Early vs Late Career Changes - TOEFL Speaking Practice Test (Independent)

To score well in the TOEFL Speaking Independent section of the TOEFL iBT® exam, you need to focus on preparation and attempt realistic practice tests. The goal is to prove that you can organise your ideas logically and provide justifications or examples to support your point of view and speak fluently. This is how you wiil be assessed in the TOEFL Speaking Independent Section based on your use of language as vocabulary, grammar, pronunciation, and overall coherence in giving a spoken response.

The TOEFL Speaking Independent Practice Test on 'Early vs Late Career Changes' will help you to prepare well in the TOEFL exam. While practicing, set a timer as if you were in an actual exam by simulating the real exam. This trains you on time management and also helps keep the responses sharp and concise within 45 seconds. Therefore, practice brainstorming to keep your thoughts organise.

Are you prepared to level up your preparation?

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 making a career change early in life is beneficial, while others think that changing careers later in life can be more advantageous. Which do you prefer and why? Provide specific reasons and examples to support your choice.

Points to Remember

When addressing the question about early vs late career changes, consider these key points to craft a well-rounded response. You must clearly state your position and provide specific reasons to justify your opinion. Include relevant examples and maintain a clear, logical organization. Personal experiences or real-life examples make your answers more genuine and relatable. Your response should be concise yet detailed enough to demonstrate your speaking abilities within the time limit. If you struggle to find the right word, try to paraphrase rather than pause for too long.

Answer Key with Explanation for TOEFL Independent Speaking Test - Early vs Late Career Changes

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:

Rater’s Comment:

The response demonstrates significant language errors, such as subject-verb agreement issues in "someone who change career" and tense inconsistency in "moved from engineering to art." Pronoun reference is unclear with "They, uh, moved," and modal verb usage is incorrect in "Young people can take risks more easily." Delivery is hindered by frequent filler words like "Um" and "uh," causing unnatural pauses and choppy pacing, particularly in "Um, changing careers early gives more time to find what you like." Content development is limited, with repeated ideas such as "early career change is good because it gives more time to explore" and weak transitions, as seen in "But, uh, I forgot to mention." This response earned a score of 1 due to its limited coherence and delivery issues. To improve, the speaker should focus on reducing filler words, ensuring grammatical accuracy, and developing more structured content with clear transitions.

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

High-Level Answer Audio Transcript:

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 "when I was 25, I switched from teaching to marketing," demonstrating control over complex sentence constructions. Sophisticated vocabulary choices like "adaptable" and "fulfilling career path" 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 progression from personal experience to general benefits. The content is well-organised, with strong supporting examples, such as the personal anecdote of career change at 25, which effectively illustrates the argument. The coherent progression of ideas and logical argumentation underscore the response's mastery. The notable strengths to maintain include the use of precise vocabulary and the ability to articulate complex ideas clearly.

Great job completing this practice test! Ready to take your speaking skills to the next level? By practising numerous practice test papers, you will get several opportunities to improve specific aspects of your TOEFL Speaking performance.

Remember that each practice session brings you one step closer to your goal! So why wait longer? Let's check out the next practice test.

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• Taking Risks - TOEFL iBT® Speaking Independent Practice Test Paper with Responses