TOEFL iBT Preparation Course: The Speaking section

1. Question 1 of 18

   What do you do in the Listen and Repeat task?

   • ASummarize a short lecture
   • BRepeat each sentence exactly as you hear it
   • CRead a sentence aloud from the screen as clearly as you can
   • DAnswer questions about a sentence
   Show answer

   Answer: B. Repeat each sentence exactly as you hear it

   In Listen and Repeat you hear short sentences and repeat them exactly as you hear them.

2. Question 2 of 18

   How many sentences do you repeat in the Listen and Repeat task?

   • ATen
   • BSeven
   • CEleven
   • DFour
   Show answer

   Answer: B. Seven

   Listen and Repeat has seven sentences. Take an Interview has four questions, for 11 Speaking tasks in total.

3. Question 3 of 18

   How do the Listen and Repeat sentences change as the task goes on?

   • AThey switch to a different language
   • BThey are all the same length
   • CThey get longer and more complex
   • DThey get shorter and easier
   Show answer

   Answer: C. They get longer and more complex

   ETS says the sentences get progressively longer and more complex.

4. Question 4 of 18

   How many questions does the interviewer ask in the Take an Interview task?

   • AFour
   • BSeven
   • CTen
   • DTwo
   Show answer

   Answer: A. Four

   In Take an Interview you answer four questions from a recorded interviewer.

5. Question 5 of 18

   How long do you have to answer each Take an Interview question?

   • AAs long as you need
   • B15 seconds
   • C45 seconds
   • D2 minutes
   Show answer

   Answer: C. 45 seconds

   ETS's test overview says test takers have 45 seconds to answer each interview question.

6. Question 6 of 18

   What are the Take an Interview questions usually about?

   • AYour experiences and opinions in academic or campus situations
   • BDetailed facts about world history and famous dates
   • CMath problems you solve aloud
   • DA lecture you heard earlier in the Listening section of the test
   Show answer

   Answer: A. Your experiences and opinions in academic or campus situations

   The interview is about academic or campus situations and asks about your experiences and opinions. No special knowledge is needed.

7. Question 7 of 18

   On what scale is each Speaking task response scored?

   • A0 to 5
   • B0 to 100
   • C0 to 30
   • D1 to 6
   Show answer

   Answer: A. 0 to 5

   Each Speaking task is scored from 0 to 5. The task scores lead to a Speaking section score on the 1–6 band scale.

8. Question 8 of 18

   Listen. Which sentence did the speaker say?

   Play audioListen, then answer. The transcript is shown after you answer.

   No sound? Read the text instead

   Guide: The computer lab is next to the main entrance.

   • AThe computer lab is next to the main entrance.
   • BThe computer lab was next to the main entrance.
   • CThe computer labs are next to the main entrance.
   • DThe computer lab is near the main entrance.
   Show answer

   Answer: A. The computer lab is next to the main entrance.

   The speaker said one lab ("lab is"), in the present, "next to" the entrance. Small words like these matter when you repeat.

   Transcript

   Guide: The computer lab is next to the main entrance.

9. Question 9 of 18

   Listen. Choose the sentence that matches the recording exactly.

   Play audioListen, then answer. The transcript is shown after you answer.

   No sound? Read the text instead

   Guide: Please return your books to the front desk before you leave.

   • APlease return your book to the front desk before you leave.
   • BPlease return your books at the front desk before leaving.
   • CPlease return the books to the front desk before you leave.
   • DPlease return your books to the front desk before you leave.
   Show answer

   Answer: D. Please return your books to the front desk before you leave.

   The recording says "your books" (plural), "to the front desk" and "before you leave".

   Transcript

   Guide: Please return your books to the front desk before you leave.

10. Question 10 of 18

    Listen. Which sentence is an exact repeat of what you heard?

    Play audioListen, then answer. The transcript is shown after you answer.

    No sound? Read the text instead

    Guide: Students who need a quiet place to study can reserve a room online.

    • AStudents who needed a quiet place to study can reserve a room online.
    • BStudents who need a quiet place to study can reserve rooms online.
    • CStudents who need a quiet place to study can rent a room online.
    • DStudents who need a quiet place to study can reserve a room online.
    Show answer

    Answer: D. Students who need a quiet place to study can reserve a room online.

    The speaker used the present "need", "reserve" and "a room". Keep verb endings and singular or plural nouns the same.

    Transcript

    Guide: Students who need a quiet place to study can reserve a room online.

11. Question 11 of 18

    Listen to the guide. Which sentence did you hear?

    Play audioListen, then answer. The transcript is shown after you answer.

    No sound? Read the text instead

    Guide: If you have any questions about your schedule, the advising office is open until five.

    • AIf you had any questions about your schedule, the advising office was open until five.
    • BIf you have any questions about your schedule, the advising office is open until five.
    • CIf you have any questions about your schedule, the advising office is open until nine.
    • DIf you have any questions about the schedule, the advising office is open until five.
    Show answer

    Answer: B. If you have any questions about your schedule, the advising office is open until five.

