Complete Guide to TOEFL Speaking Task 2 (Integrated)
Task 2 tests your ability to synthesize information from two sources—a reading passage and a listening conversation—and report on it accurately. This guide provides a complete strategy for this "Campus Situation" task.
Understanding the Task Flow
A campus announcement
Two students discuss it
Organize your notes
Summarize the speaker's opinion
Your goal is NOT to give your own opinion. Your only job is to summarize what the main speaker in the conversation thinks about the announcement and explain their reasons.
The Winning Strategy: Note-Taking & Structuring
Step 1: Efficient Note-Taking
Use a split-page format on your notepaper. This is the most critical part of your preparation.
| Reading (50 seconds) | Listening (60-90 seconds) |
|---|---|
| Change: What is the new policy/proposal? (e.g., New attendance policy) | Speaker's Opinion: Does the man/woman agree or disagree? |
| Reason 1: University's 1st reason. (e.g., Improve grades) | Reason 1: Speaker's 1st reason. (e.g., Disagrees. Adds too much stress). |
| Reason 2: University's 2nd reason. (e.g., Encourage responsibility) | Reason 2: Speaker's 2nd reason. (e.g., Disagrees. Unfair for students with jobs). |
Step 2: The Perfect Response Structure (60 seconds)
Use a template to deliver a clear, organized answer every time. This structure covers all the required points and is easy for the raters to follow.
- The Announcement (Approx. 10 sec): Start by stating the change mentioned in the reading.
"The university has announced that..." or "According to the reading..." - The Speaker's Opinion (Approx. 5 sec): Clearly state the speaker's stance.
"The man/woman in the conversation agrees/disagrees with this plan." - The First Reason (Approx. 20 sec): Explain the speaker's first reason in detail. Connect it back to the university's reason if possible.
"His/Her first reason is that..." - The Second Reason (Approx. 20 sec): Explain the speaker's second reason with supporting details from the conversation.
"Secondly, he/she points out that..."
Real Past Questions & Highest-Score Answers
Question 1: Banning Bicycles in Campus Buildings
"The university is implementing a new policy that prohibits students from bringing bicycles inside any campus buildings, including dormitories and academic halls. This decision was made for two main reasons. First, bicycles left in hallways and stairwells create a safety hazard, blocking emergency exits. Second, bikes often leave mud and dirt on the floors, creating extra work for the cleaning staff and making the buildings look untidy."
Woman: Hey, did you see that notice? They're banning bikes inside buildings now. I guess it makes sense, I've seen people leave them in the hallways sometimes.
Man: I know, but I think it's a terrible idea. The notice says they're a safety hazard, but I think that's a huge exaggeration. Most students I know are really careful. We keep our bikes inside our own dorm rooms, where they aren't blocking any exits. It’s not really a widespread problem.
Woman: Hmm. What about the point about mud and dirt? You have to admit, bikes do track in a lot of mess, especially when it rains.
Man: True, but that's not the real issue. The *real* problem is that there's nowhere to park them outside! The bike racks we have are old, rusty, and always overflowing. If the university just gave us more, decent racks near the dorms, nobody would want to bring their dirty bike inside in the first place.
The man expresses his opinion of the new university policy. State his opinion and explain the reasons he gives for holding that opinion.
Highest-Scoring Sample Answer:
"The university has implemented a new policy to ban bicycles from all campus buildings. The man in the conversation disagrees with this policy for a couple of reasons.
First of all, he doesn't think the bicycles are a real safety hazard. He argues that students are responsible and usually keep their bikes in their rooms, not in hallways where they would block emergency exits. So, he believes the university's concern is not really valid.
Secondly, he refutes the point about bikes making the buildings dirty by claiming the real issue is a lack of proper bike racks outside. He says the current racks are old and insufficient, so students have no choice but to bring their bikes in. He suggests that if the university invested in more and better racks, the problem would be solved."
Why this answer is effective:
- Follows the Structure: It perfectly follows the 4-part template.
- Accurate Summary: It accurately reports the man's opinion and both of his reasons.
- Clear Transitions: Uses phrases like "First of all" and "Secondly" to create a logical flow.
- Efficient Language: It's concise and delivers all key information within the 60-second limit.
Question 2: University Mentoring Program
"The university's career services office is launching a new mentoring program. The program will pair third-year students with first-year students in the same major. According to the announcement, this initiative has two main goals. First, it aims to help first-year students adjust to university life more smoothly by providing them with guidance from an experienced peer. Second, it is intended to give the third-year mentors valuable leadership experience that will be beneficial for their future careers."
Man: A new mentoring program... third-years paired with first-years. What do you think of that?
Woman: Oh, I think it's a fantastic idea! I'm so glad they're finally doing it.
Man: Really? You think first-years will actually use it?
Woman: Totally! I mean, when I was a first-year, I was so lost. I had no idea which professors were good or what classes I should take. I would have loved to have an older student to give me some real advice. It would have made everything so much less stressful.
