The Difference Between a Good and a Great TOEFL Speaking Score (Hint: It's Not Your Accent)
The biggest myth about TOEFL Speaking? That your accent will lower your score. The truth is, clarity is not the same as accent. Learn what TOEFL raters actually care about and how to improve your Delivery score.
If you are preparing for the TOEFL, you've probably had this thought at least once: "My accent is going to lower my score."
This is one of the biggest and most persistent myths about the TOEFL exam, and it's holding your score back.
Students spend so much time worrying about sounding "American" or "British" that they ignore what the raters actually care about. The truth? Clarity is not the same as accent.
A "good" score (think 20-23) often comes from a student who has the right grammar but sounds robotic, nervous, or unclear. A "great" score (26+) comes from a student who speaks with confidence and clarity, regardless of their native accent.
The official TOEFL rubrics don't have a category for "accent." They have a category for "Delivery." Let's break down what that really means.
The 3 Pillars of a High-Scoring "Delivery"
Your Delivery score is based on three main pillars. Notice that "perfect accent" isn't one of them.
1. Clarity & Pronunciation
This is where the accent myth comes from. The raters don't care if you have an accent; they only care if that accent makes your words difficult to understand.
The Problem: You might be pronouncing /iː/ (sheep) and /ɪ/ (ship) as the same sound, or dropping the "s" on plural words. These small, habitual errors can confuse the rater and force them to guess what you meant.
The Fix: Focus on intelligibility. Record yourself and listen. Do your "th" sounds come out as "z" or "d"? Do you clearly pronounce the "ed" at the end of past-tense verbs? This is about polishing your existing speech, not changing who you are.
Pro-Tip: Don't guess if you're clear. Use a tool that can tell you. This is exactly why we're building MESA. Our application is designed to give you instant, precise feedback on these specific sounds (like /iː/ vs /ɪ/) that are critical for TOEFL. It helps you target and fix the actual pronunciation habits that cost you points.
2. Pacing & Fluency
This is your speaking rhythm. A great response flows smoothly at a natural, consistent speed.
The Problem: Speaking too fast, which makes you hard to follow. Or, speaking too slowly with long, frequent pauses ("ummm," "uhhh," "like..."). These filler words signal to the rater that you are struggling to find the right language.
The Fix: Practice replacing your "ums" and "uhs" with a short, silent pause. A 1-second silent pause sounds 100x more confident than a 1-second "ummm." It gives you a moment to think and makes your speech sound clean and deliberate.
3. Intonation
This is the "secret weapon" that separates a 23 from a 27. Intonation is the music of your voice—the way it rises and falls.
The Problem: Speaking in a flat, monotone voice. This makes you sound bored or (even worse) like you memorized a script. Raters are trained to spot memorized answers, and they penalize them.
The Fix: Use stress and emotion! When you give your main opinion, let your voice rise slightly. When you list your two reasons, use "listing intonation." This energy shows the rater you are comfortable and engaged with the topic, which signals high-level fluency.
What "Good" vs. "Great" Actually Looks Like
Let's look at a simple breakdown of the difference.
| Scoring Factor | A "Good" Score (20-23) | A "Great" Score (26+) |
|---|---|---|
| Clarity | The rater has to strain to understand 1-2 key words in each response. | All words are clear and easy to understand, even with a non-native accent. |
| Pacing | Many hesitations ("um," "uh") or is spoken in a rush. The flow is choppy. | Smooth, natural pace. Pauses are used strategically to emphasize a point. |
| Intonation | Monotone. All sentences have the same flat rhythm. | Energetic. The speaker's voice rises and falls to show which ideas are important. |
Your 3-Step Action Plan to Improve Delivery
Don't just read this; put it into action.
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Record, Don't Just Practice: Use your phone to record one practice response. Listen back only for pacing. How many times did you use a filler word?
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Identify 1 Problem Sound: Listen again. Is there one sound you struggle with? (like "th," "r," or "v"). For the next 3 days, do drills only for that one sound.
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Practice with Energy: Record a final time, but this time, smile while you talk (it naturally improves intonation) and focus on speaking with energy, not just speed.
The Bottom Line
You don't need a new accent. You just need to be the clearest, most confident version of yourself.
To get started, what's the #1 filler word you want to stop using? Tell us in the comments below!
Ready to improve your TOEFL Speaking score? Start practicing with TOEFL AI and get instant feedback on your pronunciation, pacing, and intonation.
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