TOEFL IBT SPEAKING OVERVIEW

Section Content Time Score

Speaking 6 speaking Total time: /30
tasks 20 minutes

2 independent Prep time:

tasks 15─30 seconds

4 integrated Response time:

tasks 45─60
seconds
2. INDEPENDENT TASKS 1 AND 2
• QUESTIONS ARE BASED ON KNOWLEDGE AND EXPERIENCE.
• 15 SECONDS TO PREPARE AND 45 SECONDS TO SPEAK.
• TASK 1:
MAKE A CHOICE WITHIN A CATEGORY.
DESCRIBE A PERSON, PLACE, OBJECT, EVENT, OR ACTIVITY.
EXAMPLE: DESCRIBE THE PERSON YOU ADMIRE MOST AND EXPLAIN
WHY.
• TASK 2:
MAKE A CHOICE BETWEEN TWO OPTIONS.
EXAMPLE: DO YOU PREFER TO STUDY ALONE OR IN A GROUP? EXPLAIN
WHY.
3. INTEGRATED TASKS 3 AND 4
• READ A PASSAGE, LISTEN TO A PASSAGE, AND ANSWER A QUESTION ON
THE RELATIONSHIP BETWEEN THEM.
• TASK 3: CAMPUS TASK
READ A UNIVERSITY NOTICE.
LISTEN TO TWO STUDENTS DISCUSS THE NOTICE.
QUESTION: WHICH STUDENT HAS A STRONG OPINION AND WHY?
• TASK 4: ACADEMIC TASK
READ A SHORT PASSAGE ON ACADEMIC TOPIC.
LISTEN TO A LECTURE.
QUESTION: SHOW HOW EXAMPLES FROM THE LECTURE RELATE TO A DEFINITION
OR CONCEPT FROM THE READING.
• 45 SECONDS TO READ, 75 SECONDS TO LISTEN, 30 SECONDS TO
PREPARE, AND 60 SECONDS TO SPEAK
4. INTEGRATED TASKS 5 AND 6
• LISTEN TO A PASSAGE AND ANSWER A QUESTION ABOUT IT.
• TASK 5: CAMPUS TASK
LISTEN TO A CONVERSATION ABOUT A STUDENT PROBLEM.
SUMMARIZE THE PROBLEM AND SUGGESTIONS MADE TO RESOLVE IT.
STATE WHICH SUGGESTION YOU PREFER AND WHY.
• TASK 6: ACADEMIC TASK
LISTEN TO THE LECTURE WITH GENERAL INFORMATION AND TWO MAIN POINTS.
SUMMARIZE GENERAL INFORMATION AND HOW IT RELATES TO THE MAIN
POINTS.
• ONE TO TWO MINUTES TO LISTEN, 20 SECONDS TO PREPARE, AND 60
SECONDS TO SPEAK
5. SPEAKING
• NARRATOR WILL TELL YOU TO PUT ON HEADPHONES AND
ADJUST MICROPHONE VOLUME.
• COMPUTER GUIDES YOU THROUGH SPEAKING TASKS.
NO NEED TO PRESS NEXT OR OK
6. INDEPENDENT TASKS: PREPARING
• SEE AND HEAR THE QUESTION.
• BEGIN TO PREPARE AFTER THE BEEP. YOU’LL SEE THE CLOCK
COUNT DOWN.
• PREPARE SIMPLE OUTLINE USING KEY WORDS ONLY.
7. Independent Tasks: Responding
• Narrator:
 “Get ready to answer the question.”
 “Begin speaking after the beep.”
• You will hear the beep, then see the clock begin to
count down.
 Answer the question according to outline.
 Speak clearly.
8. INTEGRATED TASKS
• EXAMPLE: TASK 4
READ AND TAKE NOTES ON A SHORT ACADEMIC PASSAGE.
LISTEN AND TAKE NOTES ON A RELATED LECTURE.
 9. Integrated Tasks: Responding
• Narrator:
 “Get ready to answer the question.”
 “Begin preparing after the beep.”
• Make an outline using your notes.
• When answering,
 speak clearly.
 use familiar grammar and vocabulary.
10. TOP SCORE FEATURES

• DELIVERY
CLEAR, FLUID, AND WELL-PACED
UNDERSTANDABLE PRONUNCIATION
NATURAL RHYTHM, STRESS, AND INTONATION
• LANGUAGE USE
APPROPRIATE WORD CHOICE
CORRECT GRAMMAR INCLUDING BASIC
AND COMPLEX STRUCTURES
• TOPIC DEVELOPMENT
 11. Topic Development
• Develop topic fully: Topic
 Answer question completely. Statement
 Make a topic statement and support Main Main
it with two main points and added detail. Point 1 Point 2
 Present facts in a logical order and
use transitions to connect ideas. Detail Detail

• Integrated tasks:
 Integrate information from a reading and listening passage.
 Summarize and paraphrase.
12. WHO SCORES YOUR RESPONSE?
• BETWEEN THREE AND SIX CERTIFIED ETS RATERS SCORE
YOUR RESPONSE.
• RESPONSE IS SCORED FROM ZERO TO FOUR.
• FINAL SCORE IS OUT OF 30.