TOEFL Speaking Questions: 2026 Examples & Practice Tips

Looking for TOEFL Speaking questions to prepare for the 2026 TOEFL iBT? The most effective way to prepare is to practice both types of speaking tasks: Listen and Repeat and Take an Interview.

The TOEFL iBT changed on January 21, 2026. The updated Speaking section focuses on two important skills: accurately repeating spoken English and responding clearly to questions about personal experiences, opinions, and academic or campus situations. For the full section layout, timing, and answer templates, see our TOEFL Speaking format guide.

According to ETS, the Speaking section contains 11 items and takes approximately 8 minutes, excluding directions. The exact test length and item count may vary. You can find the official format in the ETS TOEFL Speaking section guide.

In this guide, you will find sample TOEFL Speaking questions, examples of both task types, and practical strategies to help you prepare.

1. What types of questions are on the 2026 TOEFL Speaking test?

The updated TOEFL Speaking section has two task types.

ETS specifies seven Listen and Repeat items and four Take an Interview questions in its test overview. The tasks reflect situations related to everyday academic and campus life, and they do not require specialized subject knowledge.

2. Listen and Repeat questions: sample practice

In Listen and Repeat, you hear a sentence and then repeat it after the audio finishes. You should reproduce the sentence as accurately as possible rather than summarize it or answer it in your own words.

Sentences may become longer and more complex as the task progresses.

Here are three original practice examples. They are designed to help you prepare and are not official ETS test questions.

Example 1: Short sentence

Audio script: "The library closes at nine o'clock tonight."

Practice goal: repeat the complete sentence, including the final word and the correct pronunciation of closes.

Example 2: Medium-length sentence

Audio script: "Students can borrow laptops from the technology desk near the main entrance."

Practice goal: pay attention to the phrase from the technology desk and the location near the main entrance. Avoid dropping short words such as "the" and "near."

Example 3: Longer sentence

Audio script: "If you need additional help with your research project, you can schedule an appointment with a librarian online."

Practice goal: follow the sentence structure from beginning to end. Preserve the opening condition, the main action, and the final detail.

How to improve your Listen and Repeat performance

1. Listen before speaking. The sentence must finish before you begin repeating it. Use the pause after the audio to prepare your response.
2. Focus on meaning groups. Recognize phrases such as "additional help," "research project," and "schedule an appointment" instead of processing every word in isolation.
3. Identify missing words. After practicing, compare your recording with the original script to find omissions, substitutions, and pronunciation problems.
4. Repeat difficult sentences. Practice the same sentence until you can reproduce it accurately and intelligibly without relying on the written script.

Simply speaking faster is not the goal. Accurate repetition and clear speech matter more than rushing through the sentence.

3. Take an Interview questions: sample practice

In Take an Interview, you participate in a simulated interview and answer questions related to a particular situation or topic. The questions may progress from personal experiences and familiar information to opinions that require more explanation.

Here are common practice themes and original sample questions.

Topic 1: Study habits and learning

• How do you usually prepare for an important exam?
• Do you prefer studying alone or with other students? Why?
• What is one study habit that has helped you become a better student?
• What advice would you give a student who is struggling in a difficult course?

Practice tip: give a direct answer, explain your reason, and provide a specific example. For instance, you might describe how dividing a large assignment into smaller tasks helped you meet a deadline.

Topic 2: Campus life

• What campus facility do you think is most useful to students?
• Do you prefer attending events on campus or participating in activities online?
• Describe a time when you worked with another student to solve a problem.
• What could a university do to help new students adjust to campus life?

Practice tip: use concrete details. Mention a library, student club, group project, or campus event rather than relying on vague statements about university life.

Topic 3: Technology and communication

• How has technology changed the way students learn?
• Do you prefer communicating with classmates in person or through messaging apps?
• What are the advantages and disadvantages of using AI tools for learning?
• How can students avoid distractions when studying online?

Practice tip: acknowledge a benefit or limitation when appropriate, but keep your response focused. You have limited time, so one well-developed example is usually better than several undeveloped ideas.

