Teacher4.meTOEFL Speaking practice online: how to prepare with a 1-to-1 tutor
Short answer: Since 21 January 2026, the TOEFL iBT Speaking section has two task types, according to ETS: Listen and Repeat, where you repeat seven sentences exactly as you hear them, and Take an Interview, where you answer four questions from a prerecorded interviewer with 45 seconds for each answer. The section takes about 8 minutes and you speak into a microphone. A 1-to-1 online tutor helps by timing your answers, recording them, and giving clear feedback on accuracy, pronunciation, speaking pace and how well you explain your ideas. A tutor cannot give you an official TOEFL score.
Many students in Taiwan, Korea, Japan, Hong Kong, Vietnam and Thailand take the TOEFL iBT to apply to universities abroad. Speaking is often the hardest part to prepare alone, because the test asks you to speak quickly, clearly and on time, and you cannot easily hear your own mistakes. A 1-to-1 online tutor can listen, time you and tell you what to fix.
If you are not sure TOEFL is the right test for you, read IELTS, TOEIC, TOEFL or Eiken: which English test do you need? first.
How the TOEFL iBT Speaking section works now
The TOEFL iBT changed on 21 January 2026. According to ETS, the organisation that runs the test (ets.org Speaking section and test content page, checked 10 November 2026), the Speaking section has two task types, 11 items and an approximate base time of 8 minutes. You speak into a microphone, scenarios are based on academic and campus situations, and no special background knowledge is needed. Older guides that describe four tasks with preparation time are about the previous version of the test.
- Listen and Repeat: in a scenario set at a university or on campus, you hear seven sentences and repeat each one exactly as you heard it. The sentences get longer and more complex as you go, and you have a maximum of 8 to 12 seconds to record each answer. ETS says this task looks at accurate repetition and clearly intelligible speech.
- Take an Interview: a simulated conversation with a prerecorded interviewer, for example as part of a scholarship application or a research study. You answer four questions and have 45 seconds for each. The first questions are about facts and your own experience; later ones ask you to give and support an opinion on wider issues.
Details are from the official ETS test overview (PDF). ETS also notes that you may hear English accents from North America, the U.K., New Zealand or Australia.
What ETS says the interview answers are judged on
For Take an Interview, ETS lists four things a good answer does:
- It answers the question with appropriate and coherent elaboration (reasons, details, examples).
- It keeps a good conversational speaking pace.
- It is intelligible and uses rhythm and intonation to carry meaning.
- It uses a range of vocabulary and grammar accurately.
Ask your tutor to give feedback on each of these, not just a general "good job".
How a tutor helps with Listen and Repeat
- Short sentences first, then longer ones. Your tutor reads a sentence once at natural speed and you repeat it. Step by step, the sentences get longer, like in the test.
- Listen for the small words. Learners often drop words like "the", "a", "to" or word endings like "-s" and "-ed". Your tutor can tell you exactly which words you missed.
- Work on clear sounds and stress. If a word was hard to understand, practise it slowly, then at full speed. See English pronunciation practice with a tutor.
- Use campus topics. Ask for sentences about libraries, classes, timetables, clubs and student services, since ETS sets these tasks in academic and campus life.
- Hear different accents. If your tutor or another teacher has a different accent from the one you usually hear, that is useful practice too.
Good listening helps here as much as speaking. For more ideas, read English listening practice with a tutor.
How a tutor helps with Take an Interview
- Practise the interview situation. Your tutor plays the interviewer, gives you a short setting (a scholarship, a study about city life, a campus survey) and asks four questions, from personal to opinion.
- Time every answer. Practise filling 45 seconds without stopping too early or running out of time. Your tutor can tell you when you rushed, paused too long or repeated yourself.
- Build a simple answer shape. For example: answer the question directly, give one or two reasons, add a short example, then finish. This helps you elaborate without memorised speeches.
- Practise opinion questions. Ask your tutor for "Do you agree...?" and "Why do you think...?" questions on wider topics, and push you with a follow-up "why?".
- Record and review. Record your answers, listen again with your tutor, and ask them to type better phrases and corrections in the chat.
If speaking under pressure makes you nervous, see how to overcome fear of speaking English. The interview task also has a lot in common with real interviews; see English job interview practice with a tutor.
Practise between lessons
- Repeat after short audio such as podcasts or lectures with transcripts, then check what you missed.
- Answer one interview-style question a day in 45 seconds and record it.
- Keep a list of useful phrases for giving reasons and examples, and use them in your next lesson.
- Use the official ETS materials. ETS links to its prep resources from the test content page. Practise with the real task types so there are no surprises on test day.
To see whether your speaking is getting better over time, read how to track your English progress with an online tutor.
What to look for in a TOEFL speaking tutor
- TOEFL or exam preparation in their subjects, and reviews from students who prepared for a test.
- They know the updated TOEFL iBT Speaking tasks (Listen and Repeat and Take an Interview), not only the older format. Ask them in your first message.
- Clear, specific feedback, not only praise.
- Lesson times that fit your week before your test date. Check the time zone if your tutor lives in another country.
Some teachers offer a trial lesson; see questions to ask a tutor in a trial lesson. Preparing for IELTS, TOEIC or Eiken instead? Read IELTS Speaking practice online, TOEIC Speaking practice online or Eiken interview practice online.
A tutor can help you prepare, but a practice session is not an official TOEFL test and no tutor can promise a score. Always check ets.org for the latest test format and test-day rules.
Finding a TOEFL tutor on Teacher4.me
Open Find a teacher and search for TOEFL, or search by skill, for example pronunciation or conversation. Read each teacher's subjects, reviews and prices, then send a short message with your test date and ask how they practise the TOEFL Speaking tasks. You do not need an account to message a teacher, and you book and pay the teacher directly.
Ready to practise? Find a TOEFL teacher or browse all teachers.
Frequently asked questions
What is in the TOEFL iBT Speaking section now?
According to ETS (ets.org), the updated TOEFL iBT launched on 21 January 2026. Its Speaking section has two task types, Listen and Repeat and Take an Interview, with 11 items in about 8 minutes. You record your answers into a microphone.
How does Listen and Repeat work?
ETS describes a scenario in an academic or campus setting. You hear seven sentences, one at a time, and repeat each one exactly as you heard it. The sentences get longer and more complex, and you have a maximum of 8 to 12 seconds to record each answer. ETS says it measures accurate repetition and clear, intelligible speech.
How does Take an Interview work?
You take part in a simulated conversation with a prerecorded interviewer, for example for a scholarship or a research study. ETS says you answer four questions and have 45 seconds for each. The first questions are about facts and your own experience; later questions ask you to give and support an opinion on wider issues.
Can a tutor give me a TOEFL score?
No. A practice session with a tutor is not an official TOEFL test and cannot give you an official score. A tutor can give you honest feedback on what ETS says it measures, such as accuracy, intelligibility, speaking pace, and how clearly you answer and explain your ideas. Always check ets.org for the latest test rules.
How do I find a TOEFL tutor on Teacher4.me?
Open Find a teacher and search for TOEFL, then read each teacher's subjects, reviews and prices. Ask the teacher whether they know the updated TOEFL iBT Speaking tasks. You can message a teacher without an account and book and pay the teacher directly.