TOEFL Speaking 26+
TEMPLATES
AND STRATEGIES
TST Prep - TSB Handout
TOEFL Speaking 26+, Templates and Strategies
TOEFL Speaking 26+
Templates and Strategies
Introduction
The purpose of this document is to provide TOEFL takers with the structure and vocabulary needed to
earn a high score in the TOEFL Speaking section. There is a ton of important and useful information
packed into this document, so take it slow and be sure to experiment.
For TOEFL beginners, it is recommended that you stick to the basic templates and look through other
sections for ideas. When starting out, you should try to keep your responses clear and simple, so stick to
the basic templates at first.
For experienced TOEFL takers, if you have not yet reached your score, one of the reasons may be due to a
lack of vocabulary, which the Advanced Words and Phrases section addresses. You may also be having
some trouble linking words and sounds together, which you can learn more about in the Linking Phrases
and Reduced Words section.
This is only advice. Reading this document alone will not improve your speaking score, which is why one of
our principles states the following:
Principle #2: Active thought and consistent practice are required.
Be sure to take this information and use it when you practice. Through exercise, you will discover which
words and phrases feel most comfortable.
Basic Templates
There are four questions in the TOEFL Speaking section. This document will not discuss the structure of
each question in the speaking section. If you would like to know about the speaking section, refer back to
TST Prep’s TOEFL Quick Guide. The purpose of this part is to share the basic templated response for each
question, along with a time breakdown so you know how to pace yourself when you speak.
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TOEFL Speaking 26+, Templates and Strategies
BASIC TEMPLATE: QUESTION 1
Template
Content
Time
To me, I definitely think that…
- Restate the question
- Give your opinion
- One specific reason for your opinion
0 - 10 seconds
I remember when...
- A personal example or anecdote
connected to your reason
11 - 22 seconds
*On top of that...
- State the second reason for your opinion
23 - 27 seconds
*For example...
- Provide a personal example or anecdote
connected to the second reason
28 - 40 seconds
So, to sum up...
- Restate your opinion
- Restate the question
41-45 seconds
*These rows are optional. You can respond with either two reasons and examples or just one.
BASIC TEMPLATE: QUESTION 2
Template
Content
Time
The reading passage (announces a change on
campus/proposes a change to campus policy).
In particular… (state the change or proposal).
- Introduce the reading passage
- State the change or proposal
0 - 15 seconds
The man/woman in the conversation is (in favor of/against)
this idea.
To start, he/she says that… (explain the 1st reason for
his/her stance).
- Transition to the conversation
- State one speaker’s opinion
- State one specific reason
16 - 35 seconds
Secondly, he/she explains that (describe the 2nd reason for
his/her stance).
- State the second specific reason
36 - 54 seconds
As you can see, the man/woman in the listening clearly
agrees/disagrees with this plan.
- Restate the speaker’s stance
55 - 60 seconds
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TOEFL Speaking 26+, Templates and Strategies
BASIC TEMPLATE: QUESTION 3
Template
Content
Time
According to the reading, (topic) is (topic definition).
- Introduce the reading topic
- Define the topic
0 - 10 seconds
In the lecture, the professor delves deeper into this subject by
providing an example of/two examples of (topic).
To start, the lecturer explains that (first example of topic).
- Transition to the lecture
- State first example
- Expand on first example
11 - 32 seconds
He/She goes on to say (second example of topic).
- State second example
- Expand on second example
33 - 54 seconds
So, after listening, I now have a better understanding of what
(topic) is.
- Provide conclusion to topic
55 - 60 seconds
BASIC TEMPLATE: QUESTION 4
Template
Content
Time
The professor goes into a ton of detail about (topic),
which (detail/definition).
- Introduce the topic
- Elaborate on the topic
0 - 12 seconds
After introducing the topic, the lecturer mentions that
(example 1 including details).
- Introduce first example
- Give details about first example
13 - 34 seconds
He/She goes on to say that (example 2 including details).
- Introduce second example
- Give details about second example
34 - 55 seconds
So, after hearing this lecture, I now have a better
understanding of (topic).
- Wrap it up with a conclusion
56 - 60 seconds
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TOEFL Speaking 26+, Templates and Strategies
Advanced Words and Phrases
Some TOEFL students need a 26 or higher in the TOEFL Speaking section for their career. If you earn a 26
or higher on the TOEFL, it implies that you are a proficient English speaker, so it is hard to earn
(Papageorgiou, Tannenbaum, Bridgeman, & Cho, 2015). One way to help boost your score is to use a wide
range of vocabulary. The following is a list of synonymous words and phrases you can use to start and
finish each question type. These two tables are followed by phrases, adverbs, and idioms that you may
consider including in your responses to help boost your score.
