In the Speaking section of the TOEFL iBT test, you will be able to demonstrate your ability to speak in English about a variety of topics by answering four questions.
In the test, the first question is about a familiar topic. Your response is scored on your ability to speak clearly and coherently about the topic. In the next two questions, your responses are based on what you have read and heard. First you will read a short text, either about a campus-related change or an academic topic. The text will go away, and then you will listen to either a conversation about the campus-related change or a short lecture on the academic topic.
You will then be asked a question about what you have read and heard. You need to combine appropriate information from the text and the talk to provide a complete answer to the question. For the final question, you will listen to part of a lecture on an academic topic. You will then be asked to summarize the main points of what you heard. Your responses to these questions are scored on your ability to speak clearly and coherently and on your ability to accurately convey information about what you have read and/or heard.
During the test, you can take notes while you read and while you listen to the conversations and lectures, and you can use your notes to help prepare your response. Listen carefully to the directions for each question. The directions are not written on the screen. You will be given a short time to prepare your response (15 to 30 seconds, depending on the question). A clock shows how much preparation time remains. When the preparation time is up, you will be told to begin your response. A clock shows how much response time remains. A message appears on the screen when the response time has ended.
In this practice test, you will not record your responses. Instead, you will hear sample responses. If you wish to practice your responses, you may do so by setting a timer and recording yourself using your own device.
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Question 1 of 4
State whether you agree or disagree with the following statement. Then explain your reasons, using specific details in your explanation.
Learning through online courses is more effective than learning in the traditional classroom setting.
Preparation Time: 15 seconds
Record Time: 45 seconds
This is a high level response. Overall, this speaker provides a full response. She states her opinion and provides three different, well-developed reasons for it. For the most part, the speakers is clear and easy to understand. Although this is a high level response, it is not perfect. The major weakness is the imprecise vocabulary and minor grammatical errors. She makes several minor errors of word choice, word form, verb tense, prepositions, and so on. However, these errors seldom obscure meaning for the listener. For example, she said, “...they can talk whatever they like if they face a computer...” but she should have said, “they can say whatever they like if they are facing a computer...” In her last sentence, she struggled to communicate the idea that the professor “could give comments on assignments by email.”
This is a high level response. Overall, this speaker provides a full response. She states her opinion and provides three different, well-developed reasons for it. For the most part, the speakers is clear and easy to understand. Although this is a high level response, it is not perfect. The major weakness is the imprecise vocabulary and minor grammatical errors. She makes several minor errors of word choice, word form, verb tense, prepositions, and so on. However, these errors seldom obscure meaning for the listener. For example, she said, “...they can talk whatever they like if they face a computer...” but she should have said, “they can say whatever they like if they are facing a computer...” In her last sentence, she struggled to communicate the idea that the professor “could give comments on assignments by email.”
Question 2 of 4
Read the article from a university newspaper. You will have 50 seconds to read the article. Begin reading now.
University to Prohibit Bicycles on Campus
Beginning next semester, the University will not allow the use of bicycles on campus. The campus sidewalks are intended for pedestrians and receive heavy pedestrian traffic. Several minor accidents have resulted from people on bicycles colliding with people walking, and although no one has been seriously hurt, University officials feel that bicycles pose a safety risk. Furthermore, the prohibition of bicycles will not be a problem for students, since the university currently operates a convenient alternative: the free campus bus system, which runs between all campus buildings.
The woman expresses her opinion of the proposed policy change. State her opinion, and explain the reasons she gives for holding that opinion.
Preparation Time: 30 seconds
Record Time: 60 seconds
This is a mid-level response. The speaker seems to have understood some of the key points from the reading and the conversation. However, many important details are missing or incorrectly expressed in his response. For example, he incorrectly says that “the bus cause accident” but the reading suggested that accidents on sidewalks occurred when bicycles ran into pedestrians. Numerous vocabulary and grammar errors sometimes make it difficult to understand the speaker’s intended message. For example, it is not clear what is meant by phrases such as “...causes very inconvenience...”, or “...campus support provide bus...” The speech is mostly clear and easy to understand, but because the speaker repeats “uh” throughout the response and has many false starts ("bicycles causes very causes very inconvenience"), the response is choppy and difficult to follow at times.
