Has anyone else been stuck googling how to improve TOEFL speaking score and getting the same generic advice? I was at 22 in speaking for weeks, then got 26 after changing a few things.
What actually worked for me:
- Timed practice every day — not long, just 20-25 mins with a strict timer.
- Template, not full script — I memorized a simple structure for each task so I stopped freezing.
- Recorded myself — painful but super useful. I noticed I kept speaking too fast and swallowing endings.
- Focused on clarity over big words — my score improved when I used simpler sentences with cleaner pronunciation.
Biggest change: I started leaving tiny pauses between ideas instead of rushing to fill every second. My answers sounded way more organized.
If you want, I can also share the 1-week speaking routine I used before test day.