Hi, I’m John from My Speaking Score, where we take a data-powered approach to help you master TOEFL Speaking. Today, we’re going deep on paraphrasing—a skill that isn’t just useful, it’s essential. Watch the video.
TL;DR
- Paraphrasing is critical for TOEFL Speaking.
- Use the CCC method: Concept, Category (aka hypernym), and Characteristics.
- Paraphrasing shows the grader (and SpeechRater) that you understand and can express ideas clearly.
- You’ll see paraphrasing reflected in SpeechRater data like pause frequency, sustained speech, and vocabulary diversity.
- Practice with real test prompts from My Speaking Score’s free test library.
What Paraphrasing Actually Means
Paraphrasing means saying the same idea in a different way. You keep the meaning, but use your own words. The goal isn’t to change every word—it’s to show that you’ve understood what you’ve read or heard.
Think of Paraphrasing Like This
Let’s start with something simple and relatable.
Example 1: Dog
- A dog is a specific animal.
- Animal is the broader category.
- In linguistics, the broad term ("animal") is called a hypernym.
"A dog is a kind of animal." ← That’s a paraphrase using a hypernym.
Example 2: Rose
- A rose is a type of flower.
- "Flower" is the hypernym.
"The rose is a flower admired for its beauty." ← Paraphrased.
These examples show how useful general categories (hypernyms) are when paraphrasing. You’ll do this all the time in TOEFL Speaking.
The CCC Method: Concept – Category – Characteristics
One of the easiest ways to paraphrase clearly and confidently is by using the CCC method.
Let’s apply this to a real example.
Original sentence: "Technology in communication refers to the vast array of tools, systems, and platforms that empower the exchange of information and facilitate interactions between individuals or groups across vast distances."
CCC Breakdown:
- Concept = Technology in communication
- Category = A set of tools, systems, and platforms
- Characteristics = Empowers info exchange across distance
Paraphrased:
"Communication technology is a concept in information science that refers to tools and systems designed to help people exchange information across distances."
TOEFL Task Example: Task 3 — Flow
From the My Speaking Score test library, here’s an academic reading about Flow.
"In psychology, the feeling of complete and energized focus in an activity is called flow..."
CCC Breakdown:
- Concept = Flow
- Category = A psychological state
- Characteristics = Deep focus, loss of time awareness, satisfaction
Paraphrased:
"Flow is a concept in psychology that describes a mental state of energized focus, where individuals feel deeply engaged and lose track of time."
TOEFL Task Example: Task 4 — Tool Use in Animals
"There are two definitions of what counts as a tool: a narrow definition and a broad one..."
CCC Breakdown:
- Concept = Tool use in animals
- Category = Definitions of tools
- Characteristics =
- Narrow: Tool must be modified by the animal
- Broad: Any object used for a task, even unmodified
Paraphrased:
"Tool use in animals is a concept in behavioral science that is defined either narrowly—requiring the object to be altered—or broadly, where any object used to perform a task qualifies as a tool."
TOEFL Task Example: Task 4 — Pricing Strategies
"Companies can set product prices in different ways when launching them..."
CCC Breakdown:
- Concept = Pricing strategies
- Category = Business approaches to new product launches
- Characteristics =
- High-first: Builds premium image
- Low-first: Undercuts competitors, gains market share
Paraphrased:
"Pricing strategies are concepts in marketing that describe how businesses introduce new products by setting prices either high to build a premium image or low to attract market share."
How Paraphrasing Shows Up in SpeechRater Data
When you paraphrase effectively, it shows up in your scores. Look at these metrics:
- Delivery: High speaking rate, fewer pauses, strong sustained speech
- Language Use: Variety in vocabulary, fewer repeated words
- Topic Development: Clear idea connections, strong summarization
In other words, fluent paraphrasing boosts your Delivery, Language Use, and Topic Development—the three key parts of the TOEFL Speaking rubric.
FAQ
Q: Should I paraphrase the reading and lecture?
A: Absolutely. It shows you understand the material and can communicate clearly.
Q: What if I don’t know fancy synonyms?
A: Use CCC. Think in terms of general categories (hypernyms), not just vocabulary swaps.
Q: Is it bad to memorize paraphrases?
A: Yes. Memorized responses can hurt your delivery score. Train yourself to paraphrase in the moment.
Q: Can paraphrasing help my grammar score?
A: Yes. It helps you produce smoother, more coherent sentences.
Q: How do I practice?
A: Use My Speaking Score’s free test library. Read a passage, apply CCC, then speak your paraphrase.
Final Thought
Paraphrasing isn’t a trick—it’s a core TOEFL skill that reflects how well you understand and communicate ideas. Use the CCC method to break complex ideas into clear, digestible language. Over time, you’ll notice your SpeechRater scores improve—and more importantly, your confidence will grow.
See you on the platform.
Happy practicing!