TOEFL iBT

Test of English as a
Foreign Language

Thats what I call

self-confidence

Main Features

It tests all four language skills that are important for

effective communication: speaking, listening,
reading and writing
Some tasks require combinations of more than one
skill

Read, listen and then speak in response to a question

Listen and then speak in response to a question
Read, listen and then write in response to a question

Format

Reading: 3-4 passages,12-14 questions each

(60 or 80 minutes)
Listening: 4-6 lectures, 6 questions each
2-3 conversations, 5 questions each
(60-90 minutes)

Break: 10 minutes

Speaking: 6 tasks: 2 independent and 4 integrated

(20 minutes)

Writing: 1 integrated task (20 minutes)

1 independent task (30 minutes)

Total time: about 4 hours

Speaking for TOEFL IBT

What is known

You must speak in front of a

blank screen, wearing
headphones and a microphone;

You are not alone in the exam

room.

Your speaking section is not

interactive, you will have to
provide spontaneous
monologues in response to
some questions;

What is less known

Technology is tested before

you start the test by the centres
administrators; you are assisted
at all times for all the problems
that may occur will be solved by
them.

You will share the room with

4-15 other candidates, so you
might be speaking along with
them, at the same time.

Speaking (~20 min)

Various topics:
Personal experience
Campus based situations
Academic type content material
How many questions?

6 questions: 2 independent, 4 integrated

Response time: 45-60 sec

Preparation time:15-30 sec

A closer look at the speaking

section

Scoring:
TOEFL is scored from 0 to 120, equally sharing
these points between the 4 sections: Reading,
Listening, Speaking and Writing; so, each section
will receive a score from 0-30 points.
Depending on your level of English, you will be
given points up to a maximum of 30.

TIP: Some universities will ask for a certain score in the speaking
section. For example, they want a score of 85 points per total, but a
score of 22 out of 30 for Speaking. So, check the score on the
universitys website.

Scoring Criteria
o

DELIVERY
how clear your speech is good pronunciation, natural pacing

LANGUAGE USE
how effectively you use grammar and vocabulary

TOPIC DEVELOPMENT
how fully and coherently you present your ideas
clear and easy to follow

Do I have to aim at perfection to get 30 points?

No, but be as close as possible.

Practical advice

Be familiar with the format, so you will not be taken

by surprise.
Practice before the test day, record your voice in
order to find the best pace that may cover all the 45
or 60 seconds in which you have to speak.
Speak loud enough and pause for 2 or 3 seconds
before you start speaking, since the first words, the
most important, may have a delay in recording.
Do not rely on colloquial language from media! It is
an academic test, so be more formal than usual.

6 Question Types:
independent and integrated.
Independent questions (your own opinion)
- you may have to present an opinion or describe
something important for you.
The answers are based on your knowledge and experience, and include familiar
topics (family, education, music, literature)

Integrated questions (reproducing materials given)

- you may have to summarize someone elses
position or explain facts presented in lectures or
conversations.

Questions Overview

Independent tasks
Free-choice tasks
Paired-choice tasks
Integrated tasks (reading and listening)
Campus
Academic
Integrated tasks (listening)
Campus
Academic

Independent question 1
free choice
Your screen will show this:

Describe a place you go to very often. Include reasons

and details to support your response.
Preparation time: 15 seconds
Response time: 45 seconds

Independent question 1
free choice
What you should quickly see is this:
Describe

a place you go to very often.

Include reasons and details to support
your response.

Preparation time: 15 seconds

Response time: 45 seconds

Independent question 1
free choice
Common tasks: reasons, examples and details
combinations)

(any

Reasons - you must include the words because, due

to, the reason is etc.

Examples - you must include the words for example,

for instance

Details give as many details as possible; they will

provide the material you need in order to fill up the 45
seconds

Independent question 1
free choice
What

to do in 15 seconds?

Notes:
Introduction: My favorite place is .
Supporting idea 1: Firstly, I go there because
(factual information)
Supporting idea 2: Secondly, I go there
because (emotional reasons)
Conclusion: These are the reasons why I go
there every year/month etc.

Independent question 1
free choice
Please

consider that:

Introduction is easy to produce, since it is

your opinion.
Conclusion will symmetrically round off your
answer and it is placed at the end, doing
nothing but rephrasing the introduction, so
your notes will become

Independent question 1
free choice
Introduction: Constanta (the city)
Supporting idea 1: close to home
Supporting idea 2: sea, summer breeze
Conclusion: ..
These are more likely to be written down in 15
seconds. But you know the steps in
producing the answer, so

Independent question 1
free choice
Your notes become:
I: C-ta
S 1: close
S 2: sea, summer breeze
C: ..
These notes take 6 seconds to be written down
on the paper, so you have about 9 seconds to
THINK.

Skills that are tested in the

speaking section

Overall topic statement (your first sentence should

clearly state your opinion)

Structure (make sure you have an introduction, 1 or

2 supporting ideas and conclusion)

Clarity, pronunciation and correct grammar usage.

Quantity: Speak as much as possible, or else the

graders will not have material to assess.

Independent question 2
paired choice
Some

people prefer to live in the city, some

prefer to live in the country. Which one do
you prefer and why? Give reasons and
examples to support your response.

Preparation time: 15 seconds

Response time: 45 seconds

Independent question 2
paired choice
Some

people prefer to live in the city, some

prefer to live in the country. Which one do
you prefer and why? Give reasons and
examples to support your response.

