Speaking: Listen-Speak tasks
Introduced| English | Meaning |
|---|---|
| retell | retell |
| key point | key point |
One line of notes, half an answer
- Your notes say: recycling challenge — 2 boxes — weigh Fri — winner pizza — volunteers sign up Mon.
- Turn that line into sentences and you already have most of a good Listen-Speak answer.
Why are short notes useful in Listen-Speak?
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Turn the note line into sentences.
Two Listen-Speak tasks
- Task 3, non-academic: a teacher or students talk about a school-related topic, such as an event, a rule or a plan.
- Task 4, academic: a teacher explains an academic topic. In both tasks you retell 复述 what you heard: you have 45 seconds to prepare and one minute to speak.
In each Listen-Speak task, how long do you have to prepare and to speak?
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45 seconds to prepare, then one minute to record.
What is Task 3 (non-academic Listen-Speak) about?
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Task 4 is the academic one.
In both Listen-Speak tasks your job is to retell what you heard.
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Report the talk, don't give your opinion.
Notes while you listen
- You may take notes. Write the key points 要点 in order, using short words, numbers and arrows.
- Names, days, numbers, steps and reasons are worth writing. Full sentences are not.
Listen to Daniel from the student council and take notes.
Notes: recycling challenge, next month · 2 boxes/class (paper, bottles) · weigh every Fri · most → pizza lunch · volunteers: front office by Mon · clean bottles only
In Daniel's talk, when will the council weigh the boxes?
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Every Friday. Monday is the sign-up deadline for volunteers.
Which note is most useful for Daniel's talk?
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Short, with an arrow showing the result; easy to turn into a sentence.
How many recycling boxes does each class get?
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One for paper and one for plastic bottles.
What does the winning class get?
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"Wins a pizza lunch."
Where and when should volunteers sign up?
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"Sign up at the front office by Monday."
Plan in 45 seconds
- Decide your first sentence: the main point. "Daniel explained a new recycling challenge for next month."
- Then choose the order of 2–4 details. Your notes are already in order, so follow them.
Which opening sentence is best for the Task 3 answer?
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It reports the speaker's main point. The first option is an opinion; the third is a detail.
In the 45 seconds, what should you decide first?
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Main point first, then the order of details.
Speak for one minute
- Start with the main point, then give the details with links: first, also, in addition, because, so.
- Report the speaker (He said that… / The teacher explained…). Do not add your opinion or new facts; the task is to retell.
Report or opinion?
Retell the main points in your own words within one minute
In a Listen-Speak answer you should add your own opinion and extra facts you know.
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Retell what the speaker said; new ideas do not answer the task.
Which sentence reports the speaker correctly?
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Report the talk with "He said that…".
The academic talk
- In Task 4 the teacher explains a process, a cause or a comparison. Organise your answer the same way: steps in order, or cause → result.
Listen to the geography teacher and note the steps.
Notes: forest makes own rain · 1 roots take water · 2 leaves release vapour · 3 warm air rises, cools → clouds · 4 rain falls on forest · cut trees → drier
Answer start: "The teacher explained that a big rainforest helps to make its own rain. First, the trees take up water through their roots…"
Put the steps of the rainforest talk in order.
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The teacher explains a process; your answer should keep the same order.
Use your notes on the rainforest talk. Prepare for 45 seconds, then retell it in one minute.
A strong answer opens with the main point, gives the four steps in order and reports the teacher without adding opinions.
According to the geography teacher, what does a large rainforest do?
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The forest releases water that later falls as rain.
What do the leaves do in the rainforest process?
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Roots take water up; leaves release vapour.
The teacher says that cutting down many trees can make the remaining forest drier.
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Less vapour means less rain.
How should you organise an answer about a process?
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Follow the order in your notes.
Common mistakes
- Giving your own opinion ("I think recycling is very important") instead of reporting the talk.
- Spending the minute on one detail and never reaching the end of your notes.
- Reading full sentences from long notes and losing your place.
Nobody knows why there was soup in that bottle. You do not need to explain it in your answer.
In your answer about Daniel's talk, you need to explain why there was soup in the bottle.
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That is a joke, not a main point.
Recap
- Notes: key points in order, short words, numbers, arrows.
- 45 seconds: choose the opening sentence and the order.
- One minute: main point first, then details with links; report, don't give opinions.
Official sources
- Task timings checked on 15 November 2026 in the TOEFL Junior Test Taker Handbook (ETS, PDF).
- Official samples with scored responses: Non-academic Listen-Speak (ETS) and Academic Listen-Speak (ETS). The recordings here are original.