Topic 4: Personal experiences and decisions

• Describe a skill you would like to learn and explain why.
• Tell me about a time you had to adapt to an unexpected change.
• What qualities make someone a good team member?
• Describe a decision that helped you achieve an important goal.

Practice tip: structure your answer around a clear situation, your action, and the result. This helps you organize your response without memorizing a complete script.

These questions are practice examples, not predictions of the exact questions that will appear on your test.

4. How to answer TOEFL Speaking interview questions

A useful approach is to organize your answer into three parts:

Answer → Reason → Example

For example:

Question: Do you prefer studying alone or with other students?

Sample answer:

"I prefer studying with other students because discussing difficult concepts helps me understand them more clearly. For example, when I was preparing for a biology exam, my classmates and I explained different topics to each other. If I misunderstood something, someone could correct me immediately. This made studying more effective and helped me remember the material."

Notice that the answer does not use complicated vocabulary. It gives a clear preference, explains why, and supports the point with a specific example.

For more challenging questions, you can add a brief comparison or explain a limitation. However, clarity and relevance should come before complexity.

A simple checklist for every response

Before finishing your practice, ask yourself:

• Did I answer the actual question?
• Did I explain my main point?
• Did I include a relevant example or supporting detail?
• Was my response easy to follow?
• Were my pronunciation and grammar clear enough to understand?

Record your response and listen to it afterward. You may notice repeated pauses, unclear word endings, unnecessary repetition, or sentences that stop before the main idea is complete.

5. How to practice TOEFL Speaking every day

You do not need to complete a full mock test every day. A short, focused session can help you identify a specific weakness and work on it.

Here is a simple 15-minute routine:

On one day, focus on repeating longer sentences accurately. On another, work on answering interview questions with specific examples. Over time, practice across different topics so you can respond flexibly instead of memorizing answers for a narrow set of questions.

6. Practice TOEFL Speaking questions with DailyWordtoon

DailyWordtoon helps TOEFL learners prepare through focused practice sets and practice tests. Instead of spending every session on a long mock exam, you can work on a specific skill and review your performance.

For Speaking preparation, use a combination of sentence-repetition drills and interview-style responses. Review your mistakes after each session, then choose the next exercise based on what needs improvement.

The goal is not to memorize every possible TOEFL Speaking question. It is to develop the listening accuracy, speaking fluency, and response organization needed to handle unfamiliar questions confidently.

Frequently asked questions

What are the TOEFL Speaking question types in 2026?

The updated TOEFL iBT Speaking section includes Listen and Repeat and Take an Interview. One measures accurate repetition of spoken sentences, while the other measures the ability to respond meaningfully to interview questions.

How many questions are on the TOEFL Speaking test?

ETS lists 11 Speaking items: seven Listen and Repeat items and four Take an Interview questions. The estimated base time is approximately eight minutes, excluding directions; actual test length and item count may vary.

Are TOEFL Speaking questions repeated?

You should not assume that a particular practice question will appear on your exam. Practicing common themes and question structures helps you develop transferable skills, but no third-party question bank can guarantee the exact questions you will receive.

How can I improve my TOEFL Speaking score?

Practice both task types. For Listen and Repeat, focus on accurate repetition, clear pronunciation, and natural rhythm. For Take an Interview, answer directly, explain your reasoning, and support your ideas with relevant examples. Review your recordings regularly to identify recurring problems.

Should I memorize TOEFL Speaking answers?

Memorizing a few useful expressions and answer structures can help, but memorizing entire responses is less useful when the actual question is unfamiliar. Build flexible speaking habits so you can adapt your ideas to different prompts.

Final thoughts

Preparing for the 2026 TOEFL Speaking section requires more than collecting TOEFL Speaking questions. You need to understand the two task types, practice them separately, and review your performance consistently.

Start with short Listen and Repeat exercises and familiar interview topics. Once you can respond clearly and accurately, increase the variety and complexity of your practice.

Practice deliberately, review your mistakes, and build skills that transfer to new questions. That is a more reliable preparation strategy than trying to predict the exact test.

Practice TOEFL Speaking questions with DailyWordtoon →