Picture this.
You’re practicing TOEFL Speaking at home.
Your timing feels good. Your speed feels good. Your answer fits the 45 seconds perfectly.
You check your stats:
152 words per minute.
Next day: 152 words per minute again.
Same pace.
Same comfort level.
But the scores?
One day you get a 22.
The next day you get a 25.
Most test-takers stare at this and think the scoring system is random.
It isn’t random.
You’re just looking at the wrong number.
This is the moment where your TOEFL Speaking practice jumps from “I hope this works” to “I understand exactly what the algorithm is doing.”
Let’s unpack the difference.
WPM vs. Speaking Rate: The Core Distinction
You’ll see WPM everywhere in TOEFL Speaking practice.
It’s useful, but it’s not a fluency score. It simply measures:
total words ÷ total time
That’s it.
It measures pacing, not fluency.
The 2026 TOEFL Speaking scoring system still uses SpeechRater dimensions for automated scoring. Speaking Rate remains a core Delivery/Fluency measure. But SpeechRater calculates it differently:
Speaking Rate = words per second during actual speaking time (voiced time)
Then it converts that number into a percentile score from 0 to 100.
Silence doesn’t count.
Hesitations don’t count.
Breath gaps don’t count.
Mid-phrase pauses don’t count.
Two answers can have the exact same WPM but radically different Speaking Rate percentiles.
And that’s exactly what happened in our 22 vs 25 example.
A Deep Dive Into the Two Answers (Real Data, Real Differences)
If you look closely at the waveform in the 22-point answer, you’ll see short, frequent pauses.
Not long silences.
Just small hesitations that break continuity.
The WPM stays at 152, but the words per second of voiced time drop.
SpeechRater sees this as reduced fluency.
Speaking Rate percentile: 59.
Now compare that to the 25-point answer.
Same speed. Same timing. Same speaker.
But the waveform is tighter.
Longer stretches of continuous sound.
Fewer interruptions.
More of the 45 seconds is spent actually talking.
Speaking Rate percentile: 88.
Same WPM.
Different control over speaking time.
The algorithm rewards continuity, not speed.
Side-by-Side Breakdown
Why This Matters for Your TOEFL Speaking Practice
Most learners chase “sounding fast.”
But speed is not fluency.
Continuity is.
The 2026 scoring system still rewards Delivery that feels controlled, steady, and uninterrupted.
If you want to improve faster, start tracking:
• your pauses
• your waveform shape
• your Speaking Rate percentile
• your Sustained Speech score
Once you learn to control the distribution of your seconds, every answer becomes more fluent.
2026 TOEFL Scoring Equivalents (Updated for CEFR)
Below is the updated 1.0–6.0 TOEFL section scoring framework.
These ranges represent typical performance bands across the test.
TOEFL 2026 Section Score Equivalents
TOEFL 2026 → CEFR Mapping
FAQ: Speaking Rate, Fluency, and 2026 TOEFL Scoring
Does Speaking Rate directly affect my TOEFL Speaking score?
Yes. It’s a Delivery dimension. Low Speaking Rate usually means too many pauses.
Should I aim for a specific WPM?
150 WPM works well for most test-takers, but only if the delivery is continuous.
How can I raise my Speaking Rate percentile fast?
Record yourself and look for mid-phrase pauses. Remove those first.
What’s the best metric to track while practicing?
Speaking Rate percentile. It reacts quickly to improvements in continuity.
Does speed matter at all?
Yes, but only after continuity is stable.
Final Thought
Most TOEFL Speaking practice focuses on what you say.
Scores improve faster when you study how you use the seconds you have.
WPM measures pace.
Speaking Rate measures control.
Control is what fluency sounds like.