Immediate vs Delayed Gratification - TOEFL Speaking Practice Test (Independent)

In the TOEFL iBT® exam, the ability to express and support personal opinions in the English language is being assessed in the TOEFL Independent Speaking Section. In this section, you have to respond to a question which is being asked on a familiar topic. To ace the test, one has to state their opinion clearly and support theirr perspective with relevant examples. With the comprehensive practice tests which are provided with sample answers and detailed feedback, these will provide you an opportunity to master these skills. 

The purpose of the Speaking Section is to judge on how well you can express yourself and support your ideas while keeping your answer clear and coherent. Attempt the TOEFL Independent Speaking Practice Test on 'Immediate vs Delayed Gratification', you will be aware of the aspects which are the most important and also note your strengths as well as weaknesses to improve on them later. Remember that fluency, pronunciation, vocabulary, and organisation of thoughts are the bases of on which you will be evaluated in the Speaking Section.

So, let's dive into the test paper and get started with improving your skills!

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 it is better to enjoy immediate gratification, such as spending money on a holiday now, while others think it is wiser to delay gratification and save for future needs, like buying a house. Which approach do you prefer and why?

Points to Remember

When addressing the question about immediate vs delayed gratification, 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. Try not to switch topics and talk about unrelated topics which can make their answer unclear or confusing. Remember to ideate and formulate your response mentally before speaking while noting down the points so that you can referr back to it if needed.

Answer Key with Explanation for TOEFL Independent Speaking Test - Immediate vs Delayed Gratification

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: "When people spend money on holiday, they is happy." Tense inconsistency is evident in "I remember when I went on a holiday, it was very enjoyable," mixing past and present. Filler words like "um" and "uh" appear frequently, disrupting fluency. Unnatural pauses occur after "I think, um," and "Spending money on a holiday now is, uh," affecting speech clarity. Content is repetitive, with phrases like "Spending money on holiday is, like, a good way to relax" repeated without elaboration. The response lacks depth, failing to discuss long-term benefits or drawbacks of immediate gratification. 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 substantial content with clear supporting points.

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 "This decision allowed me to make a substantial down payment," and sophisticated vocabulary, including "gratification," "invaluable," and "accomplishment." The complex sentence constructions, like "While immediate pleasures are tempting, the satisfaction of achieving a significant milestone, like home ownership, is far more rewarding," demonstrate precise word usage. Delivery is characterised by a natural flow and effective pacing, with clear articulation and smooth transitions, as seen in the seamless progression from personal example to broader implications. The content is strongly organised, with effective supporting examples and coherent arguments, such as the personal anecdote of saving for a house. The response's notable strengths include its clarity, coherence, and the ability to convey complex ideas succinctly.

Looking to further enhance your speaking abilities? Our comprehensive practice materials are specifically crafted to help you identify and overcome your challenges in the TOEFL Speaking section.

Continue the practice and get your desired scores!

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