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“Common mistakes to
avoid in the TOEFL
speaking section”

"The TOEFL speaking section can be a tricky part of
the exam, and even the smallest mistake can impact
your score
...
In this guide, we'll explore the most
common mistakes made in the TOEFL speaking
section, and how to avoid them, so you can walk
into the exam room feeling confident and wellprepared
...
"

1
...

Not answering the question directly: In the TOEFL speaking section, it is essential
to ensure you are answering the question
...
If the question asks for specific information, ensure that you
provide that information, not just available information on the subject
...
It offers flexibility and convenience and
can be a cost-effective solution
...


Example 2:
Question: Can you tell me about the history of the Eiffel Tower?
Correct Answer: The Eiffel Tower was built by Gustave Eiffel for the 1889 World's
Fair in Paris and has since become a global symbol of France and a popular tourist
destination
...


Use Cases:

Job Interviews: In a job interview, it is essential to answer the questions directly
and specifically
...


School Exams: In a school exam, ensure to answer the question asked and not just
provide general knowledge
...


Customer Service: In a customer service setting, addressing the customer's
specific issue is essential rather than providing general information on the
product or service
...


2
...
”
Using too much filler language: Filler language refers to words or sounds that you
use to fill the silence, such as "um" or "ah
...
To avoid this, it is important to practice speaking in front of
an audience and to take breaks, if necessary, to collect your thoughts
...
"
Incorrect: "Uh, the Eiffel Tower, uh, was built, uh, in 1889, um, for the World's
Fair in Paris, and, uh, is now a symbol of France, uh, and a popular tourist
destination
...
"
Incorrect: "Um, I think, uh, that online education is a, uh, good choice for, um,
students who are busy or, uh, live far away because, uh, it's flexible and
convenient and, uh, cheaper
...


Business Meetings: In a business setting, filler language can indicate a lack of
preparation or confidence, so practicing and being well-prepared before the
meeting is essential
...
Hence, it's best to minimize filler language and take a
break, if necessary, to collect your thoughts before responding to the customer's
questions
...
Not speaking at a natural pace, either too fast or too slow
...
It is important to practice
speaking at a natural pace as if you were having a conversation with someone
...

Example 1:
Correct: "The Eiffel Tower was built in 1889 for the World's Fair in Paris and is
now a symbol of France and a popular tourist destination
...
" (speaking too fast)
Incorrect:
"The
...
Tower
...
built
...
1889
...
the
...
Fair
...
Paris
...
is
...
a
...
of
...
and
...
popular
...
destination
...
" (natural pace)
Incorrect:
"Ibelievethatonlineeducationisagreatoptionforstudentswhohavebusyschedulesorli
veinremoteareasbecauseitoffersflexibilityandconvenienceandbecost-effective
...
believe
...
online
...
is
...
great
...
for
...
who
...
busy
...
or
...
in
...
areas
...
it
...
flexibil
ity
...
the convenience
...
be
...
" (speaking too slow)

Use Cases:

Presentations: When giving a presentation, it is essential to speak at a natural
pace so that your audience can understand your message and engage with the
content
...


Broadcasting: In a broadcasting setting, speaking naturally is essential to engage
the audience and ensure they can follow the delivered content
...
Not maintaining eye contact with the microphone
...
This can help you project your voice and
ensure that you speak clearly and effectively
...
If you look down or away from the
microphone while chatting, your voice may need to be more straightforward and
confident, and your audience (the examiners) may need help understanding you
...

Maintaining eye contact with the microphone will help you project your voice and
speak so your listeners can understand you better
...
This technique can help you speak effectively and
confidently
...
For example, if you are giving a lecture in a large
lecture hall, maintaining eye contact with the microphone will help to ensure that
your voice is projected clearly to the back of the room
...
Not using appropriate intonation and stress patterns
...
In contrast, stress is the emphasis placed on
particular syllables or words
...
To
improve your intonation and stress patterns, try practicing with a native speaker
or listening to native speakers in conversation
...
Below are some examples to illustrate the importance of these
elements in American English:

Examples of Intonation:

Asking a question - When asking a question, the voice rises at the end of the
sentence, conveying a sense of inquiry
...
For example, "Really? You won the lottery?"

Showing emphasis - By using intonation to emphasize certain words, speakers can
convey the importance of those words
...
"

Examples of Stress:

Nouns and verbs - In English, nouns, and verbs are usually stressed, while other
parts of speech, such as articles and prepositions, are unstressed
...
"

Emphasis - Words that need to be emphasized for focus are stressed
...
"

Use Cases:

Conversational speech - Appropriate intonation and stress patterns can help make
colloquial speech more natural and engaging
...


Presentations - Using appropriate intonation and stress in presentations can help
to convey the speaker's message more effectively, keeping the audience's
attention and making the presentation more memorable
...

6
...

Not using varied vocabulary and sentence structures: Repeating the same
vocabulary and sentence structures can make your speech boring
...
This will help to keep
your speech interesting and engaging
...