This is a mid-level response. The speaker seems to have understood some of the key points from the reading and the conversation. However, many important details are missing or incorrectly expressed in his response. For example, he incorrectly says that “the bus cause accident” but the reading suggested that accidents on sidewalks occurred when bicycles ran into pedestrians. Numerous vocabulary and grammar errors sometimes make it difficult to understand the speaker’s intended message. For example, it is not clear what is meant by phrases such as “...causes very inconvenience...”, or “...campus support provide bus...” The speech is mostly clear and easy to understand, but because the speaker repeats “uh” throughout the response and has many false starts ("bicycles causes very causes very inconvenience"), the response is choppy and difficult to follow at times.
Question 3 of 4
Now read the passage from a psychology textbook. You have 45 seconds to read the passage. Begin reading now.
Behavior Modification
Individuals often modify their behavior based on what they have learned about the possible consequences of their actions. When an individual learns through experience that a certain behavior results in pleasant consequences, that behavior is likely to be repeated. An unpleasant consequence, on the other hand, discourages further repetition of the behavior. While behavior modification can be observed in experiments, it also occurs frequently in everyday settings, when individuals change their behavior based on what they have learned about the consequences of that behavior.
Using the example from the lecture, explain what behavior modification is and how it works.
Preparation Time: 30 seconds
Record Time: 60 seconds
This is a high level response. Overall, the speaker is clear and easy to understand. His pronunciation is generally good and he uses intonation effectively to express meaning. He is able to use a range of simple and complex grammatical structures and vocabulary to express his ideas, although he makes several minor errors such as errors in agreement (“this behaviors”) and dropping pronouns and articles (“learn to raise [their] hands”). These errors don’t obscure meaning for the listener. His vocabulary use is often very precise and effective (“...reproaching them about how inappropriate that is...”). His definition of behavior modification is clear and accurate. He is able to summarize key points from the lecture to support the definitions. Overall, this is a mostly coherent and accurate synthesis of the reading and listening material.
This is a high level response. Overall, the speaker is clear and easy to understand. His pronunciation is generally good and he uses intonation effectively to express meaning. He is able to use a range of simple and complex grammatical structures and vocabulary to express his ideas, although he makes several minor errors such as errors in agreement (“this behaviors”) and dropping pronouns and articles (“learn to raise [their] hands”). These errors don’t obscure meaning for the listener. His vocabulary use is often very precise and effective (“...reproaching them about how inappropriate that is...”). His definition of behavior modification is clear and accurate. He is able to summarize key points from the lecture to support the definitions. Overall, this is a mostly coherent and accurate synthesis of the reading and listening material.
Question 4 of 4
Using points and examples from the lecture, explain the two major factors of product quality and how their role in consumer decision making has changed.
Preparation Time: 20 seconds
Record Time: 60 seconds
This is a mid-level response. While the speaker’s pronunciation is clear and intonation is effective, the content is very vague and incomplete. Listeners who are not familiar with the lecture she is describing, would not be able to understand it from her response. Her response captures a few key ideas from the lecture. However, she does not connect her ideas by using helpful transitional expressions, and as a result, the content is often difficult for the listener to follow. She also does not include any specific details such as the information about buying a car to help explain her ideas. So while she attempts to explain two aspects of quality, reliability and features, her explanation is vague and not complete.
This is a mid-level response. While the speaker’s pronunciation is clear and intonation is effective, the content is very vague and incomplete. Listeners who are not familiar with the lecture she is describing, would not be able to understand it from her response. Her response captures a few key ideas from the lecture. However, she does not connect her ideas by using helpful transitional expressions, and as a result, the content is often difficult for the listener to follow. She also does not include any specific details such as the information about buying a car to help explain her ideas. So while she attempts to explain two aspects of quality, reliability and features, her explanation is vague and not complete.
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