NEW TOEFL Speaking Task Practice Test #2

Instructions

In this part of the new TOEFL (January 2026 update) Speaking module you participate in a simulated conversation with a prerecorded interviewer about general or academic topics. You answer four questions, starting with factual/personal questions and progressing to opinion questions requiring elaboration and support.

Time Limit: 45 seconds per question

Scoring: 0-5 scale

Score 5: Fully successful (on-topic, well-elaborated, good pace, intelligible, accurate grammar/vocabulary)
Score 4: Generally successful (on-topic, elaborated, good pace generally, mostly intelligible, adequate grammar/vocabulary)
Score 3: Partially successful (generally on-topic, limited elaboration, choppy pace, intelligibility sometimes affected, limited grammar/vocabulary)
Score 2: Mostly unsuccessful (minimally connected, little relevant elaboration, intelligibility limited, very limited range)
Score 1: Unsuccessful (vaguely connected, mostly unintelligible, isolated words/phrases)
Score 0: No response, entirely unintelligible, no English, or unconnected to prompt

Interview

Question 1

Transcript

Question 1: Tell me about a teacher or instructor who had a significant impact on your education. What made this person special?

Sample Response

Sample High-Level Response

Sample Response: The teacher who had the biggest impact on me was my high school chemistry teacher, Mr. Rodriguez. What made him special was his ability to make a difficult subject accessible and even exciting. He didn’t just lecture from the textbook. Instead, he designed hands-on experiments that helped us understand complex concepts through practical application. He was also very patient and encouraging. When students struggled, he would take extra time to explain things in different ways until we understood. He genuinely cared about each student’s success, not just their grades. His enthusiasm for chemistry was contagious, and he inspired me to pursue science in college.

Explanation

Explanation: This response earns a high score through specific, detailed elaboration about a particular person rather than speaking in generalities. The speaker names the teacher and subject, which adds authenticity and helps paint a clear picture. The response identifies multiple qualities that made the teacher special including teaching methods, personality traits, and genuine care for students. Each quality is explained with specific examples or outcomes rather than just listing adjectives. The language flows naturally with good use of subordinate clauses and transitions. The conclusion connects the teacher’s impact to a concrete result in the speaker’s life, which effectively demonstrates why this person was truly significant. The response maintains focus throughout while providing comprehensive coverage of the question.

Question 2

Transcript

Question 2: How do you prefer to learn new information – through reading, listening to lectures, hands-on practice, or group discussions? Why does this method work best for you?

Sample Response

Sample High-Level Response

Sample Response: I learn best through a combination of reading and hands-on practice. I like to start by reading about a topic to get the foundational knowledge and understand the theory behind it. Reading allows me to go at my own pace and review difficult sections multiple times if needed. However, I find that I don’t truly understand something until I actually apply it myself. For example, when I was learning to code, reading the tutorials helped me understand the syntax and logic, but writing actual programs and debugging my mistakes is what really solidified my understanding. The hands-on practice reveals gaps in my knowledge that I didn’t notice while reading. I think this combination works because reading gives me the framework, and practice gives me the real understanding.

Explanation

Explanation: This response demonstrates high-level speaking through its nuanced approach of combining two methods rather than choosing just one. The speaker explains not only which methods work best but also why and how they complement each other. The response includes a concrete, extended example about learning to code that illustrates the point effectively. The speaker shows metacognitive awareness by explaining what each method contributes and by recognizing how practice reveals knowledge gaps. The language is sophisticated with appropriate vocabulary like foundational knowledge, syntax, and solidified without sounding unnatural. The organizational structure is clear with the introduction of the two methods, explanation of the first, explanation of the second, a detailed example, and a concluding synthesis. The response shows the ability to discuss abstract learning concepts clearly and coherently.

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Question 3

Transcript

Question 3: Some people believe that students learn better in traditional classroom settings, while others think online learning is more effective. What is your opinion on this?

Sample Response

Sample High-Level Response

Sample Response: I think both traditional classrooms and online learning have their strengths, and the effectiveness depends on the subject matter and the individual student. Traditional classrooms are better for subjects that require a lot of interaction and discussion, like literature or philosophy. The face-to-face interaction allows for spontaneous discussions and immediate clarification of confusing points. You can read body language and facial expressions, which helps with communication. On the other hand, online learning offers flexibility that traditional classrooms can’t match. Students can learn at their own pace and review materials as many times as needed. For technical subjects where you’re learning specific skills, online learning can be very effective because you can pause videos and practice immediately. Personally, I think a blended approach combining both methods would be ideal for most students.

Explanation

Explanation: This response achieves a top score by presenting a balanced, well-reasoned analysis rather than a simplistic either-or answer. The speaker demonstrates critical thinking by considering multiple factors including subject matter and individual differences. The response provides specific examples of when each method works better, showing depth of thought. The comparison is fair and substantive, identifying concrete advantages for each approach such as spontaneous discussion for traditional and flexibility for online. The speaker also introduces relevant considerations like the importance of body language and the ability to review materials. The conclusion proposes a blended approach, which shows sophisticated thinking about practical solutions. The language is academic and precise with good use of comparison structures and transitional phrases. The response is well-organized, moving logically through the analysis of each method before synthesizing a conclusion.

Question 4

Transcript

Question 4: What do you think is the biggest challenge facing education today, and how do you think it could be addressed?

Sample Response

Sample High-Level Response

Sample Response: I think one of the biggest challenges is the growing educational inequality between different socioeconomic groups. Students from wealthy families have access to better schools, private tutoring, and educational resources like computers and internet at home, while students from low-income families often lack these advantages. This creates a cycle where disadvantaged students fall further behind. To address this, I think governments need to invest more in public schools in underserved areas, ensuring they have qualified teachers, modern facilities, and adequate materials. Additionally, providing free or subsidized internet access and devices to low-income families would help level the playing field, especially as education becomes more digital. Schools could also offer free after-school tutoring programs staffed by trained volunteers or college students. It’s not an easy problem to solve, but I believe targeted investment in resources and support for disadvantaged communities could make a significant difference over time.

Explanation

Explanation: This response demonstrates excellent speaking ability through its sophisticated analysis of a complex social issue. The speaker identifies a specific, significant challenge rather than a vague or superficial one, and explains why it matters by describing the cycle of disadvantage. The response then proposes multiple concrete solutions rather than just one, showing depth of thinking. Each solution is explained with enough detail to show it’s a thoughtful proposal, such as specifying who might staff tutoring programs. The speaker shows awareness of complexity by acknowledging the difficulty of the problem while maintaining that progress is possible. The language is appropriately academic for discussing policy issues, using terms like socioeconomic groups, underserved areas, and level the playing field naturally. The response is exceptionally well-organized, moving from problem identification to explanation of impact to multiple solutions to realistic conclusion. The speaker demonstrates the ability to discuss abstract social issues with specific, practical examples, which is a hallmark of advanced speaking proficiency.

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