TOEFL Speaking Task 4 Sample: Using points and examples from the lecture, explain how the characteristics of target customers influence marketing strategy for products.

1.Sub Scores Delivery: 3 Language Use: 3 Topic Development: 3

2.Estimated Scores

23. 3.Delivery

The speaker's delivery is generally clear and fluid, with a consistent pace and only occasional pauses. However, there are some instances where the speaker could improve their delivery by reducing unnecessary repetitions (e.g., "so these people are their target customers"). Additionally, the speaker should work on varying their sentence structure to create a more engaging and dynamic speech.

4.Topic Development The response is coherent and well-organized, with clear connections between ideas and sufficient support or examples from the lecture. The speaker effectively explains how age and geographic location of target customers influence marketing strategy for products. To further improve topic development, the speaker could provide more specific details from the lecture, such as mentioning the types of children's television shows during which toy car advertisements would be most effective or elaborating on the types of road signs used for boat advertisements near oceans or lakes.

5.Language Use

Original: Target customers are people who are likely to buy certain products, and they have different features. One of them is their age. For example, a toy car company is trying to sell toy cars to kids, and kids are their target customers. As a result, they will want to place television ads during children's TV show to make sure that people at that age will see this product and want to buy them. Another feature is their geographical location. For example, a company selling boats would want to sell to people who own houses near water, so these people are their target customers. Consequently, they would place TV ads in seas near ocean, or put physical advertisements on streets near the sea, so that their target customers are more likely to recognize and buy their products. These examples perfectly illustrate the concepts and features of target customers.

Corrected: Target customers are individuals who are likely to purchase specific products (more precise wording), and they possess various characteristics (replacing "features" with "characteristics"). One such characteristic is age (clarifying the term). For instance, a toy car company aims to sell its products to children (rephrasing for clarity), who are its target customers. As a result, the company should place television advertisements during children's TV shows (correcting grammar) to ensure that viewers of that age group see the products and express interest in purchasing them (improving sentence structure). Another characteristic is geographical location. For instance, a company selling boats would target people who own homes near bodies of water (improving vocabulary), as these individuals comprise their target market (rephrasing for clarity). Consequently, the company should air TV ads in regions near oceans or lakes (correcting grammar) and display physical advertisements on streets close to the waterfront (improving vocabulary), increasing the likelihood that target customers recognize and purchase their products. These examples effectively demonstrate the impact of target customer characteristics on marketing strategies (strengthening conclusion).

Revised Answer (140 words): Target customers are individuals who are likely to purchase specific products, and they possess various characteristics. One such characteristic is age. For instance, a toy car company aims to sell its products to children, who are its target customers. As a result, the company should place television advertisements during children's TV shows to ensure that viewers of that age group see the products and express interest in purchasing them. Another characteristic is geographical location. For instance, a company selling boats would target people who own homes near bodies of water, as these individuals comprise their target market. Consequently, the company should air TV ads in regions near oceans or lakes and display physical advertisements on streets close to the waterfront, increasing the likelihood that target customers recognize and purchase their products. These examples effectively demonstrate the impact of target customer characteristics on marketing strategies.

6.Mind Map

- Target Customers
  - Characteristics
    - Age
      - Example: Toy car company
        - Advertising during children's TV shows
    - Geographical Location
      - Example: Boat company
        - Advertising near oceans or lakes
          - TV ads and physical advertisements
  - Impact on Marketing Strategies
    - Effective targeting of potential buyers

7.Key Words