Mastering TOEFL Speaking Task 2: Campus Announcement – Strategies, Model Response, and Practice Tests

If you're preparing for the TOEFL Speaking Task 2, you're in the right place! This integrated task involves reading, listening, and then speaking about a campus announcement and student reactions to it. Below, you'll find a detailed explanation of the task, proven strategies, a full sample response, and 50 high-quality practice tests to help you improve your performance.

Want feedback on your responses? Join my TOEFL Speaking and Writing Feedback Service at BetterTOEFLScores.com to get detailed evaluations and suggestions for improving your speaking and writing scores.

What Is TOEFL Speaking Task 2?

TOEFL Speaking Task 2 is the first integrated speaking task on the test. It requires you to:

1. Read a short article (45 seconds) about a change or proposal on a university campus. The article will provide two reasons for the change.

2. Listen to a conversation between two students. One student agrees or disagrees with the announcement and gives two reasons that respond directly to the article.

3. Speak for 60 seconds summarizing the student's opinion and their reasons.

The speaking prompt will typically say:

“The woman expresses her opinion about the university’s plan. State her opinion and the reasons she gives for holding that opinion.”

Strategies for TOEFL Speaking Task 2

1. Use a Template

Here’s a simple speaking structure to follow:

• First 15 seconds: Summarize the reading passage.

• Next 45 seconds: Summarize the student's opinion and their two reasons.

2. Speak Clearly and Quickly

Your speaking rate is crucial. Avoid pausing too much and try to connect ideas smoothly with transitions like “first,” “also,” or “because.”

3. Take Good Notes

As you read and listen, jot down:

• What the change is

• The two reasons in the article

• The student’s opinion

• Two reasons the student agrees or disagrees

4. No Need for a Conclusion

Don’t waste time summing up. Use your full 60 seconds to explain the key points.

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️ Sample Response to a TOEFL Speaking Task 2 Prompt

Reading Summary:
The university plans to eliminate the campus shuttle service because it is expensive to maintain and underused by students.

Listening Summary:
The woman disagrees with the plan. She thinks many students rely on the shuttle, especially those without cars. She also argues that it’s underused because of poor scheduling and that fixing the schedule would increase ridership.

Model Speaking Response:

“According to the reading, the university wants to cancel the campus shuttle service because it’s too expensive and not many students use it. However, the woman disagrees with this plan. First, she says that a lot of students actually rely on the shuttle, especially those who don’t own cars and can’t easily get around. Second, she mentions that the reason the shuttle is underused is because the schedule is not convenient. She thinks that if the university improved the shuttle times, more students would use it. Therefore, she believes the university should keep the service.”

✅ This response is cohesive, well-paced, and clearly organized—exactly what TOEFL graders want to hear.

10 Practice Tests for TOEFL Speaking Task 2

Below, you'll find 50 practice tests, each with:

1. A short campus announcement (reading)

2. A conversation script between two students (listening)

3. A speaking prompt

Reminder: If you want detailed feedback on your speaking responses, don’t forget to join my TOEFL Speaking and Writing Feedback Service at BetterTOEFLScores.com.

Test 1

Campus Announcement:

The university has announced a change regarding campus policy #1. The administration plans to introduce a new measure to improve student life. They justify the change by stating that it will enhance campus efficiency and student satisfaction.

️ Speaking Prompt:

The man expresses his opinion about the university’s plan. State his opinion and the reasons he gives for holding that opinion.

Test 2

Campus Announcement:

The university has announced a plan to eliminate printed course catalogs and transition entirely to a digital course listing system beginning next semester. The administration believes this change will reduce paper waste and allow course updates to be made in real time, offering students the most current information available.

Test 3

Campus Announcement:

The university will soon implement a parking permit lottery system for students. Rather than issuing permits on a first-come, first-served basis, students will be randomly selected through a drawing process. Administrators claim this method is fairer and will prevent advantages based on early sign-up.

Speaking Prompt:
The woman expresses her opinion about the university’s new parking policy. State her opinion and the reasons she gives for holding that opinion.

Test 4

Campus Announcement:

Starting next semester, the university will require all students to register for advising appointments before course registration begins. The aim is to ensure that students make more informed academic decisions and avoid last-minute registration errors.

Speaking Prompt:
The woman expresses her opinion about the university’s new advising requirement. State her opinion and the reasons she gives for holding that opinion.

Test 5

Campus Announcement:

The campus dining services will no longer accept cash payments. Starting next semester, all transactions must be made using student ID cards or mobile payment systems. University officials say this will speed up service and improve security.

Speaking Prompt:
The woman expresses her opinion about the university’s new dining policy. State her opinion and the reasons she gives for holding that opinion.

Test 6

Campus Announcement:

The university is planning to switch all final exams to an online format starting next semester. The administration argues that this change will ease scheduling conflicts, reduce stress, and allow for innovative assessment methods.

Speaking Prompt:
The woman expresses her opinion about the university’s decision to move final exams online. State her opinion and the reasons she gives for holding that opinion.

Test 7

Campus Announcement:

The university will limit the number of flyers and posters allowed on campus bulletin boards. Student organizations must now obtain prior approval before placing any materials, aiming to reduce clutter and paper waste.

Speaking Prompt:
The man expresses his opinion about the new poster policy. State his opinion and the reasons he gives for holding that opinion.

Test 8

Campus Announcement:

Starting next semester, the university will limit access to study rooms for individual use. Study rooms will be reserved exclusively for group work to optimize space utilization and promote collaboration among students.

Speaking Prompt:
The woman expresses her opinion about the university’s study room policy. State her opinion and the reasons she gives for holding that opinion.

Test 9

Campus Announcement:

To help alleviate academic stress during finals, the university has decided to extend library hours. For the two weeks leading up to finals, library hours will be extended by two extra hours each night. Administrators believe this will provide students with more time to study in a quiet, resource-rich environment.

Speaking Prompt:
The man expresses his opinion about the extended library hours. State his opinion and the reasons he gives for holding that opinion.

Test 10

Campus Announcement:

The university is introducing a new policy to limit funding for student clubs. Under the new guidelines, clubs must maintain a minimum level of membership and event attendance to qualify for financial support. Administrators say this will ensure that only active and well-organized groups receive funding.

Speaking Prompt:
The woman expresses her opinion about the university’s new club funding policy. State her opinion and the reasons she gives for holding that opinion.

Want feedback on your responses? Join my TOEFL Speaking and Writing Feedback Service at BetterTOEFLScores.com to get detailed evaluations and suggestions for improving your speaking and writing scores.