The speaking section is the third section of the TOEFL test. It has 4 different question types, including one independent question and three integrated ones. Since you only have limited time to prepare your answer, improving your scores in the speaking section can be tough. To help you with that, I have come up with structure templates for the TOEFL Speaking Integrated Task 2 that can help you score higher.
This blog post is part of a series where I post templates for all TOEFL Speaking and TOEFL Writing questions. As a part of this series, I will introduce you to structure templates for 4 speaking and 2 writing tasks, along with model answers written based on those templates.
This is the fourth post: How to Respond to the TOEFL Speaking Integrated Task 2.
If you’re new to the TOEFL, make sure to heck out the previous TOEFL Writing tips and TOEFL Speaking tips.
In TOEFL Speaking Integrated Task 2, you are given a reading passage, which is usually an announcement or a letter on a campus-related situation, and a conversation between a man and a woman about it. In the conversation, you will notice that one of the speakers talks more actively than the other. Make sure to pay extra attention to that speaker’s points and take detailed notes because you will have to talk mostly about what they said in your answer. Remember, DO NOT include your own opinion or something that is not related to the given topic. Your job here is to summarize what is mentioned, not state your opinion.
I will include the reading passage and the conversation script just so you have an idea of what the topic is about when I am explaining the structure using a model answer.
Reading Passage:
Professor Meetings Should No Longer Be Required
Currently, students of our university are required to have a meeting with a professor at least once a semester. Professors talk with the students and help them discover their dreams. But, I think that it shouldn’t be required. One’s dream job cannot be easily found by talking with others. Furthermore, students may find such a meeting (meeting with professors) to be uncomfortable and even come up with pipe dreams sometimes. Students should not be obliged to meet one-on-one with their professors once per semester.
Sincerely, Tom Brooklyn
Conversation:
M: Have you seen the letter?
W: Yeah, something wrong?
M: Hmm… I disagree with the letter. Professors can definitely help students by having face-to-face talks.
W: You think so?
M: Sure, of course students are the ones who make final decisions when choosing their careers. But professors can help students by giving advice and suggestions.
Sometimes, you can’t solve the problem by yourself. And getting some advice from others could be of great help for students.
W: Yeah, sometimes the help is irreplaceable.
M: Right, professors have a lot of experience so they make it easier for you to make the right choices.
W: I get your point.
M: Besides, I’ve never felt uncomfortable during the meetings. The professors always tried not to make the conversation so dull. I just felt like, as if I was talking with my friends.
W: Same here.
M: So, I think students should keep on meeting their professors at least once every semester.
W: I agree with you.
TOEFL Speaking Integrated Task 2 Question:
The man expresses his opinion about the request in the letter. Briefly summarize the letter then state his opinion and reason he gives for holding that opinion.
Model Answer:
According to the letter, mandatory meetings with professors should no longer be required once every semester because the meetings are not effective and are uncomfortable for students. The man disagrees with the letter for two reasons.
First, he believes that meeting with professors can actually be beneficial for students. This is because professors can help students choose their career by giving them advice and suggestions. Since professors have more experience than students, they can help students make the right choice.
Second, he says that he has never felt uncomfortable during the meetings as professors always try to make the conversation lively and not dull. He even felt like he was talking to one of his friends.
For these reasons, the man disagrees with the opinion stated in the letter.
Let’s take a look at the introduction first:
- Summary: The introduction part in Task 2 of the speaking section should include a short summary of the reading passage. This is to give a general idea to the listener about the topic being discussed in the conversation. Try to keep it short and concise, not more than two sentences.
- Opinion: This is where you would include the opinion of the man or the woman. State what he/she thinks about the information in the reading passage.
Moving on to the reasons:
- Reason: This part is where you state the reasons that the man mentioned in the conversation. In a way, it is similar to the independent task. In Task 1, you had to state your opinion and then state 2 reasons to support your opinion. For Task 2, it is the same. The only difference is that you do not have to come up with the two reasons. They are already given in the conversation. The only thing you need to do here is to listen carefully to the conversation and catch the 2 reasons that the man mentions. Make sure to clearly state the man’s reason in a single sentence.
- Transition Words: Make sure you start your reasons with a transition word. This makes your answer look structured and it is easier for the listener to understand.
- Supporting Details: This is the part where you talk about the details provided by the man in the conversation. When the man gives reasons for his opinion, he also provides supporting details to make sure his reason is persuasive and logical. You need to take notes carefully in this part and then paraphrase what the man said using your own words.
Next is conclusion:
For these reasons, the man disagrees with the opinion stated in the letter.
The conclusion here is just a sentence restating the man’s opinion. Remember that conclusions are optional. If you have enough time left, include one, but if you don’t you can skip it and you won’t lose any points.
As a final review, your answer for Task 2 should be structure like this:
This concludes today’s post. See you in the next post!’