Student Health Insurance - 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 "Student Health Insurance" 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 a change in the student health insurance policy.

Student Health Insurance

The university has announced a new student health insurance policy effective from the next academic year. The policy mandates that all students must have health insurance coverage, either through the university's plan or a private provider. This change aims to ensure that all students have access to necessary medical services without financial burden. Additionally, the university's plan will now include mental health services and dental care, which were previously not covered. Students are encouraged to review their current health insurance options and make necessary arrangements before the start of the semester.

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 male speaker's opinion about the new student health insurance policy and explain his reasons for agreeing or disagreeing.

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 - Student Health Insurance

We'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 earns a Score 1 due to significant language and delivery issues. Language errors include subject-verb agreement, such as "not everyone need the same coverage," and incorrect pronoun reference, as in "He says some students already have a good private plan." Delivery is hindered by frequent filler words like "um" and "uh," which appear in phrases such as "The male speaker, um, he is not sure," causing unnatural pauses and choppy speech. Content development is weak, with repeated ideas like "it should be optional" and missing key points, such as the benefits of mental health and dental care. The response lacks coherence and fails to fully address the task. To improve, the speaker should focus on reducing filler words, ensuring grammatical accuracy, and providing a more comprehensive analysis of the male speaker's opinion.

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 "He argues that some students may already have adequate private insurance and should not be compelled to switch or pay for additional coverage," showcasing complex sentence construction and precise word usage. The vocabulary is sophisticated, with terms like "mandatory nature" and "compelled." Delivery is marked by a natural flow and effective pacing, with clear articulation and smooth transitions, as seen in the progression from discussing the policy's mandatory aspect to the hope for more flexible options. Content development is strong, with a clear organisation and coherent arguments, effectively supporting the male speaker's sceptical stance. The response demonstrates mastery through its detailed analysis and logical progression, maintaining high intelligibility and coherence throughout.

Great job completing this practice test! Ready to take your speaking skills to the next level? We provide numerous practice opportunities tailored to help you improve specific aspects of your TOEFL Speaking performance.

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