0:02 If you want to earn the highest score on
0:05 the TOEFL IBT speaking section, keep
0:08 watching this video. Today, we'll work
0:11 through the entire speaking test, share
0:13 some helpful tips, and give you a chance
0:16 to practice as [music] if it were test
0:19 day. For those of you who are new to the
0:22 channel, I'm Anastasia. I scored 119 out
0:25 of 120 on the TOEFL, and I have been
0:28 helping students prepare for it for over
0:30 10 years. On this [music] channel,
0:32 you'll find all the information you need
0:35 to ace the TOEFL. So, feel free to
0:38 subscribe and click the bell icon to
0:40 ensure you don't miss our upcoming
0:43 videos. Over the next couple of weeks,
0:46 I'll release many practice videos for
0:50 the 2026 TOEFL version. Now, the 2026
0:53 TOEFL speaking section consists of two
0:57 tasks. First, there is the listen and
1:00 repeat task. And second, there is the
1:03 take an interview task. First, let's
1:06 review the listen and repeat task. For
1:08 this part of the test, you listen to
1:11 seven [music] sentences and repeat them.
1:14 Your job is to listen and repeat the
1:18 sentences exactly as you hear them.
1:20 Speak clearly so the examiner can
1:22 understand you.
1:23 demonstrate good pronunciation and
1:27 intonation. Let's give it a try.
1:30 Welcome to the permanent exhibition on
1:47 This gallery displays original works
2:05 Please observe the brush strokes,
2:07 [music] texture, and composition of each painting.
2:25 Many pieces are arranged chronologically
2:43 The curator has selected these works to
3:02 Pay attention to the use of perspective,
3:19 We'll conclude the tour with a brief
3:44 How was that? During this practice, you
3:46 were able to see the sentence after each
3:48 attempt so that you could check
3:51 yourself. You won't have that support on
3:53 the day of the test. I've included it
3:56 here simply to make practicing easier
4:00 and less stressful. Now, let's read the
4:01 same sentences again. [music]
4:05 This time, let's read them more slowly,
4:07 focusing on pronunciation and enunciation.
4:09 enunciation.
4:11 Welcome to the permanent exhibition
4:14 [music] on the ground floor.
4:17 This gallery displays original works
4:20 from the museum's collection.
4:23 Please observe the brush strokes,
4:25 texture, and composition of each painting.
4:27 painting.
4:31 Many pieces are arranged chronologically
4:34 to show artistic development.
4:37 The curator has selected these works to
4:41 highlight key movements and styles.
4:44 Pay attention to the use of perspective,
4:47 contrast, and color harmony.
4:50 We'll conclude the tour with a brief
4:54 discussion near the final installation.
4:57 Now, let's review a few words that might
4:59 have caused some confusion. Most of them
5:03 are related to art and art galleries.
5:06 Exhibition. An exhibition is when
5:08 artworks are shown to the public in a
5:11 planned way. It usually has a theme. So,
5:13 all the paintings or sculptures are
5:16 connected by one idea, time period, or artist.
5:17 artist.
5:20 When you walk into a museum and see
5:23 signs for a new show, that show is an exhibition.
5:25 exhibition.
5:28 Two, brush strokes. Brush strokes are
5:31 the marks an artist leaves with a
5:34 paintbrush. In some paintings, [music]
5:37 they're smooth and almost invisible,
5:39 while in others, they're thick and easy
5:42 to see. Different artists use brush
5:45 strokes in different ways and this often
5:47 becomes part of their personal style. [music]
5:48 [music]
5:52 Three, texture. Texture describes how a
5:55 painting surface looks or how it would
5:58 feel if you could touch it. Some
6:00 paintings look flat and smooth while
6:03 others look rough or layered because the
6:06 paint was applied thickly. When people
6:08 discuss works of art, you'll often hear
6:10 this word used.
6:13 Four, composition.
