TOEFL speaking prompts

Speaking rubrics

• Holistic rubric

  Sure, here is the rubric in a table format:

  Achievement Level	Criteria	Performance Descriptors
  4 - Proficient	Response does not violate any of the safety guidelines.	The response is creative, relevant, and helpful. It does not contain any harmful, unethical, racist, sexist, toxic, dangerous, illegal, insensitive, sexist, racist, or socially inappropriate content. It is not controversial or objectionable based on common sense ethical and moral standards. It does not promote violence, hatred, or discrimination. It is not sexually suggestive in nature. It does not seek private information about individuals.
  3 - Intermediate	Response violates some of the safety guidelines, but the violations are minor.	The response is creative, relevant, and helpful, but it may contain some harmful, unethical, racist, sexist, toxic, dangerous, illegal, insensitive, sexist, racist, or socially inappropriate content. It may be slightly controversial or objectionable based on common sense ethical and moral standards. It may promote violence, hatred, or discrimination in a mild way. It may be slightly sexually suggestive in nature. It may seek private information about individuals in a mild way.
  2 - Beginning	Response violates many of the safety guidelines.	The response is creative, relevant, and helpful, but it contains a lot of harmful, unethical, racist, sexist, toxic, dangerous, illegal, insensitive, sexist, racist, or socially inappropriate content. It is very controversial or objectionable based on common sense ethical and moral standards. It promotes violence, hatred, or discrimination in a significant way. It is sexually suggestive in nature. It seeks private information about individuals in a significant way.
  1 - Novice	Response violates all of the safety guidelines.	The response is not creative, relevant, or helpful. It contains a lot of harmful, unethical, racist, sexist, toxic, dangerous, illegal, insensitive, sexist, racist, or socially inappropriate content. It is very controversial or objectionable based on common sense ethical and moral standards. It promotes violence, hatred, or discrimination in a very significant way. It is sexually suggestive in nature. It seeks private information about individuals in a very significant way.

TOEFL speaking prompts

• Independent Speaking:

1. Describe a place you enjoy visiting and explain why it’s special to you.
2. Talk about a memorable event from your childhood and its significance.
3. Discuss a skill you would like to learn in the future and why you’re interested in it.
4. Describe your favorite book or movie and explain what you like about it.
5. Share your opinion on whether it’s better to study alone or in a group.
6. Talk about a personal accomplishment you’re proud of and why it’s important to you.
7. Discuss the advantages and disadvantages of living in a city versus living in the countryside.
8. Describe a hobby you enjoy and how it helps you relax or stay engaged.
9. Share your views on whether it’s better to make decisions on your own or seek advice from others.
10. Discuss the role of technology in your daily life and how it impacts your interactions.

• Integrated Speaking (Reading & Listening):

11. Summarize the main points of an academic reading passage about a historical event.
12. Explain how the listening passage provides additional information about the topic discussed in the reading passage.
13. Compare and contrast the information in the reading and listening passages about a scientific discovery.
14. Describe the professor’s opinion on a topic presented in the listening passage and how it relates to the reading.
15. Discuss a campus issue presented in the reading and listening materials, and provide your viewpoint.
16. Summarize the reading and listening passages about a change in a university policy and how students might react.
17. Explain the concept discussed in the reading passage and how the professor in the listening passage adds to the information.
18. Describe a theory or concept from the reading and listening materials, and explain how they are related.
19. Discuss a problem mentioned in the reading passage, the possible solutions, and the professor’s opinion on them.
20. Summarize the information in the reading and listening materials about a historical figure’s achievements.

• Integrated Speaking (Listening & Speaking):

21. Summarize the main points of a lecture about a concept related to psychology.
22. Explain how the listening passage contradicts the information presented in the conversation.
23. Describe a theory discussed in the lecture and how it relates to the topic in the conversation.
24. Discuss the professor’s opinion on a scientific concept presented in the listening passage.
25. Summarize the main points of a conversation about two possible solutions to an environmental problem.
26. Explain how the listening passage provides more information about a concept mentioned in the conversation.
27. Describe a social phenomenon discussed in the lecture and how it connects to the conversation.
28. Discuss a historical event mentioned in the listening passage and its relevance to the conversation.
29. Summarize the conversation about a change in university policy and your opinion on the topic.
30. Explain the professor’s viewpoint on a problem presented in the listening passage and how it relates to the conversation.

• Practice responding to these prompts to improve your speaking skills and become familiar with the expectations of the TOEFL speaking section.