INTRODUCTORY PHRASES
#1
• I think/believe/feel that…
• Personally speaking...
• To be honest...
• I’ve never thought about this before, but...
• I have to say that...
#2
• (introduce listening) Right off the bat, the man says that he doesn’t like…
• (introduce listening) The woman is perfectly fine with...
• (introduce listening) The man isn’t crazy about...
• It looks like there is a change on the university campus. You see...
#3
• One interesting thing I learned from the reading is that...
• The reading passage goes into detail about...
• (introduce listening) The professor provides a crystal clear example of this.
#4
• I had never heard of (topic) until now, and it’s kind of interesting.
• Basically, the professor talks about...
• In the lecture, the professor discusses...
CONCLUSION PHRASES
#1
• So, that’s why...
• As you can see...
• To make a long story short...
#2
• These are the main reasons why the woman...
• So, just to sum up...
• Right, well, on the whole, it looks like the man...
#3
• And so, yeah, this is what the lecturer says about...
• So, the main points of the lecture come down to...
• Just to wrap things up, the lecturer clearly explains...
#4
• In conclusion, the professor clearly has a firm understanding of...
• So, to conclude, the lecturer...
• In a nutshell, the professor...
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TOEFL Speaking 26+, Templates and Strategies
TRANSITIONAL PHRASES
EXAMPLES
• Take … as an example...
• One example of this is...
• I remember when...
• I once heard about...
• I will never forget when...
OPINIONS
• In my opinion...
• I do believe that...
• I definitely think that...
• If I were asked, I would say that...
• To be honest...
THE READING
PASSAGE
• According to the reading...
• The reading passage starts off by saying that...
• The author of the reading passage claims...
• The short text mentions that...
• In the reading...
THE LISTENING
PASSAGE
• The professor goes into a ton of detail about...
• The listening passage provides an interesting example of...
• According to the listening...
• Towards the end of the talk, the lecturer says...
• Right off the bat, the professor says that...
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TOEFL Speaking 26+, Templates and Strategies
POWERFUL ADVERBS
Usage
Examples
pretty
This adverb often comes before an
adjective and emphasizes that it is
accurate and truthful.
• This is a pretty controversial topic nowadays.
• It was pretty scary to hear the professor say
that...
honestly
Often used in introductions, this adverb
implies that the opinion or statement is
truthful and accurate.
• I honestly believe that all high school
students should wear school uniforms.
• Honestly, I think it is much better for students
to wear school uniforms.
just
For TOEFL speaking, it sometimes
means that it’s exact and perfect. Other
times it’s used with negative
expressions.
• I believe that high school uniforms are just
what students need.
• It’s not just the fact that high school
uniforms are more convenient...
really
Emphasizes that something is truthful,
accurate, and should be taken seriously.
• I really believe that high school uniforms
are better for students.
• Really, there is no doubt about it...
actually
Often used in introductions, this adverb
usually precedes surprising information.
It also emphasizes the validity of a given
statement.
• Believe it or not, I actually believe that all
high school students...
• They are actually more comfortable than
most other kinds of clothes.
probably
It usually implies that the information
that follows is almost certainly true. It is
often used in a sentence with two
contrasting clauses.
• It’s probably better for students to wear
school uniforms because...
• I’m probably wrong about this, but I think
all high school students should...
especially
This adverb is often used to single out
one specific person, situation, or object.
It is also used to add emphasis, and
when this is the case, it acts similarly to
“really.”
• Wearing school uniforms connects
students, especially outside of class.
• I especially like the uniforms they wear in
Italian schools.
definitely
When you see this adverb, it usually
adds emphasis, implying that something
is almost 100% certain.
• I definitely believe that all high school students
should wear school uniforms.
• It is definitely the case that uniforms are
best for high school students.
basically
Often used in introductions, this adverb
is used to indicate that this is the most
important or essential information.
• Basically, wearing school uniforms is a better
option when compared to not wearing uniforms.
• The issue basically started because of one incident.
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TOEFL Speaking 26+, Templates and Strategies
IDIOMS AND PHRASES
Usage
Examples
a piece of
cake
Usually used in independent speaking
questions, this idiom implies that
something is simple and easy.
This question is a piece of cake.
to make a
long story
short
This idiom has the same meaning as “to
sum up” or “in conclusion.” It’s usually only
used at the end of your response.
