TOEIC L&R Strategy Guide

What 740 means: 740 = roughly CEFR B2. You need approximately 370/495 in both Listening and Reading. That is around 75 correct answers out of 100 in each section — you do not need to be perfect. Every question is worth the same. There is no penalty for wrong answers — always guess if unsure.

Section	Part	Task Type	Questions	Time	Score Priority
Listening 45 min	Part 1	Photograph description	6	~3 min	★★☆ Easy points
	Part 2	Question-response	25	~10 min	★★★ High impact
	Part 3	Conversations (3 Qs each)	39	~17 min	★★★ High impact
	Part 4	Talks & announcements	30	~15 min	★★★ High impact
Reading 75 min	Part 5	Incomplete sentences	40	~18 min	★★★ Fastest gains
	Part 6	Text completion	12	~8 min	★★☆ Medium
	Part 7	Reading passages	48	~49 min	★★★ Most questions

Reading Time Budget (75 min total)

Part 5: 40 questions — 18 minutes (27 sec each — do not linger)
Part 6: 12 questions — 8 minutes (40 sec each)
Part 7: 48 questions — 49 minutes (use all remaining time)

Key rule: Finish Parts 5 and 6 fast so Part 7 gets maximum time.

The 3 Rules That Apply to Every Part

1. Never leave a blank. Wrong answers score the same as blanks — always guess from remaining choices.
2. Eliminate first. Remove clearly wrong answers before guessing.
3. Don't over-think. First instinct is usually right. Changing answers loses more than it gains.

Where most Japanese learners lose points: Part 2 (indirect responses confuse), Part 5 (prepositions and word form errors), Part 7 (running out of time). Fix these three areas and 740 is very achievable.

What happens: You see a photograph. You hear four statements (A, B, C, D) read once. Choose the one that best describes what you see in the photo. The other three will be wrong — often deliberately misleading.

The Method — 3 Steps

Step 1 — Scan the photo before the audio starts

You have a few seconds before each question. Use them. Ask: Who is in the photo? What are they doing? Where are they?
Note the key action verb — this is almost always what the correct answer describes.
Note the setting — office, street, store, park etc. Wrong answers often misidentify the location.

Step 2 — Listen for the verb first

TOEIC photos usually show people doing something. The correct answer almost always contains the right action verb in continuous form: is writing, are carrying, is being arranged.
Eliminate any answer with a verb that does not match what you can see happening.

Step 3 — Eliminate by what you can see is NOT true

Wrong answers are traps using words you can see in the photo but with the wrong meaning, tense, or relationship. If the answer says something you cannot confirm is true from the photo alone — eliminate it.

Trap 1 — Similar-sounding words: "He is reading a report" vs "He is writing a report." Listen carefully to verbs.
Trap 2 — Implied vs visible: "The office is busy" — you cannot see "busy." Only choose what is directly visible.
Trap 3 — Number errors: "Two women" when there is one. "Several boxes" when there are two. Count carefully.
Trap 4 — Passive voice confusion: "The table is being set" (action in progress) vs "The table has been set" (already done). Look carefully at whether the action is happening or finished.

Common correct answer patterns:
— People: "A man is [verb]-ing..." / "Some people are [verb]-ing..."
— Objects with no people: "The chairs are arranged in rows." / "Boxes have been stacked near the wall."
— Mixed: "A woman is standing next to a display."
Quick win: Part 1 is only 6 questions. Aim for 5–6 correct. Do not dwell on any answer.

What happens: You hear a question or statement. You hear three possible responses (A, B, C) — no text on the page. Choose the best response. This is the fastest-moving part of the test and the one most Japanese learners find hardest because of indirect or unexpected responses.

The Method

Listen to the first 3 words of the question — they tell you the question type

Who / What / When / Where / Which / How / Why = WH question → needs a specific answer
"Do you / Did you / Have you / Will you" = Yes/No question → but the answer may not use yes or no
"Would you like / Could you / Can you" = Request → look for acceptance, refusal, or condition
Statement = Agreement, disagreement, or follow-up question

The first word is your fastest filter. A "Where" question cannot be answered with a time or a person's name — eliminate those immediately.

