TOEFL iBT Speaking Tasks

Introduction

By Renata Mendes Simões

Overview

Examination Method Grading Examples of questions:

Independent Integrated

Scoring Online resources

Time Limits Total of 20 minutes Independent Questions: the questions will be read

and shown to you. You have 15~30 seconds to prepare You have 45~60 seconds to answer

Integrated Questions: you must read the questions You have 15~30 seconds to prepare You have 45~ 60 seconds to answer

Types Total of 6 tasks/questions 2 INDEPENDENT TASKS:

The questions in this section ask you to respond from your personal experience

4 INTEGRATED TASKS: 2 reading, listening, and speaking – consist of a reading

passage, a listening passage, and a question that asks how the ideas in the two passages are related

2 listening and speaking integrated – consist of a longer listening passage and a question that asks you to summarize key points of the passage

Independent Speaking Tasks2 types: Free-choice response

You have to express and defend a personal choice from a given category

For example: Which city in the world would you like to visit, why?

Paired-choice response You have to make and defend a personal choice between

two contrasting behaviors or courses of action For example: Do you like to travel alone or with

company?

PlanningSteps:

1. Subject Clause: Start with a topic statement that states the main point of the response

2. Supporting Sentences: Support the topic statement with details and/examples

3. Language Use: Use transitions to show how the ideas are related

Integrated Speaking Tasks2 Types: Reading/Listening/Speaking: the relationship

between the ideas in the reading passage and the listening passage A campus topic – about school An academic topic – about classes/subjects

Listening/Speaking: the main points of the listening passage A campus topic An academic topic

Planning

Steps1. Note-taking: Make sure you understand (and

take notes on) the topic

2. Key points: Then focus on (and take notes on) the main points that are used to support the topic

3. Responding: Determine what is being asked

Basic Scoring

Pay attention to: Delivery

Speaking smoothly and clearly

Language Use Effective use of vocabulary, grammar, and sentence

structures

Topic Development Response answers the question Response is well developed and clear Relationships between ideas are clear

Important Points to Remember Note-taking! Take notes while reading and

listening to the conversations and lectures Directions for each questions will not be written

on the screen Only jot down main ideas (not word for word)

Remember to answer the question asked Speak Clearly! It’s better to speak slowly and

clearly than quickly and mumbling

Reference + Internet ResourcesPhilips, Deborah. Longman Preparation Course for the TOEFL Test: iBT. New York: Longman, 2006.

http://www.toeflgoanywhere.org/

Internet Resources:http://strictlyenglishusa.com/paid-toefl-exercises/free-toefl-exercises/speaking-materials

http://www.4tests.com/exams/examdetail.asp?eid=57