You’ve practiced every day for weeks, yet your TOEFL Speaking score stays stuck at 23. It can be really frustrating. Many test takers hit this wall even when their vocabulary and ideas are solid. The problem is often that they focus too much on using perfect grammar in short sentences or memorizing answers, missing out on other important factors like fluency, pacing, and the variety of grammar structures used. TOEFL’s SpeechRater assesses many areas including grammar complexity and speaking rate, so to improve you need to practice longer, connected phrases while keeping a steady pace around 150 words per minute. Recording yourself and reviewing feedback can help target those tricky spots and finally push your score higher.
Why Your TOEFL Speaking Score Stays at 23 Despite Practice
You might be practicing every day, but your TOEFL Speaking score still hovers around 23. This is a common frustration because many test-takers don’t realize that just repeating answers or focusing on vocabulary won’t push their scores higher. The real reason behind this plateau often comes down to overlooked factors like fluency, speaking rate, and grammar range. TOEFL’s SpeechRater evaluates multiple skills, including how smoothly you speak and how complex your grammar is. Even if your ideas are strong, if you speak with unnatural pauses, an uneven pace, or stick to simple sentences, your score won’t improve. For example, saying “I like books. They are good” sounds clear but doesn’t show grammatical range. Instead, using longer, connected sentences like “I enjoy reading books because they provide knowledge and relaxation” shows complexity and helps your score. Also, memorizing answers can make your speech sound robotic, hurting coherence and delivery. To break past 23, you need to balance fluency, pacing, and expand your grammar by practicing longer, well-structured phrases while speaking naturally and without awkward pauses.
Common Mistakes That Keep You Stuck in the Low 20s
One of the biggest traps is relying too much on memorized responses. They might seem helpful at first, but memorized answers often sound robotic and don’t show your ability to speak spontaneously. This lowers your score because TOEFL values natural, flexible speaking. Another common mistake is speaking either too fast or too slow. If you rush, your words get jumbled and hard to understand; if you drag, you risk losing the natural rhythm that keeps listeners engaged. Many test-takers stick to short, simple sentences without mixing up sentence structures. This hurts your grammar range score since TOEFL expects longer, well-structured sentences that show complexity. Pausing is another tricky area, pausing too often or in the wrong places breaks the flow and confuses listeners. Instead, pauses should come naturally, ideally at logical breaks between ideas. Repeating the same words or phrases too much also drags down your score because it shows limited vocabulary. Ignoring SpeechRater feedback is a missed opportunity; practicing without targeting your weak spots means repeating the same mistakes. Another overlooked factor is linking ideas logically. If your ideas jump around without smooth transitions, your discourse coherence suffers. Focusing only on grammar accuracy but not on complexity keeps your speech basic, which caps your score. Controlling pauses and your speaking rate is equally important, poor control makes your delivery sound unnatural. Lastly, not recording and reviewing your own speech leaves you blind to these issues. Listening to yourself helps identify where you pause awkwardly, repeat words, or fail to connect ideas clearly. Fixing these mistakes is key to moving beyond a 23.
How TOEFL SpeechRater Scores Your Speaking Skills
TOEFL’s SpeechRater uses AI to evaluate your speaking across 12 key dimensions, grouped into Delivery, Language Use, and Topic Development. Delivery focuses on how you speak: your pacing, ability to keep talking without awkward pauses, control over where you pause, and the natural rhythm of your speech. Language Use looks at your vocabulary variety and how accurately and complexly you use grammar. Topic Development checks whether your ideas are clear, logical, and connected smoothly. Each dimension is scored out of 100, and aim for 75 or higher to reach top TOEFL bands. Importantly, SpeechRater values a balance between fluency, grammatical range, and clear communication. Using complex grammar and vocabulary helps your score only if it sounds natural, not forced or robotic. A low score in any one area can drag down your overall Speaking score. The detailed feedback from SpeechRater lets you pinpoint exactly which areas need work, so you can focus your practice more efficiently and break through the frustrating 23-point barrier.
