Below is an expanded, training-ready version of the 8-turn exchange between my AI clone and a learner, followed by practical guidance you can use inside My Speaking Score. It includes clear definitions, metric targets, and drills aligned to what learners see on their Feedback page. An HTML table is included for easy embedding on a page or in a knowledge base.
Btw, you can get into a conversation with AI John right now -- click the bottom left icon and get started!
The 8-Turn Coaching Conversation
User:
Why do I sometimes get a lower score when I repeat the same response?
John:
Re-recording the same prompt often repeats the same issues. Two patterns cause drops: fatigue and overfitting. Fatigue adds pauses and sloppy phrasing. Overfitting leads to rigid, memorized delivery that hurts coherence and naturalness. To practice effectively, set one micro-goal per attempt, vary prompts, and do short test-condition reps where you do not re-record. Track one or two metrics per session so you know what changed.
User:
What does a Speaking Rate of 76 mean?
John:
It is a percentile. Your rate is faster than 76 percent of comparable responses on the platform. That is usually close to the target band for TOEFL Speaking. Keep it intelligible. If clarity or pausing suffers, trim speed. Prioritize a steady cadence over maximum words per minute.
User:
And if my Repetitions score is 16?
John:
That indicates frequent repeats or self-corrections. It lowers fluency and can drag down coherence. Reduce repeats by planning transitions and using synonyms. Train yourself to finish a sentence cleanly instead of restarting it.
User:
Your Task 1 grid video recommends examples. I scored high without any example. Why?
John:
Examples help, but they are not mandatory. If structure, reasoning, and delivery are strong, you can still score well. Use examples when they improve clarity or support. Skip them when time is tight and your point is already precise.
User:
How do I improve Discourse Coherence and pauses?
John:
Coherence improves when you plan the macro-order of ideas. Use a two-line outline: claim, reasons, quick proof. For pauses, breathe at clause boundaries. Replace mid-phrase hesitations with short, planned rests between sentences.
User:
I still get “frequent hesitation” even though my Sustained Speech is good.
John:
That often means lexical retrieval is slow even if you talk for long stretches. Pre-load topic words and collocations. Drill short bursts from prompts that force you to say specific terms quickly and cleanly.
User:
Can you give me biology vocabulary for Task 3?
John:
Use precise terms that map to common lecture themes: organism, species, adaptation, predator, habitat, ecosystem, biodiversity, competition, symbiosis, mutation, selection, energy, resource, trade-off, cue.
User:
If I apply all this, what score could I expect on Task 3?
John:
If you capture the reading’s main idea, link the lecture example correctly, deploy precise vocabulary, and deliver smoothly, you can reach the 3.5–4.0 band. Consistency across several prompts matters more than one perfect take.
How to Train Each Skill in 10 Minutes (free course)
1) Speaking Rate
- What to do: Record 45 seconds on a familiar prompt. Transcribe quickly. Count words. If clarity dipped, shave 10 percent speed next attempt while keeping articulation crisp.
- Cue to remember: Finish consonants. They carry intelligibility.
2) Repetitions
- What to do: Run a “no-restart” drill. If you begin a sentence, you finish it. Accept minor imperfections.
- Cue to remember: Finish the thought, then fix the next sentence, not the current one.
3) Distribution of Pauses
- What to do: Write a 3-line outline. Add “|” where a breath belongs. Read it aloud, then speak it from notes with the same marks.
- Cue to remember: Pause after delivering value, not in the middle of it.
4) Discourse Coherence
- What to do: Use a fixed spine: Claim → Reason 1 → Example 1 → Reason 2 → Example 2 → Close.
- Cue to remember: Every sentence should pull the listener forward.
5) Vocabulary Diversity and Depth
- What to do: Build a small glossary per topic. For biology Task 3, pre-load: adaptation, cue, predator, avoidance, signal, trade-off, resource, niche.
- Cue to remember: Replace two repeated words with precise alternatives in each response.
6) Sustained Speech
- What to do: Speak in 2-sentence units. Stop. Reset posture. Continue. This creates crisp paragraphs in speech.
- Cue to remember: Paragraph your voice.
