15 TOEFL Speaking Task 1 Questions To Boost Your Practice

by Schule Study Time | Mar 23, 2025 | TOEFL Speaking Questions

If you’re preparing for the TOEFL Speaking section, Task 1 is the best place to start. It’s the first question on the test and one of the easiest to practise. In this guide, you’ll find 15 TOEFL Speaking Task 1 questions organised by type, plus tips on how to answer them well.

What Is TOEFL Speaking Task 1?

In TOEFL Speaking Task 1, you’ll see a question that asks about your opinion. You’ll have 15 seconds to prepare and 45 seconds to speak.

There are three main types of Task 1 questions:

Preference questions – You choose between two options.
Agree/disagree questions – You say whether you agree or disagree with a statement.
Hypothetical questions – You choose what you would do in a situation with two options.

There’s no right or wrong answer for Task 1. You just need to make a clear choice and support it with two reasons and examples.

TOEFL Speaking Task 1 Template

A good response should follow a simple structure, and that’s where a speaking template becomes your secret weapon. It helps you stay organised, manage your time, and make sure your answer is clear and complete. Without it, it’s easy to go off-topic or run out of things to say before the time is up.

Here is a simple TOEFL Speaking Task 1 Template with timings and transition phrases for your Task 1 responses:

Introduction (10 seconds)
Start with a clear statement of your opinion or choice.
“I personally think…”

First reason and example (15 seconds)
Give your first reason and support it with a short example.
“The first reason is that…”
“For example…”

Second reason and example (15 seconds)
Present a second reason and another brief example.
“Another reason is that…”
“For instance…”

Conclusion (5–10 seconds)
Finish by restating your opinion in a short sentence.
“For these reasons…”

You can also use alternative transition phrases if any of the above phrases feel hard to pronounce. The most important thing is that you speak clearly, stay organised, and support your opinion with examples.

For a list of alternative phrases for this speaking template, check out our blog post How To Give A Strong Answer For TOEFL Speaking Task 1 (2025).

TOEFL Speaking Task 1: Agree or Disagree Questions

This is the most common type of TOEFL Speaking Task 1 Questions. These questions ask whether you agree or disagree with a statement and support your response with reasons and examples. Here are a few of these question types for you to practice with:

Do you agree or disagree with the following statement: Students should wear uniforms in school. Use details and examples to support your response.

Do you agree or disagree with the following statement: Every student should have to learn coding before graduating. Support your explanation with specific reasons and examples.

Do you agree or disagree with the following statement: It is better to take a gap year before starting university. Use specific details and examples to support your response.

Do you agree or disagree with the following statement: Using public transportation is better for the environment than driving a personal car. Include examples and details in your response.

Do you agree or disagree with the following statement: People can learn more from failure than from success. Use specific reasons and examples to support your response.

TOEFL Speaking Task 1: Preference Questions

This is the second most common type of TOEFL Speaking Task 1 Questions. These questions ask you to choose which option you prefer and explain your choice with reasons and examples. Here are some of these question types to practice with:

Some students prefer taking notes with a pen and paper, while others prefer using a digital device. Which do you prefer and why? Use details and examples to support your explanation.

Some people like spending their weekends watching movies at home, while others prefer going out with friends. Which do you prefer and why? Use details and examples to support your answer.

Some students enjoy working on group projects, while others prefer completing tasks independently. Which do you prefer and why? Support your answer with reasons and examples.

Some people prefer living in a place that’s always warm while others prefer a place with all four seasons. Which do you prefer and why? Use details and examples to support your answer.

Some people prefer eating out at restaurants, while others enjoy cooking their own meals at home. Which do you prefer and why? Use details and examples to support your explanation.

TOEFL Speaking Task 1: Hypothetical Questions

These question types are quite rare in the exam. These TOEFL Speaking Task 1 questions ask what you would do in an imagined situation where you must choose between two options and explain your answer using reasons and examples. Here are some of these question types for you to try answering:

If you could choose between taking a gap year or starting university right away, which would you choose and why? Use details and examples to support your answer.

If your school let you pick between writing a paper or giving a presentation, which would you prefer and why? Use details and examples to support your answer.

If you had to choose between working part-time during school or focusing only on your studies, what would you do and why? Use details and examples to support your answer.

If you could live with a roommate or live alone, which would you choose and why? Use details and examples to support your answer.

If you had the chance to study abroad or stay in your home country, which would you choose and why? Use details and examples to support your answer.

How To Practice TOEFL Speaking Task 1 Questions?

Each of these practice questions mirrors the style of a real TOEFL Speaking Task 1 question. Practising with realistic speaking questions improves your thinking speed, note-taking ability, answer structure, speaking fluency and builds up your confidence for test day. To get ready for the TOEFL speaking section, you must practice answering questions.

You can use these questions to create your own TOEFL Speaking Mock Test. When practising TOEFL Speaking questions, simulate yourself under actual test conditions to get used to the time pressure. Record your answers, listen back to them and identify areas for improvement.

When answering TOEFL Speaking Task 1 questions, remember to:

State your opinion clearly
Give at least two reasons or examples
Use transition words to organise your ideas
Speak naturally and confidently

Discover More Free TOEFL Speaking Resources

Are you looking for more resources to help improve your TOEFL Speaking score? Then, check out these free resources to keep learning and improve your speaking score. The more you practice, the more confident and fluent you’ll become on test day.

Here are some articles to explore next:

Interested in how your TOEFL Speaking Task 1 Responses are scored? Then, check out the official Independent Speaking Rubric from ETS.