Mental Health Resources - TOEFL Speaking Practice Test with Answers (Integrated)

In the TOEFL examination, the Integrated Speaking Task stands as a comprehensive test of advanced language skills. It evaluates how effectively you can process and present information from both written and spoken sources.

Mastering this task requires proficiency in multiple areas: clear articulation, smooth delivery, precise vocabulary usage, and logical organization. This carefully designed practice test centered on "Mental Health Resources" will help you develop mastery in each of these crucial areas.

Let's begin this focused practice session and build the skills you need for success in the Integrated Speaking Task!

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 introducing a new mental health initiative to support students.

Mental Health Resources 

The university is pleased to announce the launch of a new mental health initiative aimed at providing comprehensive support to students. This initiative includes the establishment of a 24/7 mental health helpline, offering immediate assistance and guidance. Additionally, the university will host weekly workshops focusing on stress management, mindfulness, and resilience building. These resources are designed to create a supportive environment and promote mental well-being among students. The university encourages all students to take advantage of these services to enhance their academic and personal lives.

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 speakers' opinions about the new mental health initiative and explain their reasons for agreeing or disagreeing.

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 - Mental Health Resources

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.

Mid-Level Answer Audio Transcript:

In the conversation, um, Speaker A and Speaker B talks about the new mental health initiative. Speaker A think the workshops might not be useful because students don't have time. They suggest, uh, online resources would be better. Speaker B, however, is supportive of the initiative, saying the helpline is important. They also think workshops are helpful for stress management. Speaker A repeats that online resources are better, and maybe workshops should be recorded. Speaker B agrees, but they say face-to-face is more impactful. Overall, um, they both agree it's a good step, but, uh, improvements are needed. Speaker A, um, missed to mention the importance of the helpline.

Rater’s Comment:

The response earns a Score 1 due to significant language and content issues. Language errors include subject-verb agreement, as in "Speaker A and Speaker B talks," and tense inconsistency, such as "Speaker A think." Filler words like "um" and "uh" appear frequently, disrupting fluency. Unnatural pauses and choppy delivery further obscure meaning. Content development is weak, with repeated points like "online resources are better" and missing key details, such as the importance of the helpline. Transitions are weak, and the response lacks coherence. To improve, the speaker should focus on reducing filler words, ensuring grammatical accuracy, and providing a more structured response with clear transitions and comprehensive content coverage. These improvements would enhance clarity and coherence, potentially leading to a higher score.

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

Rater’s Comment:

This response earns a score of 4 due to its comprehensive fulfilment of the task's demands, with only minor lapses in completeness. The speaker effectively uses advanced grammar structures, such as "Speaker A expresses some reservations about the initiative," and sophisticated vocabulary like "reservations" and "flexibility." The response demonstrates complex sentence constructions, for instance, "Speaker B acknowledges the benefits of online resources but believes that face-to-face interaction can be more impactful." The word usage is precise, ensuring clarity. Delivery is characterised by a natural flow and effective pacing, with smooth transitions between ideas, such as "On the other hand, Speaker B is quite supportive of the initiative." The content is well-organised, with clear idea progression and coherent arguments, as seen in the balanced discussion of both speakers' perspectives. These elements collectively demonstrate mastery, with notable strengths in language use and topic development to maintain.

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