The TOEFL iBT Speaking section evaluates your ability to communicate clearly, accurately, fluently, and effectively in English, particularly in academic and university environments.

Important update: Since January 21, 2026, the TOEFL iBT Speaking section has consisted of two task types: Listen and Repeat and Take an Interview. The current section has 11 items and takes approximately 8 minutes.

Part A: TOEFL iBT Speaking Task Types

1. Listen and Repeat

• Listening to short sentences

• Repeating sentences accurately

• Repeating longer and complex sentences

• Remembering sentence structures

• Accurate word pronunciation

• Maintaining natural sentence rhythm

• Preserving original meaning and wording

• Clear and intelligible speech

2. Take an Interview

• Answering personal questions

• Expressing opinions

• Describing personal experiences

• Explaining preferences

• Giving reasons and examples

• Answering follow-up questions

• Developing coherent responses

• Speaking spontaneously and naturally

Part B: Personal and Everyday Speaking Topics

3. Personal Introduction

• Personal background

• Hometown and nationality

• Personality and interests

• Personal strengths

• Future ambitions

4. Family and Relationships

• Family members

• Family traditions

• Friendship

• Social relationships

• Family responsibilities

5. Daily Life and Routines

• Daily schedules

• Morning and evening activities

• Weekend activities

• Personal habits

• Time management

6. Hobbies and Leisure

• Reading books

• Watching movies

• Listening to music

• Sports and games

• Creative activities

7. Food and Lifestyle

• Favorite foods

• Eating habits

• Cooking

• Healthy lifestyles

• Food preferences

8. Travel and Transportation

• Travel experiences

• Favorite destinations

• Public transportation

• Travel planning

• Cultural experiences

9. Health and Well-being

• Physical exercise

• Healthy habits

• Sleep routines

• Mental well-being

• Work-life balance

10. Technology in Everyday Life

• Smartphones

• Social media

• Internet usage

• Artificial intelligence

• Digital communication

Part C: Academic and University Speaking Topics

11. Education and Academic Background

• Educational experiences

• Favorite subjects

• Academic achievements

• Educational challenges

• Learning goals

12. University Life

• University orientation

• Campus activities

• Student organizations

• University facilities

• Student responsibilities

13. Classroom Experiences

• Classroom participation

• Group discussions

• Asking questions

• Giving explanations

• Classroom presentations

14. Learning Preferences

• Online versus classroom learning

• Individual versus group study

• Practical versus theoretical learning

• Learning through reading

• Learning through discussion

15. Study Habits

• Study schedules

• Examination preparation

• Note-taking

• Concentration techniques

• Academic productivity

16. Teachers and Professors

• Effective teaching methods

• Teacher-student communication

• Academic guidance

• Feedback from professors

• Important qualities of teachers

17. Academic Assignments

• Homework

• Research assignments

• Group projects

• Class presentations

• Meeting deadlines

18. University Facilities

• Libraries

• Laboratories

• Computer centers

• Student accommodation

• Recreation facilities

19. Academic Research

• Research interests

• Research methodology

• Scientific investigations

• Research challenges

• Importance of academic research

20. Graduate Education

• Master's and doctoral programs

• Choosing a university

• Research supervision

• Graduate career goals

• International higher education

Part D: Common Interview Discussion Topics

21. Personal Opinions

• Agreeing and disagreeing

• Explaining personal viewpoints

• Supporting opinions with examples

• Comparing different perspectives

• Defending a preference

22. Choices and Preferences

• Choosing between two options

• Explaining advantages

• Explaining disadvantages

• Discussing personal priorities

• Making recommendations

23. Experiences and Memories

• Memorable experiences

• Important achievements

• Difficult situations

• Lessons learned

• Significant life events

24. Problem-Solving

• Identifying problems

• Suggesting solutions

• Explaining possible outcomes

• Evaluating alternatives

• Justifying decisions

25. Future Plans and Goals

• Academic ambitions

• Career aspirations

• Personal development

• Long-term goals

• Planning for success

26. Leadership and Teamwork

• Leadership qualities

• Working in teams

• Managing disagreements

• Group decision-making

• Collaborative learning

27. Communication and Social Skills

• Starting conversations

• Explaining ideas

• Listening actively

• Giving suggestions

• Responding politely

28. Culture and Society

