toefl paraphrasing exercises pdf

Paraphrasing Practice to Improve Writing

One way to improve your toefl essay writing is to practice paraphrasing..

Take a paragraph from an academic text and rewrite it. Put the writer’s ideas into your own words. This will help you get used to restating ideas found in the academic passages that appear throughout the TOEFL iBT. Here's an example of how you can do this:

Read the following passage and paraphrase it by putting it into your own words.

In 1610, Galileo Galilei published a small book describing astronomical observations that he had made of the skies above Padua. His homemade telescopes had less magnifying and resolving power than most beginners’ telescopes sold today, yet with them he made astonishing discoveries: that the moon has mountains and other topographical features; that Jupiter is orbited by satellites, which he called planets; and that the Milky Way is made up of individual stars. From David Owen, “The Dark Side: Making War on Light Pollution,” The New Yorker (20 August 2007): 28.

There is not a single correct answer, but you could paraphrase the above passage by writing something like this:

Galileo was able to make some amazing discoveries with his telescope. He made discoveries about the moon, about Jupiter, and about the Milky Way. He was able to do this with a telescope that was less powerful than even today's most basic telescopes.

Your paraphrase doesn't have to be a work of art. However, it should contain the author's main ideas and it should be written in your own words. You can find more passages for paraphrasing on the pages that follow.

© 2007 Cz-Training.

ABA Journal The digital English academy

Paraphrasing Practice for the TOEFL

In TOEFL Speaking and Writing, paraphrasing is very important. Even if a response in these sections is grammatical and easy to understand, it will still receive a very low score if the test-taker copies a lot of the language from the passages or audio tracks. This is especially true for TOEFL writing tasks , when you can see the text that you need to summarize while you write, so it’s very tempting to copy the wording.

“Echoing” words you read or hear, repeating them with minimal changes, is something you can easily do without even realizing it. In less formal, non-academic English use, it can be natural and acceptable to imitate words you’ve just heard or read—but this is definitely not OK in the academic English on the TOEFL exam. To avoid this common TOEFL mistake, it’s important to practice paraphrasing during TOEFL prep. And it’s good build mental habits that help you to paraphrase things easily. You want true paraphrasing to come very naturally to you on test day.

As you look over the activity below, remember that paraphrasing is more than just someone else’s words and saying them differently. In the broadest sense, paraphrasing is about understanding that there are many different ways to say the same thing. In a good paraphrase, you choose a new way of saying something that personally works for you. In this way, you don’t just restate a piece of information—you put it in your preferred words, making the information your own.

Think of paraphrases as learning tool that allows you to understand ideas more fully, in your own thoughts and words. To see how this works, I’m going to show you some lines from a TOEFL Integrated Speaking passage, followed by several different paraphrases of the same original information. (The passage is one for Speaking Task 3, and it comes from page 23 of TOEFL Quick Prep Volume 1 .)

SCULPTURE COURSES TO BE DISCONTINUED

University administrators announced yesterday that the sculpture program, a division of the art department, will be eliminated. “The main reason is a lack of student interest,” reported one administrator. “Although the number of art students has increased, fewer and fewer art majors are taking sculpture classes.” Furthermore, the department’s only sculpture professor is retiring this year. “Given the art department’s limited budget,” the administrator explained, “it just doesn’t make sense to hire a new full-time professor to teach sculpture for only a handful of students.”

TOEFL Speaking Task 3 reading passages like this one are ideal for paraphrasing practice. This is because the information in a Task 3 passage needs to be shortened into a very brief summary that you can easily recall and restate when you start speaking. This kind of shortened restatement requires sharp paraphrasing skills. Let’s look at three of my own possible paraphrases of this 85 word article:

PARAPHRASE 1:

The university will discontinue the sculpture program. Administrators say students simply don’t have much interest in sculpture anymore, and the one sculpture professor in the art department is about to retire anyway.

PARAPHRASE 2:

University officials have announced that the sculpture program will be cancelled. They cite declining student interest as one of the main reasons for the cancellation. Another issue is a lack of instructors; the only teacher of sculpture courses will be retiring shortly. Finally, the art department doesn’t have enough money for more sculpture classes.

PARAPHRASE 3:

The school’s sculpture classes are all about to be permanently removed from the art department’s offerings, as students are no longer interested in sculpture, the only sculpture professor is leaving, and there is not enough funding to keep offering these courses.

PARAPHRASE 4:

The art department at the university is getting more and more students, but at the same time, fewer and fewer students are enrolling in sculpture classes. Because students are no longer interested in sculpture and because the sculpture professor is retiring, school administrators decided to cancel the sculpture program.

The fun thing about human language is that there are almost infinite ways to say anything. I could probably come up with at least ten more paraphrases of the passage, easily. There’s a lot of different directions you can go with a paraphrase! Just remember the two important rules for TOEFL paraphrasing: make the new statement shorter, and try to use as few of the original words as possible.

As you go through my paraphrases, you may find reasons to criticize the four different approaches I took above. You might feel I left out an important idea, included an unnecessary detail, or made a paraphrase too long or too short. If you can find fault in my re-wording of the passage, good! The example paraphrases above should help you think about how you would paraphrase something, if you did the activity yourself.

On your own, try making multiple paraphrases of text or dialogue from a TOEFL practice material. Do this multiple-paraphrase exercise for other samples English writing and speech too. Think about which of your multiple paraphrases would work best for you if you were sitting for the actual exam. Aim for the paraphrases that are efficiently short and capture your true thoughts on the info you’ve just taken in.

***** This post was written by David Recine, expert at Magoosh TOEFL . If you are planning on buying a TOEFL book, make sure you first see Magoosh’s TOEFL book reviews. .

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TOEFL iBT Skills - Paraphrasing

Paraphrasing means restating what you have heard or read in your own words. The objective is to use different words to express the same ideas. You must resist the temptation to copy entire lines or long phrases from the original passage, or learn acceptable ways in which to do so. Copying the words of others is called plagiarism, and is looked upon very strictly in academic and professional environments. It's best to develop effective paraphrasing strategies today, which you can use confidently all your life.

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• Free Sample TOEFL Essays
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Secondary Skills

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Support Skills

• Summarizing
• Paraphrasing
• Mind Mapping
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The Importance of Paraphrasing in TOEFL

In both the TOEFL writing and speaking tests , it is important to paraphrase. This is because any words that you use from the question more than just a single word or short phrase will not be considered as your own. The whole point of an exam like TOEFL is to test your English skills. We already know that the examiner can speak English – we don’t need to you to quote him.

Paraphrasing is both an important and a difficult skill when it comes to English tests like TOEFL. You must be able to do this at even a basic level or else you could end up losing many points by simply copying from the question. In this article, I will explain what paraphrasing is and why you should be implementing it in your TOEFL practice . I will then offer some advice on how to do it effectively.

What is paraphrasing?

Paraphrasing means to say something again but in a new way. In other words, if someone says a sentence to you, you can repeat the sentence but with different words and grammar. It is a quite difficult skill because it requires a certain mastery of vocabulary and grammar to do it effectively.

Take the following sentence as an example:

• It is more important for students to study art and literature than it is to study math and science.

If this sentence appeared within a TOEFL writing question, you would not be able to simply copy it into your own answer. This would be lazy and dishonest. Instead, you would need to respond to the question by paraphrasing it – meaning to say it again in a new way. Paraphrasing sometimes requires thinking of new words. You might have to find a synonym for a particular word in the test. However, often this is difficult or even impossible. Finding a synonym of “literature” or “math” might be hard or impractical. Instead, you could then consider using some of the same words but reorganizing the sentence:

• Some people argue that math and science are less important than art and literature in students’ studies.

In the second sentence, we have added “some people argue” to frame the context of the idea, but most of the key words are actually the same: students, study, art, literature, math, and science. You will notice, however, that the sentence order has drastically changed, and that “more important” is now “less important. The verb “study” has also changed to the noun, “studies.” This is a good example of effective paraphrasing because the sentence is still intelligible. If you try to change too much, it is possible to ruin the sentence entirely.

Why is paraphrasing important for TOEFL?

In the TOEFL test, you cannot simply copy what the examiner said or wrote. Although it may be tempting to copy what is on the screen, paper, or what was said by the examiner, you absolutely should resist the temptation to write or say these words again.

It is easy to do this by accident… Some people even find that by the end of the writing test, they read the question over and over and inadvertently copy the material that is written there, incorporating it verbatim into their own work. However, this would be catastrophic.

Writing what you read again is simply unacceptable and these words would be penalized by any TOEFL examiner. Even if they were incorporated into your own writing in a grammatically correct way, it would not help you. The examiner would be duty-bound to take action.

In the speaking test, you might even hear the examiner say something like,

• She has just been offered a promotion that would mean more pay but longer hours.

You are supposed to give your opinion and advice to this friend, so maybe you would be tempted to say:

• If my friend has just been offered a promotion that would mean more pay but longer hours , I would tell her to seriously think about this offer because even though it would mean having more money and being able to save up easier, the longer hours would definitely be a serious drawback.

Although this answer is grammatically fine, it includes a large chunk of the question copied into it. This is not your own language, and so you could not get away with doing that. The examiner would be very unimpressed by it. You could remedy this situation by editing out the copied part:

• If my friend was in this situation , I would tell her to seriously think about this offer because even though it would mean having more money and being able to save up easier, the longer hours would definitely be a serious drawback.

Here, the idea has been condensed down and referred to indirectly. This is one other way of avoiding copying material from the question.

How to use paraphrasing for TOEFL

First of all, you need to realize that, in English, there are usually many ways to say the same thing. Although this can be annoying and confusing at first, you later realize that it makes the language wonderfully flexible and is why English became such an important world language.

You need to work for a long time before the exam to incorporate paraphrasing into your daily life. This can take many shapes and forms, but essentially it means getting used to not repeating words or phrases as you encounter them. Sure, in the early days of language learning, this is a good way to learn, but when you get more advanced it is not a good habit to keep.

One of the best ways to avoid repeating something when it comes to writing is to use notes. When we read a question or prompt over and over, it is only natural that we will incorporate that language into our own because it is fresh in our head. It is difficult to look at the question and write something about it without referring to it. Therefore, you should make notes about the question, then look at the notes and answer according to them. This will break the direct connection between you and the question.

You should think about the main idea of the question rather than worrying about the specific details and grammar. By the main idea, I mean subject, object, and verb. What is going in within the question? You should respond directly to this rather than to the actual wording of the question. Thinking this way also helps break your dependence on the individual details.

Remember that when you paraphrase, your object is to say something in a totally new way, but you should not stray far from the original meaning. You must keep those original ideas, but just use new words to refer to them. As I mentioned above, though, sometimes it is impossible or unwise to use entirely new words. This is because sometimes there is no adequate synonym. In that case, you should think about changing the part of speech (for example, verb to noun) or rearranging the order of the question.

Let’s take another example question:

• Do you agree or disagree with the following statement: “It is better to be a follower than a leader.”

Here, the key ideas are “follower” and “leader.” We need to find synonyms for them, or else find a way to incorporate them into a new sentence in a different way.

Fortunately, there are many synonyms of both words, although it is important to note that not all share the exact same meaning or can be used in exactly the same way. We have synonyms for “follower” like “copycat,” but equally there are many that refer to followers of others, such as “adherent” and “disciple.” These are synonyms of a different definition of follower. How confusing!

We might respond by saying something like:

• I agree that it is better to innovate than to follow .

In this example, I have changed “follower” into a verb and essentially I did the same with “leader,” but then changed the verb “lead” into “innovate,” which is a suitable synonym.

As we have seen in the above explanation and examples, it is vital to learn how to paraphrase effectively in order to succeed at TOEFL. You should follow the advice given in the previous section in order to eliminate repetitions from your writing and make sure that there is absolutely nothing of the question included in your speaking or writing tests.

If you have trouble with this, you can seek help by using our TOEFL writing correction service .

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Ten Awesome Tips for the Reading Section of the TOEFL® Test

Ten Awesome Tips for the Reading Section of the TOEFL Test

The #1 regret of most TOEFL takers is lack of preparation.  Let’s solve that problem with these 10 TOEFL Reading tips. 

The TOEFL Reading takes time, and it sometimes seems like the questions are trying to trick you.

Well, they often are!

The good news is that we have some TOEFL Reading tips and tricks for you so you can save time and improve your reading score.

But that’s not all!

You can also download TST Prep’s Complete Test #13 for free right here .

Don’t run off and start practicing yet . We have some TOEFL tips designed to help you study smarter and read better so you can achieve the TOEFL score of your dreams.

Here is a quick rundown of our top ten TOEFL Reading tips:

Tip #1: Memorize the question types

Tip #2: find keywords and focus on them, tip #3: practice reading with a timer, tip #4: beware of modifiers in answer choices, tip #5: store knowledge of academic vocabulary.