6:16 Composition is about how everything is
6:19 arranged in a painting. This includes
6:22 where the main subject is placed, how
6:25 the space is used, and how the viewer's
6:29 eye moves across the image. If a work
6:32 has strong composition, it feels
6:34 balanced and [music] clear. If it
6:36 doesn't, viewers may find it less impressive.
6:38 impressive.
6:41 Five, chronologically.
6:42 When artworks are arranged
6:45 chronologically, they are placed in time
6:48 order from the earliest to the most
6:52 recent. This helps viewers see how an
6:55 artist's style changed or how art
6:58 developed over time. Museums often use
7:03 this layout to tell a visual story.
7:07 Six, curator. A curator is the person
7:09 who decides what you see in an
7:12 exhibition. They choose which artworks
7:14 will be shown, how they will be
7:16 arranged, [music] and what story the
7:19 exhibition tells. In many ways, the
7:22 curator is like the author of the exhibition.
7:23 exhibition.
7:26 Finally, an installation is a type of
7:30 artwork that often fills an entire space
7:33 rather than hanging on a wall. It can
7:36 include objects, light, sound, or even
7:39 movement. You can walk through an art
7:41 installation instead of simply looking
7:46 at it. Now, let's proceed to part two.
7:47 In this section of the test, you will
7:49 see four questions. [music] You will
7:52 need to answer each of them in 45
7:55 seconds. and there will be no time to
7:58 prepare. So, you must start speaking immediately.
8:00 immediately.
8:02 This is the main drawback compared to
8:05 the 2025 version of the test in which
8:08 you had 15 seconds to prepare for one
8:12 independent question. Now, here are some
8:15 of my tips for the speaking task two in 2026.
8:18 2026.
8:20 One, use templates to organize your
8:23 responses. Having an opening statement
8:26 that you know well is extremely helpful
8:29 when the question feels difficult and
8:31 you're not sure what to say. It also
8:34 gives you a few extra seconds to think
8:38 while you're already speaking. If your
8:41 mind goes blank during the exam, you can
8:43 start with a familiar sentence and then
8:45 build your answer using a structure you
8:48 already know. For example, if you're
8:50 asked about your favorite food, you
8:53 could say, "Well, there are several
8:57 kinds of food I enjoy. One of them is
9:01 another one is and so on."
9:03 Two, make sure to include details. [music]
9:04 [music]
9:07 TOEFL writers appreciate it when you
9:10 support your ideas with personal stories
9:12 and real experiences. [music]
9:15 This also allows you to use past tenses
9:18 and show topic specific vocabulary. In
9:21 my 101 sessions, I often see students
9:24 focus only on general facts. As a
9:27 [music] result, they repeat the same
9:30 idea several times, which usually leads
9:32 to a lower score.
9:35 Three, think of your response as a small
9:38 pyramid. Start by answering the question
9:39 directly. [music]
9:42 Then give your main reason and finally
9:45 support it with a detailed example or story.
9:46 story.
9:49 You can find high-scoring templates in
9:52 our brand new TOEFL prep course for the
9:56 2026 version of the test which I have
9:58 been creating and filming for the last
10:00 couple of months. I've tested these
10:02 templates with intermediate level
10:05 students who usually struggle to speak
10:07 quickly, especially when they have to
10:10 respond within 45 seconds and without
10:13 preparation. Even more encouraging, one
10:15 of my pre-intermediate students who is
10:18 now preparing for the TOEFL with me
10:21 earned a solid 3.5
10:24 out of four after using these templates
10:27 in her responses. So, if you'd like to
10:29 learn more, feel free to check out the
10:33 course using the link below. Now, you
10:35 have agreed to take part in an online
10:37 interview for a university research
10:40 project [snorts] about learning and
10:42 daily habits. You will answer questions
10:45 from a pre-recorded interviewer. You
10:47 will have 45 seconds to answer each
10:50 question. There is no preparation time.
10:52 [music] Begin speaking as soon as you
10:54 hear the question. Thank you for joining
10:56 the interview today. To begin [music]
10:58 with, I'd like you to think about your
11:00 daily routine. Can you describe one
11:03 habit you have that helps you stay
11:05 productive or focused during [music] the day?