• Cultural traditions

• International students

• Cultural diversity

• Social customs

• Cross-cultural communication

29. Environmental Issues

• Climate change

• Pollution

• Renewable energy

• Environmental conservation

• Sustainable development

30. Science and Innovation

• Scientific discoveries

• Modern technology

• Space exploration

• Scientific research

• Benefits and risks of innovation

Part E: Pronunciation and Speech Production

31. English Pronunciation

• Vowel sounds

• Consonant sounds

• Silent letters

• Common pronunciation errors

• Pronunciation clarity

32. Word Stress

• Primary stress

• Secondary stress

• Stress in multisyllabic words

• Stress in academic vocabulary

• Stress-related pronunciation changes

33. Sentence Stress

• Stressed content words

• Unstressed function words

• Emphasizing important information

• Contrastive stress

• Natural sentence rhythm

34. Intonation

• Rising intonation

• Falling intonation

• Intonation in questions

• Intonation for emphasis

• Expressing meaning through pitch

35. Connected Speech

• Word linking

• Weak forms

• Sound reduction

• Natural speech rhythm

• Smooth pronunciation

36. Speaking Fluency

• Speaking without unnecessary pauses

• Maintaining a natural pace

• Reducing hesitation

• Improving speech continuity

• Developing spontaneous speaking skills

Part F: Grammar, Vocabulary, and Response Development

37. Spoken English Grammar

• Present, past, and future tenses

• Subject-verb agreement

• Articles and prepositions

• Conditional sentences

• Simple, compound, and complex sentences

38. Speaking Vocabulary

• Everyday vocabulary

• Academic vocabulary

• Topic-specific vocabulary

• Collocations

• Synonyms and paraphrasing

39. Organizing Spoken Responses

• Direct answers

• Main ideas

• Supporting details

• Relevant examples

• Clear conclusions

40. Giving Reasons and Examples

• Explaining why

• Providing evidence

• Describing real-life situations

• Making comparisons

• Connecting examples to opinions

41. Describing and Explaining

• Describing people

• Describing places

• Describing processes

• Explaining events

• Explaining causes and effects

42. Comparing and Contrasting

• Similarities

• Differences

• Advantages and disadvantages

• Preference comparisons

• Evaluating alternatives

43. Expressing Agreement and Disagreement

• Strong agreement

• Partial agreement

• Polite disagreement

• Explaining opposing views

• Supporting arguments

44. Discourse Markers and Transitions

• Adding information

• Showing contrast

• Expressing cause and effect

• Giving examples

• Sequencing ideas

Part G: TOEFL Speaking Preparation and Performance

45. Listening and Repetition Practice

• Short-sentence repetition

• Long-sentence repetition

• Academic sentence repetition

• Auditory memory training

• Identifying omitted or substituted words

46. Interview Response Practice

• Answering familiar questions

• Responding to unfamiliar questions

• Expressing opinions quickly

• Developing answers with examples

• Maintaining a conversational style

47. Speaking Under Time Pressure

• Understanding task instructions

• Responding promptly

• Controlling speaking speed

• Completing responses within the allowed time

• Managing hesitation

48. TOEFL Speaking Scoring Criteria

• Accuracy of repeated sentences

• Speech intelligibility

• Pronunciation and prosody

• Grammar accuracy and range

• Vocabulary range and appropriateness

• Fluency, coherence, and elaboration

ETS uses separate scoring guidance for the two Speaking task types.

49. Common TOEFL Speaking Mistakes

• Incorrect pronunciation

• Omission of words during repetition

• Excessive hesitation

• Incomplete answers

• Grammatical errors

• Repetitive vocabulary

• Unclear explanations

50. TOEFL Speaking Mock Tests and Self-Assessment

• Full-length speaking practice

• Listen and Repeat simulation

• Take an Interview simulation

• Recording and reviewing responses

• Pronunciation analysis

• Fluency and grammar evaluation

• Tracking improvement over time

Recommended Preparation Priorities

Priority, Study area, Importance

1. Listen and Repeat, Essential

2. Take an Interview, Essential

3. Pronunciation and intelligibility, Very high

4. Speaking fluency, Very high

5. Grammar and vocabulary, Very high

6. Academic and campus-life topics, High

7. Opinions, reasons, and examples, High

8. Listening memory and sentence accuracy, High

9. Timed speaking practice, High

10. Mock tests and self-assessment, Essential

Official TOEFL Speaking resources: ETS TOEFL iBT Speaking Section.

For the 2026–2027 TOEFL iBT, prioritize the two current task types and the communication skills they assess. The older four-task Independent/Integrated Speaking format applies to tests taken before January 21, 2026, not the current test.