What is the fee of registering for the TOEFL iBT Paper Edition?

Applicants who choose to take the TOEFL iBT Paper Edition must pay an amount of INR 16,900 for registering, which is the same for TOEFL iBT.

How many times is the TOEFL iBT Home Edition conducted in a month?

The TOEFL iBT Paper Edition is offered once or twice every month.

As the TOEFL iBT exam is conducted in two sessions, do I have to book two dates or one?

You need to schedule two appointments when you register: one at your neighbourhood testing facility and the other at your house.

In some places, why is the duration of the first session of TOEFL iBT Paper Edition written as three and half hours? What is the actual duration?

The test duration at a centre is three hours. An additional thirty minutes is allocated for test administration tasks, such as admitting examinees, allowing them to input identifying information, and managing test materials.

Are there any special requirements for the Speaking section of the TOEFL iBT Paper Edition?

As the Speaking section is conducted from home, please ensure that you have the required setup for both the equipment and environment before registering. You will get the details from the official website.

Home Practice Tests TOEFL Speaking Practice Tests

Online vs Classroom - TOEFL iBT® Speaking Independent Practice Test with Responses

Online vs Classroom - TOEFL Speaking Independent Practice Test with Responses

Sanskriti Gupta

3 min read

Updated On May 29, 2024

The Speaking Section of the TOEFL iBT® exam serves as an important assessment of a candidate’s English communication skills. Achieving success in the Speaking Independent task necessitates dedicated preparation and familiarity with authentic test conditions.

So, we present our customized TOEFL iBT® Independent Speaking Practice Test on the topic ‘Online vs Classroom’, crafted to boost your confidence in approaching this part of the test. This practice test encompasses task instructions, Sample responses and Rater’s comments to provide insights that can help you in achieving your desired TOEFL iBT® score.

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:

Learning through online courses is more effective than learning in the traditional classroom setting.

Preparation Time: 15 Seconds

Response Time: 45 Seconds

Points to Remember

You are asked to express your opinion on whether learning through online courses is more effective than learning in the traditional classroom setting. Subsequently, you must elaborate on your choice, providing thorough and clear reasons supported by details and examples.

For instance, you could state a preference for learning through online courses and then elucidate one or two rationales, such as the flexibility of self-paced learning, access to a diverse range of online resources and materials, or the ability to customize learning experiences to suit individual preferences and needs. If you wish to explore both options' advantages and disadvantages and deem them equally favorable, that is acceptable. However, covering both choices comprehensively within the allotted time may prove challenging.

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

High-Level Answer Audio Transcript:

Learning through online courses is more effective than learning in the traditional classroom setting in my opinion, um, for three reasons. Firstly, you can access the courses from anywhere as long as you have a computer and internet connection. Secondly, discussions in online classes may be easier for students who are uh, shy and find it difficult to engage with friends, the classmates, and professors face to face. They can freely express themselves in front of a computer. Uh, additionally, submitting assignments is much simpler for students. They can just send an email to the professor, who can then provide feed… uh, feedback and comments on the assignments via email. Therefore, I believe that learning through online courses...

Rater’s Comment:

Overall, this response demonstrates a strong argument for the effectiveness of online learning compared to traditional classrooms. The candidate effectively presents three reasons supporting her opinion. However, there are some grammatical errors and hesitations that impact the fluency of the speech. The candidate starts with a clear statement of their opinion but then introduces hesitations such as "um" and "uh," which disrupt the flow of the speech and incomplete words like "feed..." instead of "feedback" indicate some difficulties with word pronunciation or articulation. Despite these minor issues, the candidate effectively explains her reasons for preferring online learning, including accessibility, ease of participation in discussions, and simplified assignment submission. Overall, the candidate's argument is well-developed, but improvement in fluency and pronunciation would enhance the delivery of the response.

Listen to the Audio to hear a Mid-level answer to the provided question.

Mid-Level Answer Audio Transcript:

Learning through online courses is more better than…uh…learning in the traditional classroom because it gives more, uh, flexibility for students. With online courses, students can study at their own pace and they can access the um, material whenever they want. Also, online courses are cheaper than traditional classes, so they are more affor…affordable for many people.

Rater’s Comment:

The response exhibits several grammatical errors, including incomplete sentences and hesitations (e.g., "more better," "uh," "um"). The candidate's points lack specificity and depth, with repetitive phrases and limited elaboration. Fluency and coherence are hindered by frequent pauses and hesitation markers. Additionally, there are pronunciation issues, such as "affor" instead of "affordable." Overall, the response needs improvement in language accuracy, fluency, and content development to make it a high-level response.

What are your thoughts on that test paper? Let us know in the comments below what you think of the sample responses and what would be your take on this question. And don’t forget to check out more TOEFL practice tests and continue your preparation!