To make a long story short, I definitely
believe that all high school students should
wear school uniforms.
right off
the bat
This idiom is useful when reporting on
the reading or listening passage. It
means “in the beginning” or “at first.”
Right off the bat, the woman says that she
isn’t crazy about the announcement.
(not) a big
deal
Usually used with (not), this idiom
implies that the subject is important and
meaningful.
It depends on who you ask, but many think
that forcing students to wear school uniforms
is a big deal.
comes
down to
This phrasal verb precedes the most
important or essential point.
Whether or not students should wear school
uniforms comes down to the opinion of the
students.
on top of
that
This phrase is used to add another
point or reason, similar to the expression “in
addition to.”
On top of that, school uniforms do not take into
account the different personalities of each
student.
a no
brainer
Similar to “a piece of cake,” this idiom is
used to express that something is easy
and simple.
For me, this question is a no brainer. Clearly,
high school students should not wear school
uniforms.
believe it or
not
This is a useful expression to use before
expressing an opinion that some might
disagree with.
Believe it or not, I do think that high school
students should wear school uniforms.
(not) crazy
about
not a big
fan of
Both of these expressions have similar
meanings and are used in similar contexts. If
you “are not crazy about” or “not a big fan
of” something, it is a polite way to imply that
you do not really like it.
The man in the conversation isn’t crazy about the
change on campus.
I’m not really a big fan of uniforms, especially high
school uniforms.
to be
honest
This expression is usually used before
expressing an opinion you truly believe.
To be honest, I think it is a great idea to have high
school students wear school uniforms.
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TOEFL Speaking 26+, Templates and Strategies
Linking Phrases and Reduced Words
General American English is more relaxed when compared to other languages. Americans tend to bring
words together and omit sounds in various words. This is a complicated subject that is beyond the scope
of this handout, but there are some expressions that will be uttered on test day. Since speaking speed and
word count are graded heavily in the TOEFL Speaking section, linking some phrases together will help you
say more in less time while also sounding more natural (Chen et al., 2018).
LINKING PHRASES: QUESTION 1
Usage
Pronunciation
Examples
a lot of
A common phrase in place of
“many.”
ALOTTA
There are a lot of reasons
why I feel this way, but the
most important is that...
tons of
This is a less common way to
say “a lot of.”
TONZA
There are tons of reasons
why I feel this way, but the
most important is that…
when I was
Used when introducing
personal examples for
independent questions.
WHE NAI WUZ
When I was in high school,
we didn’t have to wear
school uniforms.
to be honest
A phrase used to emphasize
that an opinion is true,
similar to the adverb
“honestly.”
TA’BE ONEST
To be honest, I really do
think that uniforms are much
better for high school
students.
that’s
why
This expression could be
used to introduce your
conclusion.
THA’TSWY
That’s why I think all high
school students should wear
school uniforms.
to me/
for me
Usually used to begin your
speaking response or
opinion.
TA’ME
Fr’ME
To me/For me, all high
school students should wear
school uniforms.
one of
the
When introducing the
reasons for your opinion,
use this popular phrase.
WUNoFDA
One of the reasons why I
think high school students
should wear school uniforms
is...
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TOEFL Speaking 26+, Templates and Strategies
LINKING PHRASES: QUESTIONS 2-4
Usage
Pronunciation
Examples
talks about
Often used when
responding to questions
with a listening passage.
TALK SBOUT
The professor in the lecture
talks about the problems
with school uniforms.
types of
Usually placed before a
noun, indicating differences
within the noun.
TYPSA
They are a little ugly, but
there are many types of
uniforms.
in the
These two words will come
before you mention
something from the
listening or reading.
INDA
In the conversation...
In the lecture...
In the reading passage...
to start
Sometimes used to begin
reporting on one of the
passages or on your
opinion.
TA START
To start, the student in the
conversation explains that...
goes on
to
This phrase is used to report
on a second point from a
conversation or lecture.
GOZ ONDA
The professor goes on to say
that school uniforms are
comfortable.
examples
of
Used specifically for
questions #3 and #4, when
the professor in the listening
provides examples of the
reading.
EXAMPLE-ZOF
In the lecture, the professor
provides two examples of
school uniforms.
Words in English can be divided into two different types: function words and content words. Function words
are put in place to ensure grammatical correctness and show the relationship between content words.
