Two tasks in the current Speaking section
The 2026 TOEFL iBT Speaking section is built around two focused tasks. In Listen and Repeat, you hear short sentences and repeat them. In Take an Interview, you answer questions in a simulated academic or campus situation. These tasks ask for both accurate speech and effective spoken communication.
The current Speaking tasks described by ETS.
Task | What you do | What to practise |
|---|---|---|
Listen and Repeat | Repeat short sentences after hearing them. | Attention to the full sentence, word endings, rhythm and intelligibility. |
Take an Interview | Answer questions about experiences and opinions. | A direct answer, natural pace, relevant detail and clear organization. |
Practise repeating what you hear
Listen for the sentence as a complete unit, including small grammatical words and endings. Repeat it at a steady pace, keeping the original meaning and word order. Recording yourself can reveal whether words disappear, endings are unclear, or your speech becomes difficult to follow when you hurry.
Practise short sentences first, then gradually add longer ones.
Focus on clear consonants and word endings instead of forcing an accent.
Review accuracy and intelligibility separately: what you said and how clearly it could be understood.
Answer an interview question with a clear shape
Start by answering the actual question. Add a reason, a detail, or a brief example to make the answer specific, then stop when the point is complete. A short pause to organize one idea is usually more effective than filling the whole response with repeated phrases. Use vocabulary you can control accurately.
Build a realistic practice loop
Use a mix of prompts about everyday campus situations, personal experiences and opinions. Record responses, listen once for whether the answer addresses the question, and listen again for pace, grammar and intelligibility. Change one thing at a time in the next attempt.
ETS gives Speaking a base estimate of about 8 minutes and 11 items; time and item counts may vary as the test adapts. You record responses using a microphone.
Avoid old task templates
Many older preparation materials focus on an independent opinion task and integrated tasks that combine reading and listening. ETS now lists Listen and Repeat and Take an Interview for the current Speaking section. Check the date and format of any course, practice book, or online sample before investing preparation time.