What is the fee of registering for the TOEFL iBT Paper Edition?

Applicants who choose to take the TOEFL iBT Paper Edition must pay an amount of INR 16,900 for registering, which is the same for TOEFL iBT.

How many times is the TOEFL iBT Home Edition conducted in a month?

The TOEFL iBT Paper Edition is offered once or twice every month.

As the TOEFL iBT exam is conducted in two sessions, do I have to book two dates or one?

You need to schedule two appointments when you register: one at your neighbourhood testing facility and the other at your house.

In some places, why is the duration of the first session of TOEFL iBT Paper Edition written as three and half hours? What is the actual duration?

The test duration at a centre is three hours. An additional thirty minutes is allocated for test administration tasks, such as admitting examinees, allowing them to input identifying information, and managing test materials.

Are there any special requirements for the Speaking section of the TOEFL iBT Paper Edition?

As the Speaking section is conducted from home, please ensure that you have the required setup for both the equipment and environment before registering. You will get the details from the official website.

Analytical vs Creative Thinking - TOEFL Independent Speaking Practice Test

Home Practice Tests TOEFL Speaking Practice Tests

Analytical vs Creative Thinking - TOEFL Speaking Practice Test (Independent)

Reena Saini

4 min read

Updated On January 03, 2025

"Get valuable insights into the TOEFL Independent Speaking Section by attempting the practice test on 'Analytical vs Creative Thinking' and check the sample answers to boost your speaking skills and ace the TOEFL exam."

Key Highlights

Question:
Points to Remember
Answer Key with Explanation for TOEFL Independent Speaking Test - Analytical vs Creative Thinking

Success in the TOEFL Speaking Independent Task of the TOEFL iBT® exam requires both effective preparation and strategic response planning. In this section, you will be asked to respond to a particular topic for which you should have strategies in place. To excel in the Speaking Independent Section, it is crucial to structure your responses, improve fluency, and reduce anxiety while answering. The best way to prepare is by practising consistently and also provide relevant opinions in a clear and brief way.

In the Speaking Independent Practice Test on 'Analytical vs Creative Thinking', your response should focus on the topic and must be organised with a logical flow. However, remember to also add depth and clarity to your points with personal experiences or real-world examples. Many individuals find themselves in a difficult situation to organise their thoughts quickly as well as provide evidence for supporting their opinion. However, with diligent practice, you will become confident enough to ideadte and give your answer within the time frame.

So, why wait any longer? Let's get to it and help you develop the speaking skills!

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:

When solving a problem, do you prefer to use analytical thinking, which involves logical reasoning and data analysis, or creative thinking, which involves imagination and innovation? Explain your reasons with examples from your own experiences.

Preparation Time: 15 Seconds

Response Time: 45 Seconds

Points to Remember

In order to formuate a response to the question about analytical vs creative thinking, emphasise on clarity rather than complexity. Remember that a good, simple, straightforward response is better than to use complicated words incorrectly. Also provide relevant reasons and justification to support your opinion but make sure that you avoid further too much of elaboration as this could lead to hesitation and the flow would be affected. Speak clearly and moderately while pronouncing the words correctly. Therefore, answer the question directly and give a brief explanation of your opinion with reasons or examples.

Answer Key with Explanation for TOEFL Independent Speaking Test - Analytical vs Creative Thinking

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:

I prefer, um, using creative thinking to solve problems. It is, uh, more flexible. For example, when I was in school, we had a project. We had to, you know, find a solution with limited resources. We used creative thinking, and it was, um, very helpful. Creative thinking is, uh, more flexible. It helps in finding new ideas. In another project, we also used creative thinking. It was, uh, very helpful. Analytical thinking is good, but creative thinking is, um, more flexible. It helps in finding new ideas. I think creative thinking is better because it is more flexible.

Rater’s Comment:

The response demonstrates significant language errors, such as subject-verb agreement issues in "I prefer, um, using creative thinking to solve problems. It is, uh, more flexible," and tense inconsistency in "We had to, you know, find a solution with limited resources." Article usage is incorrect in "Creative thinking is, uh, more flexible." Delivery is hindered by numerous filler words like "um," "uh," and "you know," causing unnatural pauses and affecting speech clarity. The pacing is uneven, contributing to a choppy delivery. Content development is weak, with repeated phrases like "Creative thinking is, uh, more flexible" and "It was, uh, very helpful," lacking substantial supporting points and transitions. This response earned a score of 1 due to its limited content, coherence, and delivery issues. To improve, the speaker should focus on reducing filler words, enhancing grammatical accuracy, and providing more detailed examples and transitions.

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

High-Level Answer Audio Transcript:

I prefer using creative thinking when solving problems because it allows for more innovative solutions. For instance, during a group project at university, we faced a challenge with limited resources. Instead of relying solely on data analysis, I suggested brainstorming sessions to generate unique ideas. This approach led us to repurpose existing materials creatively, which not only solved our problem but also impressed our professors. Creative thinking encourages out-of-the-box solutions and adaptability, which are crucial in dynamic situations. While analytical thinking is valuable, especially for structured problems, creativity often leads to breakthroughs that data alone cannot achieve. Thus, I find creative thinking more effective in fostering innovation and flexibility.

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 "Instead of relying solely on data analysis, I suggested brainstorming sessions," demonstrating control over complex sentence constructions. Sophisticated vocabulary choices like "innovative solutions" and "out-of-the-box solutions" enhance the response's precision. The delivery is characterised by a natural flow and effective pacing, with clear articulation and smooth transitions, as seen in the progression from "This approach led us to repurpose existing materials creatively" to "which not only solved our problem but also impressed our professors." The content is well-organised, with strong supporting examples from personal experience, illustrating the benefits of creative thinking. The response's coherence and logical progression of ideas, alongside its minor lapses, showcase mastery in topic development, making it a high-level response.

Fantastic! Let's keep that momentum rolling. You can access more personalised practice tests which are specifically designed to boost your TOEFL Speaking skills. The more you practice, the more confident you'll become!

Are you ready to nail another practice test? Let's go to the next one!

Also Read: