TOEFL Speaking Topics: TOEFL speaking section is the shortest section of all the four sections. However, it’s often said that most students struggle with this section. The idea behind the varied TOEFL Speaking Topics is to check a student’s English speaking skills, understanding skills, interpretation skills, grammar, vocabulary, and the ability to manage time and pronunciation.
TOEFL Speaking Section instructions:
Students have to speak in English into a microphone, within a time frame. The microphone will be attached to the headphone. The speaking section is approximately twenty minutes long. There are 6 questions in total.
- Students have to give personal opinions;
- Summarize lectures and conversations;
- Report other people’s conversations
The TOEFL Speaking Topics consists of two categories:
- Independent section: There are two tasks in this section. Task 1 and Task 2. This test is taken to check a student’s speaking skills.
- Integrated section: Tasks 3, 4, 5 and 6 comprises this section. Speaking skills as well as other skills are tested in this section.
A student is evaluated based on how well he/she can listen, read, pronounce words, use grammar and manage time.
Independent speaking questions (Task 1 and task 2): Students are expected to speak about their personal opinions. They receive 15 seconds to prepare answers. The response time will be 45 seconds.
TOEFL Speaking Sample Questions
- What was your most memorable experience in school? Use specific reasons and examples to support your answer.
- Do you prefer to choose your friends carefully? Use specific reasons and examples to support your answer.
Students can practice more of these topics by going through question papers available for practice and other TOEFL question topics that are available freely over the internet.
TOEFL Speaking Topics Tips
- Start preparing the answer while listening to the audio, so that you save time.
- Use the 15 seconds to polish your answer.
- The response doesn’t have to be true.
- Students can be as creative as possible.
- The answers must be delivered clearly.
- Good reasons and examples must be given in support of the answers.
Integrated speaking questions (Task3, Task4, Task 5 & Task6): On task 3, students have to read a text first. Students usually get 45 seconds to read the text. Thereafter, students listen to an audio where few university students would be depicted discussing their views on a text. Test-takers will receive 30 seconds to prepare their response and 60 seconds to say (speak) the answer. The questions are based on the text and the audio.
On task 4, test-takers listen to a professor’s lecture on the same topic as the text. Reading time is 45 seconds and the preparation time is 30 seconds. The response time is 60 seconds.
On tasks 5 and 6, there are no texts to read. Test-takers have to listen to a conversation on task 5 and to a lecture on task 6. The TOEFL iBT questions are based on these recordings. The preparation time is 20 seconds and the response time is 60 seconds.
Tips
- Use the preparation time to prepare and note down important information
- Be creative while answering
- It’s not important to include every detail
- Relax and do not get nervous while speaking into the microphone. There is no one listening to the conversation at that point in time.
- Don’t speak too quickly
TOEFL Preparation Material
The preparation material is available in the form of videos, TOEFL PBT questions, TOEFL iBT topics, and infographics. Students can consult sites like Magoosh that offers valuable tips and preparation material.