Trap 1 — Echo words: The wrong answer repeats a word from the question. "Who scheduled the meeting?" → Wrong: "The meeting starts at 3." The word "meeting" appears but doesn't answer "who."
Trap 2 — Indirect responses: TOEIC frequently uses answers that do not directly answer the question. "Do you know where Sarah is?" → "She mentioned going to the post office." This IS correct — it answers indirectly.
Trap 3 — Similar sounds: "Did you mail the report?" → Wrong answer uses "male" or "sale" — designed to confuse.
Trap 4 — Yes/No without yes/no: "Is the conference room available?" → "I'll check the booking system." No yes or no — but this is the correct style.

When you miss the first word: If you miss the opening, listen for the topic and eliminate the two most obviously wrong responses. Guess from the remaining one.
Do not panic if the response surprises you. Part 2 is specifically designed to have unexpected, indirect answers. If a response sounds odd but answers the underlying need — it is probably correct.
Time rule: There is no time to think. Mark your answer the moment you hear the three responses and move on immediately. Part 2 waits for no one.

Question Type Quick Reference

Question starts with	What the answer must address	Common wrong trap
Where	A location or direction	A time or a person
When / What time	A time, date, or event	A location
Who / Whose	A person or department	A thing or place
Why	A reason (because / to / for)	A time or description
How many/much	A quantity or amount	A yes/no statement
How long / often	A duration or frequency	A location
Do / Did / Have / Will	Any relevant response — often indirect	Echo of question words

Part 3: Two or three speakers having a workplace conversation. You see 3 questions with 4 answer choices each. Some questions include a graphic (chart, schedule, map) — you must combine what you hear with what you see.
Part 4: One speaker giving an announcement, message, advertisement, or short presentation. Same 3-question format. Also sometimes includes graphics.

The Most Important Technique — Preview the Questions First

Read the questions BEFORE the audio plays — this is the single biggest score booster

During the transition time between questions, quickly read the next set of 3 questions. Do not read the answer choices yet — just the questions.
Knowing what you are listening FOR transforms comprehension. Instead of trying to understand everything, you are searching for specific information.
Example: If Q1 asks "What is the woman's problem?" you listen for a complaint or difficulty. If Q2 asks "What does the man suggest?" you listen for a recommendation. If Q3 asks "What will they do next?" you listen for the final decision or action.

Question types in Parts 3 & 4

Main topic/purpose: Answer is usually in the first few sentences
Specific detail: A number, name, time, or item mentioned
What will happen next: Answer is near the end of the audio
Graphic questions: Find the item in the graphic that matches what you hear
Speaker's intention: "Why does the man say '...'" — meaning behind the words

Part 4 Talk Types to Recognise

Voicemail message: Caller states name, reason, callback number
Announcement: Event, time, location, what to do
Advertisement: Product, special offer, contact details
News report: Topic, what happened, expert opinion
Introduction: Speaker's name, background, why invited
Identifying the talk type in the first 5 seconds helps predict the structure.

Trap 1 — First mention ≠ correct answer: TOEIC often mentions something early that seems to answer a question, then corrects or changes it later. The final information is usually the correct answer.
Trap 2 — Paraphrase: The correct answer rarely uses the exact words from the audio. "The event was postponed" might appear as "The schedule was changed" in the question.
Trap 3 — Graphic questions: You do not need to understand every word — just identify which row/column/item matches what the speaker describes.
Trap 4 — "What does the speaker imply?" The answer will not be stated directly — it requires inference from tone and context.

If you fall behind: Quickly mark your best guess for the current question set, then immediately start reading the NEXT set of questions. Do not try to catch up — staying ahead of the audio is more important than answering the question you just missed perfectly.

What happens: A sentence with one blank. Four answer choices. Pick the word or phrase that correctly completes the sentence. Questions test grammar, vocabulary, and word form. This is the highest ROI part of the test — patterns are predictable and learnable.

Step 1 — Identify the question type in 2 seconds

Look at the four answer choices first — they tell you what is being tested

Same word, different forms: "manage / manager / managerial / management" → Word form question
Different words, same part of speech: "although / because / however / therefore" → Connector/conjunction question
Prepositions: "in / on / at / for" → Preposition question — must know fixed phrases
Verb tenses or forms: "has completed / will complete / completing / completed" → Tense/verb form question
Different vocabulary: "increase / improve / enhance / raise" → Vocabulary/collocation question
Identifying the question type immediately tells you what to look for in the sentence.

Step 2 — Use the minimum amount of the sentence needed

For grammar questions you often do not need to read the whole sentence. For a word form question — find the blank, look at what is immediately before and after it, and decide: is this position a noun, verb, adjective, or adverb? Then pick the correct form.
For vocabulary questions — read enough of the sentence to understand the situation, then choose the word that collocates naturally.

The 6 Most Common Part 5 Categories

#	Category	What to look for	Example trap
1	Word form	What role does the blank play? (noun/verb/adj/adv)	Using adjective where adverb needed: "act quick" → "act quickly"
2	Verb tense	Time words: yesterday, since, by next week, currently	"Since 2020" needs present perfect, not simple past
3	Preposition	Fixed phrases: interested IN, responsible FOR, consist OF	Confusing "in charge of" with "in charge for"
4	Pronoun/Determiner	Who owns it? Is it singular or plural?	"Each employee must submit their their report" — singular needs "his or her" or restructured
5	Connector	What is the logical relationship? Contrast/cause/addition?	Using "although" (contrast) instead of "because" (cause)
6	Vocabulary/Collocation	Which word fits this business context naturally?	"make a decision" NOT "do a decision" — collocations are fixed

The speed trap: Spending more than 30 seconds on any Part 5 question steals time from Part 7. If you are stuck after 25 seconds, mark your best guess and move on. Come back only if you finish early.

Business vocabulary that appears repeatedly: quarterly, revenue, comply (with), submit, notify, on behalf of, in accordance with, pursuant to, revised, tentative, consecutive, reimburse, vendor, inventory, stakeholder, fiscal year, agenda, itinerary, premises, adjoining.

What happens: Four short texts (emails, letters, memos, notices) each with 3 blanks. Each blank has 4 choices. One blank per text will be a full sentence insertion — you choose which sentence fits logically. This is Part 5 but in context — you must read more of the surrounding text to answer correctly.

The Method

Step 1 — Read the text type and subject line first (5 seconds)

Is it an email? A memo? A notice? Who is it to/from? What is the subject?
This gives you the context before you hit any blank — you will make faster, more accurate choices.

Step 2 — Read the full sentence containing the blank (not just the blank)

Unlike Part 5, the surrounding sentences matter. Tense context often comes from the sentence before. The correct connector depends on the logical flow across two sentences, not just one.

Step 3 — Sentence insertion questions: check what comes before AND after

The inserted sentence must connect smoothly to the sentence before it AND introduce the sentence after it. Check for: pronoun references ("this policy," "these changes," "they"), logical flow (cause → result, problem → solution), and tone consistency (formal email → formal sentence).

Typical Part 6 Text Types

— Internal memo (policy change, announcement)
— Email to customer (apology, inquiry response)
— Formal letter (job offer, complaint response)
— Public notice (event, deadline, instruction)
— Newsletter article (company news)

Sentence Insertion Checklist

✓ Does the pronoun (it/they/this) refer to something already mentioned?
✓ Does the tense match the surrounding text?
✓ Does the topic connect logically?
✓ Does the tone match (formal/informal)?
✓ Does the next sentence follow naturally?

Trap 1 — Tense mismatch: The text describes a past event but the blank options include a present tense answer that seems plausible in isolation. Check the time frame of the whole text.
Trap 2 — Sentence insertion with wrong pronoun reference: "It has been very successful" — if "it" has no clear referent in the previous sentence, this sentence is wrong for that position.
Trap 3 — Connector logic: "However" signals contrast. "Therefore" signals result. "In addition" signals extra information. The surrounding sentences must actually have that relationship.

Time rule for Part 6: 2 minutes per text = 8 minutes total. If you are spending more than 2 minutes on one text, circle your best guess and move on. Part 7 needs every available minute.

What happens: Single passages (emails, articles, notices, ads) with 2–4 questions each. Then multiple-passage sets (two or three documents) with 4–5 questions each. You must find, synthesise, or infer information. This is the longest and most time-pressured part. Most people who score below 740 run out of time here.

