Confusing which speaker made which point is one of the most common, avoidable errors on this task. A simple, consistent note-taking layout that visually separates the two speakers prevents most of this confusion before it happens.
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Split your note space into two columns, one per speaker, rather than writing everything in a single running list. This makes it visually obvious which speaker said what when you review your notes to answer questions, without needing to re-read labels or context to figure out attribution after the fact.
Most conversations have a clear shift — a problem is introduced, then a solution or decision follows. Marking this turning point in your notes (even just a line or symbol) helps you quickly locate the relevant section when a question asks about the resolution specifically, rather than searching through the full conversation from the start.
Note who has information and who's requesting it (student asking, advisor explaining) — this role distinction, noted once at the start, often resolves speaker-attribution confusion for the rest of the conversation without needing to re-track it constantly.
Drill conversations with real TOEFL-format timing.