• Tip #6:  Learn word parts and apply to unknown vocabulary

Tip #7: Be an active reader

Tip #8: study the same test more than once, tip #9: explain why you were correct or incorrect.

• Tip #10: Practice with short passages.

By the end of this TOEFL article, you will not only know what to do on test day, but how to prepare in the days, weeks, and months ahead.

Let’s jump right in!

The TOEFL Reading contains 10 different types of questions . Some appear more frequently than others and some take more time than others. Most are worth one point but some are worth two or three.

Instead of me rattling on and explaining the difference between each TOEFL Reading question type to you, it would be much better if I just put it a nice, friendly chart.

On the left hand column is the question type, in the second column gives an approximation of how often you will encounter each question, the third column identifies the value and the last column provides at least one example of how this type of question is usually worded.

If you want to see these questions in action, I recommend downloading TST Prep complete test #13 .

For many of the question types, you can rely on the keywords in both the question and answer choices to help you find the correct option.

Keywords are important words in the question that you can use to help you find answers quickly.

For example, below is a paraphrase question, and you will notice that it is pretty wordy.

Which of the following best expresses the essential information in the highlighted sentence in paragraph 3? Incorrect choices change the meaning in important ways or leave out essential information.

• Discoveries of ceratopsian remains suggest that they lived in groups
• Fossils of individual herds of ceratopsians have been discovered in bone beds
• The evidence shows ceratopsians of all ages and genders lived, ate, and slept in groups
• Numerous fossils support the idea that individual ceratopsians differed from each other

First of all, here is a little bonus tip, paraphrase questions are always worded the same. You don’t need to waste any time reading the question, you should see it and know immediately that it is a paraphrase question.

Let’s get back to the topic, keywords.

What are keywords?

I am going to teach you three ways to identify them. Here are the first two: 

• Keywords are almost never prepositions (under/in) or articles (a/an/the)
• Keywords are almost always verbs , nouns or adjectives

Let’s apply these two new rules to the four possible answers:

So far we have cut about 20% of the text we need to focus on for this particular TOEFL Reading question. Notice that  I cut some other types of words like conjunctions (and).  I do NOT want you to get too caught up with the grammar terminology. In general, pay little attention to these extra little words that don’t carry too much information. They are sometimes referred to as function words , which implies that they are   used as grammatical tools rather than to carry any valuable information.

Next up…

• Proper nouns are almost always keywords

Proper nouns are words that identify a specific person, place, or thing. For example, “ city” is a common noun, but “ New York City ” is a proper noun. 

Pretty clear from all of the given choices that ceratopsian is a pretty important word.

Notice that I continued to eliminate other words that were not part of the three rules.

Think of the three keyword rules as a guide, and then use your own common sense to eliminate other words that are not necessary for you to focus on.

You will be given 36 minutes to complete the TOEFL Reading section, and that’s going to be a challenge.

After each reading passage, you will have 10 questions about the text. In other words, you have 36 minutes to read approximately 1400 words (700 words per passage) and answer 20 questions (10 per passage).

Reading 1400 words and answering 20 questions in 36 minutes is tough.

It’s a good exercise to time yourself while you do TOEFL Reading Practice questions. Simply set a timer on your computer or phone. You can start by timing yourself to see how long it takes you to complete each question.

Some questions take longer to answer than others, for example, let’s compare a TOEFL Reading vocabulary question to a TOEFL reading negative detail question:

VOCABULARY QUESTION

The word extract in paragraph 3 is closest in meaning to…

SENTENCE SIMPLIFICATION QUESTION

Clearly, some question types will take longer to answer than others. Below is the list of TOEFL Reading question types along with the average amount of time you should take with each question (each time measurement represents the maximum amount of time you should take)

• Vocabulary – 60 seconds
• Detail – 60-120 seconds (ideally 90 seconds)
• Negative Detail – 120 seconds
• Paraphrasing – 120 seconds
• Sentence Insertion – 120 seconds
• Inference – 90 seconds
• Author’s Purpose – 90 seconds
• Pronoun Reference – 60 seconds
• Summary – 120 seconds
• Organization – 120 seconds

Of course, you probably won’t be able to answer the questions within these time frames right away. Practice this skill. Eliminate choices to improve your odds of getting the correct answer and don’t hesitate to take an educated guess. Sometimes, you will not be 100% certain if you are correct, but you have to move on and answer all of the questions before time runs out.

One way to eliminate wrong choices and select the correct one is to pay close attention to modifiers .

That was really short and sweet. The content I’ve been searching for weeks!

Thanks you so much for providing various and abundant learning tips

Thanks so much for the valuable tips and resources.

Hello! Thank you for the article and the tips. I have a question regarding reading strategies. What is the procedure for completing the tasks?

For ex., 1. read the first sentence of each paragraph 2. Then go to the question and read it (but not answers because they might confuse you) 3. search for the answer in the text

Or what would the procedures/steps be?

Hi Lena and great question! I really do encourage students to find a strategy that works best for them, but in general, I recommend skimming the passage (the first sentence of each paragraph would be fine) and then answering the questions one at a time and reading while you answer. The questions go in chronological order so it will feel natural to read and answer the questions. Try not to skip questions. Focus on eliminating one choice at a time instead of finding the right answer out of four possible choices. That’s a quick bullet list. You can find a good summary of tips here – https://youtu.be/dBIix5rR4Nc

Thank you for your answer! So, do you also think that it is better not to waste time on reading the answer choices first, but find the answer from the text and then match it with the correct answer choice? It feels like one just wastes time trying to grasp the meaning of each answer choice, or do you think that it is better to first read one answer choice at a time and check it in the text.

Great question Lena. At this level of detail, I would recommend that you experiment and decide which works best for you. What I usually do (and recommend) is to read options “a” and “b” and start reading the given paragraph where you believe the answer is located, see if either fits or could be crossed out. If you don’t see any connection, then glance over at “c” and “d” and see if they connect to those two sentences. Repeat this process for every two sentences. I hope that makes sense, but if you need more detailed advice like this, you might want to try a trial lesson with a TOEFL teacher here – https://tstprep.com/store/toefl-trial-lesson/

Hi, Josh thank you for such valuable and priceless tips. Do the words list and these tips still apply to TOEFL 2022? And also do you have other tips about the other sections?

Hi there and great questions. Yes, all of these still apply for 2022. I plan on updating some of these materials in a few months, but really the test doesn’t change much at all. I have lots of advice about all of the sections, which you can read about in the articles section – https://tstprep.com/articles/ , watch on Youtube – https://www.youtube.com/c/TOEFLSpeakingTeacher1 or check out one of my TOEFL courses – https://tstprep.com/store/

Hello, Josh. I am new to the whole TOEFL system. I was inquiring about the practice part where everybody is talking about scores because I would also want to try out and maybe be grading so I can track my progress and I can know my weaknesses because I have my TOEFL exam in literally a month which is on 18th September 2021

Hi Racheal and this is a good question. We used to have a diagnostic test to help students like you in this type of situation, but it proved unpopular so we got rid of it. However, I will link out to a website that does have something similar. I do disagree with some of their advice and practice materials, but most of them are helpful and reliable. Here’s the link and I hope that helps – https://www.toeflbank.com/

Thank you so much; I will take the TOEFL test on August 6, 2021; these are very useful tips. Wish me luck!

Happy to hear it helped. Good luck on the test and let me know how it goes!

Thank you so much for these tips, very helpful!

Hi, josh I’ve got another question. I’m good with my speaking part my average score is 25+, but, in the 3 remain part I’m I have a problem my average score on them are 14-18. Can you help me in this case? my goal is 100+, and my test date is on the 5th of AUG. Can you give me some special tips and tricks to achieve 100+? I will be so thankful if you reply to my comments.

Hi there Taib and thank you for taking the time to leave a comment. I have a playlist with my best tips for each section of the TOEFL here – https://www.youtube.com/playlist?list=PLo8HPysuqfKi64zmgtctqe4xvgYOAWOr0

If you still feel like you need more help, you might want to try the score builder program which includes complete tests, a library of video lectures and thousands of practice questions – https://tstprep.com/toefl-store/toefl-score-builder-program/

Either way, I hope at least one of those resources help 🙂

Hi, Josh at first kindly thanks for all of your services. I’ve my TOEFL exam on the 5th of AUG, my goal is 100+ can you recommend me some special tips for (reading, listening, writing). Also some tips for speaking, I’m good with the speaking practice test I got 25+ on them but my main problem is the 3 remain parts which in the practice test I’m between 14-18.

If you still feel like you need more help, you might want to try the score builder program which includes complete tests, a library of video lectures, and thousands of practice questions – https://tstprep.com/toefl-store/toefl-score-builder-program/

Hey Josh. I’m practicing the Toefl reading section but I’m not able to get a score of 20+. Im stuck between score of 16-19. I’ve got a score of 20 just 2-3 times out of 15 sections. How can I improve my score ? I always lose 1 mark in all 3 three summary type questions. Please help me if you can. I’ve my toefl exam on 10th July.

Hi Amir and thank you for your question, of course, I would recommend the TOEFL Score Builder Course, which I will link to below because it includes specific activities designed to help improve your score. In general, practice with shorter texts, review your answers, find challenging vocabulary and review those words, and so on. There is a lot to say and much depends on your level, study routine, etc., but in general, I usually recommend the program – https://tstprep.com/toefl-store/toefl-score-builder-program/

Also, since you mentioned you have some trouble with summary questions, I thought this video might help with that particular one – https://vimeo.com/424766439

I hope one of those links will be useful for you.

Hi, Josh! MY TOEFL writing score stuck at 21 points, and so does my reading. Are there any good strategies you can recommend?

Hi Eliot and thank you for your question. I am going to put a link to our writing 24+ guide below, but if you feel like you already know those tips and need additional help, then I would recommend signing up for a writing evaluation, which I will also link to – https://drive.google.com/file/d/1ZWv72rlPez6Iwt5Xk4GbhsZVDxkraJ9q/view?usp=sharing – Here is the link to the evaluations – https://tstprep.com/toefl-store/toefl-writing-evaluations/

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5 Brilliant Writing Tips for TOEFL

Improving your toefl writing score.

You are in the right place if your TOEFL writing score is lower than 25 and you don’t know why.  If you WANT to score 25 or above on the writing section of the TOEFL IBT exam, these 5 writing tips for TOEFL will help you increase your score. One of my students went from a 21 to a 27 on the writing exam using these easy, clear strategies. Read these brilliant ideas and put these techniques into practice to skyrocket your writing score and help you get into the university of your dreams.

Writing Tip for TOEFL #1: Vary Your Sentences

Avoid boring the reader by following the same, monotonous sentence pattern every time.  Study different ways to structure your sentences and practice varying your sentences in your introduction and body paragraphs. 

There are four different types of sentences in English: simple, complex, compound, and complex-compound.  

• simple sentences (one subject and one verb): ➡️People ride bikes to work.
• compound sentences (a compound sentence has two or more simple sentences that are connected by one of the following conjunctions: and, or, or but) ➡️In Copenhagen, employees commute to work by bike, and cars are slowly disappearing from the roads.
• complex sentences (A simple sentence with an independent clause and a subordinate clause. A subordinate clause is indicated by “when, because, since, if…” and can’t stand alone in the sentence.  ➡️ Many citizens take the bus because they get to work faster.
• compound-complex sentences (a compound-complex sentence has two or more simple sentences (independent clauses) and one or more subordinate clauses. ➡️Although the majority of people ride their bikes to work, some people take the bus, and other people go to work on foot.  

Test takers often think that in order to get a high score, they should use more compound-complex sentences because they perceive them as more impressive.  Why do they think this? One reason is that many people translate the sentence structure from their own language.  For example, in Spanish and Russian, longer sentences with multiple commas are standard.  However, when translated, those sentences are too long in English and need to be broken into multiple sentences.  

In English, it recommended to use sentence variety and vary between simple, complex, and compound, and keep the number of compound-complex sentences to a limit.

Sentence Variation within Paragraphs

Don’t write sentences in a  paragraph like this: ⛔️ .

Cars, long considered valuable by the human population, although expensive, are valuable assets to citizens, not only as great transportation methods but also because they are comfortable and luxurious (compound-complex). Firstly, cars help people, young and old, get safely from one place to another, and additionally are safer than bikes, especially for the elderly population (compound-complex) Vacations, on the other hand, require a lot of planning, by both family members and teenagers, making it difficult to make an action plan and foresee all of the unexpected risks, which can sometimes make traveling an exhausting endeavor for everyone involved (compound-complex). In this essay, I will defend these key arguments about cars (simple).

What is wrong with this essay? The sentences are too LONG, full of commas, and the ideas become convoluted and unclear when there are too many compound-complex sentences. 

