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IBT Style TOEFL practice tests
Here is a practice IBT style toefl test, and, detailed advice on strategies to answer these kinds of questions. The best way to use these exercises is to RECORD yourself as you do them and then LISTEN to yourself after you have finished.
TOEFL iBT Practice Exercises
TOEFL Practice #1
Question #1. Listen to the prompt, click HERE, give yourself 15 seconds to prepare your answer and then 45 seconds to record your response.

Question #2. Listen to the prompt, click HERE, give yourself 15 seconds to prepare your answer and then 45 seconds to record your response.

Question 3. Click HERE to start the question. PAUSE your audio player for 45 SECONDS to read the passage provided in the homework package when prompted, then restart to listen to a short talk on the same subject. Then, give yourself 30 seconds for preparation and 60 seconds to record your response.

4. Record a response to the TOEFL iBT Speaking Section question #4. Take 45 SECONDS to read the passage provided in the homework package, then click HERE to listen to a lecture on the same topic. Then, give yourself 30 seconds for preparation and 60 seconds to record your response. Use the TOEFL guidelines that were distributed in class to construct your answer.

5. Record a response to the TOEFL iBT Speaking Section question #5, click HERE to listen to the prompt. Before listening to the prompt, be prepared to give yourself 20 seconds for preparation and 60 seconds to record your response. Use the TOEFL guidelines that were distributed in class to construct your answer.

6. Record a response to the TOEFL iBT Speaking Section question #6, click HERE to listen to the prompt. Before listening to the prompt, be prepared to give yourself 20 seconds for preparation and 60 seconds to record your response. Use the TOEFL guidelines that were distributed in class to construct your answer.

Guide to Answering TOEFL iBT SPEAKING Questions

There are SIX QUESTIONS
TWO "Independent" questions (no reading/listening etc.)
#1 asks about a personal preference
#2 asks you to choose an opinion
each question has 15 seconds preparation time and 45 seconds speaking time

TWO "Integrated" questions including READING and LISTENING
#3 asks you to summarize an opinion
#4 asks to you summarize and contrast the reading and the lecture
each question has 45 seconds reading time, 60-90 seconds listening time, 30 seconds preparation time, and 60 seconds speaking time

TWO "Integrated" questions including LISTENING
#5 asks you to summarize and choose an opinion
#6 asks to you summarize a lecture
each question has 60-120 seconds listening time, 30 seconds preparation time and 60 seconds speaking time

GENERAL SCORING
Each Question is graded on a scale 0-4, total score scaled from 24 to 30

Question #1: Personal Preference (Independent)
15 seconds preparation and 45 seconds SPOKEN RESPONSE:
• State Your Preference
• Give Reason #1
• Detail for Reason #1
• Give Reason #2
• Detail for Reason #2
• Give Reason #3
• Detail for Reason #3

Important Words (in approximate order of use)
I believe... I think... I feel... Because... The reason... Due To... In addition... Furthermore... Also... For example... Another reason... Finally... To summarize,...

Score 4
Overall: Highly intelligible, only minor incompleteness
Delivery: Speech is clear, only minor lapses in difficult words
Language: Effective use of grammar and coherent expression of ideas
Topic: Well developed, relationships are clear

Score 3
Overall: Not fully developed, generally intelligible
Delivery: Minor difficulties in pronunciation and pacing
Language: Some imprecise vocabulary and grammar
Topic: Mostly coherent, lacks some elaboration

Score 2
Overall: Development is limited, intelligible speech but obscured in places
Delivery: Basically intelligible, but effort required of listener, choppy rhythm
Language: limited vocabulary and grammar preventing full expression of ideas
Topic: Number of ideas limited, limited details

Score 1
Overall: Development is very limited, speech largely unintelligible
Delivery: Consistent pronunciation and stress difficulties
Language: Many errors in grammar and vocabulary, prevents expression of ideas
Topic: Only very basic ideas expressed


Question #2: Choose An Opinion/Option (Independent)
15 seconds preparation and 45 seconds SPOKEN RESPONSE:
• State you Opinion or Option
• Give Reason #1
• Detail for Reason #1
• Give Reason #2
• Detail for Reason #2
• Give Reason #3
• Detail for Reason #3

Important Words (in approximate order of use)
I believe... I think... I feel... Because... The reason... Due To... In addition... Furthermore... Also... For example... Another reason... Finally,... To summarize,...

