TOEFL TPO 24 Speaking Task 2 Sample: The woman expresses her opinion about the student’s proposal. State her opinion and explain the reasons she gives for holding that opinion.

Historical user samples and AI evaluation results from an older TOEFL format.

9 archived user samples

Older TOEFL Format

This task is from a previous version of the TOEFL exam. The current TOEFL has a different structure. These archived samples remain available as a reference for practice.

Task Overview

Reading Passage

Close the Campus Coffee house I propose that the university close the campus coffeehouse. Coffeehouses are great if people actually use them, like to socialize with friends, while enjoying a cup of coffee and a snack. But students are not using our campus coffeehouse. There are usually lots of empty tables when I pass by the place. It is just a waste of space that could be used for other things. Also, the food at the coffeehouse is not very good. The last time I was there, the cakes and muffins my friends and I ordered were dry and didn’t have much flavor. Sincerely, Greg Smith

Question

The woman expresses her opinion about the student’s proposal. State her opinion and explain the reasons she gives for holding that opinion.

User Samples & Evaluation Results

Evaluation Result

1.Sub Scores Delivery: 3 Topic Development: 3.5 Language Use: 3

2.Estimated Scores

27. 3.Delivery

The speaker's delivery is generally clear and fluid, but there are a few instances of awkward phrasing and pauses. To improve, the speaker should work on maintaining a consistent pace and reducing unnecessary pauses. Additionally, focusing on accurate pronunciation will help minimize any spelling errors that may arise from mispronunciations.

4.Topic Development The speaker provides a coherent and well-organized response, with clear connections between ideas and sufficient support or examples. However, there is room for improvement in terms of providing more specific details to further strengthen the argument. For instance, the speaker could mention specific examples of the new food options available at the coffeehouse or share personal experiences that demonstrate the benefits of studying in a quiet environment like the coffeehouse.

5.Language Use

Original Answer: The woman opposes the student's proposal for two reasons. Firstly, the students complain that the coffee house is too empty and it is not a popular place for students, but that is just the reason why the woman likes it. She thinks it is a great place for studying and it is even better than the library because there is no noise, there is lower noise. What's more, the woman mentioned that recently the food quality has been improved a lot due to a new manager introduced there, and there will be a larger variety of choices for the students.

Corrected Answer: The woman opposes the student's proposal for two reasons. Firstly, the students complain that the coffee house is too empty and it is not a popular place for students (change "students" to "them"), but that is just the reason why the woman likes it. She thinks it is an excellent (change "great" to "excellent") place for studying and it is even better than the library because there is no noise, there is lower noise (remove repetition). Furthermore (change "What's more" to "Furthermore"), the woman mentioned that recently the food quality has significantly (add "significantly") improved due to a new manager introduced there, and there will be a larger variety of choices for the students.

Revised Answer (140 words): The woman opposes the student's proposal for two main reasons. Firstly, she disagrees with their complaint about the coffee house being too empty and unpopular among them; in fact, she appreciates its quiet atmosphere. She believes it is an excellent place for studying, even surpassing the library in terms of tranquility. Secondly, she refutes the claim about poor food quality, stating that there have been significant improvements recently due to a new manager's introduction. This change has not only enhanced the taste but also expanded the variety of choices available to students. In conclusion, the woman values the coffee house as a peaceful study environment and acknowledges the recent positive changes in food quality, which is why she disagrees with the proposal to close it.

6.Mind Map


- Woman's opinion
  - Opposes proposal
  - Two reasons
    - Quiet atmosphere
      - Excellent for studying
      - Better than library
    - Improved food quality
      - New manager
      - Enhanced taste
      - Expanded variety of choices

7.Key Words

Word	Phonetic Symbols	Parts of Speech	English Definition	Sample Sentence
Tranquility	/træŋˈkwɪlɪti/	Noun	The state of being calm and peaceful	The tranquility of the coffee house makes it an ideal place for students to focus on their studies.
Surpass	/sərˈpæs/	Verb	To be better or greater than something else	The coffee house surpasses the library in terms of providing a quiet and comfortable study environment.
Enhance	/ɪnˈhæns/	Verb	To improve the quality, amount, or strength of something	The new manager has significantly enhanced the food quality at the coffee house.
Acknowledge	/əkˈnɒlɪdʒ/	Verb	To accept or admit the existence or truth of something	The woman acknowledges the recent improvements in food quality at the coffee house and disagrees with its closure.
Atmosphere	/ˈætməsfɪr/	Noun	The pervading tone or mood of a place, situation, or work of art	The calm atmosphere at the coffee house is conducive to productive studying sessions.