TOEFL Speaking prep is stressful. Under pressure, it’s easy to do things that feel strategic but don’t move your score. Submitting 50+ responses a day is one of them. Here's a note from a frustrated User who scored over 50 (closer to 70 last count) responses in one session.
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User's email:
I saw a message on your page that my account has been paused because of unusually high activities on your page. WHY is this happening? Does studying hard matter? I am in Infinite Service status. Isn't this what that service is for?
I am really working hard to get a good score on the TOEFL Speaking section and I don't have much time. Please do something right away. Check any irregularity. Recordings are all from me, and not from someone else!!
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My Reply:
Dear [Name],
Thank you for your email. First, let me acknowledge what’s very clear to me: you’re working extremely hard to succeed on the TOEFL Speaking section. I respect that effort, and I want to make sure it translates into real results for you.
I also understand your frustration at receiving a message about unusual activity. Let me explain what’s happening.
When you are using My Speaking Score, there’s an important difference between scoring and studying:
- Scoring means submitting your response to our scoring engine. Every scored response has a cost for us to process, which is why our Unlimited and Infinite plans are based on reasonable use.
- Studying means everything else you do with those scores — reviewing transcripts, reflecting on SpeechRater Dimension scores, practicing transitions, recording unscored responses, and rehearsing strategies. Studying is unlimited and free.
The issue is not that you are studying too hard. The issue is that you are scoring far more than is useful. Submitting 50+ responses in a single day generates more data than anyone can realistically process. Instead of helping, it overwhelms you and prevents you from seeing clear progress. In fact, it’s one of the main reasons learners don’t improve — they’re flooded with scores but haven’t built a strategy to solve one problem at a time.
From my 15 years of teaching TOEFL Speaking at Yeungnam University, Korea University, and elsewhere, I’ve seen this pattern many times: lots of activity that feels like strategy, but isn’t. That’s why I feel compelled to step in. I don’t want you to waste your valuable time, or to have a negative experience with My Speaking Score.
The most effective learners use their scores like a compass. They check often enough to know their direction, then spend their energy walking the path: focused practice, targeted reflection, one improvement at a time. That is how you’ll reach your goal.
I built My Speaking Score for self-guided learners like you, and I admire your independence. But I also want you to make the very best use of this platform. That’s why I suggested a quick call. In 20–30 minutes, I can give you study strategies that work — strategies that will save you time, reduce stress, and help you achieve your target score faster.
You already have the motivation and the discipline. Now let’s make sure all of that effort is channeled in the right direction.
I’m on your side, and I want you to succeed. Let’s set up a time to talk.
Best regards, etc etc
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Ok, so the goal on My Speaking Score is not to rack up scores. It is to build a strategy for improvement. That means using data to identify one problem, practicing deliberately to fix it, and only then moving to the next problem.
Below is a practical guide you can give your students or adopt yourself. It explains the difference between scoring and studying, why excessive scoring backfires, and how to run an efficient study loop that compounds gains quickly.
Scoring vs Studying: Know the Difference
Scoring is the act of sending a response to the engine to get e-rater or SpeechRater results.
Studying is what you do with those results.
Here’s how to think about it in practice.
Why “More Scoring” Doesn’t Mean “More Progress”
When you submit 50+ responses in a day, you generate more data than you can analyze. That leads to:
- Too much data to reflect on
- No clear priority for what to fix next
- A cycle of scoring without meaningful improvement
The fix is simple: score just enough to get direction, then study a lot with intention.
The MSS Study Loop
- Record one response under realistic conditions.
- Score it to get objective data.
- Analyze one priority target from the SpeechRater dimensions or writing traits.
- Design a drill for that single target.
- Practice unscored until the behavior feels automatic.
- Re-score to verify the change.
- Lock it in with spaced repetition.
Example daily cadence (40–60 minutes)
- 1 scored warm-up (diagnose today’s target)
- 15–25 minutes unscored drills on one issue
- 1–2 scored checks to confirm progress
- 10 minutes transcript review and notes
That is 2–4 scored attempts, not 50. You get clarity without overwhelm.
