Master the intense 17-minute computer-based speaking section. Understand how to tackle the 4 tasks and how the AI and human raters score your response.
Visit Official TOEFL SitePrimarily required for international students applying to universities in the United States and Canada, though it is accepted globally by thousands of institutions.
The TOEFL Speaking test is entirely computer-based. You will speak into a microphone while a timer counts down on your screen. Here is what Task 1 looks like.
Some people believe that university students should be required to attend classes. Others believe that going to classes should be optional for students. Which point of view do you agree with?
Use specific reasons and examples to explain your position.
The TOEFL Speaking section takes about 17 minutes total. However, you will only be speaking for about 3.5 minutes. The rest of the time is spent reading passages, listening to lectures, and preparing your notes. There are 4 tasks in total.
In the Independent Speaking task, you will be presented with a familiar topic or a pair of contrasting opinions on the screen. The narrator will read the prompt aloud.
You must draw entirely on your own ideas, opinions, and experiences to deliver a response. You are given a very brief 15 seconds to prepare your thoughts and then exactly 45 seconds to speak your answer into the microphone.
You are evaluated on how clearly you state your opinion and how well you support it with concrete reasons and examples. Do not simply list reasons; explain one or two reasons in depth.
Tasks 2, 3, and 4 are "Integrated" tasks, meaning they combine reading, listening, and speaking skills. For Task 2, you will read a short campus announcement or student letter (usually about a university policy change) for 45-50 seconds.
Then, you will listen to a short conversation between two students discussing the announcement. One of the students will have a strong opinion (agreeing or disagreeing) and will provide two distinct reasons for their opinion.
Your task is to summarize the change mentioned in the reading, and then explain the student's opinion and the reasons they gave during the audio track. You are not giving your own opinion here; you are summarizing what you heard.
These final two tasks simulate a real university classroom environment.
Task 3: You will read a short academic passage defining a concept (e.g., in biology, psychology, or business). Then, you will listen to a professor give a lecture providing a specific example of that concept. Your job is to explain how the professor's example illustrates the concept from the reading.
Task 4: There is no reading passage. You will simply listen to a professor deliver a lecture on an academic topic. The professor will typically explain a concept and provide two examples. Your job is to summarize the lecture, detailing the concept and both examples accurately.
Watch this official guide from ETS to see the exact computer interface and hear sample responses from actual test-takers.
Your responses are recorded and sent to ETS where they are scored by both AI algorithms (SpeechRater) and human raters on a scale of 0 to 4 per task, based on three main criteria.
This assesses how clear and fluid your speech is. Good delivery means a clear and smooth pace, natural pronunciation, and correct intonation. You should not have unnatural pauses or hesitate frequently. The AI SpeechRater is highly sensitive to long silences and unnatural chopping of sentences.
This evaluates your control of grammar and vocabulary. High scorers demonstrate the ability to construct complex sentences correctly and use a wide range of vocabulary to express precise ideas. Using basic vocabulary and making frequent grammar errors will lower this score.
This is where the human raters step in. They evaluate how well you answered the question. For Task 1, did you provide clear reasons and examples? For Tasks 2-4, did you accurately synthesize the information from the reading and listening passages without omitting key details or presenting false information?
The TOEFL iBT Speaking section is very short and intense, taking approximately 17 minutes to complete all 4 tasks. You will spend most of this time reading, listening, and taking notes, with only about 3.5 minutes of actual speaking time.
It is graded by both! ETS uses a combination of automated AI scoring (SpeechRater) to evaluate your fluency, pronunciation, and grammar, alongside highly trained human raters who evaluate the content and meaning of your response.
Yes, absolutely. You are strongly encouraged to take notes on the scratch paper provided during the reading and listening passages. You can and should use these notes to help structure your spoken response.