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.

Competitive vs Collaborative Work - TOEFL Independent Speaking Practice Test

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Competitive vs Collaborative Work - TOEFL Speaking Practice Test (Independent)

Reena Saini

4 min read

Updated On January 03, 2025

"Build Speaking skills for the TOEFL Independent Speaking section with the practice test on 'Competitive vs Collaborative Work' along with sample answers and ace the TOEFL exam."

Key Highlights

Question:
Points to Remember
Answer Key with Explanation for TOEFL Independent Speaking Test - Competitive vs Collaborative Work

In the TOEFL iBT® exam, the TOEFL Speaking Independent test is a vital part where it asks you to clearly and persuasively share opinions on a familiar topic. You would be assessed on various skills like structuring responses cohesively, clear pronunication, and the delivery of speech related to the ideas flowing naturally. With appropriate strategies, you will be able to manage time and be relaxed when answering to avoid any hesitation. There might be questions related to unfamiliar topics which might seem quite daunting but maintain your calm state and use logical reasoning to form your opinion.

The TOEFL Speaking Independent Practice Test on 'Competitive vs Collaborative Work' is designed to closely resemble the actual test format. With just a few key strategies, it is possible to maximise your score and ace the TOEFL exam. Remember that pronunciation plays a pivotal role in fluency which will reflect your level of English proficiency. However, these skills can easily be developed with regular practice and gain self-assuredness on the test day.

Ready to master the Speaking section?

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 believe that working in a competitive environment brings out the best in individuals, while others think that a collaborative environment is more beneficial for personal and professional growth. Which do you prefer and why?

Preparation Time: 15 Seconds

Response Time: 45 Seconds

Points to Remember

When addressing the question about competitive vs collaborative work, remember that your answer has depth and reasoning within it. Instead of only expressing your opinion, try to elaborate and discuss the reason with relevant examples. This is important to maintain a clear, logical organisation of your thoughts. This helps your answer feel more authentic and thoughtful. Your response should be concise yet detailed enough to demonstrate your speaking abilities within the time limit. Remember to be specific rather than providing vague answers which can weaken your response.

Answer Key with Explanation for TOEFL Independent Speaking Test - Competitive vs Collaborative Work

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, working in a collaborative environment because it is more better for growth. In my last job, we work in teams, and it was, uh, very helpful. We share ideas and, you know, learn from each other. Collaboration is good because it helps people to, um, grow together. When people work together, they can solve problems better. Also, it is, aahh, less stressful than competition. Competition can be stressful and, uh, not good for communication. But, um, collaboration is good for communication. It helps build relationships. So, I think collaboration is better for personal and professional growth.

Rater’s Comment:

The response demonstrates significant language errors, such as subject-verb agreement issues in "we work in teams" and incorrect comparative form in "it is more better." Tense inconsistency is evident with "we work" instead of "we worked." Filler words like "um," "uh," and "you know" disrupt fluency, and unnatural pauses occur after "I prefer" and "it is, aahh, less stressful." Speech clarity is compromised by these hesitations, leading to choppy delivery. Content development is weak, with repeated ideas like "collaboration is good for communication" and "helps build relationships," lacking depth and support. Transitions are weak, and self-corrections are present. This response earned a score of 1 due to limited content, coherence, and delivery issues. To improve, the speaker should focus on reducing filler words, enhancing grammatical accuracy, and providing more detailed support for their ideas.

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

High-Level Answer Audio Transcript:

I prefer working in a collaborative environment because it fosters creativity and learning. For instance, in my previous job, we often worked in teams to solve complex problems. This approach allowed us to pool our diverse skills and perspectives, leading to innovative solutions that I might not have thought of on my own. Additionally, collaboration builds strong relationships and improves communication skills, which are essential in any career. While competition can drive performance, it sometimes creates stress and hinders open communication. In contrast, collaboration encourages a supportive atmosphere where team members can learn from each other and grow together, ultimately leading to both personal and professional development.

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 "This approach allowed us to pool our diverse skills and perspectives," demonstrating control over complex sentence constructions. Sophisticated vocabulary choices like "fosters creativity" and "innovative 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 seamless shift from discussing creativity to relationship building. The content is well-organised, with strong supporting examples, such as the team-based problem-solving experience, illustrating the benefits of collaboration. The argument progresses logically, contrasting collaboration with competition, and is coherent throughout. The response's mastery is evident in its clarity and depth, with notable strengths in language use and topic development to maintain.

Well done! Each of these Speaking practice test is designed to help you master different aspects of TOEFL Speaking. Take the next step in your preparation journey by practicing with more tests.

Keep practicing, and watch your confidence grow!

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