Understanding the 12 SpeechRater Dimensions
TOEFL’s SpeechRater evaluates your speaking using 12 key dimensions grouped into Delivery, Language Use, and Topic Development. These dimensions work together to shape your overall score. Delivery covers your speaking rate, how smoothly you talk without awkward pauses, and the natural rhythm of your speech. For example, aiming for about 150 words per minute helps maintain clarity without sounding rushed. Pauses should be few and placed at natural breaks between ideas, not randomly or too often. Avoid repeating words or phrases too much, as it disrupts flow and shows limited language control.
Language Use focuses on vocabulary and grammar. It’s not enough to just be accurate; you need to use a wide range of words (vocabulary depth) and mix up your word choices (vocabulary diversity) to keep your speech interesting. Grammar is split into accuracy and complexity. Accuracy means using correct tenses and sentence forms, while complexity means building longer, connected sentences with connectors like "although" or "because." This shows you can handle more advanced language structures naturally.
Finally, Topic Development looks at how well you organize your ideas and connect them smoothly. Discourse coherence means your speech should flow logically, making it easy for the listener to follow your points. If your ideas jump around or lack clear transitions, your score suffers.
Balancing all 12 dimensions is the key to breaking past a speaking score stuck at 23. Improving grammatical complexity helps, but you also need to focus on your pace, pause control, vocabulary variety, and how naturally your speech sounds overall.
How Grammar Range Affects Your Speaking Score
Grammar range means more than just using correct sentences; it’s about showing variety in the types and structures you use. Relying mostly on simple sentences can limit your score because it signals low complexity to the SpeechRater. To boost your score, you need to include complex sentences with clauses and connectors like because, although, and therefore. These longer phrases reveal advanced skills and make your speech sound more natural and precise. However, complexity without accuracy won’t help, it’s important to balance both. Mixing simple, compound, and complex sentences creates a smooth, natural flow that sounds like real conversation. Using transition words also improves coherence and highlights your grammar range. When your grammar is limited, your answers tend to sound repetitive and basic, which keeps you stuck around 23. Expanding your grammar range lets you express ideas more deeply and clearly, helping you break through that frustrating score ceiling.
Balancing Fluency, Grammar, and Speaking Rate
Fluency isn’t about speaking fast; it’s about speaking smoothly with natural pauses that help your listener follow along. A good speaking rate is around 75 words per minute, that’s just the right speed to sound clear and natural. If you talk too fast, your words may slur together and become hard to understand. Too slow, and you risk sounding hesitant or unsure. To improve your TOEFL speaking score, you need to balance good grammar with clear delivery and rhythm. Using longer, well-structured sentences is great, but only if you pair them with logical pauses that give your ideas room to breathe. Practice speaking continuously on various topics to build stamina and reduce filler words like "um" or repeated phrases, which break the flow. Controlling your rhythm and intonation makes your speech more engaging and helps emphasize your points. Recording yourself and timing your responses is a useful way to find your natural pace and see where you might rush or drag. Remember, balancing fluency, grammar range, and speaking rate together will make your speech more effective and improve your overall TOEFL score.
Practical Tips to Expand Your Grammar Range
Start by practicing how to combine short sentences into longer, more complex ones using conjunctions like and, but, or because. For example, instead of saying, "I like reading. It helps me relax," try "I like reading because it helps me relax." Adding relative clauses with who, which, or that naturally brings more detail: "The book that I read yesterday was fascinating." Incorporate conditional sentences to show cause and effect or possibility, such as, "If I have time, I will practice speaking more." Experiment with different tenses and verb forms in your practice answers to demonstrate flexibility. Use transition words like however, therefore, and furthermore to link ideas smoothly and build complex sentence structures. Reading and listening to sample TOEFL answers with varied grammar will help you notice these patterns. Write down common complex sentence structures and practice saying them aloud until they feel natural. Recording yourself is a great way to check if you can speak longer, connected phrases without hesitation. Remember to focus on accuracy first, then gradually increase your sentence length and complexity. Finally, get feedback on your grammar use and target specific weak points to keep improving steadily.
