How to improve TOEFL speaking score if your ideas are okay in practice but you freeze once the timer starts?
My reading/listening scores are decent, but speaking is stuck and I keep sounding rushed or blank in the first few seconds. I think the timing is what messes me up most, especially organizing a clear answer fast.
If anyone improved their TOEFL speaking score, what actually helped?
- Did templates make a big difference or make you sound robotic?
- How did you practice for the 15–30 seconds of prep time?
- Is it better to focus on pronunciation, structure, or just speaking without long pauses first?
I have about 3 weeks before my test, so I am trying to be realistic and focus on the highest impact stuff.