Triple passage questions in Part 7: three texts, one answer
A triple passage set gives you three linked texts (such as an email, a schedule and a reply) and five questions. Skim all three quickly to see how they connect, then search for the one or two texts that hold the answer for each question - at least one question in every triple set requires combining a detail from two different texts.
What a triple passage set looks like
Part 7's last few question sets are triple passages: three short texts on the same page, followed by five questions. The texts are related, for example a job ad, an application email and a reply, or a notice, a form and a confirmation message.
Unlike single or double passage sets, at least one question in a triple set cannot be answered from one text alone. It asks you to combine a detail from two of the three texts, such as matching a date in one text to a price in another.
Skim all three texts before reading the questions
Spend the first few seconds skimming each text for its purpose and who wrote it: is it an announcement, a reply, a form, a receipt? Notice how the texts are dated or numbered in relation to each other, since later texts often update or respond to earlier ones.
Resist reading every sentence closely on the first pass. You only need to know what each text is for and where to find names, dates and numbers later, when a question sends you looking for them.
Search, don't reread, for each question
Read one question at a time and decide which text (or texts) it points to before searching. Simple questions name a detail that appears in a single text; cross-reference questions mention something from one text and ask you to check its effect in another.
For cross-reference questions, find the detail in the first text, then scan the other two texts for the matching name, date or number rather than rereading from the top.
The trap in triple passage sets
A common wrong answer repeats a detail that was true in an earlier text but was corrected or changed in a later one, such as an original meeting time that a follow-up email moves to a new date.
Always check whether a later text updates, cancels or replies to an earlier one before picking an answer based on the first text you read.
Practice routine
Pull the triple passage sets out of your practice tests and time yourself on skimming the three texts before you open the questions. After checking your answers, note which text held the detail for each cross-reference question so you get faster at spotting where to look.
Frequently asked questions
How many triple passage sets are on the TOEIC test?
Part 7 includes a small number of triple passage sets near the end of the reading section, each with three texts and five questions.
Do all five questions in a triple set require combining texts?
No. Most questions can be answered from a single text; usually just one or two questions in the set require matching a detail across two texts.
Should I read the three texts in the order they're printed?
Yes, reading in the printed order usually matches the real-world order of the texts, such as a notice followed by a request followed by a reply, which makes it easier to spot what each later text changes or confirms.
