新托福是在以往托福基础上的一种“继承式的革新”，它采用iBT模式，即Internet-based test，是基于国际互联网的计算机化考试。换句话说，新托福考试是在具有特定网络环境的计算机上进行，并通过互联网实现题目与答案的双向传输。
从听力角度而言，新托福对考生提出了三方面能力更高的要求：
一、基本信息的理解能力，即Basic Comprehension
这是相对而言最为简单的一种能力考查，因而在听力题目总数中占有半壁江山。该能力主要通过 Gist Questions(主旨题)和Detail Questions(细节题)对考生加以考查。
主旨置主要分为Gist-content questions和Gist-purpose questions两种：
1.Gist-content questions的常见腼干汇编
What's the subject/topic/main idea/purpose of the passage/conversation?
What problem does the man have? /What's the man’s problem?
What is the professor mainly discussing?
What are the speakers/students mainly discussing?
What is the main topic/idea of the lecture/talk?
What's the speaker's main point?
What is the lecture mainly about?
What aspect of… does the professor mainly discuss?
2.Gist-purpose questions的常见题干汇编
Why…in the passage?
Why does the student visit the professor/registrar’s office?
Why does the professor ask to see the student?
Why does the professor explain X?
细节置主要分为一般细节题、图片糟和专有名词题三种：
1 一般细节厝的常见题千汇编
What is state/indicated in the passage/lecture about…?
According to the speaker/professor…?
According to the professor, what is one way that X can affect Y?
According to the professor, what is the main problem with the X theory?
What does the woman want to know?
What does the man suggest the woman do?
What happened to…?
What reason is given for…?
What does the professor say about…?’
How does the professor describe…?
How does the professor emphasize her point about…?
What…?
What are…?
What type…?
What resulted from the invention of the…?
Who/where/When/Which/How/Why…?
2.图片题的常见题千汇编
Which picture…?
Select the drawing that shows…?
Select the diagram that represents…
Identify the part of the picture that represents…
Which area of the diagram illustrates.…?
3.专有名词题的常见题干汇编
What is a…?
In this conversation, what does…mean?
According to the speaker, what does…mean?
How does the speaker define...?
