What new task types were added to the TOEFL iBT Speaking section in the recent changes?
The recent TOEFL iBT changes introduced two new Speaking task types for you to prepare for, called Listen and Repeat and Take an Interview. These sit alongside the existing adaptive Reading and Listening sections, and despite the update, ETS still advises allowing roughly two hours for the full test.
If you last looked at TOEFL Speaking preparation a while ago, there are new task formats you have not practised yet. Two additional task types now appear in this section, on top of the tasks you may already be familiar with.
New TOEFL iBT Speaking Task Types
| Task Type | What It Involves |
|---|---|
| Listen and Repeat | You listen to audio and repeat it back |
| Take an Interview | You respond as though in a spoken interview |
What Else Changed Alongside This
Reading and Listening remain adaptive to your performance, your overall score now uses a 1 to 6 band scale, and you can expect official results about 3 days after your test, so the newer task types are only one part of a broader update.
My Advice
Add dedicated practice for Listen and Repeat and Take an Interview to your prep plan specifically, since these formats reward a different kind of readiness than the older Speaking tasks you may have trained on before.
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