Score 4
Overall: Highly intelligible, only minor incompleteness
Delivery: Speech is clear, only minor lapses in difficult words
Language: Effective use of grammar and coherent expression of ideas
Topic: Well developed, relationships are clear

Score 3
Overall: Not fully developed, generally intelligible
Delivery: Minor difficulties in pronunciation and pacing
Language: Some imprecise vocabulary and grammar
Topic: Mostly coherent, lacks some elaboration

Score 2
Overall: Development is limited, intelligible speech but obscured in places
Delivery: Basically intelligible, but effort required of listener, choppy rhythm
Language: limited vocabulary and grammar preventing full expression of ideas
Topic: Number of ideas limited, limited details

Score 1
Overall: Development is very limited, speech largely unintelligible
Delivery: Consistent pronunciation and stress difficulties
Language: Many errors in grammar and vocabulary, prevents expression of ideas
Topic: Only very basic ideas expressed


Question #3: Summarize An Opinion (Read and Listen)
45 seconds READING, 60-90 seconds LISTENING, 30seconds PREPARING
60 seconds SPOKEN RESPONSE
You will be prompted to read a passage for 45 seconds and then listen to a conversation about it. Don't take notes during reading, DO take notes during LISTENING, then:
• State you Opinion or Option
• Give Reason #1
• Detail for Reason #1
• Give Reason #2
• Detail for Reason #2
• Give Reason #3
• Detail for Reason #3

This one is actually relatively easy, just REPEAT the reasons given by one of the speakers!

Important Words (in approximate order of use)
She/He believes... She/He thinks... She/He feels... Because... The reason... Due T... In addition... Furthermore... Also... For example... Another reason... According to Her/Him… He/She claims… Finally... To summarize,...

Score 4
Overall: Highly intelligible, only minor incompleteness
Delivery: Speech is clear, only minor lapses in difficult words
Language: Effective use of grammar and coherent expression of ideas
Topic: Well developed, relationships are clear

Score 3
Overall: Not fully developed, generally intelligible
Delivery: Minor difficulties in pronunciation and pacing
Language: Some imprecise vocabulary and grammar
Topic: Mostly coherent, lacks some elaboration

Score 2
Overall: Development is limited, intelligible speech but obscured in places
Delivery: Basically intelligible, but effort required of listener, choppy rhythm
Language: limited vocabulary and grammar preventing full expression of ideas
Topic: Number of ideas limited, limited details

Score 1
Overall: Development is very limited, speech largely unintelligible
Delivery: Consistent pronunciation and stress difficulties
Language: Many errors in grammar and vocabulary, prevents expression of ideas
Topic: Only very basic ideas expressed


Question #4: Summarize/Contrast Reading and Lecture (Read and Listen)
45 seconds READING, 60-90 seconds LISTENING, 30seconds PREPARING, 60 seconds SPOKEN RESPONSE
take notes while READING, summarize the main points (3 - 5), takes notes while LISTENING, try to compare to READING, then:
• State the subject of the Reading and Lecture
• Give first point from Reading
• Give Supporting or Countering point from Lecture
• Give second point from Reading
• Give Supporting or Countering point from Lecture
• Give third point from Reading
• Give Supporting or Countering point from Lecture

Important Words (in approximate order of use)
Each point: One Problem... It is stated that... Another issue is...
Each Support/Counter: But... However... In Contrast...