Now, consider writing a paragraph following a pattern like this: ✅

If I had to choose between spending money on a car and spending money on a vacation, I would invest in a vacation (complex).  Firstly, vacations create lasting memories (simple). Although vacations are sometimes expensive, they are transformative, and they help people unplug (compound). Cars, on the other hand, need constant maintenance (simple). In this essay, I will explore both sides and give reasons to support my opinion that vacations are the most worthwhile investment (complex). 

What did you notice about the sentence variety? How could you improve your sentence structure in the next essay you write? 

Exercise: Write a paragraph about the following essay topic and vary your sentence structure as much as possible. You could try writing 5 sentences using this structure: simple, complex, simple, compound, complex.

(suggested answer at the end of this post)

Writing Tip for TOEFL #2: Use Transition Words in your TOEFL Essay

A well-crafted essay that is coherent uses transition words to help guide the reader.  These words help the reader stay interested in the essay and understand what arguments are coming next.  

Here are some transition words to use: 

Explanation: 

• An example that illustrates this point is
• Specifically
• For instance
• In other words

To Compare: 

• In a similar fashion

To Contrast: 

• Nevertheless
• In contrast
• On the other hand

Cause and Effect 

• Consequently
• As a consequence
• For this reason

Adding more Information

• In addition
• Furthermore
• What’s more

Practice Using Transition Words in a Paragraph

Let’s practice! Add some transition words to the following paragraph to make it sound more natural and have better flow: 

People often say that loyalty is the most important quality for a good friend to have. (1) _______________, in my opinion, a good sense of humor is more important than loyalty.  I say this because sometimes loyal friends are too serious. (2) ______________ loyal friends are too clingy and call too often.  (3)________________ friends with a good sense of humor can turn a bad day into a joyful, silly day. (4) _____________ I would rather have a friend with a good sense of humor than a loyal friend.  

Exercise: Go through one of the practice TOEFL essays you have written in the past and add some transition words from the above list to the essay. Are you always using the same transitional language? Try to use a variety of transitional words in your word bank so that on exam day, you will easily remember them and won’t draw a blank.

Writing Tip for TOEFL #3: Use an Active Voice More Than a Passive Voice

Generally speaking, an active voice is used when the agent does the action and a passive voice is used when you don’t know who did the action or when the agent isn’t important.

🔥Active: Children learn manners from their parents.

🏬Passive: The building was constructed in 1899.

In your essay, you can vary your sentences by adding a passive sentence to your paragraph. In the social sciences, writing with an active voice is recommended more than writing with a passive voice because the writing is more dynamic. Sometimes in articles that describe science experiments, the passive voice is used more to describe how the research study was carried out.

An Example of Active Voice

Here is an example of a series of sentences you could write in the TOEFL essay: Foreign movies depict the life of a country and they show us a little bit about the culture, the language, and the lifestyle. Movies that are made in Spain, for example, are interesting to watch because they show how people give two kisses when they greet each other. In addition, when I watch Spanish movies, I learn how people celebrate festivals in Spain.

Notice that all the sentences in the paragraph are active and the verbs “depict,” “watch,” and “learn” show a clear agent who carries out the action.

One Passive Sentence is Fine *However, there is one passive sentence, “Movies that are made in Spain…” In that sentence, the director who made the movie isn’t important, hence, the passive voice is used. So, you could have one passive sentence in the paragraph to vary the structure to make a general claim. Practice: Use the following prompt to craft your introductory paragraph. Use the active voice and experiment with one sentence with a passive construction.

TOEFL Writing Tip #4: Use Adverb Phrases in your Independent Essay

The TOEFL is testing your ability to use varied, rich vocabulary and academic language. Therefore, it is a good idea to have a notebook with synonyms and adverb phrases for your essays that you can easily reference and use in your practice essays. The more you use them, the more natural it will become to use them on the day of the exam and in your future academic writing assignments at the university of your dreams. Think about these phrases like frosting on a cake. The frosting makes the cake taste more delicious. These phrases make the sentences more pleasing to read.

Adverb Phrases in Use Here are a few example sentences with adverb phrases that you could use in your TOEFL independent essay:

• Perhaps some students prefer to live on their own in college, while others conceivably prefer having roommates. (expresses an opinion that isn’t very strong). ➡️ Notice there is no comma after perhaps.
• Presumably, other students prefer to live with a roommate so that they can have someone to talk to at the end of the day. (indicates a somewhat strong opinion)
• The best experiences from college are definitely celebrated with other people rather than by yourself. (communicates a very strong opinion)
• Undoubtedly, technology is changing the way the human brain works. (communicates a very strong opinion)

Tip #5: Paraphrase on the TOEFL IBT Writing Section

It is crucial to learn how to paraphrase effectively on the TOEFL IBT writing and speaking exams for two main reasons:

• Putting sentences in your own words shows your advanced language skills.
• Paraphrasing is an essential skill to have for communication at the university level.

What you learn in this section will not only help you raise your score on the exam, but it will also help you excel in your academic program. Some people rely on apps like Quilbot to paraphrase in their day-to-day academic writing, but you can’t use your phone on the TOEFL exam, unfortunately.

If you say word for word and copy exactly what the lecturer said or if you repeat the words that are in the reading passage, you will lose points and your score on the TOEFL IBT will suffer. You could also get a zero on the exam. Check out UW Madison’s Writing Center’s great tips on paraphrasing! Also, you might find P urdue’s Online Writing Center’s example of paraphrasing useful as well.

Paraphrasing Means Putting Things in Your Own Words

If you can restate the text or the lecture in a slightly different way and use a variety of language and grammatical structures, you will get a higher score on the TOEFL. Paraphrasing requires practice and if you follow a clear, simple structure for paraphrasing, it will become so much easier and you will be ready to implement your paraphrasing skills on exam day.

To paraphrase, you can substitute the key words with synonyms by focusing on the most important information expressed in the sentence. It might help you to identify the subject and verb of the independent clause to get started. You can change the word order, change the voice from active to passive, and even eliminate some words if they aren’t essential to the meaning of the sentence. DO NOT COPY THE WRITING PROMPT! DO NOT DESCRIBE THE LECTURE WITH THE EXACT WORDING THE PROFESSOR USED!

Paraphrasing Practice Exercise 1a:

The first step in paraphrasing is to underline the key words in the sentence. Then, you can substitute the key words with synonyms. For this reason, it is helpful to generate some lists of synonyms as you write and prepare for the exam.

Practice with Paraphrasing for TOEFL: YOUR TURN

Practice paraphrasing the following sentence: 1b. Underline the key words in the sentence and paraphrase them: “Parents take their children to museums in order to teach them about humanity and the history of our world.”

👀✏️An Important Tip: Some words can’t be paraphrased!!! Some words are absolutely essential to the meaning of the sentence and can’t be paraphrased. Words like “literature, math, the moon, keystone species…etc.” Also, proper nouns can’t be paraphrased. These words have a very specific meaning and there are few if any synonyms to replace them. For that reason, it is important to focus on finding synonyms for some, but not all of the words in the sentence.

Step 1: Change the structure of the sentence In this case, you can move the second clause to the beginning of the sentence and perhaps start with a transition word or start with the “ing” form of the verb. Here is an example paraphrasing exercise using this method:

2a. Public transportation is an effective and cheap form of transportation because the costs are lower than owning your own vehicle. Use transitional language to start the sentence such as: As a result of…. Due to the fact that… Since…. Because…

Start with the second idea first: “ Due to the fact that many drivers have additional expenses that come with owning cars, public transportation is a viable and less expensive option.”

Paraphrasing Exercise with Answers 2b Now, try to paraphrase the following sentence by changing the order of information in the sentence:

“Nowadays, people ride their bikes to work more than ever because bikes are a healthy option and an efficient form of transportation.” (answer key at the end of the blog)

Why is this Rich Vocabulary Important for the TOEFL?

Knowing different parts of speech can help you describe a concept in a similar way by making small changes to the sentence. Let’s practice: Paraphrasing Practice Sentence 3a “There is little scientific evidence that there are life forms on other planets.” Let’s refer to the table above to help us use the adverb “scientifically” and substitute it for scientific. For example, “Life on other planets can’t be scientifically proven. ”

Paraphrasing Exercise 3b Try using a different part of speech from the table above to paraphrase the following sentence: “For women, the biological clock indicates when to have children.” (answer key at the end of the blog)

✅EXPERT TIP: YOU STILL NEED TO CHANGE THE KEY WORDS AND SUBSTITUTE THEM WITH SYNONYMS EVEN IF YOU CHANGE THE PART OF SPEECH OF ONE WORD IN THE SENTENCE!📚

Use these clear writing templates:.

Many TOEFL coaches recommend using a template to help you organize your answer. It is a great idea to follow a clear structure so that your essay is easy to follow and has a well-supported argument.  For the independent essay, create a thesis sentence that clarifies what you are going to argue in the essay. Then, create an outline sentence that describes what you are going to discuss in the body paragraphs.  The independent essay needs to be at least 300 words and you have 30 minutes to write it.

Introduction: General overview sentence+ thesis statement + outline sentence:

➡️ Living alone or living with roommates is an important decision college students have to make. Some people think that it is best to have the support and companionship of roommates, while others believe people are more productive when they live alone. In my opinion, living with roommates helps students develop social skills, adjust to the university lifestyle, and prepare for life after graduation. (In the outline sentence, list the 3 main ideas you will discuss in your body paragraphs)

⭐️Each body paragraph should address 1 main idea with supporting details about that 1 main topic.  If you digress from the main topic or if your examples don’t match the topic of your paragraph, you will get a lower score.

Body Paragraph 1: (Living with roommates helps students develop social skills) + details and evidence

• students learn to share chores
• living with others pushes students to communicate with roommates about doing chores

Body Paragraph 2: (Adjusting to the university lifestyle) + details and personal example

• roommates help each other adapt to the changes of going to school
• friendly support to carry out tasks didn’t overwhelm me when I had roommates’ help

Body Paragraph 3: (Preparing for life after graduation) + details and explanation

• entering the job force requires good social skills
• working with others is a skill people strengthen by living with others

Conclusion : (Transition language … To summarize, to conclude, in summary….restate the thesis statement and the outline sentence by paraphrasing the key ideas you argued in the essay.

Transition words for the conclusion : To conclude, In conclusion, In summary, In closing, To sum up…

THE TOEFL Integrated Essay Template

The introduction.

• The reading and the lecture both address _____.
• The author of the article holds the opinion that ______.
• The lecturer refutes the claims made in the article.
• The lecturer upholds the argument that_____.

The Body Paragraphs

Use the following templates for the body paragraphs:

• As stated by the author of the reading passage,   _____.
• The article supports this with an example of____.
• The lecturer opposes this specific argument and claims that ____.
• Furthermore, the lecturer explains that ______.
• Additionally, the author mentions ______.
• In the article, the author posits that _____.
• The lecturer, on the other hand, contends that ______.
• He/she delves into this point by asserting ______.
• Finally, the author claims that _____.
• To support this point, the author explains that ____.
• Nonetheless, the lecturer’s point of view is  _____.
• He/she mentions that _____.

You don’t need a conclusion.

Your TOEFL integrated essay should be about 280-300 words in length and you have 20 minutes to write it.

• Summarize the reading passage, then transition by explaining if the lecturer supports or disagrees with each point in the reading passage.

VIDEOS ABOUT TOEFL WRITING

Watch An Instagram Live on the Independent Essay with Marina @wikimarina and I @movingenglish.

THREE KEY TOEFL WRITING TEMPLATES FOR 2021 The Best TOEFL Writing Template for Any Prompt TOEFL Writing Integrated Task Youtube Tutorial

It is essential to learn how to paraphrase effectively to succeed in the TOEFL writing and reading sections. If you follow some of the tips on this blog post, you are sure to get a higher score and avoid repetition. The truth is that nobody wants to read a boring essay. Remember you can: 1) Substitute the key words with synonyms. 2) Change the structure of the sentence and bring the second idea to the front of the sentence. 3) Use a different part of speech of the same word to creatively paraphrase the sentence.

Overall, if you take these five tips into account and start using these strategies to write a clear essay, it will help you tremendously to achieve your goals. Here are some more tips from the official ETS website about improving your writing skills .  Do you have my freebie yet? Download the 2021 TOEFL speaking exam guide:

Sentence Structure Some people regularly cook at home (simple). Others prefer enjoying the culinary options around town because they believe it is more adventurous (complex). I prefer making my own food at home (simple). Going to the local market with friends and looking up inspiring recipes motivates me to take care of my health (compound). Therefore, I will explain why it is more convenient and healthy to eat at home and why I use food preparation as an excuse to take care of my friends and family with the added benefit of socializing around the dinner table (compound-complex).

