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.

Consumer Choices - TOEFL Speaking Integrated Practice Test

Home Practice Tests TOEFL Speaking Practice Tests

Consumer Choices - TOEFL iBT® Speaking Integrated Practice Test with Responses

Sanskriti Gupta

5 min read

Updated On May 29, 2024

The TOEFL Speaking section assesses how well a test taker can communicate in the English language. However, within this section, there is a task known as the ‘Speaking Integrated Task’, which evaluates a candidate’s ability to integrate information from written and spoken sources and convey opinions clearly.

This part of the test measures various aspects of spoken English, including pronunciation, fluency, vocabulary use, and coherence. So, we have designed a Speaking Integrated practice test on the topic ‘Consumer Choices’ to help you enhance these skills. This test is designed to improve your comprehension strategies, identify key information, and manage time effectively during the exam.

Instructions

The narrator will introduce you to the question format, consisting of a lecture on a specific topic.
Subsequently, you will be asked to respond to a question, integrating information from the lecture.
After hearing the question, you will have 30 seconds to prepare your response and 60 seconds to deliver it.

Consumer Choices

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

Audio Transcript of Speaking Integrated Test on ‘Consumer Choices’

Narrator: Listen to part of a lecture in a business class.

Female Professor: What factors influence a consumer's decision when faced with choosing between two products of equal cost? Let's say there's a buyer comparing two items priced equally. In this scenario, which item will they opt for? Naturally, they'll select the one they perceive as being of superior quality. But what defines a high-quality product? Typically, industry experts discuss two primary aspects of quality—reliability and features.

Let's talk about reliability. What does reliability mean? Well, a product earns its reliability badge if it functions as expected and can endure a reasonable duration without requiring repairs. For instance, if a car malfunctions prematurely and needs frequent repairs, we label it as unreliable. Therefore, product reliability essentially refers to the absence of unexpected defects or issues. Previously, when people evaluated product quality, they primarily focused on reliability. However, things have changed today. Reliability still matters, but with current high manufacturing standards, like in the case of cars, most vehicles are quite reliable. Thus, while reliability remains crucial, it may not be the sole determining factor.

If reliability is no longer the determining factor, what is? Features—those additional elements, the aspects a product possesses that aren't essential but enhance usability or add appeal: for instance, modern cars are equipped with features such as power windows, sunroofs, air conditioning, stereo systems, and more. In today's product comparisons, consumers prioritize features—since reliability is relatively consistent across the board. This explains why manufacturers incorporate numerous features into their products.

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

Question:

Using points and examples from the lecture, explain the two major factors of product quality and how their role in consumer decision making has changed.

Preparation Time: 30 Seconds

Response Time: 60 Seconds

Responses with Rater’s Comment for TOEFL Speaking Test - ‘Consumer Choices’

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

High-Level Answer Audio Transcript:

The lecture discusses two significant factors influencing product quality: reliability and features. Reliability refers to a product's ability to function as expected and withstand a reasonable duration without needing repairs. For instance, uh, a reliable car would not frequently malfunction or require constant repairs. In the past, consumers primarily judged product quality based on reliability. However, with advancements in manufacturing, most products, such as cars, are now highly reliable, making reliability less of a deciding factor for consumers.

On the other hand, um, features are additional elements that enhance a product's usability or appeal, such as power windows, sunroofs, and stereo systems in cars. In contemporary consumer decisions, features have become more critical than reliability. This shift is due to the standardization of reliability across products, leading consumers to, uh, prioritize features that differentiate one product from another. Therefore, while reliability remains essential, features play a more significant role in influencing consumer decisions today. (154 words)

Rater’s Comment:

The candidate effectively describes reliability as a product's ability to function without needing frequent repairs and highlights how advancements in manufacturing have led to higher reliability standards across products. The discussion on features as elements that enhance a product's appeal is also well articulated along with examples. The candidate demonstrates an understanding of the lecture's content and accurately conveys the shift in consumer priorities from reliability to features in contemporary decision-making. However, the response contains several filler words and pauses, indicated by "uh" and "um," which can detract from the overall fluency and delivery. Overall, while the response effectively addresses the key points of the lecture, refining fluency and organization would enhance its clarity and impact.

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

Mid-Level Answer Audio Transcript:

For instance, when you're considering purchasing two items with identical prices, the factors you need to consider are the, uh, quality, given their equal cost. So, what exactly do we mean by quality? Um, we're examining both the reliability and the features. So when is it reliable, it should work the way it should work, while with the, uh, features, what are present in the product, while features encompass what additional attributes the product offers. Nowadays, consumers tend to prioritize features over reliability when making purchases. They look more on the things that are present and not on its use, which may not always be necessary. Therefore, consumers often emphasize features over dependability. (113 words)

Rater’s Comment:

While the speaker’s pronunciation is clear and intonation is effective, the content is quite vague and lacking in depth. Listeners unfamiliar with the lecture she is referencing would struggle to comprehend it solely from her response. Although she touches on a few main points from the lecture, she fails to establish clear connections between her ideas using useful transitional phrases, making it challenging for the listener to track the content and the phrase "for instance" at the beginning detracts from the clarity and professionalism of the argument. Furthermore, she overlooks specific details, such as the example of purchasing a car, which could have clarified her points. Although she attempts to discuss two elements of quality, reliability, and features, her explanation remains vague and incomplete.

What are your thoughts on that TOEFL Speaking Integrated Practice test on ‘Consumer Choices’? Let us know in the comments what you would have done differently and check out the TOEFL iBT Exam Pattern and Syllabus.