Music vs Podcasts - TOEFL Speaking Practice Test (Independent)

The Speaking Independent Section of the TOEFL iBT® exam assesses your speaking ability in terms of a number of criteria such as fluency, hesitation, or taking a lot of pauses while speaking, and pronunciation. This section evaluates on your organisation skills which means that you should know how to make your ideas flow logically while using the appropriate language. In addition to that, grammar, diction, or vocabulary will also be assessed based on the accuracy of your thoughts.

You can practice with the TOEFL Speaking Independent Practice test on 'Music vs Podcasts' which can give you an idea of the areas you need to work on since it has sample responses and the rater's comments. The content of your response is paramount as it should be put forward within the given time frame and the answer should hold relevant reasoning. With regular practice and consistent efforts, you will acquire the skills needed to ace the Speaking Section in the TOEFL exam.

So, are you ready to dig in? Let's start!

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 you have some free time, do you prefer to listen to music or podcasts? Explain your reasons for choosing one over the other, and provide specific examples from your personal experience to support your preference.

Points to Remember

When addressing the question about music vs podcasts, 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. You have just 45 seconds for your responses. Therefore, you should first brainstorm your ideas to structure the response and focus on its conciseness. You might feel nervous but you will always be able to think better once you stay calm. Remember to focus on giving the best answer which is coherent instead of thinking about making mistakes.

Answer Key with Explanation for TOEFL Independent Speaking Test - Music vs Podcasts

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 and limited content development. Language errors include subject-verb agreement issues, such as "Music help me relax," where "help" should be "helps." The response also contains filler words like "um," "uh," and "you know," which disrupt fluency, and unnatural pauses, particularly after "I prefer, um, listening to music." Repeated content, such as "Music is my choice because it is relaxing," highlights a lack of depth and variety in ideas. The response lacks specific examples and transitions, making it choppy and fragmented. To score higher, the speaker should focus on improving grammatical accuracy, reducing filler words, and providing more detailed and varied content with clear transitions. Enhancing speech clarity and pacing would also contribute to a more coherent and engaging response.

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 "Music has a unique ability to evoke emotions," and sophisticated vocabulary like "versatile" and "soothing atmosphere." Complex sentence constructions are evident in "whether it's upbeat pop for a workout or mellow jazz for a quiet evening," demonstrating precise word usage. Delivery is characterised by a natural flow and effective pacing, with clear articulation and smooth transitions, as seen in the seamless shift from discussing music's relaxing qualities to its versatility. The content is well-organised, with strong supporting examples, such as listening to classical music while reading, illustrating clear idea progression and coherent arguments. These elements showcase mastery, with notable strengths in language use and topic development to maintain.

Want to practice some more? Utilise more practice tests like these so that it will show you how to find and tackle your areas of improvement in the TOEFL Speaking section.

Success comes with dedication and regular practice!

Also Read:

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