As a member, you'll also get unlimited access to over 79,000 lessons in math, English, science, history, and more. Plus, get practice tests, quizzes, and personalized coaching to help you succeed.
Try it risk-freeAlready registered? Log in here for access
Elizabeth has been involved with tutoring since high school and has a B.A. in Classics.
The TOEFL Speaking test can be intimidating, but if you know what to expect, it gets a lot easier to tackle. The TOEFL has four sections: Reading, Listening, Speaking, and Writing. Speaking is the third section. First, you'll complete the Reading and Listening sections; then, you'll have a ten-minute break. After the break, you'll dive into the Speaking section.
The Speaking section tests how well you can speak English in an academic setting. On this section, you'll have 20 minutes in total to work on six speaking tasks. All the tasks are designed to imitate some kind of situation you might encounter at school in an English-speaking country. For each task, you'll have to record yourself speaking in response to a prompt.
Two of the tasks are independent tasks. On independent tasks, you respond to a prompt based on your own opinions. The other four tasks are integrated tasks. On integrated tasks, you respond to a prompt using additional information that you hear, read, or both. For example, you might have to read a passage and talk about it. First, we'll go a little deeper into the independent tasks; then, we'll tackle the integrated tasks.
Independent tasks on the TOEFL don't require you to understand anything but the prompt. Your response is based completely on your own opinions, and there's no wrong answer. It doesn't matter what side of the prompt you choose to argue. You won't be scored on that. The important thing is to put together a well-supported argument in correct English for whatever side you choose. You'll get two independent tasks on the TOEFL:
For both of these tasks, you'll have 15 seconds to prepare your response and then 45 seconds to speak.
That was the independent tasks. Integrated tasks are a little longer and more involved. On these tasks, you'll have to integrate your skills in speaking, reading, and listening. There are four integrated tasks in total. Two of the integrated tasks will be academic course tasks, tasks that simulate speaking inside a classroom. The other two will be campus situation tasks, tasks that simulate academic speaking outside of the classroom.
Here's a quick rundown of how the four integrated tasks are organized. Two tasks will ask you to read, listen, and speak. In the first, you'll get a reading passage and a listening passage on the same campus-related topic. You'll have to explain the speaker's opinion on the issue relative to the description in the reading passage.
On the second task, you'll get a reading passage giving you background on a subject and an excerpt from a lecture with specific examples and information about that subject. You'll have to give a combined summary of important information from both the reading and the lecture. On these two tasks, you'll get 30 seconds to prepare and 60 seconds to respond.
Next, you'll get two tasks that only ask you to listen and speak. In the first one, you'll listen to a conversation about possible solutions to a student-related problem. In your response, you'll explain the problem and which solution you would choose. In the second, you'll listen to part of a lecture explaining a concept with examples. You'll have to summarize the lecture and show that you understand how the examples relate to the topic. On these tasks, you'll get 20 seconds to prepare and 60 seconds to respond. After the speak/listen tasks, you'll be all done - that wasn't so bad, was it?
In this lesson, you got a preview of the TOEFL Speaking section. The Speaking section tests your ability to use English in an academic setting, either in a classroom or in a school-related situation. It's 20 minutes long in total, and it's the third section on the test. You'll take on six separate Speaking tasks in this section. Two will be independent tasks, where you just give your opinion on a prompt. The other four will be integrated tasks, where you'll have to respond to a listening passage or a listening passage plus a reading passage.
In all of these tasks, you'll need to take a clear position, use evidence effectively to support your point, and speak in correct English. The prompts sound pretty complicated, but once you start practicing them, they really aren't that bad. Now that you know what you'll be looking at, you can improve your score a lot just by getting some practice time in.
By the tine you are done with this lesson you should be able to:
To unlock this lesson you must be a Study.com Member.
Create your account
Already a member? Log In
BackAlready registered? Log in here for access
Did you know… We have over 200 college courses that prepare you to earn credit by exam that is accepted by over 1,500 colleges and universities. You can test out of the first two years of college and save thousands off your degree. Anyone can earn credit-by-exam regardless of age or education level.
To learn more, visit our Earning Credit Page
Not sure what college you want to attend yet? Study.com has thousands of articles about every imaginable degree, area of study and career path that can help you find the school that's right for you.
Back To Course
TOEFL iBT: Test Prep and Practice10 chapters | 100 lessons | 4 flashcard sets
{{courseNav.course.topics.length}} chapters | {{courseNav.course.mDynamicIntFields.lessonCount}} lessons | {{course.flashcardSetCount}} flashcard set{{course.flashcardSetCoun > 1 ? 's' : ''}}
Next Lesson
Watch 5 minute video clips, get step by step explanations, take practice quizzes and tests to master any topic.
Study.com has a library of 750,000 questions and answers for covering your toughest textbook problems
I love the way expert tutors clearly explains the answers to my homework questions. Keep up the good work!
- Maritess, College StudentStudy.com video lessons have helped over 30 million students.
"I learned more in 10 minutes than 1 month of chemistry classes"
- Ashlee P.
"I learned more in 10 minutes than 1 month of chemistry classes"
- Ashlee P.
"I aced the CLEP exam and earned 3 college credits!"
- Clair S.
Over 65 million users have prepared for {{displayNameByProductKey[registrationData.product || testPrepCocoon]}} and other exams on Study.com
"The videos have changed the way I teach! The videos on Study.com accomplish in 5 minutes what would take me an entire class."
- Chris F.
Over 65 million users have prepared for {{displayNameByProductKey[registrationData.product || testPrepCocoon]}} and other exams on Study.com
