SPEAKING SECTION DIRECTIONS

The Speaking section measures your ability to speak in English about a variety of topics. There are six questions in this section.

In questions 1 and 2, you will speak about familiar topics. Your responses will be scored on your ability to speak clearly and coherently about the topics.

In questions 3 and 4, you will first read a short text and then listen to a talk on the same topic. You will then be asked a question about what you have read and heard. You will need to combine appropriate information from the text and the talk to provide a complete answer to the question. Your responses will be scored on your ability to speak clearly and coherently and on your ability to accurately convey information about what you have read and heard.

In questions 5 and 6, you will listen to part of a conversation or lecture. You will then be asked a question about what you have heard. Your responses will be scored on your ability to speak clearly and coherently and on your ability to accurately convey information about what you have heard.

You may take notes while you read and while you listen to the conversations and lectures. You may use your notes to help prepare your responses.

At the real test, you will not have a transcript. However, to help you analyze your score, we’re including the transcripts and key points below. Do not look at the transcripts before you complete the test.

Question 1

In this question, you will be asked to talk about a familiar topic. After you hear the question, you will have 15 seconds to prepare your response and 45 seconds to speak.

Get your timer ready!

Click to hear and see the prompt for Question 1.

Preparation Time:    15 seconds
Response Time:        
 45 seconds

Question 2

In this question, you will be asked to give your opinion about a familiar topic. After you hear the question, you will have 15 seconds to prepare your response and 45 seconds to speak.

Get your timer ready!

Click to hear and see the prompt for Question 2.

Preparation Time:    15 seconds
Response Time:        
 45 seconds

Question 3

In this question, you will read a short passage about a campus situation, listen to a conversation, and then speak in response to a question about what you have read and heard. After you hear the question, you have 30 seconds to prepare your response and 60 seconds to speak.

Read the following information from a college catalog.

Reading Time – 45 seconds

First, set your timer to count down from 45 seconds. Next, click here and read the text.

Now close the passage and listen to the recording. When you hear the question, begin preparing your response.

Click to see Question 3.

Preparation Time:    30 seconds
Response Time:        
 60 seconds

Question 4

In this question, you will read a short passage, then listen to a lecture on the same topic, and then speak in response to a question about what you have read and heard. After you hear the question, you have 30 seconds to prepare your response and 60 seconds to speak.

Read the following information from a textbook.

Reading Time – 45 seconds

First, set your timer to count down from 45 seconds. Next, click here and read the text.

Now close the passage and listen to the recording. When you hear the question, begin preparing your response.

Click to see Question 4.

Preparation Time:    30 seconds
Response Time:        
 60 seconds

Question 5

In this question, you will listen to a conversation. You will then be asked to talk about the information in the conversation and to give your opinion about the ideas presented. After you hear the question, you have 20 seconds to prepare your response and 60 seconds to speak.

Click to see Question 5.

Preparation Time:    20 seconds
Response Time:        
 60 seconds

Question 6

In this question, you will listen to a short lecture. You will then be asked to summarize important information from the lecture. After you hear the question, you have 20 seconds to prepare your response and 60 seconds to speak.

Click to see Question 6.

Preparation Time:    20 seconds
Response Time:        
 60 seconds Do not look at the transcript and key points until after you finish the tasks.

Click to see key points for Question 3

Transcript for Question 3

Click to see key points for Question 4

Transcript for Question 4

Click to see key points for Question 5

Transcript for Question 5

Click to see key points for Question 6

Transcript for Question 6



Free 45-minute Lesson for TOEFL Speaking

Discover which popular Task 1 Introduction sentence is a “score-killer” and the “perfect” alternative for rapidly earning points and contributing to a high score like 26

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