When you take the TOEFL iBT, you will complete a speaking section. iBT human raters will use TOEFL speaking rubrics to independently evaluate your independent and integrated speaking tasks.
TOEFL Speaking Rubrics: Independent speaking tasks
As you can see, ETS uses the independent TOEFL speaking rubrics to evaluate your speaking in three categories: delivery, language-use, and topic development
Similarly, ETS uses a TOEFL speaking rubric to grade your integrated speaking tasks. Indicated in the picture are delivery, language-use, and topic development areas.
TOEFL Speaking Rubrics: A closer look at the delivery category
Take a closer look at the delivery rubric for the independent speaking tasks:
Generally well-paced flow: You are speaking quickly without too many pauses or unnecessary hesitations.
Speech or overall intelligibility is clear: Even though you may have some minor pronunciation difficulties, hearers can understand what you are saying.
Minor lapses or minor difficulties with pronunciation or intonation patterns: This means that you are having some minor difficulties with pronunciation or intonation. You might mispronounce a word or two. Or, you might not be varying your tone enough. However, it is still quite easy to understand what you are saying.
TOEFL Speaking Rubrics: A closer look at the delivery category
Take a closer look at the delivery rubric for the integrated peaking tasks:
Similar to the independent speaking rubrics, the integrated speaking rubrics look for clear, fluid, and sustained speech. In addition, you may also have some minor problems with pronunciation and tone. For the most part, it is easy for others to understand what you are saying.
However, unlike the independent speaking rubrics, during your integrated speaking tasks, your pace may vary at times since you are recalling information from reading and listening passages. For example, it is natural to have some awkward pauses and hesitations. In other words, you can still score high on the integrated speaking tasks if you have some variations with your pacing.
TOEFL Speaking Rubrics: What does all of this mean?
As you complete independent and integrated speaking practice, you should listen to your recordings and grade them according to these official ETS TOEFL speaking rubrics. That is exactly what I do when my online TOEFL students send me speaking practice. I grade these practice tests according to the official TOEFL speaking rubrics for independent and integrated tasks.
Good luck!
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