12/5/2014 iBT Speaking and Writing: 40 New Practice Topics for iBT TOEFL Speaking Part 1

http://jasonrenshaw.typepad.com/ibt_speaking_writing/2008/05/40newpractice.html 1/6

iBT Speaking and WritingJason Renshaw's Weblog for teachers and students interested in the Speaking and Writingsections of the iBT TOEFL

HomeSubscribeTOEFL WebsiteTOEFL Speaking MentorTOEFL Writing MentorForumsAbout JasonJason's TOEFL tips on Facebook!May 11, 2008

40 New Practice Topics for iBT TOEFL Speaking Part 1

Here is a list of 40 new topics that you might find useful if you are preparing for Part 1 of the iBT TOEFL Speakingsection. These are all Independent topics of the "open choice" / personal experience or opinion type.1. Who is your best friend? Describe this person and say why he/she is your best friend.

2. What is your favorite place to visit on weekends? Describe it and explain why it is your favorite place to go.

3. What is your happiest childhood memory? Describe it and give reasons to explain why it is your happiest memory.

4. What is your most important possession? Describe it and say why it is so important.

5. Talk about a person in your life who has inspired you. Describe the person and explain why you found him/herinspirational.

6. Where do most like to go to eat out? Describe this place and say why you like it most.

7. Talk about an important national holiday in your home country. Describe it and explain why it is important.

8. What is your favorite book or movie? Describe it and say why it is your favorite.

9. Who do you feel close to in your family (or extended family)? Describe this person and say why you feel close tohim/her.

10. Where is a good place to have fun in your city or town? Describe this place and explain why it is fun.

11. Talk about an experience in your life that made you feel embarrassed. Describe it and say why it wasembarrassing.

12. What was your favorite subject at school? Describe it and explain why this subject was your favorite one.

13. Who is an important person in your country? Describe this person and explain why he/she is important.

14. Talk about an interesting tourist attraction you have been to. Describe it and say why it was interesting.

15. Talk about a time when you experienced success. Describe the experience and say why it was a success for you.

16. What is your favorite style of clothing? Describe it and explain why it is your favorite.

17. Name a person whom you truly admire. Describe the person and say why you admire him/her.

18. Think of a place that makes you feel relaxed and peaceful. Describe it and explain why it is relaxing andpeaceful for you.

19. Talk about a difficulty you have overcome in your life. Describe the experience and say why it was difficult toovercome.

12/5/2014 iBT Speaking and Writing: 40 New Practice Topics for iBT TOEFL Speaking Part 1

http://jasonrenshaw.typepad.com/ibt_speaking_writing/2008/05/40newpractice.html 2/6

20. What is your most useful study aid? Describe it and explain why it is useful in helping you to study.

21. Talk about a teacher who had a positive influence on you. Describe this person and explain why he/she was soinfluential to you.

22. Where is your favorite place to study? Describe this place and say why it is a good place for you to study.

23. Talk about a positive experience with learning or using English. Describe the experience and say why it was apositive one.

24. What is your favorite kind of food? Describe it and explain why it is your favorite.

25. Name a famous or influential figure who has inspired you. Describe this person and say why he/she has beeninspirational to you.

26. Which place has fond memories for you? Describe this place and explain why it is memorable to you.

27. When have you been happily surprised by something? Describe the experience and say why the surprise was ahappy one for you.

28. Describe a resource that helped you to do something better than before. Describe it and explain why it washelpful to you.

29. Describe a person from your country’s history. Why do you think this person was important?

30. Where would you like to go to spend a vacation? Describe this place and say why you would like to holiday there.

31. Talk about something you and your family enjoy doing together. Describe it and explain why you all enjoy it.

32. What is your favorite recreational activity? Describe it and say why you enjoy doing it.

33. Who is the most intelligent person you know? Describe the person and say why you think he/she is intelligent.

34. Where would you most like to live? Describe this place and explain why you would like to live there.

35. What is your favorite season of the year? Describe the season and explain why you like it so much.

36. What custom from your home country are you most fond of? Describe the custom and explain why you are fondof it.

37. Which person are you most likely to go to with a personal problem? Describe this person and say why you wouldgo to him/her in particular.

38. Name a place in your country you would recommend others to visit. Describe this place and explain why youwould recommend it.

39. Talk about an event from the past that you would like to relive. Describe the original event and say why youwould like to relive it.

40. What is your favorite way of getting around? Describe it and explain why it is your favorite means oftransportation.

Posted by Jason Renshaw on May 11, 2008 in iBT Speaking Qu. 1 (Ind) | PermalinkDigg This | Save to del.icio.us

12/5/2014 iBT Speaking and Writing: 40 New Practice Topics for iBT TOEFL Speaking Part 1

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Comments

Hi Jason,

Thanks for coming up with this list. I am preparing for my 3rd TOEFL iBt and i really hope that this could be my last exam. Myproblem is my speaking and in both exam I got only 23.I believe that through practice, this list will prepare me better.

Thank you for your effort and in sharing your valuable knowledge to all of us.

