Nila is a Malayalam speaker who took the Chicago Interview set on My Speaking Score and landed scores from 3.68 to 4.59 out of 5 using ETS-aligned scoring. This is the kind of baseline that tells you something important: her English is already strong enough for a high TOEFL Speaking score, but her score still moves up and down depending on execution. When she keeps her answer simple, linear, and concrete, she looks like a 4.5-level speaker. When she self-repairs, hesitates, and drifts off the task frame, the score drops fast. This report breaks down exactly what happened in each response, the error trends that show up across tasks, and the short-term training plan that can turn a “generally successful” speaker into a consistently “fully successful” one.
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Nila’s Chicago Interview Baseline
This is a full baseline report for Nila on My Speaking Score, using ETS-aligned automated scoring and ETS-style Interview-rubric language. It includes all prompts, scores, transcripts, a detailed breakdown of performance trends, TOEFL Speaking-specific improvement targets, and a plan for daily KPI tracking to drive score movement.
Showcase Summary (What This Baseline Proves)
Nila’s Chicago baseline shows a clear pattern across four Interview-style prompts: the score rises when her delivery is stable and the response follows a predictable structure, and it drops when planning pressure triggers restarts, fillers, and vague framing. Her strongest response (4.59) proves she already has the language ability to score high, while her lowest response (3.68) highlights the real constraint: intelligibility and control under time pressure.
The highest-leverage improvements are simple and very TOEFL-specific: shorter sentence defaults, fewer filler clusters, clearer word endings, and tighter task framing on abstract questions. The fastest way to lock in progress is daily scored practice on My Speaking Score, tracking a few KPIs that actually predict score movement, especially intelligibility consistency, organization stability, and task-level score trends.
This report maps transcript patterns to rubric language and then converts the rubric into training targets. Nila is already operating near a high-performance range. The job is making that range repeatable.
Baseline Stats (Chicago)
Category KPI averages (across 4 tasks): Fluency 83, Intelligibility 72, Language Use 82, Organization 72. The “shape” of this profile is typical of capable speakers who can produce strong grammar and vocabulary, but lose clarity and linearity when the clock forces real-time planning.
This is a highly trainable profile: stabilize intelligibility and tighten task framing and the score usually climbs quickly.
Score Overview (Chicago Interview Set)
Task-level results from My Speaking Score for the Chicago Interview set. These category scores are practical KPIs for daily tracking.
| Prompt | ETS /5 | WPM | Fluency | Intelligibility | Language Use | Organization |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Q8 | 3.68 | 105 | 74 | 59 | 69 | 74 |
| Q9 | 4.09 | 124 | 82 | 67 | 82 | 67 |
| Q10 | 4.59 | 128 | 92 | 77 | 97 | 77 |
| Q11 | 4.18 | 126 | 84 | 84 | 79 | 69 |
Core pattern: Language Use is strong when delivery is stable (97 on Q10), while Intelligibility is the most volatile (59 → 84). Daily scoring exists to reduce volatility and make high performance repeatable.
All Prompts, Scores, and Transcripts (Exact Text)
Each entry includes (1) the exact Interview prompt, (2) Nila’s transcript, (3) ETS-style rubric interpretation, and (4) the highest-impact TOEFL Speaking fix. The goal is clarity: what happened, why it scored that way, and what to do next on the very next attempt.
Q8 — Living Close to School or Work
Prompt: Thank you for joining the study. Today, I'd like to ask you some questions about your commuting habits. First, is it important to live close to your school or work? Why?
Yes. Definitely. I think when I'm working, I should definitely work uh, I I should definitely stay near my workplace because it will negatively affect if I'm traveling too much, uh, and if my morning routine is disturbed due to my travel. My energy will be wasted. For example, while I was in in school, I have to travel lot to, uh, I have to travel a lot to the school, and it waste it my energy was wasted because of that.
ETS Interview rubric fit
Generally successful content: Nila answers the question directly and provides reasons plus an example.
That matches Interview expectations for a clear response with relevant elaboration.
The score pressure point is intelligibility and control: multiple restarts (“I should definitely work… I should definitely stay…”) and filled pauses (“uh”) disrupt clarity,
and listeners have to work harder to track the sentence.
Highest-impact TOEFL fix (next attempt)
Use a short sentence default. One reason per sentence.
Replace filler with a silent pause right before the key noun or verb.
Then deliver the example in one clean sentence.
Training target: keep Intelligibility above 75 by reducing self-repairs and making word endings clearer.
Q9 — Car vs Public Transportation
Prompt: Imagine that you could choose to commute by car, which is faster but more expensive, or by public transportation, which is slower but less expensive. Which would you choose, and why?