Using SpeechRater Feedback to Target Weaknesses
To improve your TOEFL Speaking score, start by carefully reviewing each dimension's score in your SpeechRater report. This will show exactly where you lose points. For example, if your Speaking Rate is low, try pacing exercises to speak around 75 words per minute, which helps your speech sound natural and clear. If your Pause Frequency is high, practice speaking longer without breaking your flow; this builds sustained speech and reduces awkward stops. When Grammatical Complexity scores are low, focus on using longer, more varied sentence structures instead of short, simple ones. If Vocabulary Diversity is weak, work on learning synonyms and different expressions to avoid repeating the same words. Poor Discourse Coherence means you should practice organizing your ideas logically and using transition words like "however," "first," or "in addition" to connect thoughts smoothly. If Pronunciation scores are low, especially vowels, slow down and practice enunciation exercises to make your speech clearer. Also, watch out for filler words like "um" or "you know", prepare varied phrases to express your ideas instead. Use SpeechRater’s written comments to build a focused practice plan targeting these weak areas. Keep tracking your progress by retesting and comparing scores over time, so you know which habits are improving and where to keep working.
How to Improve Your Speaking Rate and Pause Control
To hit the sweet spot in TOEFL speaking, aim for about 75 words per minute, not too fast to be unclear, and not so slow that you lose flow. Practice by speaking on familiar topics while timing yourself, using a metronome or timer app to keep steady pace. Record your answers and listen for unnatural pauses or hesitations, then work on reducing filler words like "um" and "uh." Pause only at natural breaks between ideas or sentences, and practice linking words smoothly to keep your speech flowing. Tongue twisters and pronunciation drills can boost your confidence and rhythm, while reading aloud regularly helps build better pacing. Finally, use SpeechRater feedback to spot pacing issues and refine your delivery.
Why Memorizing Answers Lowers Your Speaking Score
Memorizing answers might feel like a shortcut to a higher TOEFL Speaking score, but it often backfires. When you rely on memorized responses, your speech tends to sound robotic and unnatural. This lack of variation is easy for the SpeechRater engine to detect, which lowers your scores in areas like discourse coherence and vocabulary diversity. For example, repeating the same phrases or sentence structures can make your vocabulary depth and grammatical complexity look limited. Memorized answers also cause unnatural pauses and odd intonation because you’re trying to recall exact words rather than speaking freely. This affects sustained speech and pause control scores negatively. More importantly, memorization restricts your ability to adapt your answers to different prompts, so when the topic shifts, you might freeze or stumble. On the other hand, practicing spontaneous, flexible speaking helps you naturally use a wider range of grammar and vocabulary, demonstrating real fluency and coherence. Instead of memorizing, focus on understanding common TOEFL topics and practice speaking freely about them. This builds your confidence and lets you show off a richer, more natural command of English, which SpeechRater rewards with higher scores. Bonus: check out my "formulaic language" deck I published on LinkedIn.
Quick Fixes to Move from 23 to 26 on TOEFL Speaking
To boost your TOEFL Speaking score from 23 to 26, start by speaking at about 75 words per minute. This pace lets you sound natural and clear without rushing. Practice speaking continuously on a topic without long pauses; this means planning your answer briefly so you know when to pause logically, not awkwardly. Next, focus on using longer, more complex sentences rather than short, choppy ones. For example, instead of saying "I like dogs. They are friendly," try "I enjoy having dogs as pets because they are loyal and friendly companions." This shows better grammar range. Also, sprinkle in varied vocabulary and synonyms to avoid repeating the same words. Linking ideas smoothly with transition words like "however," "for example," or "moreover" helps your response flow logically. Record your answers and listen for filler words or repeated phrases, then work on cutting them out. Pay close attention to pronouncing your vowel sounds clearly, as this improves your overall clarity and SpeechRater vowel score. Avoid memorizing answers; instead, practice responding to different prompts to sound spontaneous and natural. Finally, use SpeechRater feedback to spot your weak spots, whether it’s grammar complexity or pause control, and target those areas in your practice sessions. Combining these steps will help you break past that 23 score and reach 26 with more confident, fluent, and grammatically rich speech.
