These are the TOEFL speaking topics you meet in the Speaking Interview. A topic is what the interviewer asks you to talk about, such as where you live or how you plan a trip. We read all 102 Interview practice sets, four topics each, and labelled every topic with the speaking template it needs. This page shows the 20 topics that come up most often, with a real example for each one. The ranking comes from the BestMyTest TOEFL learner performance data: all 408 topics in those sets and the 66,507 learner answers to them, scored by our AI.
Table Of Contents
- What Are TOEFL Speaking Topics?
- The 20 Most Common TOEFL Speaking Topics
- TOEFL Speaking Topics by Template
- Which TOEFL Speaking Topics Are the Hardest?
- TOEFL Speaking Topics with Sample Answers
- How to Practice TOEFL Speaking Topics
- Free TOEFL Speaking Topic Practice Resources
- TOEFL Speaking Topics Before 2026
What Are TOEFL Speaking Topics?
A TOEFL speaking topic is what one part of the Interview asks you to talk about. Since January 2026, the Speaking test ends with an Interview. A researcher asks you about four topics, one at a time, and you have 45 seconds for each one with no preparation time. The four topics share one theme, such as city life.
For example, a city life interview can ask where you live, how cities make you feel, whether city life is more interesting, and whether cities need more parks. That is four topics. The first topic is usually about your own life. The second and third are about your habits, your feelings, or your opinion. The fourth is about a bigger issue, a rule, or the future. Some learners call these TOEFL conversation topics, because the Interview feels like a conversation. They are the same thing.
The 20 Most Common TOEFL Speaking Topics
The most common TOEFL speaking topic in our Interview practice sets is "How you plan and prepare for a trip": 6 sets ask about it. Our 102 sets cover 287 different topics, and most topics come up only once. So the topics below are the ones to prepare first, because each one comes up in at least 3 sets.
# |
Topic and a real example |
Sets |
Place in the Interview |
Template |
Average score |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
1 |
How you plan and prepare for a trip "Before staying in a new place, would you want to arrange most details in advance, or would you feel comfortable making decisions after you arrived? Why?" Practice set 74 |
6 |
Topic 1, Topic 2, Topic 3 |
3.18 |
|
2 |
Walkable and bike-friendly cities "Some people want cities to be more walkable or bike-friendly, while others prefer convenience for cars. What's your opinion, and why?" Practice set 33 |
4 |
Topic 2, Topic 3, Topic 4 |
2.86 |
|
3 |
An experience that taught you something "Can you describe a workshop, club, or hands-on activity that genuinely captured your interest? What made it engaging?" Practice set 66 |
4 |
Topic 1, Topic 2 |
2.87 |
|
4 |
Paper books, e-books, or audiobooks "Some people say audiobooks count as reading, while others insist only visual text on a page should count. Where do you stand, and what shaped that view?" Practice set 62 |
4 |
Topic 3 |
3.05 |
|
5 |
Your studies "Could you tell me a bit about your most recent or current educational experience? Are you in school now, or have you completed any formal studies?" Practice set 2 |
3 |
Topic 1 |
3.25 |
|
6 |
Sustainable and ethical shopping "When sustainable products cost more or take longer to find, do you still choose them, buy them occasionally, or usually pick the cheaper option? Why?" Practice set 82 |
3 |
Topic 2, Topic 4 |
2.95 |
|
7 |
What you do to help the environment "I'd like to ask which everyday choices you make to reduce waste or save energy. Which habit was easiest to adopt, and which still feels inconvenient?" Practice set 82 |
3 |
Topic 1, Topic 2 |
2.72 |
|
8 |
Individual action versus government and business action "Some argue individual actions matter little compared with industry and government policy. Others say habits spread through communities. Where do you place the most hope for progress?" Practice set 82 |
3 |
Topic 3 |
2.84 |
|
9 |
Building a healthy habit "When people try to build healthier break habits into their lives, what usually helps them continue, and what tends to get in the way?" Practice set 73 |
3 |
Topic 2 |
2.70 |
|
10 |
Strict schedule versus flexible routine "Do you block fixed hours on a calendar, keep a flexible to-do list, or mix both approaches? Why does that balance suit you?" Practice set 84 |
3 |
Topic 2 |
2.85 |
|
11 |
Whether routines improve your life "Do you think keeping a regular sleep routine is one of the best ways to reduce stress and stay productive, or is it not that important? Explain." Practice set 68 |