Transition words: People often say that loyalty is the most important quality for a good friend to have. (1) However , in my opinion, a good sense of humor is more important than loyalty. I say this because sometimes loyal friends are too serious. (2) In addition, loyal friends are too clingy and call too often. (3) On the contrary, friends with a good sense of humor can turn a bad day into a joyful, silly day. (4) For this reason, I would rather have a friend with a good sense of humor than a loyal friend.

PARAPHRASING Practice question 1b) “Parents take their children to museums in order to teach them about humanity and the history of our world.” Here is a sample paraphrased sentence, although it isn’t the only option: “Parents accompany their children to museums for the purpose of educating them about human society and global history.” : Practice question 2b) “Nowadays, people ride their bikes to work more than ever because bikes are a healthy option and an efficient form of transportation.” Despite the fact that this isn’t the only option, is a sample paraphrased sentence: “Due to the fact that bikes are fast and help riders stay physically fit, people are currently commuting to work in greater numbers.” Practice Question 3b. “For women, the biological clock indicates when to have children.” Considering the fact that there are millions of ways to reword this sentence, this is one potential option: “Biologically speaking, women often feel a sense of timing for having children.”

Check out these great links below related to ESL and education:

How to Develop Amazing Personal Connections

How to make Grammar Practice Fun in English

Ways to Make English Language Learners Feel Comfortable in your Classroom

Interested in blogging? Here are 7 Helpful Tips on How to Blog Like a Boss  

Free High-Quality TOEFL Lessons

TOEFL Transition Words

TOEFL transition words help you to express the relationship of ideas in your speaking and writing tasks.  In this 7,440 word lesson, you will learn why these words are important. Moreover, you will learn how to learn them as you create a personalized study path to help you conquer the speaking and writing sections. Next, you will see an extensive list of transition words/phrases along with sample sentences so that you can see how these words/phrases are used grammatically for meaning. In addition, some additional links will take you to more web pages so that you can continue practicing these important connecting words. Finally, you will learn how you can send me your speaking and writing practice tests for evaluation.

Table of Contents

Why should  you learn TOEFL transition words?

These important connecting words

• Make it easier for you to understand the organization of reading and listening passages.
• Give you important relationships among ideas so that you can have more effective note-taking during all sections of the TOEFL exam. It certain that you will see and hear many of the TOEFL transition words in this lesson during the reading, listening, speaking, and writing sections.
• Help you to clearly show how your speaking and writing tasks are organized. Thus, the TOEFL iBT human raters and ETS’s scoring engine for writing will give you higher scores.

How do you learn these TOEFL transition words?

Research shows that, if you use a new word or phrase 5-15 times, it will become part of your long-term memory. Thus, you need to use the words that you are studying.  “How do I use these TOEFL transition words?” you may be thinking.  Here are some guidelines:

Create note cards with the word or phrase on one side and a sample sentence on the other.  One of the sentences you write should be the sentence that you see on this web page. The other should be a new sentence that you came up with.  Note the front and back of an example single notecard:

As you do your speaking and writing practice, find opportunities to use these TOEFL transition words.

Using them increases your chances of remembering these words. As a result, it will be more likely that you will use these TOEFL transition words during the speaking and writing sections of the exam.

In addition, if you use these words and study them on your note-cards, you will more likely recognize these types of words during the reading and listening sections.

TOEFL Transition Words: To argue/make a suggestion

During the independent speaking tasks, you may be asked to present an argument or make a suggestion. The speaking integrated tasks may ask you to explain someone else’s argument or suggestion. Whatever the case, the following transition words will help you learn how to present and argument or suggestion from you or from someone else.

• . . . seems to warrant :  The speaker’s assertion seems to warrant the claim that spending too much time on reading documents will slow employees’ productivity.
• . . . contend/s : The author in the reading passage contends that employees should read all documents in their entirety.
• . . . argue/s :  The students disagrees with the new policy about bicycling parking on campus. He argues that bike riders will be unnecessarily fined when they park too close to their classrooms.
• . . . justify/ies :  The speaker justifies his argument by giving a personal example of why he needs to park close to his classes.
• This observation is supported by :  This observation is then supported by his classmate who also shares a similar concern.
• To plead :   The defendant in the murder trial decided to plead not guilty to the charges.
• . . . suggest/s:  As a result, the judged suggested that the attorneys in the case agree on a trial date for the defendant within the next six months.
• The suggestion is valid : The woman feels that the man’s suggestion is valid . In other words, she also does not want any increases in parking fees on campus.
• . . . propose/s :  According to the new policy, the president of the university is proposing an increased tuition fee.
• . . . claim/s :  The president claims that the added revenue will allow officials to modernize classrooms so that they can become  smart classrooms.
• . . . state/s : The president states that modernizing classrooms will facilitate student learning.
• . . . clearly proof enough : According to the man, that the classrooms do not have smartboards or any other type of computer technology is clearly proof enough that they should be modernized by using new revenue streams from tuition increases.
• If I had the choice :  If I had the choice , I would choose having the woman talk to her advisor to find out why the admissions office placed a hold on her grades.
• . . . examine/s :  After the man examines the school policy closely, he concludes that cell phones should not be restricted during classroom instruction.
• . . . assert/s : In fact, to support his argument, the man asserts that cell phones can be useful educational devices for students.

TOEFL Transition Words: To choose one option in preference to another

During the independent speaking task,  you make be asked to choose one idea over another. Or, in an integrated speaking task, you may have to explain some’s else preference.  In particular, during integrated speaking task 5, you will be asked to summarize two solutions to a problem. Then you will need to explain which solution is better and why. Please note that TOEFL integrated speaking task 5 will be eliminated from the TOEFL speaking section in August 2019. You can certainly find uses for the following TOEFL transition words during the writing section, especially if you are asked to agree or disagree to two controversial statements.

• . . . might be the better option :  The woman’s solution of having the man postpone his job interview might be the better option .
• . . . make/s it a better policy :  Instead of having the students’ postpone their writing projects, the man’s makes it a better policy for them to complete the assignment as a take-home exam.
• It’s beneficial/better/positive :  As a result it is more beneficial to have the students complete the assignment as soon as possible since they will have more assignment later on in the school year.
• I t’s detrimental/worse/negative :  However, postponing the assignment is detrimental since the students will have to complete that project along with other assignments simultaneously, hence causing them unnecessary stress.
• . . . is true/false : Even though a growing number of flat Earthers exist, that the Earth is flat is false.
• The assertion that …:  The assertion that the Earth is flat represents flawed, uneducated thinking.
• . . . seem/s to offer strong arguments for/against : In the listening passage, the woman seems to offer strong arguments for why the man should ask his professor for a postponement of his research project.
• . . . is/are better/worse than :  Postponing the research paper is better than not turning the paper in at all.

TOEFL Transition Words: To emphasize

Emphasizing ideas at times can highlight important information during the TOEFL speaking and writing sections. Read over the following example transition words of emphasis. Think about how you might use these words to more effectively emphasize your ideas.

• Above all :  Above all , the man believes that the university should not impose any additional hardships, so any possible tuition increases are out of the question.
• Obviously :  Obviously , living in California is very expensive, especially since the average price of a home is $450,000.
• Clearly :  The speaker clearly believes that snake shedding is a normal activity to ensure that snakes remain in optimal health throughout the year.
• Evidently :  Evidently , according to the professor, shallow earthquakes cause more extensive damage than deeper ones.
• Actually : Some believe that the stronger the wind, the more dangerous the tornado. Actually , according to the professor, other factors other than wind speed need to be considered when determining the strength of a tornado.
• In fact :  Most people, in fact, who are killed in tornadoes, are struck by flying debris.
• Certainly : Certainly , meteorologists want to decrease the number of people who die in tornadoes.
• Definitely :  The professor definitely believes that governmental policies directly impact a country’s economy.
• Extremely : Death Valley’s location and low altitude create extremely hot temperatures, often reaching above 120 F during the summer.
• Indeed : Indeed , Death Valley set a world record two years ago by having 10 consecutive days with temperatures above 120 F.
• Absolutely :  In contrast to the man, the woman absolutely believes that the new tuition increase policy should be reconsidered.
• Positively : The woman’s belief that students should be able to critique each other positively gives them chances to evaluate, an important critical thinking activity.
• Surprisingly : In the listening passage, the man surprisingly believes that students will pay extra money in their tuition if they can park closer to their classrooms.
• Unquestionably :  In the listening passage, the professor unquestionably believes that man is not alone in the universe.
• Without a doubt : Without a doubt , the professor believes that human activities affect our climate negatively.
• Objectively :  During TOEFL writing task 1, test-takers should objectively discuss how the points in the listening passage relate to the information in the reading passage.
• In fact : In fact , you should also use a neutral tone during integrated speaking task, except for integrated speaking task 5 in which case you are asked to explain which of the two solutions you prefer.

TOEFL Transition Words: To further an argument

To show the relationship of your speaking and writing responses, you will need to add to what you have already said.  Therefore, you are adding to your or someone’s else argument that you are explaining. Here is a thorough list of “addition” words that you should be putting into your speaking and writing practice tests right now. Remember that, if you use the words in your speaking and writing practice tests, you will be more likely to use them during the speaking and writing sections of the TOEFL exam.

• First (of all) . . . Second . . .Third :  Second , studying alone creates fewer distractions, so I can prepare my study guides quickly.
• In addition :  In addition , I can concentrate better when I am studying alone; ultimately, studying alone will help me score high on my examinations.
• There are three reasons why : There are three reasons why I prefer to study alone: fewer distractions, better concentration, and higher test scores.
• Similarly :  Many students prefer not to study in groups. Similarly , I prefer to study alone because I do not have to worry about having to engage in small talk with others.
• Furthermore : Furthermore , instead of small talk, I can study the important concepts that I need to learn.
• Moreover :  Moreover , I will spend less time learning these important concepts.
• Further :  Further , if I studied in a group, I would have to spend more time learning the important concepts for my test.
• As an example : As an example , last year, I spent about 4 hours over several days  preparing for a biology exam.
• For instance :  For instance , one of my friends who studied for his biology exam had to spend 14 hours over several days to prepare because he studied with three other students from his class.
• What’s more : What’s more is that my friend scored lower on the same biology test that I took even though he spent more time preparing for the exam with his group.
• Not only . . . but also : Not only do I believe that individual study has fewer distractions, but I also believe that it allows me to concentrate better on what I am learning.
• . . . including :  Studying alone has so many benefits over group study, including saving me time from pointless chit-chat that will not help me prepare effectively for the exam.
• More than : Because of all these reasons, individual study is more effective for me than group study.
• Also : Concentrating better on my school work is also why I prefer to study alone when preparing for an exam.
• . . . coupled with : Better concentration coupled with higher test scores represent why I like to study alone.
• Both . . . and : Others believe that both group and individual study will properly prepare them for exams.

TOEFL Transition Words: To generalize

In the beginning and end of your speaking and writing responses, you can include some generalizations. Further, generalizations can be appropriate in the topic sentences of your responses. Do NOT forget that, once you include a generalization, you now need to include specific details. In fact, make it a point to not use any of the below transition words + example sentences in the middle of the body paragraphs of your speaking and writing responses.

• Overall :  Overall , having a roommate who is responsible and clean will create more harmony in the living spaces that s/he shares.
• For the most part :  For the most part , unlike the woman, the man believes that the new policy about bicycle parking on campus has negative effects on the student body.
• In general : The speaker in the lecture, in general , argues that climate change by 2100 will cause sea levels to rise, hence forcing many coastal communities to relocate their citizens.
• Generally speaking :  Generally speaking , roommates who are dirty and disrespectful could have trouble getting along with others in their apartments.
• By and large : Most students, by and large , do not want bicycle restrictions on campus since they want to park close to their classrooms.

TOEFL Transition Words: To give an opinion

During the independent speaking tasks 1-2 and during the integrated speaking task 5, which will soon be eliminated from the test on August 1, 2019 , you will need to give an opinion. Learning the below transition words will help you to create an argumentative tone, after which you should use your personal experience to defend your stance.

• (Why) I believe :  I believe being respectful to others is an important quality in a good roommate.
• I’d like to explain why : I’d like to explain why these three qualities are important in a good co-worker.
• Personally : Personally , I think co-workers need to show up to work on time.
• I’d enjoy : I’d also enjoy co-workers who work well on teams.
• I would prefer : Rather than having a roommate that I cannot get along with, I would prefer a roommate who shows respect to me and others.
• I think : In this regard, I think I would get along much better if my roommates were courteous to me and others.
• In my opinion :  Co-workers who show up to work late, in my opinion , are disrespecting others in the workplace.
• As far as I’m concerned : Talking to the librarian about the research paper, as far as I am concerned , will help the woman find the sources she needs to complete the project.
• It seems to me :  Having the students postpone their presentation, it seems to me , will allow them more time to complete the difficult assignment.
• I suggest :  I suggest that the woman consult her advisor who can figure out exactly what financial aid options are available.

