Public vs Private Transportation - TOEFL Speaking Practice Test (Independent)

As you prepare for the TOEFL iBT® exam, the TOEFL Speaking Independent Section would ask you to give and justify your opinion on a specific matter. To ace this segment, you need to sharpen a few key abilities such as planning your responses in a well-organised manner and speaking with confidence while providing relevant examples to support your view. You can practice regularly and focus on natural speaking by utilising the timed practice tests to become familiar with real exam conditions. In this way, you will be able to become aware of the structure, improve your speaking skills, and also understand the areas of improvement.

With the TOEFL Speaking Independent Practice Test on 'Public vs Private Transportation', the focus lies on setting clear thoughts in order where you need to speak with fluency and clarity and explain your opinion with examples to support the viewpoint. These skills would get you ready for the TOEFL exam and would also help boost your self-confidence to deliver your speech in English language.

Are you ready to acquire the speaking skills? 

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.

When considering your daily commute, do you prefer using public transportation, such as buses and trains, or private transportation, like driving your own car? Explain your reasons for choosing one over the other.

Points to Remember

When addressing the question about public vs private transportation, 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 - Public vs Private Transportation

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 missing articles in "better for environment" and tense inconsistency in "I used to take the bus to work, and it was, uh, cheaper." Delivery is hindered by frequent filler words like "um," "uh," and "you know," which disrupt the flow, alongside unnatural pauses after phrases like "I prefer, um, using public transportation." Speech clarity is compromised by choppy pacing and fragmented delivery. Content development is limited, with repeated points such as "Public transport is cheaper" and "better for environment," lacking depth and support. Transitions are weak, and the response relies heavily on repetition. This response earned a score of 1 due to its limited coherence and content, with frequent language and delivery issues. To improve, the speaker should focus on reducing filler words, enhancing grammatical accuracy, and developing more structured, supported arguments.

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 "especially with rising fuel prices," and sophisticated vocabulary like "cost-effectiveness" and "carbon footprint." Complex sentence constructions are evident in phrases like "using buses or trains allows me to relax or catch up on reading during the journey." The word usage is precise, enhancing clarity. Delivery is characterised by a natural flow and effective pacing, with clear articulation and smooth transitions, as seen in the seamless shift from discussing cost to environmental benefits. The content is well-organised, with strong supporting examples, such as the personal anecdote about university commuting, which illustrates the financial and stress-relief benefits. The response demonstrates mastery in maintaining coherence and progression of ideas, with notable strengths in language use and topic development.

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