3 |
Topic 4 |
2.77 |
|
12 |
How you relax and recharge "After a busy week, what kinds of activities help you feel that you have really had a break?" Practice set 69 |
3 |
Topic 1, Topic 2 |
3.32 |
|
13 |
Your volunteering experience "I'd like to hear about volunteer or community work you have done or seen nearby. What kind of organization or event left the strongest impression on you?" Practice set 83 |
3 |
Topic 1 |
3.02 |
|
14 |
Why people volunteer "Some programs require long-term commitment, while others welcome one-day help. Which model do you think attracts more people, and which creates deeper impact?" Practice set 83 |
3 |
Topic 2, Topic 3 |
3.03 |
|
15 |
How advertising affects what you buy "Should platforms be required to label sponsored content more clearly, or is that the buyer's responsibility to notice?" Practice set 90 |
3 |
Topic 3, Topic 4 |
2.84 |
|
16 |
Public transportation in cities "Public transportation can help reduce traffic and pollution, but not everyone uses it. What do you think would make people more likely to use buses or trains?" Practice set 33 |
3 |
Topic 3, Topic 4 |
2.84 |
|
17 |
The future of travel "Do you think rising fuel costs will mainly reduce leisure travel, business travel, or both equally over the next few years?" Practice set 63 |
3 |
Topic 4 |
2.58 |
|
18 |
What keeps you healthy "Do you think active recreation is one of the most important parts of long-term well-being, or are other habits just as important or more important? Explain your answer." Practice set 71 |
3 |
Topic 4 |
2.98 |
|
19 |
The future of universities "If most lectures and feedback move online with AI assistants, how might that strengthen or weaken the sense of community on a campus?" Practice set 52 |
3 |
Topic 4 |
2.81 |
|
20 |
Familiar places versus new places when you travel "If you had a chance to spend a month in either a completely unfamiliar place or somewhere that already felt comfortable to you, which would you choose? Why?" Practice set 74 |
3 |
Topic 2, Topic 3 |
3.20 |
The average score is our AI score out of 5 for each answer. In this list, "The future of travel" has the lowest score, 2.58, and "How you relax and recharge" has the highest, 3.32. Topics about your own life are easier to talk about than topics about society or the future. So give the second kind more practice time.
TOEFL Speaking Topics by Template
Every TOEFL speaking topic needs one of seven speaking templates, and the template tells you what to do with the topic. 201 of the 408 topics in our sets (49%) need the Opinion or Preference template. So the most common job is to say what you think and give a reason.
Template |
Topics |
Average score |
|---|---|---|
201 |
2.97 |
|
88 |
3.12 |
|
34 |
2.85 |
|
32 |
2.89 |
|
28 |
3.03 |
|
21 |
2.94 |
|
4 |
2.66 |
Topics that need the Something You Learned template score lowest, at 2.66 out of 5. Topics that need the Personal Background template score highest, at 3.12. Each template is its own answer structure. Our TOEFL speaking templates show all seven, each with a sample answer and audio.
Which TOEFL Speaking Topics Are the Hardest?
The last topic of the Interview is the hardest TOEFL speaking topic for our learners. In 16,742 Interview sets scored by our AI, the average score went from 3.15 out of 5 on the first topic to 2.86 on the fourth. Support and Development fell the most, from 2.91 to 2.52.
Place in the Interview |
Average score |
Support and Development |
|---|---|---|
Topic 1 |
3.15 |
2.91 |
Topic 2 |
3.02 |
2.73 |
Topic 3 |
2.94 |
2.62 |
Topic 4 |
2.86 |
2.52 |
This means learners can talk about their own life. But when the topic becomes abstract, they give an opinion with no reason or example. So practice the third and fourth topics the most. Give your opinion in the first sentence. Then add one reason and one example from your own life.
TOEFL Speaking Topics with Sample Answers
Here are four TOEFL speaking topics from one Interview set in our practice tests, with a sample answer for each. The theme is education, and the four topics are your studies, your experience of school, what motivates you, and whether schools prepare you for real life.
You have agreed to take part in a research study about education and learning experiences. You will have a short online interview with a researcher.
Topic 1, your studies: I'm conducting a study about people's educational experiences and views on learning. First, could you tell me a bit about your most recent or current educational experience? Are you in school now, or have you completed any formal studies?
