TOEFL iBT Speaking Independent Topic List (Qu.

1)
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1. Who would you like to go on a trip abroad with? Describe this person and say
why he/she would be a good travel companion for you.
I think the person I'd most like to travel overseas with would have to be my wife.
(Uh) my wife and I have been married for about 6 years, and we have (uh) a family, with
two young children.
And (uh) the main - probably the first main reason I would choose her is, I think she'd
really appreciate the chance to travel overseas; (uh) she's had limited travel
experience, (uh) for example, she's only been really to Australia and Thailand, outside
her home country of Korea - so, I think she'd really appreciate the wider experience.
(Um) and the second reason is I think it'd be great for our relationship. (Um) we've been
so weighed down with so many responsibilities, and (uh) I think it'd be a chance to get
some great new memories and experiences together.
2. What is your favorite place to visit on weekends? Describe it and explain why it
is your favorite place to go.
(Uh) a place I really like to visit on weekends is the local English language book shop.
(Uh) It's only about 5 minutes walk from where I live, (uh) and it's a huge shop with a - a
very impressive selection of English language books.
(Um) The main reason I like going there, actually, is (uh) I like to take my son there and
buy him new books. For example, even just last weekend I was there and I bought him
some new children's books - picture books - (uh) which he really loves to read and we
really love to read together.
And the second reason is, (um) I'm a very avid reader myself, and there's a (uh) good
selection of books for adults there; and (um) I like to pick up new novels every couple of
weeks, and - and read them, and that's very important to me, as - as a hobby and a
passion.
3. What is your happiest childhood memory? Describe it and give reasons to
explain why it is your happiest memory.
My happiest childhood memory is absolutely the time when I got my first bicycle.

(Uh) I was five years old at the time, and (uh) I got this as a present from Santa Claus at
Christmas.
(Uh) the main reason I recall this as being such a happy experience was the fantastic
anticipation on Christmas Eve, wondering if I was going to get a (uh) bicycle, and (um) I
really remember that feeling of (uh) - not being able to go to sleep, wondering if it was
going to be there the next morning.
And, the second reason is I recall this wonderful feeling of (um) independence and
freedom; once I had my bicycle I could ride it down to the local park, I could ride it out
on the street, and I felt really free.
4. What is your most important possession? Describe it and say why it is so
important.
My most important possession -- without a doubt -- is my (uh) laptop computer.
(Uh) I have a very small, (uh) very light, compact laptop computer, and I've had it for
three or four years now, and it's really indispensable to me.
(Uh) one of the main reasons is that (uh) I use it so much for my work. (Uh) for example,
I do a lot of work using the Internet, and I also do a lot of writing. And (um) both of these
things -- you know -- are (uh) really facilitated through my computer.
And, the second main reason is (um) I'm often on the move: I move around to different
places. For example, I work at a university that is a bit distant, and I also attend many
conferences. So I need a portable, lightweight computer like this one.
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5. Talk about a person who has inspired you. Describe the person and explain
why you found him/her inspirational.
A person who has really inspired me is J. K. Rowling.
She's the author of the internationally acclaimed and very successful Harry Potter series.
(Uh) one of the main reasons I'm (uh) very inspired by her is (uh) I'm a budding writer
myself -- I'm very interested in fantasy fiction -- and, you know, she's shown that it is
possible to be successful as a writer in this genre, even in an age where children are
increasingly infatuated with things like video games and digital products.
And the second reason is that (um), as I understand it, she wrote the series under co-,
you know, with considerable hardships. (Uh) she was a single mother, she didn't have a
lot of income, and she still forged ahead and (uh) achieved her dream - and that really
inspires me.

6. Where do you most like to go to eat out? Describe this place and say why you
like it most.
When it comes to eating out, a restaurant I really like to go to is called the "Outback
Steakhouse."
[Uh] It's a [uh] theme-based restaurant, with [uh] Australian-style cuisine.
And [uh] the main reason I really like to go there is [uh] -- of course -- the food! [Uh] I
really love steak, and I really love the [uh] Australian beer. I am Australian, so I really
miss those foods. I live abroad, and it's a chance for me to [um] -- you know -experience the sort of food I used to eat when I was living back home.
And the other reason is [uh] it's a great place for families. [Uh] my wife and my son
really enjoy going there as well; [uh] it has a good atmosphere for families; [uh] there's
plenty of room; and [uh] we really enjoy the experience of being there -- as a family.
7. Talk about an important national holiday in your home country. Describe it and
explain why it is important.
An important national holiday in my country is Boxing Day.
This is a public holiday that immediately follows Christmas Day, [uh] and occurs on
December 26 - every year.
[Uh] It's an important holiday [um] because it's very much for families -- [um] it's one of
the -- you know -- rare times during the year that families can get together and really
enjoy each other's company.
[Um] I also think it's an important holiday because [um] it's probably the one day over
the Christmas period that [um] the whole family gets to relax. [Um] You know, people
have been very busy on Christmas Day, cooking and doing many things, but on Boxing
Day, everybody gets to relax, and that's why it is such an important holiday.
8. What is your favorite book or movie? Describe it and say why it is your
favorite.
My favorite book is a fantasy novel called "The Hobbit."
It was written by a man named J. R. Tolkien, and it's basically a fantasy adventure story
-- that takes place [eh] in a fantasy land with lots of magical creatures.
[Uh] The main reason I really like this book [um] is that, as a child, it really awoke my
imagination. [Uh] For example, there's lots of magical creatures like dwarves and elves

