What's Tested on the TOEFL iBT Speaking Section
The speaking section is the third part of the TOEFL iBT. This section consists of four questions/tasks that are modeled after real-life situations and test your ability to speak English effectively in an academic setting. Your answers are recorded on a computer and sent to the ETS for review. Read on to learn more about what to expect on the TOEFL speaking section.
[ READ NEXT: What’s Tested on the TOEFL iBT Writing Section ]
Overview of the TOEFL iBT Speaking Section
There are four questions/tasks you will have to complete in the TOEFL speaking section.
- Question 1 is about a familiar topic.
- Questions 2 and 3 include both a reading passage and either a conversation or a lecture on the same topic. The questions ask you to include information from both the reading and the listening passages in your answers.
- Question 4 is a lecture that you are asked to summarize. You may take notes as you listen, but notes will not be graded.
How is the TOEFL iBT speaking section formatted?
You will have about 16 minutes to complete the Speaking Section. You will have 15–30 seconds to prepare for each question, and 45–60 seconds to speak. A clock on the screen will show how much time is remaining for each question. You may take notes while you read and listen, and use your notes to help prepare your responses. Your notes will not be graded. You are scored on your ability to speak clearly and coherently, as well as your ability to accurately synthesize and summarize the information you’ve read and heard.
Your speaking will be evaluated on your ability to speak clearly and to be understood, and your ability to communicate information accurately. Use your own words. Memorized responses will result in a lower score.
The first thing you must do in the Speaking section is adjust the microphone on your headset. At the beginning of the section, an instruction will appear, asking you to give a short sample of your speech to adjust the recording equipment to your voice. The question may ask you to speak for only 30 seconds about a familiar topic, such as your hometown. This preliminary exercise does not count towards your grade; it is only used to ensure that the computer can record the volume of your voice accurately. This adjustment is done automatically as you respond to the question that appears on the screen. An instruction will appear to inform you when the adjustment is complete.
TOEFL iBT: Types of Speaking Questions
Below, we break down the types of questions/tasks you will encounter on the TOEFL speaking section.
| Question 1: Preferences | In Question 1, you will be asked to speak about a personal choice. You may be asked to agree or disagree with a statement. After you hear the question, you will have 15 seconds to plan your response and 45 seconds to explain why you made that choice. |
| Question 2: Reports | In Question 2, you will be asked to read a short passage about a campus topic and then listen to a speaker on the same topic. After you hear the question, you will have 30 seconds to plan your response, and 60 seconds to report the speaker’s opinion and relate it to the reading passage. |
| Question 3: Examples | In Question 3, you will be asked to read a short passage and then listen to a speaker on the same topic. The reading is usually about a general concept, and the lecture is an example of it. After you hear the question, you will have 30 seconds to plan your response and 60 seconds to relate the lecture to the reading. |
| Question 4: Summaries | In Question 4, you will be asked to listen to part of an academic lecture and to give a summary of it. After you hear the question, you will have 20 seconds to plan your response and 60 seconds to summarize the lecture. |
TOEFL iBT Speaking Strategies
Review our expert speaking strategies to help you succeed on the TOEFL iBT Speaking Section.
