TOEFL iBT® Speaking Practice Questions
This document may contain some question types that would not appear on a test that has been adapted for various
accessibility purposes. On test day, you will receive an accessible assessment that is consistent with any
accommodations for which you have been approved.
Speaking Practice Question 1:
Independent Speaking Practice (Explain a Choice): Question
Directions: You will now be asked to give your opinion about a familiar topic. Give yourself 15
seconds to prepare your response. Then record yourself speaking for 45 seconds.
Some people enjoy taking risks and trying new things. Others are not adventurous;
they are cautious and prefer to avoid danger. Which behavior do you think is better?
Explain why.
Preparation Time: 15 seconds
Response Time: 45 seconds
Copyright © 2021 by Educational Testing Service. All rights reserved. ETS, the ETS logo, TOEFL and TOEFL iBT are registered trademarks of Educational Testing
Service (ETS) in the United States and other countries. IN ENGLISH WITH CONFIDENCE is a trademark of ETS.
, Speaking Practice Question 1:
Independent Speaking Practice (Explain a Choice): Response Tips
To respond to this particular question, you should clearly state what your opinion is: Do you
think it is better to take risks or to be cautious? Then you should give reasons to support your
opinion. If you take the position that you think it is better to take risks and try new things, you
might give an example of a time when you or someone you know took a risk and was rewarded.
The example should have good details, and the relationship between the example and your
opinion should be clear. If you take the position that it is better to be cautious, you might give an
example of a situation where being cautious is beneficial. You might continue to develop the
response by contrasting what would happen in this situation if a risk were taken.
Keep in mind that there is no “correct” answer to this question. Either behavior can be supported
with examples. The important part of this task is to make sure that you state your opinion and
develop your response with good examples and relevant details.
As with all speaking tasks, your response should be intelligible, should demonstrate effective use
of grammar and vocabulary, and should be well developed and coherent. This task is scored
using the Independent Speaking Rubrics.
https://www.ets.org/s/toefl/pdf/toefl_speaking_rubrics.pdf
Copyright © 2021 by Educational Testing Service. All rights reserved. ETS, the ETS logo, TOEFL and TOEFL iBT are registered trademarks of Educational Testing
Service (ETS) in the United States and other countries. IN ENGLISH WITH CONFIDENCE is a trademark of ETS.
, Speaking Practice Question 2:
Integrated Speaking Practice (Campus-Related): Passage, Conversation,
and Question
Directions: The University is making a change in the courses it will offer. Read the article from
the university newspaper about the change. Give yourself 45 seconds to read the article.
Sculpture Courses to Be Discontinued
University administrators announced yesterday that the sculpture program, a division of the art
department, will be eliminated. “The main reason is a lack of student interest,” reported one
administrator. “Although the number of art students has increased, fewer and fewer art majors
are taking sculpture classes.” Furthermore, the department’s only sculpture professor is retiring
this year. “Given the art department’s limited budget,” the administrator explained, “it just
doesn’t make sense to hire a new full-time professor to teach sculpture for only a handful of
students.”
Copyright © 2021 by Educational Testing Service. All rights reserved. ETS, the ETS logo, TOEFL and TOEFL iBT are registered trademarks of Educational Testing
Service (ETS) in the United States and other countries. IN ENGLISH WITH CONFIDENCE is a trademark of ETS.
This document may contain some question types that would not appear on a test that has been adapted for various
accessibility purposes. On test day, you will receive an accessible assessment that is consistent with any
accommodations for which you have been approved.
Speaking Practice Question 1:
Independent Speaking Practice (Explain a Choice): Question
Directions: You will now be asked to give your opinion about a familiar topic. Give yourself 15
seconds to prepare your response. Then record yourself speaking for 45 seconds.
Some people enjoy taking risks and trying new things. Others are not adventurous;
they are cautious and prefer to avoid danger. Which behavior do you think is better?
Explain why.
Preparation Time: 15 seconds
Response Time: 45 seconds
Copyright © 2021 by Educational Testing Service. All rights reserved. ETS, the ETS logo, TOEFL and TOEFL iBT are registered trademarks of Educational Testing
Service (ETS) in the United States and other countries. IN ENGLISH WITH CONFIDENCE is a trademark of ETS.
, Speaking Practice Question 1:
Independent Speaking Practice (Explain a Choice): Response Tips
To respond to this particular question, you should clearly state what your opinion is: Do you
think it is better to take risks or to be cautious? Then you should give reasons to support your
opinion. If you take the position that you think it is better to take risks and try new things, you
might give an example of a time when you or someone you know took a risk and was rewarded.
The example should have good details, and the relationship between the example and your
opinion should be clear. If you take the position that it is better to be cautious, you might give an
example of a situation where being cautious is beneficial. You might continue to develop the
response by contrasting what would happen in this situation if a risk were taken.
Keep in mind that there is no “correct” answer to this question. Either behavior can be supported
with examples. The important part of this task is to make sure that you state your opinion and
develop your response with good examples and relevant details.
As with all speaking tasks, your response should be intelligible, should demonstrate effective use
of grammar and vocabulary, and should be well developed and coherent. This task is scored
using the Independent Speaking Rubrics.
https://www.ets.org/s/toefl/pdf/toefl_speaking_rubrics.pdf
Copyright © 2021 by Educational Testing Service. All rights reserved. ETS, the ETS logo, TOEFL and TOEFL iBT are registered trademarks of Educational Testing
Service (ETS) in the United States and other countries. IN ENGLISH WITH CONFIDENCE is a trademark of ETS.
, Speaking Practice Question 2:
Integrated Speaking Practice (Campus-Related): Passage, Conversation,
and Question
Directions: The University is making a change in the courses it will offer. Read the article from
the university newspaper about the change. Give yourself 45 seconds to read the article.
Sculpture Courses to Be Discontinued
University administrators announced yesterday that the sculpture program, a division of the art
department, will be eliminated. “The main reason is a lack of student interest,” reported one
administrator. “Although the number of art students has increased, fewer and fewer art majors
are taking sculpture classes.” Furthermore, the department’s only sculpture professor is retiring
this year. “Given the art department’s limited budget,” the administrator explained, “it just
doesn’t make sense to hire a new full-time professor to teach sculpture for only a handful of
students.”
Copyright © 2021 by Educational Testing Service. All rights reserved. ETS, the ETS logo, TOEFL and TOEFL iBT are registered trademarks of Educational Testing
Service (ETS) in the United States and other countries. IN ENGLISH WITH CONFIDENCE is a trademark of ETS.