Signs You Are Over-Scoring
- You cannot summarize your top one or two problems in one sentence
- You ignore transcripts and only chase the overall score
- Your daily plan is “do more” rather than “fix this one thing”
- Your scores feel random or inconsistent
What “Unlimited” Means on MSS (Context, not the focus)
Unlimited access is built to empower serious learners with seamless, data-powered prep. It is not intended for industrial-scale usage, automation, or institutional grading.
Current review thresholds:
- 50 scored responses in a single day
- 150 scored responses in 30 days
Hitting these volumes triggers a manual review to make sure activity matches individual test prep rather than scraping, shared accounts, or automated use. Plans are non-refundable.
Non-commercial use:
Unlimited features are for personal education only. Do not resell reports, grade for others, or run paid tutoring with MSS outputs.
Fairness and abuse prevention:
No bots, scripts, or shared logins. Submissions should be honest practice, not mass-uploaded or copied material.
Monitoring and outreach:
If flagged, we will contact you to understand your goals, offer support, or suggest options if usage falls outside the intended scope.
Our goal is to keep the platform fast, fair, and effective for every learner.
A Simple Weekly Plan You Can Copy
- Mon: Fluency focus. Target speaking rate and pausing.
- Tue: Delivery focus. Intonation and stress on key content words.
- Wed: Content focus. Task relevance and summary accuracy.
- Thu: Language control. Grammar hot spots and high-value collocations.
- Fri: Integrated dry run. Two scored checks to validate the week’s gains.
- Sat/Sun: Light review. One scored check plus 10 minutes of transcript notes.
Keep a one-page tracker with: target, drill, proof (score delta or transcript change), next step.
Frequently Asked Questions
1) Why was my account paused or reviewed?
Because your scoring volume exceeded our review thresholds. This is not a punishment for studying hard. It is a safeguard to keep the system fair and to help you shift from high-volume scoring to high-quality studying.
2) I’m on an Infinite or Elite plan. Isn’t that what unlimited is for?
Unlimited is for serious individual prep with reasonable use. It removes the friction of strict caps so you can train consistently. It does not support industrial-scale scoring, automation, or institutional use.
3) Does studying hard matter?
Yes. The most effective version of “studying hard” is to target one problem at a time, run many unscored reps, and verify with a few scored checks. That is how you convert effort into results.
4) What counts as “scoring” vs “studying”?
Scoring is submitting to the engine to get automated results. Studying is everything you do with those results: transcript review, targeted drills, shadowing, timing practice, and unscored recordings.
5) What usage triggers a review?
Currently, 50 scores in a day or 150 in 30 days. Reviews are case-by-case. We look for signs of automation, scraping, or commercial use, and we also help heavy scorers adopt a more effective strategy.
6) Can I do tutoring using MSS reports?
No. Unlimited features are for personal, non-commercial use. Accounts used for paid services or institutional grading may be suspended.
7) I was flagged but all recordings are mine. What should I do?
Reply to our outreach. We will verify the activity and help you adjust your study plan so you can keep training effectively without triggering reviews.
8) Are unlimited plans refundable?
No. Unlimited plans are non-refundable. If you need help choosing the right plan or structuring your training, contact support before you purchase.
9) How many scored attempts should I do per day?
For most learners, 2–6 scored attempts per day is the sweet spot. Use them to set direction and confirm progress, not to chase a perfect number.
10) How do I know what to fix first?
Use your latest scores and transcript to choose one clear target. Examples: reduce mid-utterance pauses, improve stress on content words, tighten summary accuracy. Write it down, design a 10–15 minute drill, then verify with one scored check.
TL;DR
You do not need 50 scores a day to improve. You need a tight loop: score for direction, study with intention, score to confirm. That is how you make consistent gains in less time, with less stress. Btw, everyone who signs up for Elite gets a strategy call with me -- we can figure this out together.