Techniques for TOEFL | The English Farm

TOEFL is heavily task dependent. There are only two open-ended speaking questions, each with 15 seconds to prepare an answer and 45 seconds to answer.

Note: Many students benefit from active preparation time. Take notes. During the preparation time, analyze the question and identify all the parts of it. Especially for reading and listening questions:

Invent a shorthand system to jot down the information quickly.
Use abbreviation you can understand easily.
Use arrows to organize your notes and clarify stages in a process.

In the student's Next Lesson box, write something along the lines of:

Next: TOEFL Task 1 practice from question 8 on http://jasonrenshaw.typepad.com/ibt_speaking_writing/2008/05/40-new-pra…

Task 1: Talk about your personal experience or opinions.

Make sure for each question, you give you student 15 seconds preparation time and 45 seconds response time. Be strict about this.

This is a recommended site with plenty of questions: http://jasonrenshaw.typepad.com/ibt_speaking_writing/2008/05/40-new-pra…

Task 2: Listen to an opinion and respond.

Make sure for each question, you give you student 15 seconds preparation time and 45 seconds response time. Be strict about this.

Use this site starting from question 7: http://english4real.com/speaking-toefl-questions-parts-one-two.html

The other tasks involve reading and responding.

The English Farm's discussion topics are a good stand-in for some of these, especially Tasks 3 and 6.

Task 3: Read the following text and the conversation that follows it. Then, answer the question.
Task 4: Read a passage from a psychology textbook and the lecture that follows it. Then answer the question. (Reading time in an actual test would be 45-50 seconds.)
Task 5: Read the following conversation between two students and then answer the question.
Task 6: Read part of a lecture in a biology course and then answer the question.

DETAILED information and strategies

For students needing ongoing coaching for TOEFL, please prepare by reading the information below and helping your student over a series of classes.

TOEFL SPEAKING TEST PART 1:

This is an INDEPENDENT task. You have 15 seconds to prepare and 45 seconds to speak.
There are essentially four types of questions in this part of the test.
Every question in this part ends with ‘Include details and examples to support your explanation’.
You may make notes if you wish. LINK HERE TO NOTETAKING TIPS WHEN READY!
Structure is an important element of answering questions, so try to follow the suggestions given.

A. Personal experience

These are based on your childhood/school life/work life
Tip: think of stories (they can be made up) from these periods of your life.

Example questions:

‘Talk about a time when you experienced success. Describe the experience and say why it was a success for you. Include details and examples to support your explanation’

‘Talk about a person in your life who has inspired you. Describe the person and explain why you found him/her inspirational. Include details and examples to support your explanation’

Structure:

Start by mentioning the experience/person etc.
- Use concrete phrases such as:
  - I remember once when I experienced success at school.
  - One person who has particularly inspired me is my uncle Fred.
Describe the experience/person etc.
Provide details: why the experience was a success/how your uncle has inspired you
Conclude: what have you learned from the experience/how your uncle’s inspiration has affected you in your life

B. Considering options

Tip: You only have to choose ONE option, do focus on that. You don’t need to mention the other options.

Example questions:

‘Which of the following among distance from college, cost and size do you think is most important when choosing student accommodation? Include details and examples to support your explanation’

‘Which of these methods do you think is best when preparing for an exam: studying on your own, studying in a group, studying with a teacher? Include details and examples to support your explanation’

Structure:

State the option you think is best:
- I think cost is the most important factor when choosing student accommodation.
- When preparing for an exam, I think the best way is to study alone.
Provide reasons. Use a transition such as:
- The reason I think cost is most important/studying alone is the best method is…
  - (Optional: if you realize that you have finished answering the question and there is still some time left, conclude your answer by restating your opinion. Use phrases such as:
  - To conclude…
  - To sum up…

C. Giving advice

These questions are usually based on growing up, your school or work life.
Tip: Make sure you are familiar with ways of giving advice:

I would suggest/recommend that (s)he (do)
I would advise my friend to (do)
My advice would be to (do)
If I were her/him, I would (do)
I think the best thing would be to (do)
It would be advisable for her/him to (do)
(Doing X) would be the best way to (do)

