Active vs Passive Entertainment - TOEFL Speaking Practice Test (Independent)

In the TOEFL Independent Speaking Task, your ability to express and defend personal opinions is key to success. This section assesses not just your English proficiency, but also your ability to organize and present your thoughts coherently. Our practice tests are designed to help you perfect these essential skills through focused preparation.

Instructions:

• You'll receive a familiar topic to speak about with no accompanying reading or listening passages.
• After hearing the question, you will have 15 seconds to prepare your response and 45 seconds to deliver it.
• Remember, 15 seconds might seem short, but it's ample time for preparation.
• For this Question, you'll encounter two situations or opinions and must express your preference, providing reasons for your choice.

Now, play this Audio to hear the Question.

Question:

Some people prefer active forms of entertainment, such as playing sports or engaging in outdoor activities, while others enjoy passive entertainment like watching films or reading books. Which type of entertainment do you prefer and why?

Points to Remember

When addressing the question about active vs passive entertainment, consider these key points to craft a well-rounded response. You must clearly state your position and provide specific reasons to justify your opinion. Include relevant examples and maintain a clear, logical organization. Your response should be concise yet detailed enough to demonstrate your speaking abilities within the time limit.

Answer Key with Explanation for TOEFL Independent Speaking Test - Active vs Passive Entertainment

Here, we've included two sample answers, one at a mid-level and one at a high-level proficiency. By comparing the differences in language use, you will gain valuable insights into the key elements that contribute to achieving a higher TOEFL score.

Listen to the audio recording to hear a mid-level answer to the provided question.

Mid-Level Answer Audio Transcript:

Rater’s Comment:

The response demonstrates significant limitations in language use, delivery, and content development, justifying a score of 1. Language errors include frequent filler words such as "um," "uh," and "you know," which disrupt fluency. The response lacks subject-verb agreement, as seen in "Playing sports, it can be exhausting," and exhibits repetitive content, e.g., "Watching films and reading books, they are both relaxing." Delivery is hindered by unnatural pauses and choppy pacing, making the speech difficult to follow. Content development is minimal, with repeated ideas like "passive entertainment is relaxing" and insufficient support for the preference stated. The response is largely formulaic and lacks depth, preventing a higher score. To improve, the speaker should focus on reducing filler words, enhancing grammatical accuracy, and providing more detailed and varied content.

Listen to the audio recording to hear a high-level answer to the provided question.

High-Level Answer Audio Transcript:

Rater’s Comment:

This response earns a score of 4 due to its effective language use, clear delivery, and well-developed content. The speaker employs advanced grammar structures, such as "playing football not only keeps me fit but also helps me relieve stress," demonstrating control over complex sentence constructions. Sophisticated vocabulary choices like "enhances my problem-solving skills" and "valuable in everyday life" further enrich the response. The delivery is characterised by a natural flow and effective pacing, with clear articulation and smooth transitions, as seen in the seamless shift from discussing physical benefits to social advantages. The content is well-organised, with strong supporting examples, such as the benefits of playing sports, and a coherent progression of ideas. The speaker's ability to articulate a preference with clear arguments and precise word usage showcases mastery, making this a high-level response.

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