TOEFL TPO 58 Speaking Task 1 Sample: Imagine you are looking for a new place to live near your university.You have two choices. The first place is a house, which you would share with several other students. The second place is a small apartment, which you would not have to share with others.Which would you choose? Explain why.
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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
Question
Imagine you are looking for a new place to live near your university.You have two choices. The first place is a house, which you would share with several other students. The second place is a small apartment, which you would not have to share with others.Which would you choose? Explain why.
User Samples & Evaluation Results
Evaluation Result
- Sub Scores
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Delivery: 2
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Topic Development: 2
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Language Use: 2
- Estimated Scores
- Total Score: 17 (out of 30)
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Delivery The speaker's response is understandable, but there are some issues with clarity and fluidity. The speech lacks a consistent pace, and there are occasional pauses that disrupt the flow of ideas. To improve, the speaker should practice speaking more clearly and maintaining a consistent pace throughout their response. Additionally, focusing on proper pronunciation will help to eliminate any confusion caused by spelling errors.
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Topic Development The speaker's response is somewhat coherent and organized, but it could be improved by providing clearer connections between ideas and more specific examples to support their choice. The speaker should focus on explaining why they prefer living in a house with other students rather than a small apartment alone, as the question asks. They should also provide more concrete reasons for their preference, such as the benefits of socializing with other students or the cost savings associated with shared housing. By doing so, the speaker will create a more compelling and well-developed response that directly addresses the question.
Original:
Well, honestly speaking, I prefer to live in a house. This is because it's more spacious. For example, last year, I rented a house beside my school. The house has four floors and there were like 20 rooms in the house. So I can choose each one to stay every day. This can make me feel happy because it refreshes my mind. Also, house can make more people to come to your house and hold a party. The spacious area can make people sing, dance, and even play there.
Revised:
In my opinion, I would choose to live in a shared house near my university rather than a small, private apartment. One reason is the spaciousness that a house offers. For instance, last year, I rented a multi-story house close to my school with approximately 20 rooms, allowing me to switch rooms daily for a refreshing change of environment. This positively impacted my mental well-being and overall happiness.
Another advantage of living in a shared house is the opportunity for socialization and hosting events. The ample space allows for gatherings such as parties, where guests can comfortably sing, dance, and engage in various activities. This not only fosters camaraderie among fellow students but also creates lasting memories during our time at university.
In my opinion, I would choose to live in a shared house near my university rather than a small, private apartment (I revised this sentence to provide a clear preference and set the tone for the response). One reason is the spaciousness that a house offers (I used "spaciousness" instead of "more spacious" to emphasize the quality). For instance, last year, I rented a multi-story house close to my school with approximately 20 rooms (I added details about the location and number of rooms for clarity), allowing me to switch rooms daily for a refreshing change of environment (I rephrased this sentence to sound more natural). This positively impacted my mental well-being and overall happiness (I added this statement to show the benefit of having more space).
Another advantage of living in a shared house is the opportunity for socialization and hosting events (I used "advantage" and "opportunity" to emphasize the benefits). The ample space allows for gatherings such as parties, where guests can comfortably sing, dance, and engage in various activities (I rephrased this sentence for better flow). This not only fosters camaraderie among fellow students (I used "fosters camaraderie" to emphasize the positive aspect of socialization) but also creates lasting memories during our time at university (I added this statement to provide a strong conclusion and emphasize the long-term benefits of living in a shared house).Corrected:
Well, honestly speaking, I prefer
In my opinion, I would choose to live in a house. This shared house near my university rather than a small, private apartment (I revised this sentence to provide a clear preference and set the tone for the response). One reason is because it's more spacious. the spaciousness that a house offers (I used "spaciousness" instead of "more spacious" to emphasize the quality). For example, instance, last year, I rented a house beside my school. The house has four floors and there were like multi-story house close to my school with approximately 20 rooms in the house. So I (I added details about the location and number of rooms for clarity), allowing me to switch rooms daily for a refreshing change of environment (I rephrased this sentence to sound more natural). This positively impacted my mental well-being and overall happiness (I added this statement to show the benefit of having more space).
Another advantage of living in a shared house is the opportunity for socialization and hosting events (I used "advantage" and "opportunity" to emphasize the benefits). The ample space allows for gatherings such as parties, where guests can choose each one to stay every day. This can make me feel happy because it refreshes my mind. Also, house can make more people to come to your house and hold a party. The spacious area can make people comfortably sing, dance, and even play there.engage in various activities (I rephrased this sentence for better flow). This not only fosters camaraderie among fellow students (I used "fosters camaraderie" to emphasize the positive aspect of socialization) but also creates lasting memories during our time at university (I added this statement to provide a strong conclusion and emphasize the long-term benefits of living in a shared house).
6. Mind Map
- Preference/Opinion
- Prefer living in a house
- Main Point
- More spacious
- Supporting Examples
- Rented house with four floors and 20 rooms
- Can choose different rooms to stay in daily
- Refreshes the mind
- Better for hosting parties
- Supporting Examples
- Can invite more people
- Space for singing, dancing, and playing
- Conclusion
- Living in a house provides more space and flexibility for various activities, making it the preferred choice.
7. Key Words
| Word | Phonetic Symbols | Parts of Speech | English Definition | English Translation (if needed) | Sample Sentence |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Spacious | /ˈspeɪʃəs/ | Adjective | Having a large amount of space | The spacious house allowed us to host large parties with ease. | |
| Refresh | /rɪˈfrɛʃ/ | Verb | To give new strength or energy to; reinvigorate | Changing rooms every day refreshes my mind and helps me focus better. | |
| Flexibility | /ˌflɛksəˈbɪlɪti/ | Noun | The quality of being adaptable or variable | Living in a house offers more flexibility for various activities compared to an apartment. | |
| Host | /hoʊst/ | Verb | To receive or entertain guests at an event or for a length of time | We often host parties at our house because there's plenty of room for everyone to enjoy. | |
| Accommodate | /əˈkɒmədeɪt/ | Verb | To provide lodging or sufficient space for | The house can accommodate a large number of guests, making it perfect for gatherings. |
8. Additional Examples
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A house often has a yard or garden, providing outdoor space for gardening, barbecues, or relaxation.
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Houses usually offer more privacy than apartments, as there are fewer shared walls and less noise from neighbors.
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Living in a house allows for personalization and customization of the living space, such as painting walls or renovating rooms.
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Houses typically have more storage space, including garages and basements, which can be used for storing belongings or setting up a workshop.
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Owning a house can be seen as an investment, as property values tend to increase over time, potentially providing financial benefits in the long run.
Current TOEFL Format
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