Career Center Renovation - TOEFL Speaking Practice Test with Answers (Integrated)

The TOEFL Speaking Section tests a candidate's overall English communication skills, however, the Speaking Integrated Task takes it a step further. This task specifically evaluates your capacity to integrate knowledge from reading and hearing passages and present it in a logical manner in your response.

The Speaking Integrated Task evaluates various aspects of spoken English proficiency, including pronunciation, fluency, vocabulary usage, and overall coherence. To help you refine these skills, we have prepared a dedicated Speaking Integrated practice test centered on the topic "Career Center Renovation."

Let's begin your practice journey with this TOEFL Speaking Integrated Task and enhance your comprehension and communication strategies!

Instructions:

• You will first read a short passage about a campus-related announcement or proposed change. You will have 45 seconds to read the passage.
• Then you will listen to a conversation between two speakers discussing their opinions about the announcement or change.
• After the conversation ends, you will be asked to respond to a question about what you read and heard.
• You will have 30 seconds to prepare your response.
• You will have 60 seconds to speak about the speaker's opinion and the reasons they give for holding that opinion.

The university has announced a renovation plan for the Career Center to improve its facilities and services.

Career Center Renovation

The university is pleased to announce a comprehensive renovation of the Career Center, scheduled to begin next month. The renovation aims to enhance the centre's facilities and services, providing students with a more modern and efficient environment. Key improvements include the addition of new interview rooms, updated technology for virtual career fairs, and expanded space for workshops and networking events. The project is expected to be completed by the end of the semester, ensuring minimal disruption to students' access to career resources.

Directions: After the passage appears, a timer located at the top of your computer screen will commence counting down the time allocated for reading. Once the reading time concludes, the passage will disappear from the screen, replacing an image showing a student.

Now, listen to this Audio and answer the question that follows and answer the question that follows.

Directions: Once the lecture concludes, the picture of the two students will be replaced by a screen instructing you to prepare to answer the question. Subsequently, the following question will appear on the screen and will be read aloud by a narrator.

Question

State the woman's opinion about the Career Center renovation and explain her reasons for agreeing or disagreeing.

Hold on to those answer sheets! Before you jump into the sample response, make sure to go through our top 7 Tips for TOEFL preparation. 

Answer Key with Explanation for TOEFL Speaking Test - Career Center Renovation

We've provided two sample responses at different proficiency levels (mid-level and high-level). By comparing the differences, you'll gain valuable insights into the key elements that contribute to achieving a top score on the TOEFL exam.

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

Rater’s Comment:

The response earns a Score 1 due to significant language errors and limited content development. Language errors include subject-verb agreement issues, such as "She also worry about workshops," and tense inconsistency, as seen in "she think it might not be done." Delivery is hindered by frequent filler words like "um" and "uh," and unnatural pauses, making the speech choppy and fragmented. Content development is weak, with repeated phrases like "She is worried about the noise and disruption," and missing key points, such as the potential impact on graduating students. The response lacks coherence and fails to provide a comprehensive view of the woman's opinion. To improve, the speaker should focus on reducing filler words, ensuring grammatical accuracy, and developing a more structured and detailed response.

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

Rater’s Comment:

The response effectively addresses the task, demonstrating a clear understanding of the woman's opinion on the Career Center renovation. Language use is strong, with advanced grammar structures such as "she is apprehensive about the timing" and sophisticated vocabulary like "potential cancellation" and "immediate inconveniences." The response employs complex sentence constructions, for instance, "Although she acknowledges the potential benefits of expanded workshop space, she believes the renovation should have been scheduled during the summer." Delivery is fluid, with a natural flow and effective pacing, ensuring high intelligibility. The content is well-organised, with a logical progression of ideas and coherent arguments, such as the woman's concerns about noise, disruption, and timing. This response earns a score of 4 due to its comprehensive coverage of the task, precise language use, and clear articulation of ideas, showcasing notable strengths in language and content development.

How did you do on this practice test? Whether you're satisfied or see room for improvement, we've got you covered! Our extensive collection of practice materials is designed to help you strengthen your speaking abilities and excel in the TOEFL exam.

Remember, consistent practice is the key to success!

Also Read:

• TOEFL iBT® Exam Pattern and Syllabus: All You Need to Know 
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