The Single Most Important Technique — Read the Questions Before the Passage

Know what you are looking for before you start reading

Read all the questions for a passage first. Note the keywords in each question.
Then scan the passage for those keywords — you do not need to read every word.
Example: Q asks "What discount is offered?" → Scan for a number with % or ¥ or $ sign. Ignore everything else until you find it.
Exception: "Main purpose" and "What is implied" questions require broader reading — do these last for each passage.

Part 7 Question Types and Where to Find Answers

Question type	Where to look	Time needed
Main purpose / topic	First paragraph / subject line	Low — skim opening
Specific detail (date, price, name)	Scan for the keyword or number	Low — direct scan
NOT / EXCEPT questions	Must check all four options against the text	High — do last
What is implied / suggested	Read surrounding context carefully	High — inference needed
What will the person do next	Final paragraph or call to action	Low — check ending
Double text — information from BOTH	One document answers part, the other answers the rest	High — cross-reference

Single Passage Timing Guide

2-question passage: 2.5 min
3-question passage: 3.5 min
4-question passage: 4.5 min
Double-passage (5 Qs): 6 min
Triple-passage (5 Qs): 7 min
Stick to these budgets — do not over-read.

Common Part 7 Text Types

Email / internal memo
Job advertisement
Product review or advertisement
News article or report
Schedule, timetable, or form
Online chat conversation
Invoice or order confirmation
Notice or instruction sheet

Trap 1 — Paraphrase: The text says "The deadline has been moved to Friday." The question asks "When must applications be received?" Answer: Friday. The word "deadline" may not appear in the question.
Trap 2 — NOT/EXCEPT: Three options ARE mentioned. One is not. Students often pick the first one they find. Read all four.
Trap 3 — Double text cross-reference: One document says the event is on the 15th. The second document says it was rescheduled. The rescheduled date is the answer — always use the most recent information.

Essential Business Collocations (Part 5 & 7)

Verb	Correct collocation	NOT this
make	make a decision / make a reservation / make progress / make an inquiry	do a decision / take a reservation
take	take action / take a break / take responsibility / take effect	make action / do responsibility
do	do business / do research / do damage	make business / make research
submit	submit a report / submit an application / submit a form	send in an application (informal)
conduct	conduct a survey / conduct a meeting / conduct an audit	do a survey (informal)

Fixed Preposition Phrases — Must Memorise

responsible for something
interested in something
comply with a rule
result in (outcome)
result from (cause)
consist of parts
apply for a job
apply to a situation

in charge of a team
on behalf of someone
in accordance with policy
prior to the meeting
due to bad weather
based on the data
familiar with the system
eligible for benefits

Word Form Suffixes — Part 5 Quick Guide

Form	Typical suffix	Example	Sentence position
Noun (thing)	-tion, -ment, -ance, -ity, -er, -or	completion, management, assistance	Subject / object of verb
Noun (person)	-er, -or, -ist, -ant, -ee	manager, analyst, applicant, employee	Subject / object of verb
Verb	-ify, -ise/-ize, -en, -ate	notify, organise, strengthen, evaluate	After subject
Adjective	-al, -ive, -ous, -ful, -able, -ible	financial, effective, successful, available	Before noun / after be
Adverb	-ly	efficiently, significantly, recently	Modifies verb or adjective

Connector Logic — Part 5 & 6

Connector	Relationship	Example
although / even though / while / whereas	Contrast within one sentence	Although it rained, the event continued.
however / nevertheless / yet	Contrast between two sentences	Sales declined. However, profits remained stable.
because / since / as	Cause (reason first)	She stayed late because the report was unfinished.
therefore / consequently / as a result / thus	Result/conclusion	The project was delayed; therefore, the deadline was extended.
in addition / furthermore / moreover / also	Adding information	The hotel offers parking. In addition, breakfast is included.
provided that / as long as / unless	Condition	You may attend provided that you register in advance.

TOEIC Listening & Reading — Master Strategy Guide

TOEIC Strategy — Part 1: Photograph Description

TOEIC Strategy — Part 2: Question-Response

TOEIC Strategy — Parts 3 & 4: Conversations and Talks

TOEIC Strategy — Part 5: Incomplete Sentences

TOEIC Strategy — Part 6: Text Completion

TOEIC Strategy — Part 7: Reading Comprehension

TOEIC L&R — Business Vocabulary & Grammar Quick Reference