FAQs About Improving Your TOEFL Speaking Score
Q1: What speaking rate should I aim for on the TOEFL? Aim for about 75 words per minute. This pace helps keep your speech clear and fluent without sounding rushed. Q2: Is memorizing answers helpful? No, memorized answers often sound unnatural and hurt your coherence score. It’s better to practice flexible responses so you can adapt naturally. Q3: How do I improve pronunciation clarity? Focus on pronouncing vowel sounds clearly and slow down if your score is below 60. Clear vowels make your speech easier to understand. Q4: How can I break through the 23 speaking score plateau quickly? Work on speaking at a steady rate, reduce unnatural pauses, and use more complex grammar with longer sentences. These changes help boost your overall score. Q5: Why does TOEFL assess grammar complexity alongside accuracy? Using complex grammar naturally shows a higher language ability, not just correctness. It proves you can handle advanced structures while speaking clearly. Q6: What role does pause distribution play in my score? Pauses should happen at logical points, like between ideas, not in the middle of a sentence. Proper pause placement keeps your speech smooth and easy to follow. Q7: How important is vocabulary diversity? Using synonyms and varied words shows depth in your language use, which improves your score and keeps your speech interesting. Q8: What does sustained speech mean? It means speaking continuously without too many stops or hesitations, which demonstrates fluency and confidence. Q9: Can SpeechRater help me improve? Yes, SpeechRater provides detailed feedback on 12 dimensions, including delivery, language use, and coherence, helping you target specific weaknesses. Q10: How do I avoid repeating words or phrases? Practice using different sentence structures and substitute repeated words with synonyms to make your speech sound fresh and natural.
Try SpeechRater to Break Your Speaking Score Plateau
If your TOEFL Speaking score is stuck at 23, SpeechRater can be a game changer. This tool lets you upload your spoken responses and instantly get detailed feedback on 12 key areas like speaking rate, grammar, vocabulary, and coherence. For example, if your speaking rate is too slow or too fast, SpeechRater will point it out so you can adjust to a smoother pace, around 150 words per minute. It also highlights how often you pause or hesitate, helping you reduce unnatural breaks that hurt your fluency. When it comes to grammar, SpeechRater shows if you’re sticking to simple sentences or using more complex, varied structures, which is essential for boosting your score past 23. Plus, it tracks vocabulary depth and diversity so you know if you’re repeating the same words or truly varying your language. You’ll also get feedback on discourse coherence, making it easier to link ideas naturally and logically. One of the coolest features is the ability to hear or see repeated words and phrases so you can consciously work on eliminating those habits. Don’t forget to check your vowel clarity scores too, clear pronunciation can make a big difference in how your speech is understood. Aim for a percentile score of 75 or higher in each dimension to achieve a balanced, high-quality response. Best of all, you can use SpeechRater regularly to track your progress and fine-tune your practice based on the latest feedback. This focused approach helps you break through that 23-point ceiling by improving all the little things that matter, not just grammar alone.
Frequently Asked Questions
1. Why might my TOEFL speaking score stay at 23 even if I answer all questions?
A speaking score stuck at 23 often means your grammar range is too simple or repetitive. Even if you answer all questions, using the same sentence structures and basic grammar can stop your score from moving up.
2. How does grammar range affect my TOEFL speaking score?
Grammar range shows how well you can use different sentence types and verb forms. A wider grammar range helps you sound more natural and fluent, which can boost your TOEFL speaking score.
3. What are some common grammar mistakes that keep TOEFL speakers stuck at 23?
Common mistakes include overusing simple tenses, mixing up subject-verb agreement, and relying on basic sentence patterns. These errors limit your grammar variety, making your answers seem less advanced.
4. How can I improve my grammar range for the TOEFL speaking test?
Try practicing different sentence structures, like complex and compound sentences. Also, focus on using various verb tenses correctly and adding connectors like because or although to show relationships between ideas.
5. Is it possible to raise my TOEFL speaking score above 23 just by fixing grammar range?
Yes, improving your grammar range can make a big difference. It helps you create more varied and clear answers, which listeners and graders appreciate. Just make sure to practice speaking naturally while using better grammar.
TL;DR If your TOEFL Speaking score is stuck at 23, it’s likely because you’re focusing too much on perfect grammar or memorized answers instead of balancing fluency, speaking rate, and grammar range. TOEFL’s SpeechRater evaluates 12 dimensions including grammatical complexity, fluency, vocabulary use, and pause control. To boost your score, aim for a natural speaking rate around 75 words per minute, use longer, well-structured sentences, minimize unnatural pauses, and practice speaking continuously on varied topics. Use SpeechRater feedback to target weak areas, avoid memorizing responses, and work on connecting ideas clearly to break through the score plateau.