TOEFL • Speaking
TOEFL Speaking: Connect Main Ideas and Details
Summarise source information clearly without adding an unsupported personal opinion.
The goal of an integrated response
An integrated speaking response combines information from sources. Your job is to show the relationship between the main idea and the most useful supporting details, not to give a personal opinion.
A clear structure
- State the main topic or change.
- Explain the first supporting point.
- Add the relevant example or evidence.
- Connect the second point clearly.
Mini source notes
Reading: A university plans to replace printed notices with a mobile app.
Speaker: The app will make updates faster, but some students may miss information if notifications are disabled.
Model opening
The university plans to move campus notices to a mobile app. The speaker recognises that this could provide faster updates, but also identifies a possible communication problem.
Useful language
- The reading explains that…
- The speaker points out that…
- This supports the idea because…
- However, the speaker also notes…
Practice
Which detail is more relevant: the app’s colour scheme or the risk of disabled notifications?
Answer
The notification risk, because it directly affects whether students receive the information.
Production task
Use the notes to give a 45 to 60 second response. Focus on relationships and avoid adding unsupported details.