TOEFL Transition Words: To restate an argument

In the independent and integrated speaking and writing tasks, you may want to restate either your own or someone else’s argument.  As you do your speaking and writing practice, find opportunities to use these TOEFL transition words.

• To put it differently : The speaker believes that most organisms can adapt to their environments. To put it differently , he sees evolution as a way of helping the animals survive when their conditions slowly change.
• To repeat : To repeat , animals will change their behaviors and even their biology according to whatever is happening around them.
• Namely : People who become overweight can become sick, namely suffering from diabetes.
• That is : To control the obesity epidemic, people need to avoid sedentary lifestyles; that is , they need to exercise regularly and to avoid watching too much television or playing video games for long periods.
• In other words :  To get along with my roommate, I would hope that he is not too obnoxious. In other words , I do not want a roommate who is annoyingly bothersome by talking to me incessantly when I am trying to study for an examination.

TOEFL Transition Words: To set up a condition

During an independent speaking  or independent writing task, you may find a chance to set up a condition. If you have that chance but do not use a conditional sentence, it will show TOEFL iBT human raters and ETS’s eRater scoring engine for writing that you have grammar limitations. Consequently, you will score lower. To supplement this web page, use Google to find relevant web pages related to the following conditional grammar concepts: “real and unreal conditionals,” “present possible” and “present impossible conditional statements,” and “past impossible conditional statements.” Make sure that you understand this complex grammar inside and out. Then, make it a point in your speaking and writing practice to find opportunities to use this grammar. The more you use this, the better control you will have.

• If :  If I did inherit 10 million dollars, I would donate half of that money to my local hospital.
• Even if :  Even if the hospital did not need the money, they could still modernize their facilities by buying new x-ray machines and heart monitor equipment.
• If I could :  If I could give this hospital at least 5 million dollars, it would be able to better serve the residents of my city.
• Whether (or not) :  The first speaker is not sure whether or not the tuition increase will benefit the student community.
• . . . may/might : The first speaker believes that the new changes in the cafeteria might encourage more students to purchase meal plans.
• . . . can be :  According to the professor, the new policy of offering free public transportation can be an advantage to those students who do not have cars.

TOEFL Transition Words: To show cause/ reason and effect/result

You will need to show cause-effect relationships during your TOEFL speaking and writing tasks in one way or another. For example, during integrated speaking task 4, the reading passage might introduce an academic concept, and then the speaker in the lecture explains some possible effects of this idea. In this case, you will want to show the cause-effect relationship between the two passages. The following cause/effect words/phrases will give you some examples of how you can present this casual relationship.

• Consequently : Greenhouse gases, according to the professor, cause warming trends. Consequently , the rapid melting of the glaciers at the polar ice caps has been accelerating in recent years.
• Because (of) : Because of the torrential rain in the Midwest, the Arkansas River is flowing at 557,000 cubit feet per second, the highest volume of water ever recorded for this waterway.
• Due to : Due to the additional homework, most of the students will be busy all weekend.
• Thanks to : Thanks to the more than 600 inches of snow in the high Sierra Mountains, California’s reservoirs are at full capacity, thus ending the drought that lasted more than 7 years.
• If this occurs, then : If this ample rainfall occurs in California next season, then cities in the north will need stronger levees on the American, Sacramento, and Yuba Rivers to prevent mass flooding.
• To this end : To this end , California state legislators have allocated more money to help the state to strengthen the levees lining waterways.
• Since :  Since the artic fox does not want to be eaten, its fur coat changes to white during the winter to make it more difficult for predators to spot them.
• For this reason : Large tsunamis have pummeled Japan’s coast in recent years; for this reason , Japan has an early warning tsunami system so that its citizens can get to high ground in case of another large earthquake in the ocean.
• As a result : Tornadoes occur in Oklahoma frequently. As a result , many residents build tornado shelters underground in their backyards so that they can be protected by these massive whirlwinds.
• Caused by : Obesity is caused by eating unhealthy foods and sedentary lifestyles.

TOEFL Transition Words: To show contrast/make an exception

You may need to show some type of contrast as you complete TOEFL speaking and writing tasks. To illustrate, typically, during the integrated writing task, the lecture opposes three specific ideas mentioned in the reading passage. As a result, using various transition words of contrast will help you to show how the information in the lecture contradicts the information in the reading passage. Spending time learning the transition words of contrast listed below, which will help you to better express your ideas.

• Some may argue that :   Although some may argue that climate change occurs due to natural factors, I believe that human activities also play a huge role in global warming.
• Although : Although some prefer studying alone, I think that studying in a group in more effective.
• Even though :  Even though my first roommate was considerate, he never paid his rent in a timely manner.
• Whereas : I tend to do my homework at the library of my university, whereas my roommate prefers to complete his assignments in our apartment.
• Instead of : Instead of increasing tuition to pay for the new parking structures on campus, the man believes that students should be encouraged to carpool more or to ride their bikes.
• In contrast : Running equipment is relatively inexpensive. In contrast , bicycling equipment can cost 1000’s of dollars since bikes are so expensive nowadays.
• On the one hand ; on the other hand :  On the one hand , riding a bike enables me to cover a lot of distance; on the other hand , I stand a higher chance of being hit by a car.
• However : The hottest and most hostile desert in the United States, Death Valley receives less than two inches of rain annually; however , the arid region is quite popular with tourists who visit that national park all during the year.
• In spite of : In spite of the ample rainfall for two consecutive seasons, California residents are still fined once they go beyond the expected water use.
• Despite : Despite the high winds and stinging rain, race officials decided not to cancel the marathon.
• Unlike : Unlike the man , the woman believes that the new policy will benefit her and her fellow students.
• On the contrary : The man argues that the new policy will force students to take part-time jobs to pay for their tuition hikes. On the contrary , the woman thinks that the tuition will not hurt most students since they receive financial aid.
• But : I certainly want a roommate who likes talking to me, but , if he talks to me when I am trying to study, it  will disrupt my concentration.
• Yet : I enjoy going to my parents, yet every time that I go there someone always ends up in an argument.
• Rather than : Rather than attend the concert alone, the man can wait until the next concert and attend that one with his friends.
• Either :  The woman has no desire to go to the movies, and the man doesn’t want to go either.
• Or :  The man will need to talk to the professor to get an extension on the due date for his project, or he will need to turn in the project in an uncompleted form.
• Nor : The woman believes that she cannot complete the writing project on time, nor does she need to discuss the assignment further with her professor.
• Neither : The students will not be attending the anti-Trump protest on campus and neither will the professor.
• Either . . . or : According to the listening passage, either the woman has to choose between wearing an off-white shirt to her job or she will have to go to the mall to try to buy a new one before she starts her shift.
• Neither . . . nor : Neither the other students nor Tomas is attending the lecture in the  San Manual Student Center.
• Nevertheless : I ran about 95 miles last week as I continue to prepare for my upcoming marathon. Nevertheless , my legs do not feel that tired right now.
• Nonetheless : The climate changes due to global warming are impacting our Earth negatively; nonetheless , many politicians and regular folk are doing nothing to lessen the emission of greenhouses gases.
• Sometimes : A lot of friends do not like to swim in the ocean off the coast of California because the water is too cold. Sometimes , however, I swim in the ocean because I like to look for sea shells.
• Once in a while : Every once in a while , some of my friends join me for a swim in the ocean.
• Occasionally : Occasionally , I might study with others as I prepare for examinations, but in most situations I prefer to study alone.
• Some … other(s) : Some tourists like to travel with a tour guide, whereas others tend to travel with just their family and friends.
• Other(s) : One section of Geology 101 went to study the San Andreas Fault behind California State University, San Bernardino. The other classes went to study the Ubehebe Crater in Death Valley, California.
• Often : According to the listening passage, the man has no need to use his cell phone while he is on campus.  The woman, however, claims she often uses her cell phone while she is at school.
• None : California urges its citizens to have emergency preparedness kits. However, none of my friends have their 72 hour kits.

TOEFL Transition Words: To show evidence/exemplify

Once you include a general statement about a topic in a speaking or writing task, you need to give an example to further illustrate the idea. For example, when you agree or disagree with some idea during an independent speaking or writing task, you will need to present some examples to support and thus strengthen your argument. The “example” transition words compiled here help you introduce specific information. Study these words/phrases, and then practice using them as you complete your speaking and writing practice.

• As evidence of : As evidence of climate change, the professor points to the rapid melting of the glaciers at the polar icecaps.
• The legitimacy of : The legitimacy of the woman’s solution of having the man delay his trip to see his parents is established as she points out the many pressing issues that the man needs to work on.
• Such as : In support of the campus announcement about shortening final exam days, the man says he has effective study habits such as breaking up his study routine into 2-3 hour blocks which helps him to master the content in his courses in a short period of time.
• For example : To increase my energy levels and help me move around easier, I started an exercise regimen six days a week. For example , I  do a full-body workout for 20 minutes, and then I run 3-5 miles.
• A few of these are : The man objects to the new campus policy forcing first-year students for several reasons. A few of these are first-year students who may choose to commute to campus from their homes, others may want to live off-campus in apartments with friends or relatives, and others may not be able to afford to pay the high costs of living on campus in dorms. In any case, first-year students should not be forced to live on campus.
• In the case of :  According to the professor, animals have innate mechanisms to make it harder for predators to eat them. In the case of the artic fox, its coat turns pure white during the winter. As a result, wolves, polar bears, and leopard seals have a harder time seeing the artic fox because it blends in so easily to the snow landscape.
• In addition : The reading passage introduces an economic concept called NIMBY. In addition , the professor in the lecture gives an example to further illustrate the idea.
• For one thing . . . for another : I totally agree with the idea that two heads are better than one.  For one thing , students studying together can help each other fill in the gaps of misunderstanding as they prepare for exams. For another , working together as a team can help employees fulfill their company’s goals much faster.

TOEFL Transition Words: To show disagreement

The perfect opportunity to show disagreement is when you disagree with an idea presented in a speaking or writing task. In addition, you will use “disagreement” transition words as you show the relationship between the information in the reading and listening passage during the integrated writing task. During the integrated writing task, you will show how the listening passage disagrees with the information in the reading passage. Carefully, look over these “disagreement” transition words. Then practice using them as you complete your speaking and writing practice.

• . . . object/s (to) : The speaker objects to the assertion by the author in the reading passage that employees should attend all required meetings.
• . . . disagree/s with : In the lecture, the speaker disagrees with the author’s claim that victims should run away if a bear charges.
• . . . contradict/s : According to the author, businesses can succeed if they follow three basic principles. The speaker in the lecture, however, contradicts each principle that the speaker explains.
• . . . doesn’t/don’t support : According to the new policy, students will need to pay an extra 15% parking fee.  Both the man and the woman do not support this new policy.
• . . . is/are invalid :  The speaker believes that the author’s assertion that motivation should always come from within is invalid .
• These arguments, one by one, can be challenged: In the reading passage, the author claims that bloggers are unprofessional,  are inexperienced, and lack integrity.  These arguments, one by one, are challenged by the speaker in the listening passage.
• . . . is absurd/ridiculous/unfounded/illogical :  The speaker believes that the author’s claim that bears are more likely to attack humans when bears lose their fear of them is unfounded .
• . . . not to be taken seriously : Even though the author argues that bloggers lack the experience to write professionally, the speaker does not take this claim seriously.
• . . . has/have no scientific basis : The author in the reading passage claims that dinosaurs might have become extinct because they ate poisonous plants which caused the great beasts to overdose. However, the speaker believes that this “overdose” theory has no scientific basis in fact .
• . . . dispute/s : The campus announcement claims that the new cafeteria changes will benefit the student body by providing a more healthy variety of food choices.  However, the student disputes this claim by providing two reasons.

TOEFL Transition Words: To show purpose

Similar to showing reason, you will need to show purpose in pretty much every speaking and writing task you complete. These transition words/phrases teach you how to show purpose in a way that you helps you to use advanced grammar. Study them, and begin using them in your speaking and writing practice.

• In order to : In order to get to Las Vegas without being stuck in a traffic jam, I advised that my friend leave Monday morning.
• For :  Typically, I travel to Los Angeles on a Saturday, for the traffic is sometimes better on that day.
• So that : I will let my friend borrow my car so that he can take his friend to the airport.
• So as to : The professor gave an example so as to further illustrate the concept discussed in the reading passage.

