TOEFL Speaking templates are everywhere. TOEFL Resources and TST Prep are the most loved, but search YouTube, Reddit, or Facebook and you will find dozens of examples.

After studying 4,853 TOEFL Speaking transcripts, one pattern was obvious: almost everybody uses some kind of template.

Templates are the easiest part of TOEFL Speaking preparation, not the hardest.

Templates give test-takers much-needed structure, reduce stress, and help with idea organization. At their best, templates also guide note-taking. They are useful tools, and they remove friction during 45- to 60-second responses. That is why almost every test-taker uses them.

The surprising part: templates do not explain the difference between a 23 and a 26 (see the Case Study below). Structure is rarely the limiting factor in TOEFL Speaking. When scores fail to improve, the cause is deeper. Penalties appear in the SpeechRater Dimensions: delivery, pacing, coherence, vocabulary depth, and pronunciation clarity.

Understanding where those penalties occur is the difference between a flat score and a rising one.

Why Templates Feel Powerful but Don’t Move Scores

A template helps you avoid blank-mind moments. It keeps your organization steady. It gives you a predictable path through the task. This feels like progress. In reality, most people in the 23–24 range and most people in the 26–27 range use templates that look almost identical.

What separates these groups is the accumulation of micro-penalties. Examples include:

• Slow speaking rate below 120 WPM
• Weak transitions that lower coherence
• Repetitive vocabulary
• Hesitations and pauses
• Unclear linking between ideas
• Off-target details or incomplete development

SpeechRater measures all of this through its scoring dimensions. When penalties appear, the score stops moving.

Templates handle the skeleton. Your delivery and clarity determine the score.

TOEFL Speaking Question 1: Personal Choice

Basic Template

Main Point
“I prefer the idea that…”
“I believe it is better to…”

Transition
“There are a few reasons for this.”

First Reason
“To start…” + “For instance…”

Second Reason
“Also…” + “More specifically…”

Advanced Template

In my view, [MAIN POINT] is the best choice.
One reason is [REASON 1]. This means [details or clarification].
Another reason is [REASON 2]. For example, [supporting detail or story].

TOEFL Speaking Question 2: Campus Announcement

Basic Template

The notice says that [main point].
It explains this is due to [reason 1] and [reason 2].
The student agrees or disagrees for two main reasons.
First, he states that…
Next, he adds that…

Advanced Template

The reading introduces a proposed change: [the change].
The student clearly supports/opposes it.
He begins by explaining that [details], then continues by saying [more details].
He also believes that [additional point], and from his perspective, [further explanation].

TOEFL Speaking Question 3: General to Specific

Basic Template

“The passage discusses [term] and explains that…”
“The professor builds on this idea.”
“To begin, he points out that…”
“Then he adds that…”

Advanced Template

The reading defines [concept] as [definition].
The professor expands on this using two examples.
First, he illustrates [example details], adding [extra information].
Second, he describes [example details], noting [more explanation].

TOEFL Speaking Question 4: Academic Lecture

Basic Template

“In the lecture, the professor describes two [methods/concepts].”
“First, he talks about…”
“Second, she explains…”

Advanced Template

The lecture covers two important ideas.
The first idea involves [detail], shown through [example]. The professor highlights that [additional point].
The second idea is [detail]. For example, he refers to [example] and explains [additional information].

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HTML Table: Template vs. Penalty Breakdown

This table captures the key idea. Templates clean up your structure, but they do nothing to remove SpeechRater penalties. Scores rise when penalties fall.

Why SpeechRater Data Makes All the Difference

SpeechRater shows you what your ears cannot detect. It measures:

• Delivery
• Speaking rate
• Pause patterns
• Word stress and clarity
• Coherence
• Vocabulary depth
• Logic and completeness

Every low score has a pattern. Some test-takers are slow. Some hesitate too often. Some have clear delivery but incomplete development. Some speak quickly but lack transitions, so coherence drops.

When you see your SpeechRater Dimension scores, you get a map of your penalties. That map is actionable in a way a template cannot be.