Score 4
Overall: Highly intelligible, only minor incompleteness
Delivery: Speech is clear, only minor lapses in difficult words
Language: Effective use of grammar and coherent expression of ideas
Topic: Well developed, relationships are clear

Score 3
Overall: Not fully developed, generally intelligible
Delivery: Minor difficulties in pronunciation and pacing
Language: Some imprecise vocabulary and grammar
Topic: Mostly coherent, lacks some elaboration

Score 2
Overall: Development is limited, intelligible speech but obscured in places
Delivery: Basically intelligible, but effort required of listener, choppy rhythm
Language: limited vocabulary and grammar preventing full expression of ideas
Topic: Number of ideas limited, limited details

Score 1
Overall: Development is very limited, speech largely unintelligible
Delivery: Consistent pronunciation and stress difficulties
Language: Many errors in grammar and vocabulary, prevents expression of ideas
Topic: Only very basic ideas expressed


Question #5: Summarize and Choose An Opinion (Listen)
60-120seconds LISTENING, 30seconds PREPARING, 60 seconds SPOKEN RESPONSE, take notes during listening on the problems and solutions that are raised, then:
• State the Problem
• State the Solutions
• State your Preference (1 only!)
• Give Reason #1
• Detail for Reason #1
• Give Reason #2
• Detail for Reason #2

Important Words (in approximate order of use)
Is best because... is bette... I prefer... Because... Also... In addition...

Score 4
Overall: Highly intelligible, only minor incompleteness
Delivery: Speech is clear, only minor lapses in difficult words
Language: Effective use of grammar and coherent expression of ideas
Topic: Well developed, relationships are clear

Score 3
Overall: Not fully developed, generally intelligible
Delivery: Minor difficulties in pronunciation and pacing
Language: Some imprecise vocabulary and grammar
Topic: Mostly coherent, lacks some elaboration

Score 2
Overall: Development is limited, intelligible speech but obscured in places
Delivery: Basically intelligible, but effort required of listener, choppy rhythm
Language: limited vocabulary and grammar preventing full expression of ideas
Topic: Number of ideas limited, limited details

Score 1
Overall: Development is very limited, speech largely unintelligible
Delivery: Consistent pronunciation and stress difficulties
Language: Many errors in grammar and vocabulary, prevents expression of ideas
Topic: Only very basic ideas expressed


Question #6: Summarize A Lecture (Listen)
60-120seconds LISTENING, 30seconds PREPARING, 60seconds SPOKEN RESPONSE, take notes while LISTENING, MAINLY to get the main idea, don’t try to summarize all the points, maybe one or two at the most, the MAIN IDEA is critical, then:
• State the Main Idea • Give first point from Lecture • Give a detail to support first point • LINK the first point to the main idea • Give a second point from Lecture • Give a detail to support second point • LINK the second point to the main idea

Important Words (in approximate order of use)
States that... Argues that... Proposes that... Talks about... Because... Due To... In addition... Furthermore... Also... For example... Another reason...

Score 4
Overall: Highly intelligible, only minor incompleteness
Delivery: Speech is clear, only minor lapses in difficult words
Language: Effective use of grammar and coherent expression of ideas
Topic: Well developed, relationships are clear

Score 3
Overall: Not fully developed, generally intelligible
Delivery: Minor difficulties in pronunciation and pacing
Language: Some imprecise vocabulary and grammar
Topic: Mostly coherent, lacks some elaboration

Score 2
Overall: Development is limited, intelligible speech but obscured in places
Delivery: Basically intelligible, but effort required of listener, choppy rhythm
Language: limited vocabulary and grammar preventing full expression of ideas
Topic: Number of ideas limited, limited details

Score 1
Overall: Development is very limited, speech largely unintelligible
Delivery: Consistent pronunciation and stress difficulties
Language: Many errors in grammar and vocabulary, prevents expression of ideas
Topic: Only very basic ideas expressed