TOEFL iBT · Task guide 5 · 4 min read

TOEFL iBT Speaking tasks: Listen and Repeat and Take an Interview

The two Speaking tasks on the updated TOEFL iBT with original examples, a simple way to structure interview answers and tips for speaking to a screen.

How the Speaking section works

The Speaking section measures how clearly you can speak English in academic and campus situations. You speak into a microphone and your answers are recorded, so you respond to the computer rather than to an examiner sitting with you. ETS says no specialised background knowledge is needed, and you may hear native-speaker accents from North America, the UK, New Zealand or Australia.

ETS lists 11 items and about 8 minutes of base time; timing can vary. In its specification, seven items are Listen and Repeat and four are Take an Interview. The Speaking section is linear: everyone on the same form gets the same tasks. Read the official summary on the TOEFL iBT Speaking section page.

Listen and Repeat

You hear a short sentence in an academic or campus setting and repeat it. ETS says this measures your ability to process spoken English and produce speech that is accurate and clearly intelligible. According to ETS's specification, the sentences become longer and more complex as you go.

Our own examples (not ETS items), from easy to harder:

1. "The bookshop is next to the cafe."
2. "Students who finish early may leave the room quietly."
3. "Although the lecture was cancelled, the reading list is still available online."

Tips

• Listen for rhythm and stress as well as words. Repeat the same melody.
• Do not stop to correct yourself in the middle. Keep going.
• Chunk long sentences into meaning groups: "Although the lecture was cancelled / the reading list / is still available online."
• Practice by repeating short clips aloud, then recording and comparing.

Take an Interview

You answer questions in a simulated interview about academic or campus situations. You talk about experiences and opinions. ETS says this task measures how clearly you communicate, how natural your pace is and how well you use vocabulary and grammar.

Our own example questions (not ETS items), getting a little harder:

• "What do you usually do between classes?"
• "Tell me about a group project you enjoyed."
• "Some people prefer studying alone and others prefer studying in groups. What do you think?"

A reliable answer pattern:

1. Answer: give your point of view or main idea straight away.
2. Reason: say why in one or two sentences.
3. Example: add a short, real or realistic detail.
4. Finish: end with a short closing sentence rather than trailing off.

Our own example answer to the last question: "I prefer studying in groups. When I explain something to others, I understand it better myself. For example, last term my friends and I tested each other before a statistics exam, and we all improved. So for me, groups work best."

Tips

• Aim to use the full response time. ETS's FAQ recommends timed practice of the Speaking tasks so you get a sense of how much time you have to speak; if you are not speaking for the full time, practice making your responses longer.
• Speak at a natural pace. Clear and steady is better than fast.
• Use a range of vocabulary, but only words you can pronounce.
• If you make a slip, carry on rather than stopping. ETS says the interview measures how clearly you communicate and whether you keep a natural pace.

Speaking to a microphone

• Check your microphone and sit at a steady distance.
• Look at the screen and speak as you would to a person.
• In a quiet room, you will not need to raise your voice.

Exam tip: record yourself for a week. Listening back is the fastest way to notice filler words, flat intonation and answers that end too soon.

Key points

• Two tasks: Listen and Repeat and Take an Interview.
• 11 items and about 8 minutes of base time; the section is linear.
• Answers are recorded; practice with a timer.
• Official description: ets.org Speaking section.

Back to the TOEFL hub for practice tests and the other section guides.