TOEFL Transition Words: To show similarity

When you show similarity, you show how two things are alike.  You will need to do this if you are asked to compare two things in an independent speaking or writing task. In addition, you may want to show how a speaker’s opinion in similar to a campus announcement during integrated speaking task 3. The collection of words below exemplify “similarity” transition words that you can use in these speaking and writing tasks.

• Just as : Just as the woman believes that the campus announcement about bicycle parking is harmful, the man believes that students will not be helped by this new policy.
• In the same way : The man doesn’t not want the final exam week shortened by two days. In the same way , the woman believes that the current length of time for final exams is appropriate and thus should not be reduced.
• Similarly :  Georgia has a small population and has a hot, humid climate during the summer. Similarly , Mississippi has no more than about 3 million residents who live in the searingly hot and humid summer-time weather.
• Likewise:  The man doesn’t like the idea of making class attendance optional. Likewise, the woman believes that students should be required to attend their classes, especially the ones in their majors.
• As in/as with/as was/etc . After a large earthquake, a giant Tsunami pummeled Japan’s coast as was the case with Indonesia, when it was hit by a large wave on its coastline.

TOEFL Transition Words: To show spatial relationships

During the independent speaking and writing tasks, you may be asked to describe something. As part of that description, you need to use words that can show location or spatial relationships. In other cases, you may have to explain a reading or listening passage that describes location or space. These words in this part of my lesson help you to do exactly that. Examine these words and begin using them as you complete your speaking and writing practice.

• at the left : At the left of the cabinet are the water bottles we need.
• at the right : Parking is only allowed at the right of the building.
• in the center : The classroom has 25 desks, in the center of which is a group of laptop computers.
• on the side: After ordering his dinner, the students asked to have some French fries on the side .
• along the edge : We hiked along the edge of the Grand Canyon for a few hours in one of the most breathtaking trips I have ever been on.
• on top , below : The professor placed the papers on top of his file cabinet to await grading, and the trash basket always remained below the desk.
• beneath : If a tornado approaches, residents should get in a storm shelter that is located beneath the ground’s surface.
• under :  Most students put their books under their desks when they sit down.
• around : The 5 kilometer race went around Fairmont Park two times.
• above :  The geese flew above the lake for two miles before landing in the forest to rest.
• over : Dreaded hurricane Maria slowly passed over Puerto Rico as high winds, heavy rain, and storm surges pummeled the tiny territory.
• straight ahead :  As the car went straight ahead through the intersection, it was hit in the side as a drunk driver went through a red light.
• at the top : At the top of Mount Baldy are scattered rocks with a few small bushes and Lodgepole Pines.
• at the bottom : Once hikers arrive at the bottom of Mount Baldy , they can go to the Ranger Station to check in.
• surrounding : Surrounding my house in almost every direction are Desert Juniper and Joshua trees.
• opposite :  A vacant parking lot is opposite the elementary school.
• at the rear –  at the front –  in front of: At the rear of most cars on the back axles which support the rear tires. At the front of the car are the axels supporting the two tires propelling the car.
• beside – behind : I usually park behind University Hall, which is where I attend most of my college classes, and I place my backpack beside me in the passenger seat so that I do not forget to bring it to class.
• next to : Bicycle parking is not allowed next to any campus buildings.
• nearby:  However, students can park their bicycles nearby in the grassy area by the soccer fields.
• in the distance : The storm chaser saw a tornado forming in the distance approximately two miles from where he was set up.
• beyond : Most hikers in Death Valley National Park do not go beyond Badwater since water is not available after that.
• in the forefront – in the foreground :  Most directors put their most prominent actors in the foreground during plays because they want the audience to see these cast members up close.
• within sight – out of sight : My mother always kept us sons within sight when we were playing outside because she did not want anything bad to happen to us. Kenneth fired his toy rocket, and it went straight up in the air until it was out of sight .
• across : Incredibly, he threw the heavy stone across the lake without it falling into the water.
• under : When I was younger, I could hold my breath under water for almost three minutes.
• nearer : After the researchers had collaborated for more than three weeks, they were nearer to solving the nuclear fusion puzzle. Perhaps, a promising theory may emerge soon.
• adjacent :  Adjacent to our backyard is my neighbor’s back fence.
• in the background : Elderly people sometimes have trouble hearing each other when there is a lot noise in the background .

To show time relationships

Organizing ideas according to time can help you to tell stories and make it easier for others to understand them. Thus, you will need to use these types of words during the independent speaking and writing tasks. As a result, look over this list to see the different types of words expressing time relationships. Then, begin using them as you do your speaking and writing practice.

• Immediately : Immediately , when an earthquake occurs, victims should crawl under a desk or some other support surface and place their hands around their face and head to protect themselves from falling debris.
• Then :  An angler should cast his line into the water. Then he needs to wait until he feels a tugging of the line.
• Later : Typically, I tend to exercise later in the day during the summer when the temperature is not as hot.
• Afterwards :  Polpot ate a healthy dinner, and he had dessert afterwards .
• After :  After Georgia finishes her homework assignment, she will give her friend a birthday present.
• Before : Before athletes complete intense cardiovascular workouts, they should perform some flexibility exercises.
• While :  While I was closing the door, I realized that my keys were inside the car.
• During :  During the concert, a middle-aged gentlemen who was complaining of chest pains was taken to the hospital.
• As soon as : As soon as the student had finished giving her oral presentation, the professor left the class due to a family emergency.
• As : As a last resort, spray an attacking bear with pepper spray which may deter it from harming you.
• Sometimes :  Sometimes moist air from Arizona comes to California in August and causes monsoonal rain.
• Last :  Some distance runners runs strides in the last mile of their workout.
• Frequently : If some users spend more than 3-4 hours daily using electronic gadgets, they will frequently get headaches.
• When :  When the sirens went off in Kansas City, citizens knew that a tornado was approaching.
• Once : Once he had finished the multiple choice section, the student began framing his responses for the two essay questions.
• Often : In conversations, men often speak more directly than their female counterparts.
• Oftentimes : During the summer in Southern California, oftentimes the temperatures exceed 95F.
• Since :  Since last year, the United States has had a booming economy with an unemployment rate for 3.6%.

To state the options

During integrated speaking task 5-Listening, Speaking, Campus-related- you will need to explain two solutions or options to a problem that the speaking is having.  You may have to explain something similar to this in an independent speaking or writing task. You can use the example “option” transition words to explain two options to a problem.

• One option is :  One option , according to the man, is to have the woman consult her academic advisor to help her choose a major.
• The other option is :  The other option , according to the speaker, is to have the woman complete an extensive career survey to see which types of jobs she is interested in.

To state the problem

Follow the example words in this section when you need to explain a problem that you or someone else is having.  Be sure to practice these words/phrases as you do your TOEFL speaking practice.

• The problem is (how) : The man’s problem is that he doesn’t have transportation to get to the academic debate.
• The question is : According to the listening passage, the question is whether or not the man should ask his professor for an extension on his research project.
• What is being asked/challenged : What is being challenged by the speaker is the author’s assertion that children only learn a language by memorizing words and phrases.

To state the reasons

Expressing reasons helps listeners and readers understand how your ideas are connected.  Whether it is a speaking or writing task, you will certainly have opportunities to give your own or to explain someone else’s reasons. Here are some example phrases of how you can express reasons.

• There are different reasons why :  In the listening passage, there are different reasons why the speaker disagrees with the three main arguments asserted by the author in the reading passage.
• There are several explanations for :  In the reading passage, there are several explanations for why the author believes that dinosaurs became extinct.
• There are many positive/negative reasons for :  Although many believe studying alone is preferable, there are many positive reasons for group study.
• There are some/more/fewer benefits/disadvantages to : Instead of spending money on space exploration, there are more benefits to spending money to meet the needs of people on Earth.

To summarize/conclude

• In conclusion : In conclusion , most likely running will benefit most participants since it burn more calories.
• Finally : Finally , the speaker believes that getting advice from parents will guide him so he can make the right choices.
• As a result (of) : As a result of consulting my parents, I decided to pursue pharmacy studies.
• In summary : In summary , I prefer to attend a smaller university since it provides smaller classes, more interaction between students and professors, and less traffic when I am trying to park.
• Therefore : Therefore , larger universities have better research facilities, more opportunities for extracurricular activities, and more internships after graduation.
• To sum up : To sum up , the speaker casts doubt on the three suggestions for business success discussed by the author in the reading passage.
• In other words : In other words , the speaker disagrees with the three main arguments posited by the author in the reading passage.
• To summarize : To summarize , students should not work while they attend school inasmuch as it takes valuable time away from their studies, makes it more difficult for social interaction, and can impact their grades negatively.
• In brief : In brief , the author in the reading passage and the speaker in the lecture have differing views regarding child language acquisition.
• On the whole : On the whole , the speaker in the lecture uses the example of the Artic Fox to further the academic concept of defensive mechanisms discussed in the reading passage.
• To conclude : To conclude , although many believe that universities should offer free tuition to everyone, I disagree with this notion since it will cost the tax payer way too much of their earnings.
• As we have seen : As we have seen , without restriction, human activities will create far too many greenhouse gases which will cause erratic climactic changes that may be irreversible.
• As has been said : As has been said , two heads are better than one.  Therefore, studying in groups will help me to master difficult concepts faster, will improve my social interaction skills, and will help me score higher on exams.

Relevant links to more practice with transition words

I’ve put together some additional resources to help you better connect your ideas during the speaking and writing sections of the TOEFL exam. Every link leads you to further explanations + examples about transition words.

• Connecting words : See how prepositions, coordinators, subordinators, and transition words can be used to connect old and new information together.
• Creating transitions in speaking and writing : Get a simple way to connect old information to new.
• Discerning transitions from main ideas in listening passages : Learn how to separate the main idea from a transitional idea in an academic lecture.
• Speaking and writing transitions :  Transition words in this lesson are used within the context of a model essay. You will also learn how these transition words are important in all sections of the exam.

Get feedback on your speaking and writing practice tests

Are you ready for TOEFL speaking and writing practice? I am ready to help to improve your speaking and writing scores to at least 26 and 24 points. If I can create this 7,440 word TOEFL lesson on TOEFL transition words, I can certainly help you too.  Go to Online TOEFL Course and choose a course that fits your specific situation. Whatever course you choose, you will be able to complete speaking and writing practice daily.  In addition, I will provide you audio and written feedback so that you can monitor your progress.

Michael Buckhoff , [email protected]

http://onlinetoeflcourse.com

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TOEFL iBT ®  Test

The premier test of academic English communication

Select any step to learn more about using TOEFL iBT ®  scores.

Interpreting TOEFL iBT Scores

The score range is 0–30 for each section of the TOEFL iBT test. Each score range is divided into four or five proficiency levels to help you more accurately assess a test taker's skill.

Scoring Resources

• Performance Descriptors for the TOEFL iBT ®  Test (PDF)
• Scoring Guides (Rubrics) for TOEFL iBT Speaking Responses (PDF)
• Scoring Guides (Rubrics) for TOEFL iBT Writing Responses (PDF)

For related research, see Score Use Research .

Test forms with omitted sections

ETS administers some TOEFL iBT test forms with one or more sections omitted. When one of these forms is administered, scores are given only for the sections that were taken, and no total test score appears on the score report. If you receive this type of report and would like more information about why it was administered this way, please contact the test taker.

Test-taker score concerns

If you have a concern about a test taker's TOEFL scores, please fill out the TOEFL iBT ®  Score Inquiry Form (PDF) and send it to [email protected] .

TOEFL Speaking Tips (with bonus TOEFL Speaking PDF)

Though the TOEFL Speaking section is the shortest section of the TOEFL test, many students struggle with it the most. Speaking in English, into a microphone, under a time constraint, in a room full of other test-takers … it can be stressful if you’re not prepared. Luckily, you have time to prepare! By understanding the format of the TOEFL Speaking section and some strategies for making good use of your time, you’ll be able to answer all four speaking questions in the allotted time. Read on for TOEFL Speaking tips, TOEFL Speaking practice, and a TOEFL Speaking PDF.

Table of Contents

What you need to know about toefl speaking: infographic.

Check out our new TOEFL Speaking Infographic for useful information and helpful tips!

And after you’re done reading the infographic, check out Magoosh TOEFL for six practice tests with sample answers, explanations, strategies and tips for every question!

TOEFL iBT Speaking Section: Where does it fit into the whole TOEFL?

The Speaking section is just one of four sections on the TOEFL exam. The four sections are: Reading, Listening, Speaking, and Writing (in that order).

Here is a breakdown of how you will spend your time during the TOEFL:

• 54-72 minutes
• 30-40 questions
• 41-57 minutes
• 28-51 questions

The Structure of the TOEFL iBT Speaking Section

The TOEFL Speaking section actually tests more than just your English speaking skills. It tests your ability to read, listen to and understand recordings by native English speakers, pronounce words correctly, use appropriate grammar, and manage your time wisely. This section also tests exam-taking strategies, such as your ability to remain focused and take brief notes.

