TOEFL Speaking Task 1: Personal Experience vs. General Opinion

In the TOEFL exam, one of the sections is the TOEFL Speaking segment which consists of multiple tasks. However, Task 1 often causes confusion among test-takers because of the unique nature of the prompt given such as TOEFL Speaking Task 1: Personal Experience vs. General Opinion. The questions require a response based on either your personal experience or a general opinion on a particular topic. 

This blog will dive into the difference between these two types of responses since you have to use different approaches to attempt the question. This includes the strategy to approach Task 1 based on the response needed and how to distinguish it from questions asking for a general opinion.

Structure of TOEFL Speaking Task 1

In TOEFL Speaking Task 1, a question will be provided to you where you have to respond in a time of 45 seconds. You will have a preparation time which is 15 seconds before starting with the speech. However, this question could either ask you about your opinion on a specific topic or to describe your personal experiences on the same. The main aspect is to respond clearly and coherently which must be aligned with the question asked.

You can follow the structure to make it coherent : 

Depending on the type of the question asked, the prompt would change accordingly. For Personal Experience, the question could be “Describe a memorable experience of your life” while for general opinion, the question could be “Do you agree or disagree that technological advancements helped people’s lives?”

Speaking Task 1 : Personal Experience vs General Opinion

The table below compares the speaking task 1 in terms of personal experience and general opinion to get an overview of the similarities and differences between the two.

Speaking Task 1 : Personal Experience

In this type of question, you are required to describe real-life experiences which have influenced your life in some way. It is necessary to make sure that your experiences are relevant to the question asked and you shouldn’t move away from the topic.

The table below shows the structure which you can use if the TOEFL Speaking Task 1 question is related to your personal experience.

Tips to attempt TOEFL Speaking Part 1 : Personal Experience

If the prompt is related to your personal experience, you have to first strategise on how to attempt and provide a clear as well as concise answer. Below are some of these tips which you can incorporate into your preparation.

1. Understand the question properly

You need to carefully read the prompt and make sure that you understand what the question is asking you. After reading, you need to focus on the personal experience based on the topic provided where you brainstorm ideas and make sure that there is a development of thoughts based on the structure which includes an introduction, body, and conclusion.

2. Focus on Specific Details

As the information is related to your personal experience, it is vital to provide specific details about the topic. Provide vivid descriptions and detailed information to bring the experience alive. However, try not to provide any vague statements as this can affect the overall flow of the response. Not only that but also try not to give out too many unnecessary details as this can create confusion and the coherence might be affected.

3. Use Personal Pronouns

In order to make your response more natural, use personal pronouns such as I, me, my, mine. Using this would enhance your response and show how the experience is directed to you and make the answer more relatable. Always remember to focus on how the experience was meaningful to you, making the answer more spontaneous.

4. Use Simple Transitions

You need to make sure that there is a logical arrangement of the experiences by using simple transitions such as first, next, then, after that, finally. This would guide the listener through your entire story and be focused on the details you are providing. The coherence would be developed and used during the exam.

Speaking Task 1 : General Opinion

In Task 1, if the general opinion is being asked in the prompt, you are expected to take a stand and provide supporting evidence for the chosen opinion. Remember to provide your perspective with logical reasoning and examples to provide a broader ideology. However, do not provide any personal experience while elaborating on the opinion chosen. 

The table below depicts the structure which you can use if the question asks you about your opinion.

Tips to attempt TOEFL Speaking Part 1 : General Opinion

When the question asks you to provide your opinion, you need to take a stance. The following are some of these tips which will level up your preparation.

1. Focus on the question

You need to provide a clear opinion and focus on providing a few supporting points to justify the chosen opinion. Do not provide any personal anecdote as the question is asking you to specify your opinion which shouldn’t be a personal experience.

2. Use specific reasons to justify your opinion

Provide 1-2 reasons with justifications as to how these reasons support your opinion. However, try to stick to a few reasons only and not mention a lot of them since it could affect the overall flow of the answer. Make sure that you do not move away from the topic as this could affect the coherence of your answer.

3. Practice with various topics

Practice consistently with different topics so that you can improve your ability to express your opinions effectively. This would help in ideating the reasons and respond to a range of general topics.