explanation
Answer: B. He'll try, though success isn't certain
The professor will ask the coordinator, but because switching after week three is discouraged, he can't guarantee it will work.
Evidence: "the department frowns on switching after week three." / "Oh. We're in week four." / "Let me talk to the coordinator. No promises, but it's worth a shot."
Why the other options are wrong
A. He'll move her to the noon section himself — He can't simply move her; he has to "talk to the coordinator," and the department "frowns on" late switches.
C. She should take the Tuesday section instead — The Tuesday section is full, so it is not an option he is recommending.
D. She should talk to the coordinator herself — He says "Let me talk to the coordinator": he will do it, not her.