Task 3 Blueprint: 45 Seconds That Cover Everything
Goal: Convey the reading’s main claim, then use the lecture to validate or refine it with a concrete example.
15-second reading summary
- 1 sentence for the concept.
- 1 sentence for mechanism or purpose.
- Use exact task terms sparingly to stay precise.
25-second lecture link
- Name the example.
- State the key behavior or process.
- Tie it back to the reading’s claim with a causal or functional link.
5-second close
- One plain statement of how the example demonstrates the concept.
Template
“The reading describes [concept], a way [organisms/people] achieve [purpose]. In the lecture, the professor illustrates this with [example]. When [conditions], the [organism] [behavior], which [function/outcome]. This demonstrates the reading’s idea because [link back to concept].”
Note-taking lines
- Reading: concept | purpose | mechanism
- Lecture: example | trigger | response | outcome | link
Note-Taking Mini-System for Task 3
- Symbols
- “→” outcome, “⇢” tendency, “↑/↓” increase/decrease, “∵” because.
- Compression
- Write only nouns and verbs. Skip articles and most adjectives.
- One-line per idea
- Reading top line. Lecture 3 lines. Final line is your link.
- Integrity check
- If your notes cannot make a 3-sentence story, you missed a key piece. Listen for the trigger or the payoff again in practice sets.
Reducing Hesitation Without Slowing Down
- Pre-load collocations: say “avoid predation,” “signal conspicuously,” “optimize resource use.” Collocations retrieve faster than isolated words.
- Finish the clause: if you feel a hesitation coming, end the sentence early on a complete thought. Start a fresh clause.
- Time-boxed paraphrase: give yourself 10 seconds to find a different way to say the same idea. This trains rapid lexical substitution.
When High Scores Happen Without Examples
Examples are a tool, not a rule. Scores can be strong without them if the response has:
- A clean spine.
- Precise terms.
- Stable cadence and controlled pausing.
- No restarts and minimal filler.
Use an example when it clarifies. Skip it when time is tight and your explanation is already concrete.
Calibrating Speaking Rate To Preserve Clarity
A productive band for rate is the range where articulation still sounds crisp. If a faster take adds truncation, you have crossed your clarity threshold. Drop 5–10 percent speed and re-check intelligibility. The right rate is the fastest speed that still preserves the ends of words and the shape of sentences.
Integrating This With My Speaking Score
- Pick 2 metrics per week. For example, Week 1: Repetitions and DC. Week 2: Pauses and VD.
- Run 3 short sets per session: one diagnostic, one focused drill, one test-condition take.
- Compare only the targeted metrics across the three takes for that day.
- Log one sentence of what changed and why. Build a habit of evidence-based adjustments.
Sample 7-Day Micro-Plan
Day 1
- Task 1, two prompts. Focus: Repetitions. Drill the no-restart rule.
Day 2 - Task 3, biology. Build a 10-word glossary. Deliver two 45-sec takes.
Day 3 - Task 1, preference. Coherence spine with 3 sentences only.
Day 4 - Task 3, campus life. Pause placement practice with “|” marks.
Day 5 - Task 1, two prompts. Swap two repeated words with precise synonyms.
Day 6 - Task 3, science. Lecture linking drill using the template.
Day 7 - Mock set: 1× Task 1, 2× Task 3. No re-records. Review metrics.
Quick Troubleshooting
- Score drops on repeats: you are scripting. Change the prompt or change the goal. Take a 5-minute break to reset fatigue.
- High rate, low clarity: reduce 10 percent speed, over-articulate consonants for one session, then relax to natural speech.
- Low VD: identify two repeated words and replace them with specific terms. Do not force variety if it harms clarity.
- Hesitation flags: write three collocations before you speak. Use them verbatim during delivery.
Final Takeaway
You improve fastest when you do three things at once: limit each session to one or two metrics, use a fixed structure for your response, and practice under light test constraints. My Speaking Score gives you the numbers. Your job is to run small experiments that change those numbers in the right direction. Keep your drills short, your goals narrow, and your delivery natural. This is how you make progress that shows up on your score.