Example questions:

‘A friend of yours feels that his boss is treating him unfairly. What advice would you give your friend about resolving this problem? Include details and examples to support your explanation’

‘One of your friends has recently moved to a new city and would like to make new friends. What would you suggest he do to deal with this issue? Include details and examples to support your explanation’

Structure:

Give your advice:
- I would suggest that my friend go to his boss and tell her exactly how he feels.
- I would advise my friend to join a sports club.
Give two reasons for your advice. Use phrases such as:
- I would suggest/advise this for two main reasons: First of all… / secondly…
Conclude (Optional: if you realize that you have finished answering the question and there is still some time left, conclude your answer by restating your advice. Use phrases such as:
- To conclude… /To sum up…)

D. Expressing an opinion

Tip: Make sure you are familiar with ways of expression opinions:

In my opinion
As I see it
From my point of view
The way I see it
There is no doubt in my mind that
To my way of thinking

Example questions:

It has recently been announced that a new shopping mall may be built in your neighborhood. Do you support or oppose this plan? Why? Include details and examples to support your explanation.

Some people prefer to eat at food stands or restaurants. Other people prefer to prepare and eat food at home. Which do you prefer? Include details and examples to support your explanation.

Structure:

State your opinion:
- I’m totally against this plan / I’m in favour of the idea.
- Personally, I prefer to cook and eat at home.
Give two reasons. Use phrases such as:
- I feel this way for two reasons
- There are two reasons for this opinion/preference. First of all… / secondly…
  - (Optional: if you realize that you have finished answering the question and there is still some time left, conclude your answer by restating your opinion. Use phrases such as:
- To conclude…
- To sum up…)

Additional resources:

Here is a list of sample questions for part 1: http://jasonrenshaw.typepad.com/ibt_speaking_writing/2008/05/40-new-pra…

Here is a sample answer for part 1: https://www.examenglish.com/TOEFL/TOEFL_Speaking_part1.htm

TOEFL SPEAKING TEST PART 2: Personal opinion

This is an INDEPENDENT task. You have 15 seconds to prepare and 45 seconds to speak.
There are essentially two styles of questions in this part of the test.
Every question in this part ends with ‘use details and examples to explain your opinion’.
These questions are often based on growing up, your school or work life
You may make notes if you wish. LINK HERE TO NOTETAKING TIPS WHEN READY!
Structure is an important element of answering questions, so try to follow the suggestions given.

Question styles:

A. Straightforward preference (the most common style of question)

Example questions:

“Do you prefer active holidays or would you rather relax on vacation? use details and examples to explain your opinion.”

“Some people prefer to live in a big city while others prefer to live in a small town. Which do you prefer and why? use details and examples to explain your opinion.”

B. Agree or disagree

Example questions:

“Do you agree or disagree with the following statement: ‘It is better to call someone rather than text them.’”

“Do you agree or disagree with the following statement: ‘There should be a tax on soda to encourage people to stop drinking it.’

Structure: Both styles of question can be answered in the same way:

Claim. Use phrases such as:
- I prefer
- I’d rather
- I think it’s better to
- I (totally) agree/disagree with the idea that
Provide two reasons. Use a transition such as:
- The reason I feel this way is that first of all… / secondly…
- I feel this way for two reasons. First of all… / secondly…
Conclude (Optional: if you realize that you have finished answering the question and there is still some time left, conclude your answer by restating your advice. Use phrases such as:
- To conclude…
- To sum up…)

Additional resources:

Here is a list of agree/disagree questions. They are from the writing section of the TOEFl exam but there are many similarities with Speaking part 2:

http://www.goodlucktoefl.com/toefl-writing-topics-agree-or-disagree.html

Here is a list of preference questions. They are from the writing section of the TOEFl exam but many of them can be easily adapted for practice on Speaking part 2:

http://www.goodlucktoefl.com/toefl-writing-topics-preference.html

Here is a sample answer for part 2: https://www.examenglish.com/TOEFL/TOEFL_Speaking_part2.htm