TOEFL Speaking: Integrated Task Synthesis 3 — Questions and Answers
Question 1: In the campus-announcement integrated task, the reading passage typically presents what?
- A policy or proposal that the conversation then discusses (Correct answer)
- A scientific lecture on biology
- A short story for analysis
- A list of vocabulary definitions
Correct answer: A policy or proposal that the conversation then discusses
This task pairs a short campus reading (a notice or proposal) with a student conversation reacting to it.
Question 2: When summarizing the student's opinion in the campus task, you should report which of the following?
- The speaker's stance and both reasons supporting it (Correct answer)
- Only your own opinion on the policy
- Just the reading passage details
- The professor's research findings
Correct answer: The speaker's stance and both reasons supporting it
You must convey the student's position plus the two reasons they give for it.
Question 3: What transition word best signals that you are moving from the reading to the speaker's view?
- "The man/woman thinks..." or "According to the speaker..." (Correct answer)
- "In conclusion, I believe..."
- "Once upon a time..."
- "Finally, the test is over..."
Correct answer: "The man/woman thinks..." or "According to the speaker..."
Attributing the opinion clearly to the speaker shows you are reporting, not giving personal views.
Question 4: If you run out of time mid-sentence in an integrated response, what is the best strategy to avoid?
- Cramming every detail so you rush and become unclear (Correct answer)
- Speaking at a steady, intelligible pace
- Prioritizing the main points
- Finishing your current idea cleanly
Correct answer: Cramming every detail so you rush and become unclear
Rushing to include everything harms clarity, which is scored more than completeness.
Question 5: Which of these shows effective synthesis rather than just listing?
- Explaining how the lecture's example supports or refutes the reading's point (Correct answer)
- Reciting the reading, then separately reciting the lecture
- Giving only the reading without the lecture
- Stating your personal preference about the topic
Correct answer: Explaining how the lecture's example supports or refutes the reading's point
Synthesis connects the sources, showing the relationship rather than presenting them in isolation.
Question 6: In Task 4, when the professor gives two examples, your response should ideally do what?
- Briefly cover both examples as they illustrate the concept (Correct answer)
- Discuss only the first example in great depth
- Skip the examples and define the term only
- Add new examples from your own life
Correct answer: Briefly cover both examples as they illustrate the concept
Both professor examples should be summarized to show how each illustrates the concept.
Question 7: Filler hesitations like "um, uh, you know" affect your score how?
- Excessive fillers can lower the delivery/fluency score (Correct answer)
- They raise your score by sounding natural
- They are completely ignored by raters
- They count as vocabulary points
Correct answer: Excessive fillers can lower the delivery/fluency score
Frequent fillers disrupt fluency, which is part of the delivery component of the rubric.
TOEFL Speaking: Integrated Task Synthesis 3
In the campus-announcement integrated task, the reading passage typically presents what?