Onterra Tutor

TOEFL iBT Take an Interview: practice prompt 4

One real-format Take an Interview prompt with a model spoken answer and notes on why it scores. Read the interviewer's question, take a few seconds to plan, then answer for about a minute. Speak in full sentences and give a reason for what you say.

The prompt

Describe a decision you made that seemed small at the time but turned out to matter. What happened, and what would you tell someone facing the same choice?

15 seconds to prepare, up to 75 seconds to speak.

Hear a strong answer

One way this question can be answered well, spoken at the pace and length the task expects. Listen for where the pauses fall, then try it again in your own words and with your own examples.

In my final year I decided to sit at the front of a lecture theatre, which sounds like nothing. I did it because I couldn't hear from the back, not for any noble reason. What happened was that the lecturer started recognising me, I started asking questions because it felt strange not to, and eight months later she was the person who recommended me for my first internship. None of that was planned. If somebody asked me about the same choice, I'd tell them the decision isn't really about the seat, it's about how visible you're willing to be. Small choices about visibility compound in a way that big dramatic choices often don't, and they cost you almost nothing to make.

Why this earns band 6

  1. The advice at the end is a genuine generalisation from the story, which is exactly what the question asks for.
  2. Admitting the ordinary motive makes the answer sound like a real person rather than a rehearsed script.
  3. A conditional and a comparison give the grammar variety without sounding forced.

Questions about this answer

What band is this model answer?

It is written to earn the top of the TOEFL iBT scale, band 6, and the notes under it say why.

How long do I get for this prompt?

15 seconds to prepare and up to 75 seconds to speak.

What should I watch for in my own answer?

The advice at the end is a genuine generalisation from the story, which is exactly what the question asks for.

Answer it yourself, then see your score

Record your own answer and get a score with your transcript in about a minute. Your first test is free, no sign-up.

Record my answer

More TOEFL iBT Take an Interview prompts

Think about a place in your home town that visitors usually miss. Describe it, and explain... Some people learn best by reading and others by doing. Which describes you? Give an exampl... Universities often ask students to work in groups. What makes a group project work well, a... Many cities are trying to reduce the number of cars in their centres. Do you think that is... TOEFL iBT writing questions with model answers →

Onterra Tutor is an independent practice tool and is not affiliated with or endorsed by ETS, which owns the TOEFL trademark.