Though you won’t be speaking directly with another person, you will be speaking out loud into a microphone. No one will be listening to you in the moment, but your recordings will be graded at a later date. Hopefully, you will find this to be less nerve-wracking than speaking to a live person – you could even do it with your eyes closed! 🙂

TOEFL Speaking Questions

The Speaking section is made up of four tasks, which require you to give personal opinions, summarize lectures and conversations, and speak about the opinions of others. TOEFL Speaking topics vary, but the format of the section is always the same.

There are two categories of questions in the Speaking Section:

• Independent (Task 1)
• Integrated (Tasks 2 – 4)

Independent Task 1:

• You’ll be asked a general question about your your opinion on a topic.
• Expect familiar topics. You’ll be asked general questions about broad social issues.
• You’ll have a relatively short time to take notes and gather your thoughts.
• You’ll respond into the microphone.
• Preparation time is 15 seconds and response time is 45 seconds.
• Tip 1: Your answers and opinions don’t have to be true! No one is going to fact-check your response, so go ahead and be creative if it saves you time and angst.
• Tip 2: The structure of each of these questions is very similar. Most often the question will read “Do you agree or disagree with the following statement? Use details and examples to explain your answer.” But even when you don’t get that exact wording for the question, your basic task remains the same: take a position and give specific reasons for your position.
• Tip 3: Be sure to check out our in-depth guide to TOEFL Speaking Task 1 topics .

Integrated Tasks 2 & 3:

• In Task 2, you’ll hear a listening passage where students discussing their opinions on the reading passage. Both Task 2 passages deal with campus situations.
• In Task 3, you’ll listen to an audio clip of a professor’s lecture on the topic of the text.
• You’ll be given 45-50 seconds of reading time, depending on the length of the passage. If you finish reading early, you’ll have a little extra time to think about the subject matter before you listen to the audio clip.
• You’ll be given 30 seconds of preparation time and 60 seconds of speaking time.
• You’ll explain what you read and heard.
• Tip: Use your 30 seconds of prep time to identify key information. Don’t try to include every single detail in your response! You’ll run out of time.
• And make sure you take a look at Magoosh’s free Speaking Task 2 Guide and Speaking Task 3 Guide .

Integrated Task 4:

• You’ll listen to a recording of a short lecture by a professor, but this time there will be no accompanying text for you to read. (This short audio clip is all you need to pay attention to!)
• You’ll be given 20 seconds of preparation time and 60 seconds of speaking time.
• Tip: This is the longest audio track in the Speaking section, but the structure of the lecture is very predictable. The professor will make one main point and give two supporting detials. Listen for these features and make note of them.
• Go here for even more information on TOEFL Speaking Task 4 .

TOEFL Speaking Mock Test

Lucas, Magoosh’s TOEFL prep expert, has made a full mock test on video. This test was made in 2017, so it has two additional tasks that used to be in TOEFL Speaking. However, this video still works as a mock test for the new TOEFL. Below, I’ve taken Lucas’s original video, made clips of each of the four current TOEFL tasks. For a TOEFL Speaking experience very similar to the one you’ll have on test day, complete each Speaking task linked below. (These links include onscreen instructions and an onscreen timer very similar to the one on the real test. You’ll also get an answer explanation that includes a sample reponse.)

Task 1 (click to access the task)

• (Listed as question 2 in video)
• Click here for answer explanation.

Task 2 (click to access the task)

• (Listed as question 3 in the video.)

Task 3 (click to access the task)

• (Listed as question 4 in the video.)

Task 4 (click to access the task)

• (Listed as question 6 in the video)

Although the whole original video includes a question type or two not currently found in the TOEFL Speaking section, it’s still quite useful. It contains helpful commentary from Lucas, and Questions 1 and 5 from that video, while no longer part of the real exam, still provide some extra practice in the general speaking skills needed for the exam. So feel free to click and play the entire original video below.

TOEFL Mock Test: Full Video (skip tasks 1 and 5 for an experience that is accurate to test day)

Scoring the TOEFL Speaking Section

For each task, you will receive a score between 0 and 4. These scores will be scaled, and your combined Speaking score will be out of a total of 30 points. Here’s how to rate the quality of your score:

• Weak: 0-9 points
• Fair: 10-17 points
• Good: 18-25 points
• Excellent: 26-30 points

The scores are calculated based on a rubric and certain standards. For more information on scores for the TOEFL Speaking section, see Magoosh’s roundup of resources for TOEFL Speaking scores .

So, how can you boost your score on the TOEFL iBT Speaking section?

TOEFL Speaking Tips

This blog is jam-packed with strategies for succeeding in the TOEFL Speaking section. Let’s break down the six best TOEFL Speaking tips we have:

1. Take Awesome Notes

TOEFL lectures are dense, so taking brief notes while you listen can help you stay focused and thinking about the main ideas. They are also great to revisit when you’re planning your response.

Between tasks, take a 10 or 15 second break. Close your eyes, sit back, and take a few deep breaths. Sometimes you need to let your heart rate go back to normal before you can think straight. Being nervous is completely normal, but don’t lose points because you’re panicking.

3. Stay Focused

The test center can get noisy with everyone speaking at the same time. Try not to listen to your fellow test-takers. Try doing some TOEFL Speaking practice with distractions in the room so you can get used to tuning out the chaos.

4. Use a Template

Structuring your answer ahead of time can help you outline your response faster, and prevent test-day stress. Create a template with structure words for each task. A phrase like, “Besides that, the student also points out that…” will help organize your answer. But beware…

5. Don’t Plagiarize!!

This should be obvious. Remember that TOEFL Speaking templates can be useful on the test, but be very careful. If you memorize sentences and use them on the TOEFL exam, suspicion of cheating could lead to cancelled scores.

6. Block Out Distractions

If you can’t focus, try momentarily covering your ears and closing your eyes to clear your head.

It’s OK to Stumble a Little

Mistakes are more acceptable in English speaking than in writing. If you stumble over your words but correct yourself, this won’t necessarily have a negative effect on your score. You don’t need perfect phrases or pronunciation, as long as you sound natural and confident.

Get Feedback From Others

While there are resources to score your own TOEFL Speaking , there’s no substitute for having another human being judge your TOEFL Speaking responses. Hire a tutor if you can, but if you can’t, don’t worry. You can also join a study group, online and off, for TOEFL. Getting feedback from peers and studying with them can also help you prepare for the kinds of group learning you’ll do during your university education. (For that matter, online courses for TOEFL can be a great way to connect to peers and instructors.)

Ready to Ace TOEFL Speaking? Here are Some TOEFL Speaking Tips

Remember that the Speaking section is only one part of the TOEFL exam, and that you aren’t expected to speak English like a native speaker. Try to practice speaking English as much as possible in the days leading up to your test, so that you become more comfortable coming up with quick responses.

For similar reasons, TOEFL Speaking section practice is also vital, of course! Careful preparation can help you overcome the challenges this section presents. That’s why it’s important to practice with TOEFL Speaking materials  as much as possible. Practicing will also help you feel less nervous on the day of your exam.

And with that in mind, we created a TOEFL Speaking PDF with practice tasks and model answers.

TOEFL Speaking Practice PDF (Questions & Answers)

Part of what makes this resource so great is that it embodies all of the best parts of Magoosh’s premium prep. The questions, answers, and explanations were created by TOEFL Experts with many years of experience helping students AND writing Magoosh’s practice questions. So, if you like this resource, you can always find more Magoosh practice in our 1 week free trial .

In this TOEFL Speaking PDF, you will find:

• Task 1 – Independent: question and answer
• Task 2 – Integrated: passage, conversation, question and answer
• Detailed explanations of each answer

Other good sources of TOEFL Speaking Questions

As you work on your TOEFL speaking practice, you may find that you don’t have much time to come up with and structure your responses, and you really have to think quickly! It can be easy to be caught off-guard at the official exam if you haven’t prepared enough, or if you prepared with the wrong materials.

The right practice materials for TOEFL Speaking (like the ones created by Magoosh in the TOEFL Speaking PDF above) will have at least two different tasks: one Independent and one Integrated. Look for clear and thorough explanations of what ideal answers contain so that you can keep pushing your score even higher.

And here are some additional practice questions and answers:

• ETS’s free full-length TOEFL Practice Test
• ETS’s TOEFL Practice Sets, Including their TOEFL Speaking PDF
• Quick Prep from ETS (This is an older resource, archived outside of the ETS website. See Magoosh’s guide to using older TOEFL Prep .)

And if you want more guidance, Magoosh TOEFL has six practice tests with sample answers, explanations, strategies and tips for the every TOEFL speaking question! You might also download our free TOEFL speaking app for your iPhone or Android . The app simulates the real TOEFL speaking test with free practice speaking materials. You can even use it in offline mode any time you need more practice.

Happy speaking!

Still have questions about TOEFL Speaking? Let us know in the comments.

Rita brings 18 years of tutoring, mentoring, and test prep experience to her role as Senior Content Marketing Manager. Rita earned her BA from UC San Diego and her MA from UCSD’s School of Global Policy Studies . Over the years, Rita has tutored all subjects in the CA middle and high school curricula, and coached students studying for the GRE, SAT, and ACT—she even coauthored ACT Prep by Magoosh . Rita has written dozens of blog posts related to test prep, and even some articles for fellow marketers, such as Conversion Optimization For Your Blog . Connect with Rita on LinkedIn !

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42 responses to “TOEFL Speaking Tips (with bonus TOEFL Speaking PDF)”

thank you for these genuis and good informations

You’re welcome, and thanks for the kind words!

Hello Lucas,

I wonder whether or not using synonyms or some of the words or phrases from the conversations or lectures back and forth can be consider as plagiarism?

Is there any other ways to avoid repetition during the speaking and formulate our own thoughts coherently? What about our notes? How we can make use of notes more efficiently?

In case, if the test requires us to make a substantial argument, what we should do?

What ‘s about the TOEFL speaking part related to GRE verbal sections? Do we need to conpare and contrast the formates from these sources? Is there something in common between the two tests? I try to think about it, but not come up with the exact answers yet. Please clearify my points.

Thank you very much for your great kindness:)

Hello Peter,

So many good questions.

The general rule for avoiding paraphrasing is that the more you change the original wording, the better. (So long as you don’t change the original *meaning* itself, of course!) Using some words or phrases from the original language can be acceptable, but using synonyms is better. And changing some of the grammar of the original statement (again without changing the meaning) can also help. For examples of good paraphrasing, see Kate’s post here: https://magoosh.com/toefl/2015/paraphrasing/ . My biggest advice for you on paraphrasing is to practice, practice, practice. Paraphrasing in your first or second language is a mental habit. The more you do it, the more naturally the skill will come to you on test day.

Avoiding repetition in TOEFL speaking also involves paraphrasing skills. In this case you want to paraphrase yourself! Know your synonyms (good post on that here: https://magoosh.com/toefl/2014/the-importance-of-using-synonyms/ ). To make your thoughts connect coherently, be able to use transition and opinion words ( https://magoosh.com/toefl/2014/toefl-teaching-material-transitions-and-opinions-worksheet/ ) as well as reporting verbs ( https://magoosh.com/toefl/2014/reporting-verbs-and-simple-present-tense/ ). And of course, learn to plan your TOEFL Speaking well ( https://magoosh.com/toefl/category/speaking/planning-for-speaking/ ) and practice English speaking a lot so you get very comfortable with it ( https://magoosh.com/toefl/2014/practicing-toefl-speaking-skills/ ).

The two TOEFL tasks where you really need to make substantial arguments are the Independent Writing and Independent Speaking tasks. Fortunately, we also have some great blog posts on how to develop these arguments. (Magoosh has blog posts for everything!)

Independent Writing posts: https://magoosh.com/toefl/category/writing/independent-writing-task-writing/ Independent Speaking posts: https://magoosh.com/toefl/2014/toefl-speaking-task-1-independent/ , https://magoosh.com/toefl/2014/toefl-speaking-task-2-independent/

Finally, regarding the difference between GRE Verbal and TOEFL. GRE Verbal tasks are definitely more complicated and involved than the TOEFL. But there are also a lot of similarities between these two exams. Check out Kate’s comparison of the language demands for SAT, GRE and TOEFL: https://magoosh.com/toefl/2013/comparing-the-writing-sections-of-standardized-tests/ . I’ve also written a post on how to study for GRE Verbal and the TOEFL at the same time, using the similarities and differences between the tests to your advantage: https://magoosh.com/toefl/2015/how-to-study-for-the-gre-and-the-toefl-at-the-same-time/

Hi One question needs to be answered,I gave my toefl today I could remember 5 questions out of 6 in speaking section,I’m having a bad feeling that I might have skipped answering a question no. 1 or 2,Is there any possibility to happen so…?coz its all automatic.If I were asked to speak I would or it could be that I must have a forgotten the question.

