Question Types
There are several question types in the Listening Section. The most familiar type is the multiple choice question. The multiple choice questions all have four answer choices, but some ask for just one answer and others ask for more than one answer. For this reason it is important to read each question carefully. The questions that require more than one answer are clearly marked as such. Assume only one answer is required for a multiple choice question unless otherwise stated. Multiple choice questions might concern finding the main idea, making inferences, understanding details, or understanding the organizational structure of a lecture.
Another question type in this section asks test takers to put things in order. These questions might involve putting scientific steps in their proper sequence or they could involve putting historical steps in order. These questions are not very common and mainly require remembering the correct chronological order of steps. There is no partial credit -- all components of the question must be put in the proper order to get credit for the question.
The final question type involves marking the proper category in a chart. This is similar to the Reading to Learn category chart questions from the Reading Section, except instead of dragging content to a chart, the test taker is marking Xes in a chart. The charts might be two columns or they might be more detailed. ETS describes the skill tested in these questions as "connecting content." The categories are described in the lecture or conversation and the test taker has to mark which items or issues would fall into which categories. Normally, what fits where is pretty clearly described in the lecture or conversation. Sometimes test takers have to make inferences about what category would be appropriate, but usually these questions are more straight-forward.