Chapter 1
Personal Experience
This task is about personal experiences. It requires you to speak about aperson, place, object, or event that is familiar to you. Even though thetopics will vary, you will always be asked to base your response on a
personal experience or familiar topic. On questions structure, this task
will require you to give some details and examples as well as reasons torationalize your answer.

Chapter 1 | Personal Experience

Sample iBT Question
http://pan.baidu.com/s/1qWpDmfa
TOEFL iBT Speaking

Who is the most valuable person in the group you belong to? Why is this person the mostvaluable? Please include specific and details in your explanation.

Preparation Time: 15 seconds
Response Time: 45 seconds

Sample ResponseI strongly feel that the most valuable person in the group is my father. My group, of course, ismy family. I feel this way because my father’s the only person in my family who works. Thismeans that it’s the money he earns that enables my family to live comfortably. He helps myfamily live in a nice house, have enough to eat, and take one or two trips every year. My
father does a good job of taking care of us. Another reason is that he instructs me on how to
be a good person. He has taught me good and shown me the proper ways to act towards
other people. Thanks to his instructions. I feel that I’ve become much better person.

http://pan.baidu.com/s/1gd32dSv

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Useful Topics
1. People(1) Describe one historical figure you would like to meet and explain why you would like to meet this person.
(2) Who is the person that you respect the most in your neighbourhood?
(3) What are the characteristics needed to be a good parent?
(4) Describe an influential role model in your life. Explain why you respect this person.
(5) Describe a historical person who you think changed the world. Explain how he or she changed the world.

2. Places(1) What is your favourite place where you spend time with your friends?
(2) Describe the country you would most like to visit but have not been able to go to.
(3) Choose a place in your country that you would recommend that a foreign friend visit.
(4) Describe the most memorable place you have ever visited and explain why that place is special to you.
(5) Choose the room in your house that you like to spend the most time in and explain why you like thatroom so much.

3. Experiences(1) What is the most important decision you have ever made?
(2) Describe a time in your life when you felt proud of a member of your family.
(3) Describe your favorite method of staying healthy and explain why it is good for you.
(4) Of all the things you have or have not done in the past, which one has caused you the most regret?
(5) Describe a situation when you asked someone for help. What were the results?

4. Things(1) What is the best invention that mankind has ever come up with? Why do you think so?
(2) Describe the best mode of transportation you can use in your region.
(3) What is a useful skill your mother or father taught you? Describe the skill and how you were taught it.
(4) What kind of work are you willing to do even if you never get paid for it?
(5) What do you believe is a respectable job?

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