Talk Warmup guide
What are the speaking sections of TOEFL, TOEIC, the Duolingo English Test and PTE like, and how should I practise?
All four are recorded speaking tasks with strict timers, not a conversation with a person. TOEFL iBT has you repeat sentences and answer interview questions; TOEIC Speaking has 11 questions in about 20 minutes; the Duolingo English Test and PTE mix short tasks such as describing an image. Practise with the official timings and record yourself.
Last checked October 26, 2026 by Lyravant.
The formats at a glance
From each test owner's own pages, checked October 26, 2026. Formats change: check the official site before your test date.
| Test | Speaking tasks |
|---|---|
| TOEFL iBT (ETS) | Since the 2026 update: Listen and Repeat (hear a sentence, repeat it; about 8–12 seconds each) and Take an Interview (four questions, 45 seconds to answer each). About 8 minutes in all. |
| TOEIC Speaking (ETS) | 11 questions in about 20 minutes: read a text aloud, describe a picture, respond to questions, respond using information provided, and express an opinion (45 seconds to prepare, 60 to speak). |
| Duolingo English Test | Short spoken answers inside the adaptive test, for example speaking about a photo or about a written prompt after a short preparation time. |
| PTE Academic (Pearson) | Short computer-recorded tasks such as Read Aloud, Repeat Sentence, Describe Image and Answer Short Question, with newer tasks like Respond to a Situation. |
How to practise for timed, recorded tasks
- Use the real timers. The hardest part is often the clock. Practise with a timer that matches the task, and start speaking as soon as it starts.
- Record and listen back. These tests are recorded, so practise being clear on a recording: steady pace, complete sentences, no long silences.
- Repeat-a-sentence tasks reward listening closely and keeping word order and endings. Shadowing short clips is good practice.
- Describe-a-picture tasks go better with a simple plan: what it is, the main detail, one more detail, a guess about what's happening.
- Opinion and interview questions: answer the question, give a reason, add an example, and finish before the timer.
- Start with official practice material from ETS, Duolingo or Pearson, so you practise the current version of the test.
Practising with Talk Warmup
Talk Warmup (coming soon for iPhone) includes speaking-task practice for TOEFL iBT, TOEIC Speaking, the Duolingo English Test and PTE in Lyravant Plus, with official-format timers, mock tests and feedback on each criterion. It's practice only and never predicts a score. The everyday conversations, review cards and pronunciation drills are free.
IELTS is jointly owned by the British Council, IDP and Cambridge University Press & Assessment. TOEFL and TOEIC are trademarks of ETS. Duolingo English Test is a trademark of Duolingo. PTE is a trademark of Pearson. Talk Warmup and Lyravant are not affiliated with or endorsed by any of them.
Questions
Is the TOEFL speaking section with a person?
No. TOEFL iBT speaking answers are recorded on a computer. Since the 2026 update the tasks are Listen and Repeat and Take an Interview; check ets.org for current details.
How long is TOEIC Speaking?
About 20 minutes for 11 questions, according to ETS.
Can practice predict my score?
No. Only the real test gives an official score. Practice helps you get used to the tasks and the timing.
Talk Warmup for iPhone
A short English conversation, every day.
Talk out loud with an AI partner in everyday scenarios, at your level, with a couple of checked corrections per turn explained in your language.
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