Hand-made vs Store-bought Gifts - TOEFL Speaking Practice Test (Independent)

Mastering the TOEFL Independent Speaking Task requires a combination of clear expression and logical organization. This section evaluates how well you can present and support your views on everyday topics. Our carefully designed practice materials will help you develop the confidence and skills needed to excel in this challenging task.

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:

When giving a gift, some people prefer to give hand-made gifts, while others choose store-bought ones. Which do you prefer to give, and why? Use specific reasons and examples to support your choice.

Points to Remember

When addressing the question about hand-made vs store-bought gifts, 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. Your response should be concise yet detailed enough to demonstrate your speaking abilities within the time limit.

Answer Key with Explanation for TOEFL Independent Speaking Test - Hand-made vs Store-bought Gifts

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 earns a Score 1 due to significant language errors, delivery issues, and content development problems. Language errors include subject-verb agreement mistakes, such as "Hand-made gifts is, you know, unique," and tense inconsistency, as in "I once make a card for my friend." Delivery is hindered by excessive filler words like "um," "like," and "you know," which disrupt fluency and create unnatural pauses. Speech clarity is compromised by choppy pacing and fragmented delivery. Content development is weak, with repeated phrases like "Store-bought gifts are, like, not unique" and "Hand-made gifts are, um, more thoughtful," lacking depth and support. The response is limited in coherence and fails to develop ideas beyond basic assertions. To improve, the speaker should focus on reducing filler words, ensuring grammatical accuracy, and expanding on ideas with specific examples and 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 "It took time and effort, but she appreciated the thought and care that went into it," demonstrating complex sentence construction. Sophisticated vocabulary choices like "unique charm" and "tailored to the recipient's tastes" enhance the response's precision. The delivery is characterised by a natural flow and effective pacing, with smooth transitions between ideas, such as "Additionally, they often have a unique charm that store-bought gifts lack." The content is well-organised, with a clear progression of ideas supported by specific examples, like the anecdote about knitting a scarf. The response's coherence and the speaker's ability to articulate a personal preference with supporting reasons highlight notable strengths to maintain.

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