The TOEFL Speaking section has changed in 2026, and with it comes renewed confusion about how scoring actually works. Many test takers see decimal scores (e.g. on My Speaking Score), task-level results, and rubric descriptions and ask the same questions:
What does my TOEFL Speaking score really mean?
Is a 3.8 a 3 or a 4?
How are task scores converted into my final Speaking score?
This article explains what ETS makes public, what is intentionally not disclosed, and how to correctly interpret TOEFL Speaking scores in 2026 without guessing or spreading misinformation.
How TOEFL Speaking Is Scored in 2026 (High-Level Overview)
The TOEFL Speaking score you receive is the result of multiple layers working together:
- Your spoken responses are evaluated against official TOEFL Speaking rubrics.
- Automated scoring models analyze your speech using hundreds of linguistic and acoustic features.
- Human and automated scoring are combined and monitored by ETS.
- Final Speaking scores are scaled and reported using ETS’s internal procedures.
Some parts of this process are public. Others are proprietary by design.
Understanding the difference is the key to interpreting your score correctly.
What the TOEFL Speaking Rubrics Actually Do
ETS publishes official rubrics for each TOEFL Speaking task. These rubrics describe performance levels from 0 to 5 and explain what a typical response looks like at each level.
Important clarification:
- Rubrics are descriptive, not mathematical.
- They explain quality, not score formulas.
- ETS does not publish numerical cut points that convert decimals into rubric levels.
The rubrics are used to train human raters and automated scoring systems, and to help test takers understand strengths and weaknesses. They are not a conversion chart.
Why You See Decimal Scores in TOEFL Speaking
Modern TOEFL Speaking scoring relies heavily on automated analysis.
Automated scoring systems do not think in whole numbers. They evaluate speech on a continuous scale based on measurable features such as:
- Fluency and pacing
- Pronunciation clarity
- Accuracy (for Listen & Repeat)
- Grammar, vocabulary, and organization (for Interview tasks)
Because performance exists on a continuum, the system produces decimal scores. These decimals reflect real differences in performance, not rounding artifacts.
A decimal score gives you precision, not a new rubric category.
Is a 3.8 a 3 or a 4 in TOEFL Speaking?
This is one of the most common questions about TOEFL Speaking scoring in 2026.
The honest answer is: ETS does not say.
There is no official ETS rule stating that:
- A 3.8 automatically becomes a 4
- A 3.8 must be treated as a 3
- Scores are rounded in a specific direction at the task level
What a 3.8 does mean:
- Your performance is closer to typical level-4 responses than typical level-3 responses.
- You are near the boundary between levels.
- Some human raters might assign a 4, others a 3, depending on consistency.
Decimals should be interpreted as proximity signals, not official level assignments.
TOEFL Speaking Task Scores vs Overall Speaking Score
ETS does not publish the exact formula used to convert task-level performance into the final TOEFL Speaking section score.
What is supported by documentation:
- Individual responses are scored independently.
- There is no public evidence that later prompts are weighted more heavily than earlier ones.
- Final scores involve scaling and equating procedures that ETS keeps proprietary.
Because of this, no external platform can truthfully claim to replicate the final ETS Speaking score calculation exactly.
The most reliable approach is to focus on task-level improvement, which is where ETS provides the clearest signals.
How to Use TOEFL Speaking Scores the Right Way
Here is the correct mental model for TOEFL Speaking scoring in 2026:
- Rubrics explain quality
- Decimal scores show proximity
- Scoring categories explain causes
- Final scores summarize outcomes
Trying to reverse-engineer ETS’s hidden formulas is not productive. Improving the underlying skills measured by the rubrics is.
TOEFL Speaking Scoring: What You Control vs What You Don’t
What you can control
- Fluency, pronunciation, and pacing
- Accuracy in Listen & Repeat tasks
- Structure, language use, and organization in Interview tasks
- Consistent task-level improvement
What you cannot control
- ETS’s internal scaling formulas
- Proprietary cut scores
- Human–machine score reconciliation
Focusing on the controllable parts is what leads to score improvement.
TOEFL Speaking Scores at a Glance (Table)
FAQ: TOEFL Speaking Scoring for 2026
Does ETS publish the TOEFL Speaking scoring formula?
No. ETS does not publish the exact formula used to convert task performance into final Speaking scores.
Are TOEFL Speaking scores rounded?
ETS reports section scores in standardized increments, but task-level rounding rules are not published.
Is a higher decimal always better?
Yes. A higher decimal indicates stronger performance and closer proximity to the next rubric level.
Can a 3.8 become a 4 on the real test?
It is possible, but not guaranteed. It depends on scoring consistency and ETS’s internal processes.
Should I focus on the final Speaking score?
Focus first on task-level scores and scoring categories. Final scores improve when task performance improves.
Why doesn’t ETS show more detail?
ETS prioritizes test security, fairness, and score stability. Some parts of the scoring process are intentionally proprietary.
Final Takeaway
TOEFL Speaking scoring in 2026 is not mysterious, but it is nuanced.
Decimals are signals, not labels.
Rubrics describe quality, not math.
Task-level improvement is the most reliable path to a higher score.
When you focus on what the data clearly tells you, the overall TOEFL Speaking score takes care of itself.