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.

Pet Ownership vs Plant Care - TOEFL Independent Speaking Practice Test

Home Practice Tests TOEFL Speaking Practice Tests

Pet Ownership vs Plant Care - TOEFL Speaking Practice Test (Independent)

Reena Saini

4 min read

Updated On December 21, 2024

"Prepare for the TOEFL Independent Speaking section with the practice test on 'Pet Ownership vs Plant Care' along with sample answers to score higher."

Key Highlights

Question:
Points to Remember
Answer Key with Explanation for TOEFL Independent Speaking Test - Pet Ownership vs Plant Care

Success in the TOEFL Independent Speaking Task requires both effective preparation and strategic response planning. This section challenges you to express your opinions clearly and support them with specific reasons and examples. Our practice materials will help you develop the skills needed to deliver well-structured, confident responses within the time constraints.

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 prefer owning pets, while others enjoy taking care of plants. Which do you prefer and why? Consider aspects such as companionship, responsibility, and personal satisfaction in your response.

Preparation Time: 15 Seconds

Response Time: 45 Seconds

Points to Remember

When addressing the question about pet ownership vs plant care, 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 - Pet Ownership vs Plant Care

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:

I prefer, um, owning pets because they is more, uh, interactive. Pets like dogs and cats, they give you company. They are, um, always there. Plants, they don't move or, uh, talk. Pets need feeding and walking, which is, uh, responsibility. Plants, they just need water. Pets, they are like friends. I had a dog, he was, uh, very friendly. Plants, they are not friendly. Pets, they make you happy. Plants, they are just green. I think pets are better because they are, um, more fun. Uh, pets are, uh, more fun.

Rater’s Comment:

The response earns a score of 1 due to significant language and delivery issues. Language errors include subject-verb agreement, as in "they is more, uh, interactive," and tense inconsistency, such as "I had a dog, he was, uh, very friendly." Filler words like "um" and "uh" appear frequently, disrupting fluency, e.g., "I prefer, um, owning pets." Unnatural pauses occur after almost every phrase, affecting speech clarity and pacing. Content development is weak, with repeated ideas like "Pets, they are like friends" and "Pets, they are, um, more fun," and missing points on personal satisfaction. Transitions are weak, and the response lacks depth. To score higher, the speaker should improve grammatical accuracy, reduce filler words, and develop more coherent and detailed content.

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

High-Level Answer Audio Transcript:

I prefer owning pets over taking care of plants because of the companionship they offer. For instance, my dog, Max, provides me with constant company and emotional support, which plants cannot. Pets, unlike plants, interact with you, creating a bond that is both rewarding and fulfilling. Additionally, the responsibility of caring for a pet, such as feeding and walking, adds structure to my daily routine, which I find beneficial. While plants do offer a sense of accomplishment when they thrive, they lack the dynamic interaction that pets provide. Therefore, the emotional connection and companionship that pets offer make them my preferred choice over plants.

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 "the responsibility of caring for a pet, such as feeding and walking, adds structure to my daily routine," demonstrating control over complex sentences. Sophisticated vocabulary choices like "companionship," "emotional support," and "dynamic interaction" enhance the response's precision. The delivery is characterised by a natural flow and effective pacing, with clear articulation and smooth transitions, as seen in the seamless shift from discussing companionship to responsibility. The content is well-organised, with strong supporting examples, such as the personal anecdote about "my dog, Max," which effectively illustrates the speaker's preference. The response's coherence and logical progression of ideas, alongside its minor lapses, showcase the speaker's mastery, making it a high-level performance.

Excellent work on completing this practice! Ready for more challenges? We offer a wide range of practice tests specifically designed to strengthen your speaking skills and boost your TOEFL performance.

Every practice session builds your path to success!

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