I will definitely choose the best, the public transportation, whatever it is, because I would like to reduce my living cost, which will which will affect my financial status also. And, uh, moreover, while traveling in a car, it will not give me a communication social communication with people. And, also, I would like to travel in bus where I I don't have to stress upon driving. And, um, and, also, nowadays, the come the public transportation have provided us with many, um, many overall gain or we can use it towards the the the the
ETS Interview rubric fit
This response is generally successful: preference is clear and reasons are relevant (cost, less stress, social contact). The score constraint is organization and closure. The ending collapses into repetition and an unfinished idea, which lowers perceived control.
Highest-impact TOEFL fix (next attempt)
Use a 2-reason cap and end early with a decisive summary sentence.
Strong endings lift Organization and often stabilize Intelligibility.
Script target: “So overall, I’d choose public transportation because it saves money and reduces stress.”
Q10 — Making Commuting More Enjoyable
Prompt: Some people believe that commuting can be stressful and tiring. What do you think are one or two different ways to make commuting more enjoyable? Give reasons for your answer.
I strongly think that commuting can be stressful if you are not accompanied with your friends, or maybe you can just listen to some music or watch any videos. Those are some kind of entertainment ways you can enjoy your commuting. And, also, you can maybe, uh, personally speaking, when I'm commute commuting, I will I will just enjoy the nature. That's more beautiful than watching a video for me. For example, if you are seeing some size nature views, it will give you a positive feeling which can affect you at work. I mean, the positive.
Why this scored highest
Two clear strategies, personal relevance, and concrete examples support fluent, intelligible delivery. This matches Interview expectations for clear, on-topic elaboration and conversational pace.
How to repeat this result
Use the same structure on every prompt: answer, reason, example, effect. Keep sentences short so your word endings land clearly under time pressure.
Q11 — Decline in Commuting and Business Impact
Prompt: Considering advances in technology, some people believe that commuting might disappear entirely. How do you think a severe decline in commuting might affect businesses in positive ways and negative ways? Please give one example of each.
To be honest, uh, I have to say that it can, yeah, it can definitely affect positively and negatively because some people enjoy traveling. Some people doesn't. Some people feel sick while traveling. So it is it is positive. Also, it is negative depending upon the person's, um, physical physical ability and also their mental, uh, capacity. For example, if I'm a person who is enjoying my travel and if I'm chatting with my friends, I can enjoy it. Or, uh, if I'm I'm sick of traveling, I cannot enjoy it. So, uh, to conclude, it can depend upon people.
ETS Interview rubric fit
Delivery is stable here, but Organization drops because the examples focus on individuals rather than business outcomes. This weakens task alignment even when pronunciation and fluency are strong.
Highest-impact TOEFL fix (next attempt)
Keep the lens on businesses: productivity, costs, office space, hiring, collaboration. Give one business-positive example and one business-negative example.
Data Analysis: What the Numbers Suggest
These patterns are based on Nila’s four Chicago Interview tasks and the category KPIs. The objective is to identify the highest-leverage training targets for TOEFL Speaking score gains.
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01Score rises with stable delivery and predictable structure. Q10 is highest because it stays concrete and follows a clean progression. This suggests Nila benefits from a repeatable response pattern that reduces planning load.
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02Intelligibility volatility is the main constraint. The drop to 59 on Q8 aligns with restarts and filler clusters. Stabilizing word endings and reducing repairs typically produces fast gains in ETS-aligned scoring.
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03Language Use has a strong ceiling. A 97 on Q10 shows Nila can produce accurate, varied language when delivery is stable. The priority is protecting that ability under time pressure with shorter sentences.
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04Organization dips on abstract prompts when the lens shifts. Q11 is coherent, but examples do not match “business impact.” Tight task framing early improves organization without adding complexity.
Friendly, Specific Advice for TOEFL Speaking Improvement
The Interview rubric rewards: clear answers, on-topic elaboration, conversational pace, intelligible delivery, and grammar/vocabulary that supports precise meaning. The plan below targets exactly those outcomes.
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AUse a 4-sentence default. Sentence 1: answer. Sentence 2: reason. Sentence 3: example. Sentence 4: result. This keeps responses linear and prevents looping.
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BReplace filler with silent pauses. A short pause before a key noun or verb increases clarity more than speaking faster. Aim for pauses at idea boundaries.
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CProtect final consonants. Endings carry meaning (worked, costs, helps, plans). Make endings audible. This is one of the fastest ways to stabilize intelligibility.
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DMatch the prompt lens. If the prompt asks about businesses, use business examples: costs, productivity, hiring, collaboration, office space, customer access.
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EEnd decisively. A firm final sentence improves Organization signals. Example: “So overall, I would choose public transportation because it saves money and reduces stress.”
Daily Follow-Up Tests: KPI Tracking That Drives Score Gains
The fastest improvement loop is daily scored practice on My Speaking Score. Short daily sessions produce clean trendlines and reveal which TOEFL Speaking KPIs are improving. Aim for one short Interview set per day, then compare today’s KPIs to yesterday’s.
Simple rule: if a KPI drops, reduce sentence complexity on the next attempt. If KPIs are stable, add one richer example.