Speak Your Way to Success: 5 Tips for Acing the TOEFL IBT Speaking Section with Technology

If you’re a TOEFL IBT test-taker, you may be nervous about the speaking section of the exam. This is a normal feeling, but with the right strategies and preparation, you can improve your chances of success. In this blog post, I’ll provide you with 5 tips to succeed on the speaking section, and show you how technology can help you improve your speaking skills.

1. Practice, practice, practice

One of the most important things you can do to improve your speaking skills is to practice speaking as much as possible. You can practice speaking English with friends, family, or classmates, or even record yourself speaking and listen back to it. There are also many online resources available that offer speaking practice exercises and opportunities to connect with other English learners. I would encourage you to try using MySpeakingScore.com to practice since it provides over 15 unique TOEFL speaking exams.

2. Time management

The speaking section of the TOEFL IBT exam is timed, so it’s important to manage your time effectively. You will have 20 seconds to prepare your response to each question, and 60 seconds to speak. Use the preparation time wisely by brainstorming ideas and organizing your thoughts. When you start speaking, try to stay focused and on topic, and avoid rambling or going off on tangents. If you pause too much, you will lose points.

3. Stay calm and focused

It’s normal to feel nervous during the speaking section of the TOEFL IBT exam, but it’s important to stay calm and focused. Take a deep breath and remind yourself that you’ve prepared for this moment. Avoid negative self-talk or dwelling on mistakes, and instead focus on doing your best on the next question.

4. Use technology to improve your speaking skills

Technology can be a powerful tool for improving your speaking skills. There are many apps and websites available that offer speech recognition software, which can help you practice your pronunciation and fluency. You can also watch videos or listen to podcasts to improve your listening skills and learn new vocabulary. You could try using: MySpeakingScore.com, Elsa Speech Analyzer, and Chat GPT with the Google Chrome Extension Talk-to-Chat GPT. Ask Chat GPT to generate TOEFL IBT speaking questions. Record your response and ask for feedback and for ways to improve your response.

You can analyze your responses and clearly see what your weak areas are and where your strengths are. Then, you can target those areas to improve your speaking scores. In Fact, one of my students went from a 24-scoring response to a 26 by improving her vocabulary and by increasing her speed.

5. Pay attention to your body language and tone

Your body language and tone can have a big impact on how you come across during the speaking section of the TOEFL IBT exam. Make sure you sit up straight and maintain eye contact with the computer screen. Speak clearly and confidently, but also try to vary your tone and pace to keep speaking at a quick pace.

In conclusion, the speaking section of the TOEFL IBT exam can be challenging, but with the right strategies and preparation, you can succeed. Remember to practice as much as possible, manage your time effectively, stay calm and focused, use technology to your advantage, and pay attention to your body language and tone. Good luck!

➡️If you’re serious about acing the speaking section of the TOEFL iBT, then join the waitlist for my upcoming speaking and writing intensive in May. This program is designed to help you improve your speaking skills, build confidence, and learn strategies to excel on the test. Don’t miss out on this opportunity to take your speaking skills to the next level. Join the waitlist today!

There are many websites that offer free TOEFL practice tests online for students preparing for the exam. Here are some options:

ETS TOEFL website: The official website of the TOEFL exam offers a free practice test for students to familiarize themselves with the test format and question types. The test is available online and can be taken on a computer or mobile device. URL: https://www.ets.org/toefl/test-takers/

TOEFL Resources website: This website offers a variety of free TOEFL practice tests, including full-length tests and section-specific tests. The tests are designed to mimic the format and difficulty level of the real exam. URL: https://toeflresources.com/

TST Prep: This website offers amazing speaking practice, video tutorials, PDFs, and tips for test-takers. https://tstprep.com/free-resources/

Magoosh TOEFL blog: Magoosh offers a free full-length TOEFL practice test on their website. The test includes all four sections of the exam and is designed to provide students with an accurate representation of the exam. URL: https://magoosh.com/toefl/

TestDEN TOEFL practice tests: TestDEN offers free practice tests for the TOEFL exam that are designed to simulate the real exam. The tests include all four sections of the exam and provide students with a score report and detailed feedback. Test Den

BestMyTest TOEFL practice tests: BestMyTest offers a variety of free TOEFL practice tests, including full-length tests and section-specific tests. The tests include detailed explanations for each question and provide students with a score report and feedback. URL: https://www.bestmytest.com/toefl/free-practice-test

It’s important to note that while free practice tests can be a helpful resource for TOEFL exam preparation, they may not be as comprehensive or accurate as paid practice tests or official exam materials. Students should also be cautious of websites that claim to offer “official” or “real” TOEFL practice tests, as ETS is the only organization that creates and distributes official TOEFL materials.

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