COMPLETE TOEFL SPEAKING GUIDE 2020

Hello everyone,

TOEFL is a Test of English as a Foreign Language. It is an exam which tests the English speaking skills of non-native speakers. It helps in admission for English-speaking universities. It tests four categories: reading, writing, speaking and listening skills. This article is all about the speaking section. Here is the complete TOEFL speaking guide for 2020 TOEFL exam preparation.

These are the tasks which the speaking section usually consists of. Generally, it feels like the difficult section but it can be completed with ease and also score well. It is conducted by the Educational Testing Service (ETS) and is responsible for the administration of the tests.

What we are going to focus on this article

• TOEFL
• Speaking test
• Task pattern
• Speaking templates
• Do’s and Don’ts
• FAQ’s
• Points to Remember

TOEFL test quick review

Test of English as a Foreign Language is the full form of TOEFL. It is conducted by Educational Testing Service (ETS). It has 4,500 test centres in 165 countries. The timing of the exam is 2hours 30 minutes. The grades are valid for a time period of 2 years. The score is graded on the scale of 0-30 in total 120. One can take up the exam 50 times in a year. It is applicable in 10,000 agencies, institutions around 130 countries.

There are two versions. They are:

    1. Internet-based test

    2. Paper-based test

Paper-based is conducted in selected areas. Most of it is been replaced by Internet-based test.

TOEFL Speaking test:

It is the shortest part of the examination. It lasts for 17-20 minutes. It includes 4 tasks to be completed. It is a multi–skill section wherein one must display reading, listening and writing skills along with speaking strategies. 

It requires concentration to listen carefully to the speech, read the paragraph efficiently, make good notes and compile all these into a speech which is a response to the prompt given. This is not a face-to-face conversation, but one must speak in the microphone with a moderate and audible tone. The recordings will be graded later.  

      There are two sub-sections in the 4 tasks:

       a. Independent (task 1)

       b. Integrated (task 2- task 4)

TOEFL Speaking Score

For each section, the scores will be marked on the scale of 0-4. These scores are will be later marked as 0-30 points.

The scoring can be as follows:

• Weak: 0-9 points
• Fair: 10-16 points
• Good: 17-24 points
• Excellent: 25-30 points

TOEFL Speaking task pattern

TOEFL Speaking Independent task 1: 

Under this section, the student is asked to give an opinion about the given question. It can also be created if one does not have an idea about it. The time given is 15 seconds to prepare and 45 seconds to speak. The prompt can be as follows:

• Agree or Disagree:

It requires a response in which the student is firm and can support the side with relevant examples.

Example:

A: Nowadays, some have the opinion that….but also some show a positive attitude. As far as I know, I disagree…My arguments are as follows:

I disagree with the statement that conservation since…

Firstly, I believe that…..

Secondly, my opinion about conservation is

• Preference style:

It depends on what the student prefers. It also requires specific reasons in support of the preference.

• Describe and Explain: 

The student must brief the question or situation and explain it. Be as relevant as much as possible.

• Pros and Cons: 

This may require to explain both the sides and support one with examples. One can create a fantasy about opinions.

• Choices: 

The question will have choices. One must select the best choice and support as to why the option is chosen.

  These are the prompts amongst which one is to be answered. One thing common is every answer needs a reason or instance to be the foundation for the matter. The time instance is 15 seconds for preparation and 45 seconds to speak.

Examples :

• Some people would keep loins as their pets and try adventurous things. Some are very cautious about risk-taking. Explain why.
• Few of them like to sit and work in the office. Few of them would like to move outdoors and work. Which would you prefer and why?
• Half of the population prefer tea and the best coffee. Which one is better and why?
• Do you agree or disagree with the below statement? Discuss why.

Providing rewards to professional would increase their instinct to work.

Complete TOEFL speaking guide

Speaking Integrated task 2

For the tasks from 2 one requires doing multi-task. It includes reading, listening and speaking. The response must be relevant, spontaneous and understandable.

The task involves 45 seconds to read the passage, 30 seconds to prepare after listening to the audio for 60 seconds. The overall speech is for 60 seconds. The passage is about educational situation i.e. campus news or an article about it. It has the current situation, to bring any changes or about a change which is already made. 

  The audio will have two people discussing the same subject and supporting with instances. The student must respond to combining the two and coming out to a common conclusion.

Example: The passage has a campus problem along with the solution stating two or one reasons in order to support it. The lecturer also speaks about the same problem and solution. If the speaker disagrees with the reasons he/she will prove it giving counter facts to the given passage. If the speaker agrees to the passage then he/she will add a few more reasons to validate it.

Then rises the question to the candidate and one should speak accordingly. The first thing is to summarize the given passage and main reason into a statement. Then the student’s policy to agree or disagree should be spoken. The third step is to brief it with reason 1 and the next is with reason 2. The last and final step conclusion must be reframed and spoken. [Optional if there is time left]

One can take down the notes which can be helpful while framing the answer as the audio is not replayed. The same can be followed for task 3 and task 4.