Sample answer: Well, at the moment I'm in my second year of a master's program in environmental engineering at the local university. I finished my bachelor's degree two years ago, took a short break to work in a consultancy firm, and then, you know, decided to go back because I wanted to deepen my technical knowledge. My schedule is a mix of evening lectures, laboratory projects, and an online module that connects students from different campuses. Honestly, juggling work and study is tiring, but overall the program feels practical and closely linked to real world issues.
Topic 2, your experience of school: People often have different feelings about school depending on their environment and support systems. Some enjoy learning and thrive in the classroom, while others find school stressful or difficult to connect with. What has your overall experience with education been like, and what factors do you think shaped it?
Sample answer: Right, so looking back, my educational journey has been mostly positive, though not without bumps. I grew up in a small town where teachers knew every student's name, so, you know, I always felt seen and encouraged. However, when I moved to the city for university, the classes were huge and the competition was intense, which at first felt overwhelming. Luckily, supportive classmates and access to academic counseling helped me adapt. Moreover, extracurricular clubs, especially the debate team, made learning enjoyable because they connected theory with practice and built a sense of community.
Topic 3, what motivates you to study: Let's talk about motivation. Some people are very driven by academic success or career goals, while others focus more on learning for personal growth. What has motivated you most in your education so far, and has that motivation changed over time?
Sample answer: Well, at the beginning I was mainly driven by grades because, honestly, scholarships depended on them and my parents kept reminding me of that. Over time, though, something shifted. During an internship I discovered how environmental data can actually influence policy decisions, and suddenly the material from my hydrology class felt meaningful. Since then, curiosity and impact have become stronger motivators than pure marks. Of course, I still care about doing well, yet now I study, you know, to understand problems deeply so I can contribute solutions, not just to see a number on a transcript.
Topic 4, whether schools prepare you for real life: In recent years, there's been more debate about how schools should adapt to meet different learning styles, incorporate technology, or emphasize life skills. Do you think the current education system prepares people well for real life? Why or why not?
Sample answer: Honestly, I think the system is trying, yet it still falls short in preparing people for real life. For example, we spend years solving abstract equations, but, you know, many graduates cannot budget their income or communicate in a workplace meeting. On the positive side, newer courses that incorporate project based learning and digital tools have improved critical thinking skills. However, assessment is still focused on memorization, and there is little room for topics like mental health or financial literacy. So, overall, I would say progress is visible but the balance is not there yet.
To hear the interviewer on video and record your own answers, open TOEFL Speaking Interview Practice 2. You need a free account for this set.
How to Practice TOEFL Speaking Topics
The best way to practice TOEFL speaking topics is to answer a set, check the feedback, and then answer the same set again. Our learners answered the same Interview set a second time 1,811 times. The average score went up from 2.87 to 3.19 out of 5, and 70% of the second tries scored higher.
So do not only read the list of topics. Pick five topics from the table and talk about each one out loud with a 45-second timer. Then compare your answer with the sample answers and try again. Learn a few words for each topic too, because the topics use words such as "sustainable", "commute", and "routine". A topic you have talked about once is much easier on test day. Our TOEFL speaking practice guide shows both parts of the Speaking test.
Figures are from the BestMyTest TOEFL learner performance data: 16,742 TOEFL Speaking Interview sets from our practice, scored by our AI from 0 to 5 for each answer, up to 8 October 2026. The topics and templates are our labels for the 408 topics in our 102 published Interview practice sets. Last updated 8 October 2026.
Free TOEFL Speaking Topic Practice Resources
- City Life Interview Full Practice Set: a video interview with four topics, open to everyone, with sample answers.
- TOEFL speaking practice: the guide to both parts of the Speaking test, with samples and tips.
- TOEFL speaking templates: the seven answer structures for the Interview topics.
- TOEFL speaking rubric: how each Interview answer is scored from 0 to 5.
- Sample Test 1: a free full-length adaptive TOEFL with the Speaking section.
TOEFL Speaking Topics Before 2026
Before January 2026, the TOEFL Speaking test started with an independent speaking task. You had 15 seconds to prepare and 45 seconds to talk about one topic. Those topics came in six types: Agree or Disagree, Preference, Three Choices, Description or Explanation, Advantages and Disadvantages, and If or Imaginary.
For example: "Do you agree or disagree that students should have a job while they are studying in school?" The independent task is no longer in the test. But the same kind of opinion topic is now the third or fourth topic of the Interview. So the old TOEFL speaking topics are still good practice for those two parts.