Preparation time: 15 seconds

Response time: 45 seconds

Independent question 2
paired choice
Observation:

Questions

1 and 2 are similar, so the

procedure is the same:
Use the 15 second to think and plan your
response rather than write it.
The only difference is that you have to
choose between two choices given.

Independent question 2
paired choice
Preference:

Reason

1 (include example if
possible)

Reason

2 (include example if
possible)

Conclusion:

Integrated tasks
(reading and listening)
You

will have to read, then listen to some

materials and produce an answer to a
question.
Two types of listening materials:
Campus - conversations between 2 students or
students to professors; every day situations
and topics;
Academic lectures, 3-4 minute long.

Integrated (reading and

listening) Question 3 - campus
Reading:
Notice on the door of the chemistry lab
The staff from the chemistry lab regrets to inform all students and faculty in the
Chemistry Department that the chemistry lab is now closed due to an unfortunate
occurrence there. Because of this unfortunate circumstance that has rendered the
chemistry lab unusable, it has been necessary to close the lab until necessary repairs
can improve the condition of the lab to a point that is once again usable. The staff of
the chemistry lab sincerely regrets any inconvenience that this might cause students
and faculty who make use of the lab as part of their research or studies. Repairs on
the lab will commence at the soonest possible moment, and the lab will be reopened
as soon as it is feasible (though, based on the current condition of the lab, this might
take a considerable amount of time). Once again, staff from the chemistry lab
apologizes for this inconvenience.

Integrated (reading and

listening) Question 3 - campus

From the listening, which is a conversation between

2 students, a man and a woman, we find out that the
students do have a problem with the lab closed,
since they are supposed to prepare a project in
there. The students also talk about the gossip which
has it that the chemistry professor himself caused
the damage, due to an unfortunate experiment.
The woman is worried that she cannot finish her
paper, while the man is more relaxed, blaming the
lab staff for this problem.

Integrated (reading and

listening) Question 3 - campus
From

the reading passage, write down a

summary, in just a few words;

TIP- Summarizing is a very helpful skill in TOEFL.

Take

notes during listening;

Integrated (reading and

listening) Question 3 - campus
Read the question:

The

students express their opinions about the

notice posted on the door. State how they
feel about it and what they think happened.

Preparation time: 30 seconds

Response time: 60 seconds

Integrated (reading and

listening) Question 3 - campus
What you should see is:
The

students express their opinions about the

notice posted on the door. State how they
feel about it and what they think happened.

Preparation time: 30 seconds

Response time: 60 seconds

Integrated (reading and

listening) Question 3 - campus
So,

the question will summarize the listening

passage for you. What you have to do is to
reproduce their conversation, but also to
make observations about what they feel or
think.
Plan your response after thorough
consideration of your notes.
All the integrated tasks will require more or
less the same steps.

Integrated (reading and

listening) Question 3 - campus

Read your notes carefully.

You will not have the time to write in 30 seconds!
Plan your response in the order of your notes. State the main
points of the conversation and insert your observations (ex. man
seemed relaxed, while woman was worried)
Begin speaking after the beep (plus 2-3 seconds)
Include an overall topic statement (ex. Two students are talking
about a situation from their chemistry lab.)
Conclusion is not necessary in the 4 integrated questions.
Details, correct interpretation of the situations and use of
transitions (connectors) will make your response successful.

Transitions

Connectors/linkers

Use of transitions is highly appreciated in TOEFL

because they give your speech clarity and cohesion.
Examples:
although, however, despite the fact that, moreover,
in addition, on the one hand/on the other hand,
firstly, secondly, in conclusion, to summarize

Integrated (reading and listening)

Question 4 - academic
FORMAT
You will be given a short text (150 words) about an
academic topic (history, psychology, literature,
chemistry etc)
You will listen to a lecture of 2-3 minutes, that
usually explains the concept introduced in the
reading.
Then you will be asked a question in which you have
to speak about the relationship between the reading
and listening.
Preparation time: 30 seconds, response 60
seconds.

Integrated (reading and listening)

Question 4 - academic
Approach: - similar to question 3:
take notes during reading and listening and,
after thoroughly consulting them, start talking.

Dont forget to introduce an overall topic sentence,

summarizing the points in both reading and listening.
Dont forget to introduce transitions in order to be
coherent and cohesive.

Integrated (listening)
Question 5 - campus
Format:
A conversation between two students about
every day situations
Preparation time: 30 seconds, response 60
seconds.

TIPS:
Take notes about the main points of their conversation.
Pay attention to their attitude and feelings.

Integrated (listening)
Question 5 - campus
Approach:

Read

your notes;
Read the question carefully, note clue words.
You will be asked to have an opinion on the
subject; dont forget to include it in your
answer.

Integrated (listening)
Question 6 - academic
FORMAT:
You will listen to a lecture, that usually includes
a lot of details.
You will be asked to reproduce the lecture.

Integrated (listening)
Question 6 - academic
Approach:
Take notes carefully; the lecture is well organized, just
follow the main points in it.
Start with a summary of the lecture, then go to details;
Include transitions and do NOT state your opinion in
any way.

Final advice

Give them what they want read the questions

carefully and state your opinion only when you are
asked to (in questions 1, 2 and 5)
Take notes all throughout the section.
Keep talking, but do not ramble; details and
examples are asked in order to help you find
material to talk about.
Use transitions and plan your response before you
speak.

GOOD LUCK!