Complete TOEFL speaking guide

TOEFL Speaking Integrated task 3

This task is almost similar to task 2. It also has a passage to read, audio to listen and a speech about it. The passage is about an intellectual or academic topic. There would be a lecture, given by a lecturer on the same topic in the passage. The examinee must sum up both the content as a passage and speak the response in the microphone. The time limit is the same 45 seconds to read, 60 seconds listen to the audio, 30 seconds to prepare and 60 seconds to speak. 

TOEFL Speaking Integrated task 4

This task is the last part of the complete listening section. It is a bit tricky to deal with. Like the other two tasks, there is no passage to read. It would first have a lecture for about 1.5 – 2 minutes. It would be the longest audio which will be played amongst the other audios. This requires a good amount of attention to hear. Then there would be a question for which one has to respond. The topic is all about intellectual, academic, perception or development. The criterion is same the concept will have a statement and a few reasons to support it. The time limit is 20 seconds to prepare and 60 seconds to speak.

TOEFL Speaking Templates:

Prompt one (independent task 1):

Major point:

I believe it is better to…

I consider the idea…

I think it is a great view…

Transitional: 

I feel it for many reasons…

First reason:

Firstly + a good example

Second reason:

Secondly + a detailed and specific cause

Prompt two (integrated task 2):

Reading major points:

The reading has…..

The announcement in the article/writes up…..

Causes:

It is due to to……and…

Because of the reason…..and…..

Transition:

It says a few reasons to support/ oppose it.

There might be a mixed opinion. (If the statement is diplomatic)

First reason:

Firstly, it states…

Firstly, it argues…..

Second reason:

Secondly, it speaks about…..

It also mentions that…..

Prompt three (integrated task 3):

Start with the idea:

The passage is about…

The reading is about the concept…

Briefing the information:

It speaks that…..

It also says…

Transition:

The speech has an example…

The lecturer gives examples about…

First example:

Firstly, he/she says…..

To start with the…

Second example:

Secondly, he/she says that…

Next, it states that……

Prompt four (integrated task 4):

Begin with the lecture details:

The professor explains the given topic with……

First reason/example:

Firstly, he/she states……

Second reason/example:

Secondly, he/she mentions…..

Conclude:

This shows that…

The illustrations depict…

The examples demonstrate……

Vocabulary which can be used in the speech:

Considerable                              Itself

 Interpret                                    However

Attitude                                     When I’m there

Estimate                                     For this reason

 Believe                                     Another

 Demonstrate                             Continuously

Depict                                       Contradict

Proceed                                     Decline

 Risk                                            Degrade

Shift                                            Efficient

Prior                                            Evident

Contribute                                   Eliminate

Distribute                                    Hypothesis

Reinforce                                     Illuminate

Distribute                                     Method

Effective                                       Partial

Increase                                         Potency

Debate                                          Persuade

Prestigious                                   Sufficient

Range                                           Subsequent

Widespread                                  Transfer

Vanish                                          Summarize

Transition                                     Strategy

Specify                                         Implement

Require                                        Harsh

Obey

Maintain

Lecturer

Inhibit

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Complete TOEFL speaking guide

Do’s and Don’ts for a good TOEFL speaking score

• Do practice taking notes for every section as a map to the end answer.
• Be calm and relaxed. 
• Do focus on the key features as they make the most of the response.
• Usage of templates and transitions would help to answer the question in a proper structure.
• Do practice well before the examination. 
• Do rehearse complex words and their proper usage in the sentence during the exam.
• One needs to speak in a moderate tone with an audible tone in the microphone. 
• Do not cut copy and paste answers from the previous answers in your speech.
• Do not yell into the microphone. The adjustments will be done before the examination.
• Do not panic due to time constraints.
• Do not delay while the speech is going on. Be continuous and with a proper flow.
• Do not use complicated words which may reduce the efficiency of grammar, vocabulary and pronunciation.
• Do not hurry up to complete the answer. Control your pace and respond in an understandable way.

Frequently Asked Questions for TOEFL Speaking Section

A quick review of TOEFL Speaking Section

• Skill test: speaking skills
• Exam duration: 17-20 minutes
• Tasks: 4 tasks 

     : Independent [1], integrated [3]

• Skills involved: reading, listening and speaking
• Task 1: 15 seconds to read, 45 seconds to speak
• Task 2 & task 3: 45 seconds to read, 60 seconds for listening, 30 seconds to prepare and 60 seconds to speak.
• Task 4: 1.5-2 minutes of speech, 20 seconds to prepare, 60 seconds to speak.
• Practice: 3 or 6 months in advance
• Good resources, helpful guides, a tutor or native English speaker, practice papers are recommended.

Every point if inculcated into practice will make it convenient for the student to score good marks. It completely depends on the type of practice the person is comfortable with. “Do not stress, do your best, forget the rest”. This statement is applicable in a situation where one is focused on their goal. The hurdles in the path are to push one towards their goal and not to stop from achieving them.

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With AccioIbis TOEFL Instant Writing evaluation, you will get the power in your hands, no more waiting no more searching for the right teacher, simply register and start practising. You can practice from any device from any place.