11:53 One habit that really helps me stay
11:55 productive is planning my day in
11:59 advance. I usually take about 10 minutes
12:01 in the morning to write a short list of
12:04 tasks I want to complete, which helps me
12:08 see what's most important and avoid
12:11 wasting time. For example, back in
12:14 college, I often worked without a plan
12:17 and ended up jumping between tasks and
12:20 losing focus. Now, when I organize my
12:23 day ahead of time, I feel calmer and
12:26 more in control, and I finish my work
12:29 much more efficiently.
12:31 That's interesting. Some people prefer
12:34 to study or work alone, while others
12:37 prefer doing these activities with other
12:40 people. Which do you prefer and [music] why?
13:29 I personally prefer uh studying alone,
13:32 especially when I need to focus deeply.
13:34 When I work by myself, I can control my
13:38 pace and take breaks whenever I need.
13:40 For example, during my sophomore year, I
13:42 would usually stay in my bedroom and ask
13:45 my roommates not to disturb me so I
13:47 could concentrate and review the
13:50 material more efficiently. This approach
13:52 helped me prepare effectively and
13:55 allowed me to perform very well on most
13:59 of my exams. Now, I'd like to ask for
14:01 your opinion. Some people believe that
14:03 technology has made learning more
14:06 effective and [music] accessible. Others
14:08 think it has become a distraction.
14:10 [music] Do you think technology has
14:12 improved the learning experience overall?
14:14 overall?
15:04 I believe technology has significantly
15:07 enhanced the learning experience by
15:09 providing students with easy access to
15:12 information and learning. resources from
15:15 anywhere. For example, online courses
15:17 and educational platforms allow people
15:20 to learn at their own pace, which is
15:23 especially helpful for busy students. In
15:25 the past, if you wanted a learning
15:28 experience, you had to travel. However,
15:31 these days you can take courses from all
15:33 over the world and meet people from many
15:35 walks of life without even leaving your
15:39 apartment. Of course, technology can be
15:42 distracting if not used properly, but I
15:44 think the benefits clearly outweigh the
15:46 drawbacks when students use it
15:47 responsibly. [music]
15:50 Thank you. Let me ask you one final
15:52 question. [music] Many universities are
15:54 trying to create more flexible learning
15:58 environments such as online courses or
16:00 hybrid classes. Do you think this kind
16:03 of [music] flexibility benefits students
16:53 Yes, I [music]
16:54 do believe that flexible learning
16:57 environments positively affects students
16:59 by allowing them to balance their
17:01 studies with work, family
17:04 responsibilities, and personal goals.
17:07 For example, online or hybrid classes
17:09 make education more accessible for
17:11 students who can't attend traditional
17:14 classes on a daily basis since they can
17:16 study from the comfort of their own
17:19 homes. I have a few friends who are
17:21 homemakers with full-time family responsibilities
17:23 responsibilities
17:25 and they're now able to pursue their
17:28 master's degrees remotely. So, in the
17:30 long run, I think this kind of
17:32 flexibility helps learners stay
17:34 motivated, [music] reduce unnecessary
17:37 stress, and continue making progress
17:40 toward their goals. In each response,
17:43 remember to answer the question
17:46 directly. Move from a general idea to
17:48 specific details. [music]
17:52 Give at least one reason or example.
17:55 Speak clearly and confidently. Use
17:59 natural pauses and intonation. Well,
18:02 that brings our video to the end. I hope
18:04 you enjoyed it and found it helpful. As
18:06 you can see, the speaking section of the
18:10 2026 TOEFL test isn't as scary as it may
18:13 seem. Feel free to share your responses
18:16 in the comments below so I can take a
18:18 look and give you feedback. And don't
18:20 forget to subscribe to the channel so
18:24 you don't miss new TOEFL 2026 practice
18:27 videos. As always, I wish you a stellar
18:29 TOEFL score. See you in the next video. Bye.
