The third section of the TOEFL iBT is the Speaking section. This part is made up of four tasks: two independent and four integrated. You do not meet a live examiner but speak directly into a microphone. Your responses are recorded on the computer and then graded by two qualified evaluators.
You are given from 45–60 seconds to record your response. Because this time is relatively short, it is essential to practice extensively before appearing for the TOEFL. Recording and then listening to yourself can be helpful. However, this is one part of the test where you can benefit the most by working with an ESL teacher or joining a TOEFL exam preparation class because you need objective feedback and advice.
In general, speaking clearly, logically and simply is what matters most in the speaking section. Many students think they must use complex sentence structures and high-level vocabulary to impress the examiner and then end up getting nervous and making mistakes. Communicating simply and correctly in an organized way will get you a higher score every time.
Remember, in this section of the test, more than any other, you can do very well if you learn how to implement the right strategies and conversely, you can lose points easily by not understanding all that is asked of you.