Good day!!

Posted by: Angels67 | January 02, 2009 at 02:18 PM

Thanks Jason for coming up with this list. I must attest that they are quite helpful, thanks once again.

Posted by: Rosemary N. Anyanwu | April 02, 2009 at 09:59 AM

Dear Jason, thaks for this list. Will practice it with my 5 students who are preparing for the iBT. god bless you....adele

Posted by: adele | May 04, 2009 at 12:52 PM

Thanks Jason!The list is great!!!!!!!!

Posted by: Flavia Dias | May 22, 2009 at 02:08 PM

it's very helpful.thanks

Posted by: mangesh | May 28, 2009 at 11:33 PM

Thanks Jason for this list, it is very helpful.

Posted by: mimi | September 25, 2009 at 01:36 AM

Thanks for helping my in my course.Fernando From Mexico

12/5/2014 iBT Speaking and Writing: 40 New Practice Topics for iBT TOEFL Speaking Part 1

http://jasonrenshaw.typepad.com/ibt_speaking_writing/2008/05/40newpractice.html 4/6

Posted by: Fernando Najera | October 09, 2009 at 09:54 AM

thank you Jason for the list. It's very useful.

Posted by: Sylvia | December 01, 2009 at 10:22 PM

This list is very helpful it's true and thank you very much for it but it also makes me so stressed! because when I read all theseexamples, I have so many ideas to answer them and when I speak in my English classes, everything is ok, I can speak correctlywithout difficulties but when I remember I have 15 seconds to "prepare" I panic and I sound like an idiot. It's so frustrating, not tosay unfair.

Posted by: Camille | December 09, 2009 at 07:19 AM

Thanks Jason,

I would want to really appreciate your activities of your benevolence. of course, these topics right here have helped me to improvedmy students speaking abilities.

Thanks Once again.

Posted by: Jeff Osigwe Chosen | December 20, 2009 at 07:32 PM

thanks a lot jason

Posted by: ankur | February 20, 2010 at 03:59 PM

THANKS JASON I THK IT LL BE A GREAT HELP.I GET NERVOUS WHEN IT COMES 2 SPEAK IN PREPARING IN 15SECONDS MAKES ME COMPLETELY BLANK.IT LL HELP ME IMPROVING.

Posted by: SAM | April 06, 2010 at 08:23 AM

thank you. This is really helpfull.

Posted by: vijaya | May 06, 2010 at 07:29 PM

Thank you Jason, I'm preparing for a Toefl exam and I'm struggling with the speaking section. I am really glad that I found thislist. Again, thank you and have a good day!

Posted by: Haylie | May 24, 2010 at 07:17 PM

It's seems to be real test questions, It's truly remarkeble task. Keep it up Mr. Jason

GOD bless you alwyz.

12/5/2014 iBT Speaking and Writing: 40 New Practice Topics for iBT TOEFL Speaking Part 1

http://jasonrenshaw.typepad.com/ibt_speaking_writing/2008/05/40newpractice.html 5/6

Posted by: Daulat Din Miya | June 09, 2010 at 02:34 PM

I will try using the questions to practice for my upcoming exam..I am looking forward to passing the toefl after taking it for the nthtime

Posted by: Edmund D. | August 11, 2010 at 06:59 PM

I'd like to thank you for your list and your speaking guide. It was very useful and helped me score good on iBT (28 speakingsection)! Thanx!

Posted by: Vedram | February 28, 2012 at 11:06 AM

Actually today's speaking question format has been changed. TOEFL test designers are using new approaches and types of issues.For example, they ask about about a situation when you should tell your advice to your friend about and specific academic issue,such as his/her academic major. Therefore, I think test takers should don't rely on these old samples.

Posted by: Ali | January 19, 2013 at 10:04 AM

Thank you so much... I appreciate it!!!

Posted by: James | January 25, 2013 at 01:02 PM

very useful. thanks Jason. i've been teaching toefl for 4 years and found it really practical. provide us with any thing u can. :)

Posted by: Sholeh | April 18, 2013 at 07:07 PM

Here another person who says Thank You!!

Posted by: : D | May 07, 2013 at 10:55 AM

Thank you so much or the list. It's great. I am going to use it with my students!

Posted by: Maria Sasieta | June 08, 2013 at 03:26 AM

i think this list ll b of help 2 me,cuz i ll b sitting 4 my toefl ibt 22nd of this month.

Posted by: olayinka azeez | June 09, 2013 at 01:09 AM

Thanks MR. Josen for listing these topics for TOEFL ibt. it really help me a lot.

12/5/2014 iBT Speaking and Writing: 40 New Practice Topics for iBT TOEFL Speaking Part 1

http://jasonrenshaw.typepad.com/ibt_speaking_writing/2008/05/40newpractice.html 6/6

Posted by: Ali | June 21, 2013 at 07:10 PM

Thanks jason this list is very helpfull and thank you for your speaking guide.

Posted by: sai | July 12, 2013 at 04:46 AM

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