Dining Hall Payment Methods - 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 "Dining Hall Payment Methods."

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 is changing the payment methods in the dining hall to improve efficiency and convenience for students.

Dining Hall Payment Methods

The university dining services have announced a new payment system to be implemented next semester. The current cash-only system will be replaced with a digital payment method, allowing students to use their university ID cards or mobile payment apps. This change aims to reduce wait times and streamline the payment process. Additionally, the new system will provide students with the ability to track their dining expenses online, offering greater transparency and budgeting assistance. The university believes this update will enhance the overall dining experience for students.

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 new dining hall payment system and explain her reasons for agreeing with it.

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 - Dining Hall Payment Methods

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 demonstrates significant language errors, such as subject-verb agreement issues: "she think" instead of "she thinks," and tense inconsistency: "she say" instead of "she says." Filler words like "um," "uh," and "you know" are pervasive, disrupting fluency and causing unnatural pauses. The delivery is choppy, with unclear speech and uneven pacing, making it difficult to follow. Content development is weak, with repeated phrases like "she think it will be beneficial" and missing key points, such as the woman's privacy concerns. Transitions are poor, and the response lacks depth, failing to fully address the task. 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 content.

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

Rater’s Comment:

The response earns a score of 4 due to its comprehensive fulfilment of the task's demands, with only minor lapses. The speaker effectively uses advanced grammar, such as "Although she acknowledges the man's concerns," and sophisticated vocabulary like "significantly speed up" and "optimistic about the potential benefits." The complex sentence constructions, such as "She believes that using university ID cards or mobile apps will significantly speed up the payment process," demonstrate precise word usage. Delivery is fluid, with a natural flow and effective pacing, as seen in the smooth transition from discussing convenience to addressing privacy concerns. The content is well-organised, with clear idea progression and coherent arguments, such as the woman's trust in data security and backup systems. This response showcases mastery in language use and delivery, with notable strengths in maintaining clarity and coherence throughout.

Well done on finishing this practice test! Whether you're just starting or fine-tuning your skills, we have more practice materials waiting for you. Each test is designed to help you master different aspects of TOEFL Speaking.

Keep practicing, and watch your confidence grow!

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