What Happens When You Fix Penalties

When penalties drop:

• Speaking rate rises
• Fluency becomes steady
• Transitions become clear
• Vocabulary becomes precise
• Development becomes complete

These changes increase your predicted score. Once the penalties disappear, the template you use becomes a non-issue.

Case Study

TOEFL Speaking response structure is usually not the difference between high and low scoring responses.

Here are four examples using the very reliable opinion + first/second formula to answer Q1.

Prompt: Do you agree or disagree with the following statement? Children should receive an allowance for performing household chores and helping out around the house.

HIGH-SCORING SAMPLES

I agree that children must receive a stipend for doing household responsibilities and helping out around the house. Firstly, it motivates them to contribute to their family and inspires a sense of responsibility. Moreover, it can teach them important skills such as time management and making financial decisions when they receive incentives for their votes. Secondly, performing domestic activities can help them develop a strong work principles and filling out crimes by grasping the meaning of reward in their hard work. Kids can learn the reputation of earning and managing money which are crucial life skills. (3.73/4)

I agree that um children should receive an allowance for performing household chores for two reasons. First of all, um if they receive an allowance, um they will feel good and they will also continue doing the chores in the future. So it's actually a motivational step. Um if they perform chores in a good way. The second reason why believe that it is good and the Children um should receive an allowance for performing household chores is that they actually learn um how it is in a working environment, even the like in a working environment, you will get paid for the work you do and also depending on how well it's done. And so I think that it prepares them for the future. So for this reason, that's why I believe that they should receive an allowance. (3.71/4)

LOW-SCORING SAMPLES

I completely disagree that children should receive an allowance for performing household chores for a few reasons. First, they, if they receive an allowance, they won't learn to give, to give from how without receiving a reward. And they should actually, we should actually teach our kids that. Second, they live in the house, they have to know that they should participate in doing some household chores as the the the same way their parents are participating to make the long story short. I believe children should perform household chores with without receiving, allow. (2.76/4)

I believe that, uh, all the children should be able to, uh, receive an allowance for performing their household chores and helping around uh, the house. My first argument is that it can be build character and actually teach them how to, um, how to, uh, manage their finances so it can help them save money. Uh, have in mind on how much they have learned earned and how to spend it. Second argument is that it can help them stay motivated to do household chores and helping their parents around the house. (2.80/4)

TL;DR
Structure is essential, but it does not determine your score. These examples use nearly the same template, yet the results differ widely. Delivery quality, speaking rate, clarity, and development are the factors that separate mid-level responses from high performers.

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FAQ: Templates, Penalties, and Score Improvement

Do high scorers use templates?

Yes. Almost all of them. The difference is fluency, clarity, and development, not the template itself.

Are advanced templates better than simple ones?

Only if your delivery is strong. A complex template delivered at 110 WPM with pauses will score below a simple one delivered clearly at 150 WPM.

What is the biggest penalty SpeechRater detects?

Slow speaking rate is one of the most common. Coherence penalties from weak transitions are another major factor.

Can templates fix my coherence score?

Only partly. Templates give you structure, but coherence depends on how smoothly you connect ideas and how complete your development is.

Should I stop using templates?

No. Templates help. They are just not the factor that moves you from 23 to 26.

How do I know which penalties I have?

Your SpeechRater report on My Speaking Score shows delivery, vocabulary, grammar, and coherence patterns. The weakest SpeechRater Dimensions usually explain your score ceiling.

What if my pronunciation is good but my score is still stuck?

Pronunciation is only one part of delivery. Many test-takers have clear pronunciation but slow pacing or incomplete development.

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Final Thought

Templates help you feel organized. SpeechRater data helps you improve. When you know your penalties, your prep becomes targeted and efficient. That is how scores rise.

If you want to break the plateau, check your SpeechRater Dimension scores on My Speaking Score and train the exact parts of your speaking that matter.

Note: This is the last "pre-2026" article you'll see on this blog. All future posts will deal with the "2026" TOEFL.