Man: I guess that makes sense. And what's in it for the mentors? Just more work?
Woman: No way, that's the other great part! I'm a third-year now, and I want to be a manager someday. This is perfect! Being a mentor is actual leadership experience. It's something practical I can put on my resume that will really help me get a job after graduation.
The woman expresses her opinion of the new mentoring program. State her opinion and explain the reasons she gives for holding that opinion.
Highest-Scoring Sample Answer:
"According to the reading, the university is starting a new mentoring program for students. The woman in the conversation thinks this is a great idea and is very much in favor of it.
Her first reason is that it will greatly benefit the first-year students. She shares her own personal experience, saying that when she was a first-year, she felt lost and didn't know who to ask for advice on classes and professors. She believes a mentor would have made her transition to university much easier.
Her second reason relates to the benefits for the mentors themselves. As a third-year student who wants to be a manager, she is excited about the opportunity. She believes that serving as a mentor will provide her with valuable leadership experience, which will be a strong point on her resume for her future career."
Why this answer is effective:
- Clear Opinion: Immediately states the woman's positive stance.
- Personal Connection: Effectively conveys the speaker's use of her own experience to support her first point.
- Links to Goals: Connects her second reason directly to her future career goals, just as she did in the conversation.
- Comprehensive: Covers all key arguments from the conversation logically and fully.
More Questions for Practice
Use the note-taking strategy and response structure to tackle these practice questions.
Practice 3: New Art Museum
"The university plans to build a new art museum on campus. The facility will be dedicated to displaying works created by our own students. This project has two main purposes: first, to provide students in the art department a professional, gallery-like venue to showcase their creations to the public. Second, the museum is intended to enrich the cultural life of the entire student body by making art more accessible."
Woman: Did you hear they're going to build a new art museum just for student work? That sounds pretty expensive.
Man: It might be, but I think it’s a fantastic plan. My roommate, David, is in the art department, and he's thrilled. Right now, the only place they can show their paintings is in a small, crowded hallway in the library. He says a real, professional gallery space will make a huge difference for art majors.
Woman: I guess that’s good for them. But what about the rest of us? I’m a science major, I don’t know if I’d ever go.
Man: But that’s the other cool thing! I think lots of students will go. It would be a great way to take a study break, you know? Instead of just getting coffee, you could walk through a gallery for 20 minutes. Plus, I’d be more likely to see some art if it’s right here on campus, instead of having to go downtown to a museum.
The man expresses his opinion of the university's plan. State his opinion and explain the reasons he gives for holding that opinion.
Practice 4: Banning Junk Food
"The university dining services will no longer sell junk food, including candy, soda, and potato chips, in its facilities. This policy is being enacted for two primary reasons. First, the university has a responsibility to promote healthier eating habits among students. Second, the wrappers and bottles from these items contribute significantly to the litter problem on campus, and we hope this change will create a cleaner environment."
Man: Wow, check this out. No more soda or candy in the dining hall.
Woman: I just saw that. I don't think this is a good idea at all. It's not going to work.
Man: Why not? It seems healthier.
Woman: For one thing, we're all adults. We can make our own decisions about what to eat. The university shouldn't be controlling us like this. If someone really wants a soda, they'll just walk two minutes to the convenience store off-campus and buy one there. It won’t change what people eat.
Man: Fair enough. But what about the litter? That part makes sense.
Woman: I don’t buy that either. The problem isn’t what they sell, it’s that there aren’t enough trash cans on campus! Especially around the main square. If they just installed more bins, the litter problem would get much better. Banning candy isn’t the solution.
The woman expresses her opinion about the new policy. State her opinion and explain the reasons she gives for holding that opinion.
Practice 5: Early Library Closing
"Starting next semester, the university library will close at 10:00 PM instead of midnight. This change in hours is being implemented as a cost-saving measure. By closing earlier, the university can reduce its budget for evening staffing and electricity. These savings will be reallocated to purchasing new books and online database subscriptions, which will benefit all students."
Man: Can you believe this? They're closing the library at 10 PM now.
Woman: I know, it's a really bad idea. I'm completely against it.
Man: But they said it'll save money for new books. Isn't that a good thing?
Woman: It sounds good, but it's not practical. My first reason is that so many students, especially me, rely on the library for late-night studying. My dorm is always noisy, so the library is the only place I can concentrate, especially during exam week. Those two hours between 10 and midnight are critical.
Man: So what about the money they'll save?
Woman: Honestly, I don't think it's the right way to save money. If they need to reallocate funds, that's one thing. But students need a place to study more than they need a few extra books. And besides, I think the university's claim that the money will go to books is just an excuse. They're just cutting services, and it's going to hurt students who need a quiet place to work late at night.
The woman expresses her opinion on the decision to change the library's hours. State her opinion and explain the reasons she gives for holding it.