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TOEFL Speaking Syllabus
Every chapter and topic of Speaking examined in TOEFL — 2 chapters, 4 topics, plus 50 flashcards written against it.
Speaking syllabus — full chapter and topic list
Expand any chapter to see its topics and sub-topics. This is the whole examinable outline for Speaking in TOEFL, not a summary of it.
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Independent Tasks
2 topics- Expressing an opinion on a familiar topic
- Speaking based on personal experience
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Integrated Tasks
2 topics- Speaking based on reading and listening tasks
- Summarizing information from other sources
Speaking flashcards for TOEFL
25 of 50 cards from the Speaking deck — real questions with worked answers.
How many speaking tasks are on the TOEFL iBT Speaking section, and what are the two broad categories?
There are 4 tasks: 1 Independent task and 3 Integrated tasks.
What is the total time for the TOEFL Speaking section?
About 16-17 minutes.
In TOEFL Speaking, what is an 'Independent' task?
A task where you speak using only your own ideas, opinions, and experiences, with no reading or listening material.
In TOEFL Speaking, what is an 'Integrated' task?
A task where you must read and/or listen to source material first, then speak based on that information.
What does Task 1 (the Independent 'Expressing an opinion' task) require you to do?
State and defend a personal opinion or preference on a familiar topic (e.g., a choice, a paired agree/disagree statement).
How long is the preparation time and the response time for TOEFL Speaking Task 1?
15 seconds to prepare and 45 seconds to speak.
What is the recommended structure for a Task 1 (opinion) response?
State your opinion/preference clearly, then give two supporting reasons, each developed with a detail, example, or explanation.
When expressing an opinion on a familiar topic, why is it better to pick a side quickly rather than argue both?
With only 45 seconds you must develop reasons in depth; taking a clear position lets you support it fully instead of splitting limited time between both sides.
Give three useful phrases for stating an opinion in Task 1.
'In my opinion...', 'I strongly believe that...', and 'I would prefer to... rather than...'.
Which speaking task is based purely on personal experience with no source material?
The Independent Task 1 (opinion), which is often supported by drawing on your personal experiences and examples.
Why are personal experiences and specific examples valuable in an Independent speaking response?
They make reasons concrete and convincing, show fluency, and are easier to speak about at length than abstract arguments.
What is a good time split for a 45-second Task 1 response?
Roughly 5-8 seconds to state the opinion, then about 18-20 seconds per reason with supporting detail.
What are the three delivery-quality dimensions scored in TOEFL Speaking?
Delivery (pronunciation, pace, intonation), Language Use (grammar and vocabulary), and Topic Development (content and organization).
On what scale is each individual TOEFL Speaking task scored by raters?
Each task is scored 0-4, then averaged and scaled to a final 0-30 section score.
What does the 'Delivery' rubric category assess?
How clear, fluid, and well-paced your speech is, including pronunciation, intonation, and rhythm.
What does the 'Language Use' rubric category assess?
Your effective and accurate use of grammar and vocabulary, including range and control of structures.
What does the 'Topic Development' rubric category assess?
How fully and coherently you respond, with well-connected, relevant ideas and clear progression.
What is the reading/listening/speaking format of Task 2 (Integrated Campus/Reading + Conversation)?
Read a short campus announcement/proposal, listen to a conversation reacting to it, then summarize the speaker's opinion and reasons.
How long are the preparation and response times for TOEFL Integrated Speaking Tasks 2, 3, and 4?
30 seconds to prepare and 60 seconds to speak.
In Task 2, whose opinion should you report, and what should you do with the reading?
Report the opinion of the speaker in the conversation; use the reading only to briefly state the proposal/change they are reacting to.
What is the typical structure of a Task 2 response?
Briefly state the announcement/proposal, state the speaker's opinion (agree/disagree), then give the two reasons the speaker offers.
What does Task 3 (Integrated Reading + Lecture, academic) require?
Read a short passage defining an academic concept, listen to a lecture giving an example, then explain how the example illustrates the concept.
In Task 3, how should you use the reading passage in your spoken answer?
State the term and its definition briefly, then spend most of your time explaining the professor's example that demonstrates the concept.
What does Task 4 (Integrated Lecture-only, academic) require?
Listen to an academic lecture and summarize the main points and examples the professor uses to explain a concept or process.
Which speaking task has no reading passage and relies entirely on a listening summary?
Task 4, the lecture-only integrated task.
Planning Speaking for TOEFL
Speaking is about 20% of the TOEFL syllabus by topic count — 4 of 20 topics, spread over 2 chapters. At roughly 45 minutes per topic plus 12 minutes per sub-topic, a first pass runs to about 3 hours.
Work top-down: read the chapter, then tick topics off individually rather than marking the whole chapter done. Sub-topics are where silent gaps hide.
Speaking (TOEFL) FAQ
What is in the TOEFL Speaking syllabus?
Speaking is split into 2 chapters — Independent Tasks and Integrated Tasks, containing 4 topics and 0 sub-topics in total.
How many chapters are there in Speaking for TOEFL?
2 chapters. Speaking accounts for about 20% of the topics in the whole TOEFL syllabus (4 of 20).
How long should I spend on Speaking for TOEFL?
Budget around 3 hours for a first pass through Speaking — about 45 minutes per topic plus 12 minutes per sub-topic across its 4 topics. Add revision cycles on top.
Are there flashcards for TOEFL Speaking?
Yes — a 50-card Speaking deck. Sample cards are printed on this page, and the full deck is free in the Examius app with spaced repetition scheduling.