State a clear preference immediately, give two specific reasons with an example each, and finish with a one-line restatement. Concrete examples and a clean structure score higher than complex vocabulary.
TOEFL Speaking — The 4 Tasks, Templates & Strategy
The TOEFL Speaking section has four tasks and takes about 16 minutes. You speak into a microphone and your responses are recorded and scored by a mix of trained human raters and AI. There is no examiner in the room.
One task is independent (give your own opinion) and three are integrated (you read and/or listen first, then speak about it). Clear organisation and specific detail matter far more than a perfect accent.
The four Speaking tasks
| Task | What you do |
|---|---|
| 1 — Independent | State and support a personal opinion on a familiar topic (15s prep, 45s speak). |
| 2 — Integrated (campus) | Read a short notice, hear a reaction, then summarise the speaker's opinion and reasons. |
| 3 — Integrated (academic) | Read a concept, hear a lecture example, then explain how the example illustrates the concept. |
| 4 — Integrated (lecture) | Hear an academic lecture and summarise its main points. |
How Speaking is scored
Each response is rated on delivery (clear, fluent speech), language use (grammar and vocabulary range) and topic development (a complete, well-organised answer). The four raw scores are combined and converted to the 0–30 section scale.
A simple, well-organised answer with concrete examples scores higher than a complex, rambling one — so structure and finish your point rather than trying to sound advanced.
A reliable structure for each task
- Independent: state your preference in the first sentence, give two reasons with a quick example each, then a one-line restatement.
- Integrated tasks: begin by naming the topic, then report what the reading and/or the speaker said — in your own words.
- Signpost with "First… Second… For example…" so the rater can follow your organisation.
- Keep talking smoothly to the end of the time; hesitation and long pauses cost more than a small slip.
- Use your prep seconds to jot two or three keywords, not full sentences.
Sample task (original, in the TOEFL format)
An original example in the official style — not a real test question.
Frequently asked questions
No. You speak into a microphone and your responses are recorded, then scored by human raters and AI. There is no face-to-face interview (that is IELTS).
A perfect accent is not required. Raters score clarity, fluency, grammar/vocabulary and how completely you develop the topic — clear, well-organised English is what matters.
A short prep time before each task (about 15–30 seconds depending on the task), then a set speaking time (45–60 seconds). Use the prep to jot keywords, not full sentences.
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