University Auditorium - TOEFL iBT® Speaking Integrated Practice Test with Responses

The TOEFL Speaking Section checks your overall English speaking skills, but the Speaking Integrated Task is complex. Here, you need to show you can not only speak well but also understand and combine the information you hear and read into one clear answer.

This part of the test looks at many things, like how you pronounce words, how smoothly you speak, the words you choose, and how well your answer makes sense overall. To help you get better at these things, we have a special practice test for the Speaking Integrated Task on the ‘University Auditorium’. So, let's start your practice for the TOEFL Speaking Integrated Task and improve your listening and reading comprehension!

Instructions

• The narrator will introduce you to the question format, consisting of reading a short academic passage followed by a related lecture on a similar topic.
• Subsequently, you will be asked to respond to a question, integrating information from both the passage and the lecture.
• After hearing the question, you will have 30 seconds to prepare your response and 60 seconds to deliver it.
• Following the initial instructions, the narrator will prompt you to read the passage on ‘University Auditorium’ within 45 seconds.
• The reading passage will be displayed on the screen for your convenience.

The university is making way for a brand new auditorium by removing the old one. This historic building, one of the first on campus, is simply showing its wear and tear. Administrators say it has sagging floors, peeling paint, uncomfortable drafts, and outdated decor. The new auditorium will be a refreshing change, boasting a sleek and modern design. There's another reason for the replacement - the current auditorium is too small for our growing student body. The new one will be significantly larger, offering more seats to accommodate everyone. 

Directions: A clock displayed at the top of your computer screen will indicate the remaining time for reading. Once the reading time ends, an image of a professor teaching a class will appear on the screen. Then, you will hear the following instructions.

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

Directions: Once the lecture concludes, the picture of the professor 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: 

The man expresses his opinion of the university’s plan. State his opinion, and explain the reasons he gives for holding that opinion.

Answer Key with Explanation for TOEFL Speaking Test - ‘University Auditorium’

We have provided two sample answers below at varying levels (High-level and Mid-level). By analyzing the distinctions between them, you will acquire valuable insights into the crucial components that will help you in attaining a high score on the TOEFL test. 

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

Rater’s Comment: 

The response touches on the key point of the passage regarding the historical significance of the auditorium. However, the delivery weakens the overall score. The use of fillers ("uh, you know, like") and informal language ("kinda cool") undermines the formality expected in the TOEFL exam. Additionally, while mentioning it has a "different" feel, it would be stronger to elaborate on the specific "old-timey" atmosphere to showcase your ability to describe and express opinions. 

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

Rater’s Comment:

The response effectively analyzes the conversation about the university's auditorium demolition. You accurately identify the male student's strong opposition and his reasons based on the building's historical significance and unique atmosphere. Phrases like "cool, old-timey feel" and "tangible link to the university's history" demonstrate strong vocabulary usage and a clear understanding of the speaker's perspective. For an even stronger response, you could consider mentioning the female student's counterpoint about the auditorium's size and then explain how the male student ultimately prioritizes history despite this.

What did you think of that  Speaking Integrated task? We'd love to hear your thoughts! Share your feedback and how you would have tackled it under TOEFL exam pressure in the comments below.