Instead of saying "good," use words like "excellent," "superb," "outstanding," etc
...

Compound: The sun rises in the east and sets in the west
...

Use cases:

Public Speaking: Using varied vocabulary and sentence structures can make your
speech more engaging and exciting to the audience, helping to hold their
attention
...


Business Communication: In business communication, using varied vocabulary
and sentence structures can help convey your message more effectively and
make it stand out among others
...

7
...

Not organizing thoughts and ideas coherently: When speaking, it is essential to
have a clear and organized structure
...
In the body, it is also necessary to have a clear and logical
flow of ideas, with each idea building on the previous one
...

Example of organizing thoughts and ideas coherently:

Introduction: Start with a clear and concise introduction that sets the stage for
the rest of the speech or discussion
...
"

Body: In the body of the speech, ensure a clear and logical flow of ideas
...

Second, present the benefits of renewable energy sources such as solar and wind
power
...

Conclusion: Sum up the main points and end with a clear conclusion
...
"

Use cases:

Public Speaking: When speaking in front of an audience, it is essential to have a
clear and organized structure so the audience can follow along and understand
the main points
...
This can help the reader understand and remember the main
ideas better
...

This can help to avoid confusion and misunderstandings and ensure that all
stakeholders are on the same page
...
It helps the listener or reader to understand the main points and
follow along, making the message more memorable and impactful
...
Not speaking loudly enough
...
To avoid this, make sure to
speak up and project your voice
...

Examples of speaking loudly enough:

When speaking in a large room with many people, project your voice and speak
up so everyone can hear you
...

Use cases:

Public Speaking: Speaking up and projecting your voice is crucial when giving a
speech or presentation in front of an audience
...


Business Communication: In a business setting, speaking up and projecting your
voice can help to convey your message effectively, especially in meetings or
presentations
...


In conclusion, speaking loudly enough is an essential aspect of effective
communication
...


9
...

Not using proper pronunciation and enunciation: Pronunciation refers to
articulating sounds, while articulation refers to the clarity with which you speak
sounds
...
To improve your pronunciation and enunciation,
try practicing with a native speaker or listening to native speakers in conversation
...

Articulate words and sounds clear, such as pronouncing the "s" sound in the word
"sun" rather than slurring it with the preceding vowel sound
...


Business Communication: In a business setting, proper pronunciation and
enunciation can help to convey professionalism and credibility and can help to
avoid misunderstandings in essential communications
...


Learning a New Language: When learning a new language, focusing on
pronunciation and enunciation can help improve your communication skills and
make you more easily understood by native speakers
...
They help ensure your message is clearly understood,
making it more impactful and memorable
...


10
...

Not using correct grammar and sentence structure: Using incorrect grammar and
sentence structure can make it difficult for the listener to understand what you
are saying
...
Try to practice writing and

speaking in English as much as possible, and consider taking a course in English
grammar if necessary
...
"
Using proper punctuation, such as using a comma after an introductory phrase
and using adequate capitalization
...

Use cases:

Writing: Correct grammar and sentence structure are important in written
communication, such as emails, reports, and other professional documents
...


Business Communication: In a business setting, correct grammar and sentence
structure can help to convey professionalism and credibility and can help to avoid
misunderstandings in essential communications
...


In conclusion, using correct grammar and sentence structure is essential to
effective communication
...
Improving
these skills can be achieved through practice, reading, and taking courses in
English grammar
...
Using too many slang words or colloquialisms
...
While they may be
appropriate in some social settings, they are not applicable in the formal setting
of the TOEFL speaking section
...
” Using slang words and colloquialisms can make it difficult for the listener
to understand what you are saying and can also detract from your credibility as a
speaker
...


12
...

Speaking for too short a time: In the TOEFL speaking section, you are expected to
talk for a certain length of time for each task
...


For example, if you are asked to describe a personal experience and speak for 30
seconds, you may need more detail or context for the listener to understand what
you are saying
...


13
...

Speaking for a short time: If you talk for too long, you may start to repeat yourself
or lose the listener's attention
...


Use case: If you are asked to describe a personal experience in the TOEFL
speaking section, make sure to tell the total amount of time allocated for the task,
but also try to be concise and to the point so that you do not lose the listener's
attention
...
Need to demonstrate an understanding of the task and question
...


For example, suppose you are asked to give your opinion on a particular topic and
only describe the case without giving your opinion
...


Use case: If you are asked to give your opinion on a particular topic in the TOEFL
speaking section, make sure you understand the question and share your idea
rather than just describing the case in general
...
Not presenting an opinion or stance in the independent speaking task
...

For example, suppose you are asked to give your opinion on the importance of
physical exercise and only describe the benefits of physical activity without
sharing your own opinion
...


Use case: If you are asked to give your opinion on the importance of physical
exercise in the independent speaking task, share your opinion rather than just
describing the benefits of physical activity

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