Personal vs Professional Development - TOEFL Speaking Practice Test (Independent)

The TOEFL Independent Speaking section tests your ability to think quickly and express your ideas clearly in English. With just 15 seconds to prepare and 45 seconds to respond, you need to organize your thoughts efficiently and present them effectively. Our practice tests will help you master these time-critical skills while developing your speaking abilities.

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 it comes to personal growth, some people believe that developing interpersonal skills is more important, while others think that focusing on technical skills is crucial. Which do you prefer to focus on for your personal development, and why?

Points to Remember

When addressing the question about personal vs professional development, 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 - Personal vs Professional Development

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: "Interpersonal skills, like communication, is important." Delivery is hindered by frequent filler words like "um" and "uh," causing unnatural pauses and choppy speech, e.g., "I prefer, um, to focus on interpersonal skills." Speech clarity is compromised by these hesitations, and pacing is inconsistent. Content development is limited, with repeated ideas: "Interpersonal skills, uh, need practice. So, I think focusing on them is better for me." The response lacks depth, with weak transitions and minimal support for claims. This response earned a score of 1 due to its limited content, coherence, and delivery issues. To score higher, the speaker should reduce filler words, improve grammatical accuracy, and provide more detailed, structured arguments with clear 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, delivery, and topic development. The speaker employs advanced grammar structures, such as "those who excelled in teamwork and communication were more successful," and sophisticated vocabulary like "empathy" and "holistic approach." Complex sentence constructions, such as "While technical skills are undoubtedly important, they can often be learned on the job," demonstrate precise word usage. Delivery is characterised by a natural flow and effective pacing, with clear articulation and smooth transitions, as seen in "Moreover, strong interpersonal skills enhance personal relationships." The content is well-organised, with strong supporting examples, such as the workplace scenario, and a clear progression of ideas, leading to coherent arguments. The response's notable strengths include its sophisticated language and coherent discourse, which should be maintained.

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