toelf-speaking - TOEFL Speaking Section Practice: Questions and Answer Key (Set 1)

Oct 2, 2026

Uploaded by dbqoiu

TOEFL Speaking Section practice materials for Set 1, focusing on two tasks: Independent Speaking and Integrated Speaking (Campus-Related). The Independent task requires stating an opinion on whether taking risks or being cautious is better, with 15 seconds preparation and a 45-second response, supported by clear reasons and relevant examples. The Integrated task includes reading about discontinued sculpture courses and listening to a conversation, then expressing the woman’s opinion and explaining two main reasons within set timing.

LanguageEnglish

CategoryExam

FormatPDF

Pages19

Reading Time48 min

AccessFree to download

Speaking Practice Question 1: Independent Speaking

Practice (Explain a Choice): Directions and Response Tips

Speaking Practice Question 2: Integrated Speaking (Campus-Related)

Passage, Conversation, and Question

Practice (Campus-Related): Response Tips

TOEFL SPEAKING SECTION-PRACTICE QUESTION AND ANSWER KEY (SET 1) [Source :](Source : ets.org/toeflets.org/toefl)[ ](Source : ets.org/toeflets.org/toefl)[ets.org/toeflets.org/toefl](Source : ets.org/toeflets.org/toefl) 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 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_](https://www.ets.org/s/toefl/pdf/toefl_) [speaking_rubrics.pd](speaking_rubrics.pd) 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 t he 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.” Directions: Read the transcript. Narrator: Now listen to two students discussing the article. Male student: Everything alright? Female student: Yeah, I’m just upset about that article I showed you this morning … Male student: Why, what’s the big deal? Female student: Well, as an art major, I think it’s a big loss for the department. The university’s got it all wrong. Male student: What do you mean? Female student: Well, the low enrollment isn’t because art majors don’t want to take these classes. Problem is, who has time to take them when there are so many other requirements? Male student: I don’t understand. Female student: See, the classes they’re eliminating are all optional. The required courses are mostly painting and drawing, and they take up all our time. What we really need are different requirements— then art majors could take a

FAQs

What should you include in Independent Speaking Question 1?

Clearly state your opinion, then give reasons supported by a specific example with good details. Make the connection between the example and your opinion clear.

How is the Integrated Speaking Question 2 organized?

You first read a campus news article about discontinuing sculpture courses, then listen to a conversation between two students. Finally, you respond by stating the woman’s opinion and explaining her reasons using information from both sources.

Is there a correct answer for these speaking tasks?

There is no correct answer for this Independent Speaking question. Either taking risks or being cautious can be supported with examples; the key is a well-developed, coherent response with appropriate grammar and vocabulary.

Oct 2, 2026

Uploaded by dbqoiu