    The guide said "your schedule", "have", "is" and "until five".

    Transcript

    Guide: If you have any questions about your schedule, the advising office is open until five.

12. Question 12 of 18

    Listen. Which sentence matches the recording word for word?

    Play audioListen, then answer. The transcript is shown after you answer.

    No sound? Read the text instead

    Guide: The tour will end at the student center, where lunch has already been prepared.

    • AThe tour will start at the student center, where lunch has already been prepared.
    • BThe tour will end at the student center, where lunch was already prepared.
    • CThe tour will end at the student center, where lunch has been prepared.
    • DThe tour will end at the student center, where lunch has already been prepared.
    Show answer

    Answer: D. The tour will end at the student center, where lunch has already been prepared.

    The recording says the tour will "end" there and that lunch "has already been prepared".

    Transcript

    Guide: The tour will end at the student center, where lunch has already been prepared.

13. Question 13 of 18

    Listen to the interviewer. Which answer opening responds best?

    Play audioListen, then answer. The transcript is shown after you answer.

    No sound? Read the text instead

    Interviewer: Tell me about a class you enjoyed in high school, and why you liked it.

    • AYes, I did.
    • BI really enjoyed biology, mainly because we did lots of experiments.
    • CI think I will probably enjoy many of the different classes at university.
    • DHigh school is important for all teenagers.
    Show answer

    Answer: B. I really enjoyed biology, mainly because we did lots of experiments.

    The question asks about one class you enjoyed and why. This answer names the class and gives a reason right away.

    Transcript

    Interviewer: Tell me about a class you enjoyed in high school, and why you liked it.

14. Question 14 of 18

    Listen to the question. Which answer opening is the strongest?

    Play audioListen, then answer. The transcript is shown after you answer.

    No sound? Read the text instead

    Interviewer: Some students like to live on campus, and others like to live off campus. Which would you prefer, and why?

    • ABoth are good choices, so it's really hard to say anything about it.
    • BA campus is a place where students go to study.
    • CI'd prefer living on campus, because I could walk to all my classes.
    • DI live with my parents right now, and they have a big dog named Max.
    Show answer

    Answer: C. I'd prefer living on campus, because I could walk to all my classes.

    The question asks which you prefer and why. A strong opening states your choice and a reason.

    Transcript

    Interviewer: Some students like to live on campus, and others like to live off campus. Which would you prefer, and why?

15. Question 15 of 18

    Listen. Which opening answers the interviewer's question most directly?

    Play audioListen, then answer. The transcript is shown after you answer.

    No sound? Read the text instead

    Interviewer: What is one thing your university could do to help new students feel welcome?

    • AThe university could pair each new student with an older mentor.
    • BMy university is very big and quite old, with many famous buildings.
    • CNew students are always welcome here.
    • DI felt quite nervous on my first day at a new job last summer.
    Show answer

    Answer: A. The university could pair each new student with an older mentor.

    The interviewer asks for one thing the university could do. This answer gives a specific idea.

    Transcript

    Interviewer: What is one thing your university could do to help new students feel welcome?

16. Question 16 of 18

    Listen to the interviewer. Which sentence uses the best verb tense to answer?

    Play audioListen, then answer. The transcript is shown after you answer.

    No sound? Read the text instead

    Interviewer: Describe a time when you had to work with a group on a school project.

    • ALast year, I worked with three classmates on a project about recycling.
    • BI am working with three classmates on a project about recycling right now.
    • CEvery day I work with three classmates on projects.
    • DNext year, I will work with three classmates on a big science project.
    Show answer

    Answer: A. Last year, I worked with three classmates on a project about recycling.

    "Describe a time when you had to..." asks about the past, so answer with past-tense verbs like "worked".

    Transcript

    Interviewer: Describe a time when you had to work with a group on a school project.

17. Question 17 of 18

    In Take an Interview, you have given your answer and one reason, and about 20 seconds are left. What should you do?

    • AStop talking and wait for the time to end
    • BAdd a specific example from your own experience
    • CRepeat the interviewer's question word for word
    • DStart talking about a different topic
    Show answer

    Answer: B. Add a specific example from your own experience

    Use the time to develop your answer. A short personal example supports your reason.

18. Question 18 of 18

    In Listen and Repeat, which strategy helps most with a long sentence?

    • ATry to remember each separate word on its own, one by one
    • BRepeat only the first few words
    • CListen for meaning in chunks, or groups of words
    • DSpeak as fast as you possibly can
    Show answer

    Answer: C. Listen for meaning in chunks, or groups of words

    Remembering meaningful chunks ("to the front desk", "before you leave") is easier than remembering single words.

Keyboard: 1–4 to answer, Enter for the next question.