Here are the most common function words:
● prepositions: in, at, from, by
● articles: a, an, the
● auxiliary verbs: be, have, do
● modals: could, should, must
● conjunctions: and, but, however
● pronouns: he, she, they, his, hers, theirs
● demonstratives: this, that, these, those
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TOEFL Speaking 26+, Templates and Strategies
Do not try to memorize all of these words. Keep in mind that these types of words, function words, usually
show the relationship between nouns and verbs. They are useful, but on the TOEFL, much of the
information you are looking for will be found in content words:
● nouns: cat, table, school
● adjectives: lazy, wooden, big
● adverbs: quickly, suddenly, timely
● main verb (not a helping verb): jump, shake, listen
Focus most of your attention on nouns and verbs when you speak and reduce function words.
REDUCED WORDS
Usage
Pronunciation
Examples
it
When not located at the end of
the sentence, it is often
reduced to a “d” sound.
He did i’DIN the library.
He did it in the library.
for
The “o” in “for” is usually
reduced.
FRDAMAN, he thinks...
For the man, he thinks...
in
Usually, the “i” is reduced and it
just sounds like an “n.”
i’NDA the lecture...
In the lecture...
and
In many instances, it is
completely reduced to an “n”
sound that links two words
together.
I slept for
OWRS-N-OWRS...
I slept for hours and hours...
one
“One” is often used within a
phrase, like “one of,” where it
sounds more like “wun.”
WUNoFDA students...
One of the students...
the
In many instances, it is reduced
to a “da” or “d” sound. However,
this word is common and this is
not always the case.
OUDDA ALLDA
students...
Out of all the students...
of
Often used with other phrases,
this word is often reduced to an
“uh” or schwa sound.
I agree that ALLuhDA...
I agree that all of the
students...
some
This is hardly ever stressed, but
instead, reduced to “s’m.”
It’s better to have S’M
help when you move.
It’s better to have some help
when you move.
a/an
“A/an” are combined with the
word that follows or precedes.
He went TOA school...
He went to a school...
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TOEFL Speaking 26+, Templates and Strategies
The TOEFL Speaking Section
There are four different questions in the TOEFL Speaking section. Each is unique in its own way, but
according to ETS’ grading criteria, these four questions are separated into two types: independent
questions and integrated questions. Question one is an independent question, and questions two through
four are integrated questions.
Independent Speaking Checklist
Questions
Notes
1. Did I speak for 42-45 seconds?
2. Was my introduction 12 seconds or less?
3. Did I have enough time to include a short
conclusion (7 seconds or less)?
4. Did I look at the clock to monitor my time at least
twice?
5. Did I include at least two transitional words or
phrases?
6. Did I speak at a smooth and even pace for the
majority of my response?
7. Did I speak in a natural and conversational tone
(no robot voice)?
8. Did I elaborate on the topic with a well developed
personal example or anecdote?
Note that there are no numerical score values. The point of this exercise is not for you to assess yourself
with a TOEFL-like score, but instead, to identify strengths and weaknesses so you have a better idea of
what you need to improve.
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TOEFL Speaking 26+, Templates and Strategies
The grading criteria is similar for both the independent and integrated speaking responses, with
just a few small changes.
Integrated Speaking Checklist
Questions
Notes
1. Did I speak for 57-60 seconds?
2. Was my introduction 15 seconds or less?
3. Did I have enough time to include a short
conclusion (7 seconds or less)?
4. Did I look at the clock to monitor my time at least
twice?
5. Did I include at least two transitional words or
phrases?
6. Did I speak at a smooth and even pace for the
majority of my response?
7. Did I speak in a natural and conversational tone
(no robot voice)?
8. Did I include all of the essential information from
the reading and listening?
***Note that this criteria is the same for all integrated speaking questions (2, 3, and 4).
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TOEFL Speaking 26+, Templates and Strategies
References
Chen, L., Zechner, K., Yoon, S.-Y., Evanini, K., Wang, X., Loukina, A., … Gyawali, B. (2018). Automated scoring
of nonnative speech using the SpeechRater v. 5.0 Engine. ETS Research Report Series 1, 1–31. doi:
10.1002/ets2.12198
Educational Testing Service. (2019). TOEFL iBT Test independent speaking rubrics [PDF file]. Retrieved from
https://www.ets.org/s/toefl/pdf/toefl_speaking_rubrics.pdf
Educational Testing Service. (2019). TOEFL iBT Test integrated speaking rubrics [PDF file]. Retrieved from
https://www.ets.org/s/toefl/pdf/toefl_speaking_rubrics.pdf
Papageorgiou, S., Tannenbaum, R. J., Bridgeman, B., & Cho, Y. (2015). The association between TOEFL iBT
test scores and the Common European Framework of Reference (CEFR) levels [PDF file]. Retrieved
from https://www.ets.org/Media/Research/pdf/RM-15-06.pdf
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