Student Help Desk - TOEFL Speaking Practice Test with Answers (Integrated)

The TOEFL Speaking Section tests a candidate's overall English communication skills, however, the Speaking Integrated Task takes it a step further. This task specifically evaluates your capacity to integrate knowledge from reading and hearing passages and present it in a logical manner in your response.

The Speaking Integrated Task evaluates various aspects of spoken English proficiency, including pronunciation, fluency, vocabulary usage, and overall coherence. To help you refine these skills, we have prepared a dedicated Speaking Integrated practice test centered on the topic "Student Help Desk"

Let's begin your practice journey with this TOEFL Speaking Integrated Task and enhance your comprehension and communication strategies!

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 is introducing a new Student Help Desk to assist students with various issues.

Student Help Desk

The university is pleased to announce the establishment of a new Student Help Desk, located in the main library. This service aims to provide students with assistance on a range of issues, including academic advising, technical support, and general campus information. The Help Desk will be staffed by trained student assistants and will operate from 9 AM to 5 PM, Monday through Friday. This initiative is part of the university's ongoing commitment to enhance student support services and ensure a more accessible and efficient means of addressing student needs.

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 opinion of Speaker A about the new Student Help Desk and explain his reasons for holding that opinion.

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 Help Desk

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 of 1 due to significant language and content issues. Language errors include subject-verb agreement problems, such as "He think it's a good idea" and "He suggest maybe they should extend," and incorrect modal verb usage, as in "he worry if there is enough staff." Delivery is hindered by frequent filler words like "um" and "uh," and unnatural pauses, particularly after "Speaker A, um," and "But, um, he does think." Speech clarity is compromised by choppy pacing. Content development is weak, with repeated ideas like "the hours are not enough" and missing key points, such as the benefit of peer support from trained assistants. The response lacks coherence and fails to fully address the task. To improve, the speaker should focus on grammatical accuracy, clearer delivery, and more comprehensive content coverage.

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, such as "He acknowledges the potential benefits but is concerned about its limited operating hours," and sophisticated vocabulary like "sceptical" and "accommodate." The response features complex sentence constructions, exemplified by "Despite these concerns, he recognises the initiative's potential value but believes improvements could be made." Delivery is marked by a natural flow and effective pacing, with clear articulation and smooth transitions between ideas. Content development is strong, with a clear organisation and coherent arguments, as seen in the progression from acknowledging benefits to suggesting improvements. This response demonstrates mastery through its precise word usage and coherent discourse, maintaining high intelligibility throughout.

Congratulations on completing this practice test! Looking to further enhance your speaking abilities? Our comprehensive practice materials are specifically crafted to help you identify and overcome your challenges in the TOEFL Speaking section.

Success comes with dedication and regular practice!

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• TOEFL iBT® Exam Pattern and Syllabus: All You Need to Know 
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