Science Lab Safety Rules - TOEFL Speaking Practice Test with Answers (Integrated)

The TOEFL Speaking Section's Integrated Task represents a sophisticated assessment of language abilities. It tests your capacity to understand complex information from multiple sources and present it in a clear, organized manner.

This challenging task requires excellence in various linguistic aspects: precise pronunciation, natural fluency, appropriate vocabulary, and coherent expression. We've created this targeted practice test on "Science Lab Safety Rules" to help you develop these essential capabilities.

Prepare to strengthen your integrated speaking skills! Let's begin this practice session and develop your expertise in handling this complex task.

Instructions:

• You will first read a short passage about a campus-related announcement or proposed change. You will have 45 seconds to read the passage.
• Then you will listen to a conversation between two speakers discussing their opinions about the announcement or change.
• After the conversation ends, you will be asked to respond to a question about what you read and heard.
• You will have 30 seconds to prepare your response.
• You will have 60 seconds to speak about the speaker's opinion and the reasons they give for holding that opinion.

The university has announced new safety rules for science labs to ensure student safety.

Science Lab Safety Rules

The university is implementing new safety rules for all science laboratories on campus. These rules include mandatory safety goggles and lab coats for all students and staff while in the lab. Additionally, there will be a compulsory safety training session at the beginning of each semester. The aim is to enhance safety awareness and prevent accidents. Compliance with these rules will be strictly monitored, and non-compliance may result in restricted access to lab facilities. These changes are part of the university's commitment to maintaining a safe learning environment for everyone.

Directions: After the passage appears, a timer located at the top of your computer screen will commence counting down the time allocated for reading. Once the reading time concludes, the passage will disappear from the screen, replacing an image showing a student.

Now, listen to this Audio and answer the question that follows and answer the question that follows.

Directions: Once the lecture concludes, the picture of the two students will be replaced by a screen instructing you to prepare to answer the question. Subsequently, the following question will appear on the screen and will be read aloud by a narrator.

Question

State the woman's opinion about the new safety rules and explain her reasons for agreeing with them.

Hold on to those answer sheets! Before you jump into the sample response, make sure to go through our top 7 Tips for TOEFL preparation. 

Answer Key with Explanation for TOEFL Speaking Test - Science Lab Safety Rules

e've provided two sample responses at different proficiency levels (mid-level and high-level). By comparing the differences, you'll gain valuable insights into the key elements that contribute to achieving a top score on the TOEFL exam.

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

Rater’s Comment:

The response demonstrates significant language errors, such as subject-verb agreement issues in "The woman, um, she thinks the new safety rules is good" and tense inconsistency in "she seen accidents before." Article usage is incorrect in "safety should be priority," and pronoun reference is unclear in "she didn't mention about the monitoring." Delivery is hindered by frequent filler words like "um" and "uh," causing unnatural pauses and choppy speech, as seen in "The woman, um, she thinks." Content development is weak, with repeated ideas like "safety is important" and missing key points about monitoring. The response earned a score of 1 due to limited content, coherence, and delivery issues. To improve, the speaker should focus on grammatical accuracy, reducing fillers, and providing a more structured and comprehensive response.

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

Rater’s Comment:

The response earns a score of 4 due to its comprehensive fulfilment of the task's demands, with only minor lapses. Language strengths are evident in the use of advanced grammar structures, such as "she argues that regular training keeps everyone updated," and sophisticated vocabulary like "fostering a culture of safety." The response demonstrates complex sentence constructions, for instance, "she views the monitoring and restricted access for non-compliance as a necessary measure." Precise word usage is maintained throughout. Delivery is marked by a natural flow and effective pacing, with clear articulation and smooth transitions, as seen in the seamless progression of ideas. Content development is strong, with a clear organisation and coherent arguments, supported by effective examples, such as the woman's reasoning for supporting safety gear and training. These elements collectively demonstrate mastery, justifying the high score.

Did you nail the practice test? Fantastic! Let's keep that momentum rolling. We offer a wealth of personalized practice tests specifically designed to address your weaknesses and boost your TOEFL Speaking skills.

The more you practice, the more confident you'll become!

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