Hello Pratika,

That’s a very good question. Fortunately, it’s pretty much impossible to accidentally skip a TOEFL Speaking task. You are given a set amount of time to prepare for each question, and a set amount of time to speak. There is no button you can push to skip or shorten these times. If you are asked to speak, you must either speak or sit through long silences when you should be speaking.

I’ve seen a lot of students have trouble remembering all the details of their TOEFL exam experience. Taking the TOEFL is stressful, and stress can cause your memory to be a little unclear at times. It’s very likely that you did complete every speaking task, and just don’t have perfect recall of the section.

I suppose there’s a small chance of computer error, with the computer itself skipping the answers. If it seems like that has happened once you get your score report, you’ll want to contact your testing center or directly call ETS. But that’s very unlikely.

hi, I took the toefl exam yesterday. The speaking section was difficult for me. I couldnt complete any of the speaking tasks on time. For example, ive left all the last sentences of my tasks hanging..Dats a bad thing right? Will that affect my scores tok much?

Sorry to hear that you struggled with Speaking on test day— that must have been very frustrating. The bad news is that getting cut off before you can say all of your last sentence really IS bad, and really will affect your score.

The good news is that this kind of pacing mistake doesn’t always have a *big* effect on your score. It depends on how complete you answer is, even without a full final sentence. If your answer was pretty well-developed throughout, you could be OK. You will lose minimal points if the TOEFL scorer is still able to basically understand what your answer is, even with some words missing at the end.

I plan to take the TOEFL some time soon, but just have a quick question. Do you have to use ALL the time allotted to you… or can you do well on the speaking assignments using half the time (around 30-35 seconds)?

Shivant, you definitely want to speak close to the full allotted time. If you’re more than 5 seconds short, you run the risk of giving an answer that seems incomplete or underdeveloped. And test-takers nearly always lose points if they’re 10 seconds under the limit. It’s a delicate balance of course— you don’t want to get cut off at the time limit before you’ve finished. But it is good to get as close to the maximum time as possible.

Is it necessary to use the time precisely in question 1 &2 to get a score of 4? can you get interrupted but your idea is stated clearly with what is said in the first 45 seconds

I generally recommend that my students speak for at least 40 seconds and no less than 45 seconds if possible. As for going slightly over time and getting cut off, yes— you can get slightly interrupted and still get a decent score if your answer overall is very clear and well-constructed. But it’s risky. It’s probably better to be just a few seconds under time than to get cut off.

Thank you so much for a great and helpful blog!

I have a question about the structure of the speaking section. Do I have 15-30 seconds in EACH of the tasks to prepare my answer and then 45-60 seconds in EACH of the tasks to speak? I mean, for instance in task 5-6, do I first listen to the student(s) in task 5 and then have 20 seconds to prepare and 60 seconds to speak – and afterwards I’ll listen to the lecture in task 6 and then have 20 seconds to prepare and then 60 seconds to speak? Or do I have to listen to both task 5 and 6 before I give my answer?

Maybe it’s a stupid question but I’m a little confused about it!

Not a stupid question at all. As Rita said, this is a pretty complex section, in spite of how short it is. It really can be hard to keep track of how the exam works.

To answer your question, each task is done completely individually. You’ll listen to Task 5 and reply to task five before moving on to Task 6. Each task is like that— you don’t move on to the next task until you’ve fully finished the previous task.

The question number 3 has to sections ( read and listen to answer) , I didn’t read the passage at all ,but I listened to the audio and answered, what’s the score would be, as I heard from my friend, the section will be zero even if you answer one side, is that right or they will score the side that I answered.

Hi Ali, you will lose points if you do not respond to the passage as well as the audio, but I don’t think your score will be zero. If you look at the rubric for the speaking section , responding to only one side will bring down your score in “general completeness” and “topic development”.

Hello Magosh,

i have just one question. Can i take notes in the TOEFL speaking section?

Good news! You can definitely take notes for the speaking section. We recommend you do so both when listening to the lecture/reading the text and quickly as you plan your main points so you can hit the topics you intend to hit. 🙂

hi am took the tofel exams before a week a go and now i cants not get my scoring, how do i? sorry for bads englishing talk am nots great englishing talker

Happy to help! 🙂

According to the ETS website, “For TOEFL, usually it takes around 4 to 6 weeks (outside US) to get your score report (hard copy) after it is mailed, which is done 13 days after your test date. The scores will be available online within 10 days approximately after your test date. ” I hope that helps!

Hi, I have a question about the toefl speaking section. You said that it is important not to speak for too long or give an answer that is too short. While I speak will I see a time somewhere so I know how long I already spoke for and when I should try to come to an end or say some more? Thank you very much for your help.

That’s a great question. Yes, the timer will be clearly visible on the TOEFL iBT test screen.

Hi, my question is regarding the speaking section. Unfortunately my score was below the minimum required to validate my credentials. Can I just take the speaking section alone or do I have to take everything again?

thanks & regards ed

Unfortunately, you have to take the exam in its entirety. You cannot take just a single section. :/ But now that you know what is coming, you can definitely do it! Good luck. 🙂

Hi, I have a question about the TOEFL speaking section. I have taken a practice test in the past which was said to be very similar to the actual TOEFL test itself. In the practice test, you were able to record again if you accidentally messed up one of your answers. I was wondering if this is possible for the actual test? Or do you only get one chance to record each answer?

Thank you for your help!

On the actual test, you only get one chance to record, sadly.

I’m still interested in knowing those key expressions for the several tasks regarding to the speaking section.

I recommend looking at our free TOEFL Speaking Template ebook . In this book, we list some good key words and phrases to use in each different TOEFL Speaking Task.

My biggest nightmare is the speaking part, for me the preparation time is not sufficient can’t find ideas for tasks (1 & 2) and i can’t organize my speech. I am training on this since 2 weeks but i get stuck on a score of ~15/30. Could you advices some advices? Thanks a lot for response

Thinking fast and having enough to say really is a big challenge in TOEFL Speaking. A lot of students come to Magoosh for help with this aspect of TOEFL Speaking. In fact, so many students need to work on these skills that the Magoosh TOEFL Blog has created an article on thinking fast and having enough to say in TOEFL Speaking , just for students like you. 🙂 Check out that article, and certainly let us know if you have any other questions.

I hated the speaking section. Specially the integrated part. I speak, listen and write english everyday, but this test is annoying:

1.- Topics are boring. How can you focus if you are listening about the behaviour of turtles or penguins and you are considering this test to study business administration?

2.- Time for preparing the answer is too short. There’s a difference between speaking fluently and preparing an opinion and solution for the problems of turtle mating. First you don’t care, second, I don’t even think native speakers can prepare a detailed answer with that short time. You need to have a cheap strategy about preparing a quick opinion.

3.- The section is too short, you can’t make mistakes. I don’t even speak coherently in my native language! When I speak in my native language I also have grammar mistakes, I get stuck on giving a coherent opinion. It’s normal but doesn’t mean I can’t understand a class about a complex subject, or speak about it. I think I had a good performance in the speaking section, but I panicked in one question and that made my score lower, which was a critical requirement for the university I am applying on. So I have to pay for the TOEFL again. That sucks.

Thank you for this comment. You’ve touched on a lot of frustrations that TOEFL test-takers experience. And I think a good discussion of this can help all of our readers. Let me address your concerns one-by-one:

1) The topics in TOEFL Speaking (and on the whole test) are based on undergraduate general education classes. There are also a disproportionate number of TOEFL topics about animal science. (Birds, penguins, etc… As Lucas has remarked, the TOEFL loves animals !)

This range of topics is relevant for students who are going for their bachelor degree. But such topics aren’t relevant for a lot of grad students, or for people who are taking the TOEFL for medical licensing and other non “general education” purposes. Unfortunately, most English-language grad programs ask for the TOEFL, even though the topics on the exam aren’t a perfect match for grad studies.

2) The TOEFL Speaking Section really is very fast-paced. The answers you give need to be quite short. And it can help to use templates and formulas to come up with answers quickly. If you were asked a similar question outside of the TOEFL, you’d probably speak for much more than 45 or 60 seconds.

With its fast pace, the TOEFL Speaking section is trying to test impromptu speech– short speeches with little or not planning. Since the TOEFL is a standardized test and not a real English speaking environment, TOEFL Speaking can’t capture this kind of speech in a way that’s completely natural. Instead, you can think of the TOEFL Speaking section as a training simulation for the real impromptu English speaking you’ll do in your future studies.

3) I’m sorry to hear that your TOEFL Speaking score wasn’t where it needs to be. That sounds frustrating! 🙁 And yes, it is also a bummer that you have to retake the whole exam again. (I wish the TOEFL would just let students retake a single section!)

For your TOEFL retake, I have some advice: Use the “boring” nature of TOEFL Speaking to your advantage. Every TOEFL Speaking task has a very predictable structure. Understand task structure and giving a good answer will be simple, even if the tasks themselves aren’t interesting. Here on the blog, we’ve actually created some tutorials to help students understand the structure of each task. Lucas has explained the structure of TOEFL Speaking Tasks 1 and 2 , with sample topics. And I’ve written about the structure of each TOEFL Integrated Speaking Task .

I just have one question about this section: Am I in control regarding when to move forward from one Task to the next one in the Speaking section? For example, in the tests for the Official TOEFL guide, I am completely in control of this. In other words, when I finish one Task, I need to click Next to move to the other (it is not automatic). If I wanted, I *could*¨take some short break there and I even write my templates for the next task.

I am asking this question because of your piece of advice #2 (Relax: take a 10 or 15-second break).

In other words, do I need to click Next to move on to the next task in order to move forward (allowing me some seconds to have a break) or the Speaking section is completely automatic and I am in no control of the pace?

Thank you so much!

Hi Sebastian,

On the speaking section, you are in control of the pace. On the exam you click “next” before you go to the next question. The questions do not automatically follow each other. And yes, this can give you some time to potentially collect your thoughts and prepare for the basic format of the next question. (But not for the actual specific content of each question, of course.)

If you want to see a pretty good free simulation of the TOEFL exam, I suggest downloading the official TOEFL Interactive Sampler. Hope this helps 🙂

I am appearing TOEFL in 2 weeks but I am having a problem in speaking section. I tend to repeat the exact same thing that is written in the article or being said in the conversation or lecture.

Will it lower my score if I say the exact same thing? I am finding it very difficult to paraphrase in such a short time and think coherently.

What can I do to overcome this difficulty? Are we allowed saying the same thing without the risk of lowering our score?

I’d be happy to get a reply from you.

It is not problematic if you repeat some of the language in the conversation or lecture or articles. If you can properly use direct quotes from these sources, that helps support the idea that you understood and can integrate it into your own speech. So don’t worry! 🙂

Make sure you don’t ONLY repeat things that were previously said, but don’t worry about some repetition. That’s normal and totally okay.

My question is that can I speak more than a minute in speaking section. Do it will affects my score?

I think that this blog post will answer some of your questions ! The quick answer is that no, you cannot speak more than a minute. If you go over time, or if you have top stop in the middle of a sentence, then it can hurt your score a lot. You should try to finish the speaking task with a few seconds to spare. It takes a lot of practice to get your timing right on the speaking section, but with some time and effort you will succeed!

I wrote 2 official TOEFL Practice Tests (V30 and V31) in Timed Mode. Got a 117 on V31 and 115 on V30.

However, I noticed that on both these Practice Tests, it allowed me to record my responses again in the speaking sections. It literally has a page where it asks you to confirm your response or record it again. Is this option also available on the ACTUAL TOEFL ?

No–in the actual TOEFL, you will be able to record your response only once. This is a well-known peculiarity or bug of the TOEFL practice tests, but it doesn’t reflect what will happen in the actual TOEFL 🙂

Thank you very much! I am studying and looking for material to teach my student to have a good grade and you helped me a lot!

I am Rohan, and i am taking my TOEFL HOME Edition Test in a couple days. The reading, writing and the listening sections are going well but the speaking section is proving to be huge roadblock for me to score above 110. I have practiced quite a lot of questions and I was able to identify my predominant obstacles in the speaking section.

1. My thoughts aren’t organized and because of flow gets interrupted during the time period of 60 seconds. 2. Socially I am a very cut-off person and providing real-life examples for the questions gets really tough most of the times and i end up making new random examples, but the downside of this method is I struggle to build on these examples and end up taking pauses to develop my example.

Both of them are freaking me out and i somehow manage to mess up the speaking section of my test all the time. So far my highest on the speaking section has been 23. So can you please suggest some methods using which i can improve my speaking score by at least 3-4 points?

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