TOEFL IBT Links

How is the IBT different from other TOEFL formats (paper-based and computer-based)?

How does my Paper-based TOEFL score compare to an IBT TOEFL score?

Speaking Overview:

Independent Questions

Two tasks on the IBT Speaking section are Independent questions, where the speaker must use his/her own personal experience to create a logical response. Each response for these type of questions should include a topic statement, which indicates the main idea of the response, as well as logical supporting details for the topic statements. Details include reasons and personal and global examples.

Example Independent Questions (From Longman Preparation Course for the TOEFL Test; IBT by Deborah Phillips):

· What are the characteristics of a good neighbor? Use reasons and details to support your response.

· What is your favorite holiday? Use reasons and details to support your response.

· Which person has helped you the most to get where you are today, and how has he/she helped you? Use examples to support your response.

· If you suddenly got $10 million, what would you spend it on? Use details to support your response.

· What does your dream house look like? Use details to support your response.

· What is your favorite food? Use reasons and details to support your response.

· What are the characteristics of a good parent? Use reasons and details to support your response.

Integrated Questions

There are four integrated questions. Two that require the test-taker to read a passage on a topic, hear a segment of a lecture on the same topic, and then respond to a question about the topic that focuses on how the listening and reading passages are related. There are also two listening and speaking integrated tasks that consist of a longer listening passage and a question that asks the test-taker to summarize key points of the passage.

Speaking Scores – Breakdown of Graded Areas