and dragons in the book -- and that was [uh] really fascinating to me as a child, and
really [uh] awoke my passion for reading.
[Uh] And the second main reason is that -- you know -- I still enjoy reading the book
now. [Um] The characterization is really entertaining; [uh] the narrative style is very
warm, and very approachable; and -- you know -- I still enjoy reading it as an adult.
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9. Who do you feel close to in your family (or extended family)? Describe this
person and say why you feel close to him/her.
T - father
R1 - friends/casual
R2 - advice
10. Where is a good place to have fun in your city or town? Describe this place
and explain why it is fun.
T - Eastern Beach
R1 - lawn / games
R2 - restaurants
11. Talk about an experience in your life that made you feel embarrassed.
Describe it and say why it was embarrassing.
T - pub. sp. comp
R1 - different / lonely
R2 - silly
12. What was your favorite subject at school? Describe it and explain why this
subject was your favorite one.
T - English
R1 - reading

R2 - good at it / lazy
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13. Who is an important person in your country? Describe this person and
explain why he/she is important.
14. Talk about an interesting tourist attraction you have been to. Describe it and
say why it was interesting.
15. Talk about a time when you experienced success. Describe the experience
and say why it was a success for you.
16. What is your favorite style of clothing? Describe it and explain why it is your
favorite.
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17. Name a person whom you truly admire. Describe the person and say why
you admire him/her.
18. Think of a place that makes you feel relaxed and peaceful. Describe it and
explain why it is relaxing and peaceful for you.
19. Talk about a difficulty you have overcome in your life. Describe the
experience and say why it was difficult to overcome.
20. What is your most useful study aid? Describe it and explain why it is useful in
helping you to study.
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21. Talk about a teacher who had a positive influence on you. Describe this
person and explain why he/she was so influential to you.
22. Where is your favorite place to study? Describe this place and say why it is a
good place for you to study.
23. Talk about a positive experience with learning or using English. Describe the
experience and say why it was a positive one.
24. What is your favorite kind of food? Describe it and explain why it is your
favorite.
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25. Name a famous or influential figure who has inspired you. Describe this
person and say why he/she has been inspirational to you.
26. Which place has fond memories for you? Describe this place and explain why
it is memorable to you.

27. Some students prefer lectures where the teacher does all of the talking. Other students
prefer classes where students are more interactive and contribute to the lesson. Which do
you prefer?
28. Some students like to buy all their own books and keep them after their courses are
finished. Others prefer to borrow course books and return them once the course is
finished. Which do you prefer?
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29. Some people like to get married and start a family while they are still young (under
30 years of age). Others prefer to wait until they are older to start their own family.
Which do/would you prefer?
30. Some students like to listen to music while they are studying. Others prefer a very
quiet atmosphere for their study. Which do you prefer?
31. Would you like to spend most of your life living and working only in your own
country, or would you prefer to spend some time living and working in a new country?
32. Some people enjoy hobbies or sports that are personal and individual. Others like
hobbies or sports that involve groups of people. Which do you prefer?
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33. Some people want to have specific instructions or directions when they try something
new. Other people like to experiment and work things out for themselves. Which do you
prefer?
34. Would you prefer to live in an apartment building, or a private house?
35. Some students like to make a specific study schedule for themselves, while others
prefer to do their study only when they feel like doing it. Which do you prefer?
36. During discussions, some people like to lead the conversation and do a lot of the
talking. Other people prefer to listen more and talk only when they have to. Which do
you prefer?
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37. For a group assignment, would you prefer to work with a new group of people whom
you don't know all that well, or work with your close friends?
38. Some people like to keep a private diary which they don't show to other people. Other
people like to start things like online blogs, where other people can read the posts and
make comments about them. Which would you prefer to start - a private diary or an

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online blog?
39. Some students choose courses in order to get good jobs in the future. Other students
choose courses that are very interesting to them, even if they don't always lead to good
jobs. Which do you prefer?
40. Some universities are small and have only a couple of thousand students on campus.
Other universities are very large and have many thousands of students enrolled. Which
kind of university do you prefer?
http://global-english.lefora.com/2008/12/20/toefl-ibt-speaking-independent-topic-listpaired-c/page1/
1.Bestsport/music/booktype/Fruit/TVserial/color
2.Bestmemorabledayinschoollife
3.Futureplan/Ambitioninlife
4.Hobby
5.Ideaofhappylife/happiestmomentinlife/sadmoment
6.Thestrangestdreamyouhavehad
7.Wherewillyoubeprofessionallyin10/20/30yearstime
8.Qualitiesofgoodparents/sonordaughter/teachers/
students/boss/coworker/spouse
9.Favoritetoy/Animal
10.Importantroominyourhouse
11.Ifyoucouldchangeonethinginyourcountrywhatwould
youchange?
12.Personyouwouldliketovisitfor1hour
13.Ideaofperfectjob
http://global-english.lefora.com/2008/08/29/toefl-ibt-speaking-independent-topic-listopen-cho/page2/#post1993020

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