TOEIC Speaking Tips

It is highly recommended that you work with an experienced teacher or join a TOEIC test preparation class to prepare for this section of the test. It's really the only way you can receive feedback about the nature of your weaknesses and be advised on ways to improve the quality of your responses.

1. The most important point in the speaking section of the TOEIC test is to speak as clearly as possible, with whatever accent you have. Don't make the mistake of mumbling because you don't want the examiner to find fault with your accent. Whatever corrections you need to make to your accent, you should do before your exam and not during your exam. This is the time to speak out loud and clear.

2. Remember that you will not be speaking to a live examiner. Instead, you will be wearing headphones and speaking into a microphone, so that your answer can be recorded for later evaluation by an official ETS rater. You need to get used to speaking to yourself, into a microphone, with whatever background noise may exist in the room from the other examinees.

Many examinees find this challenging so try practicing your TOEIC speaking exercises in a room with the television or radio on, or with other family or friends speaking. Learn to focus on your own speaking task and to ignore everything else in the surrounding area. This tip alone could make a gigantic difference in your speaking performance and score.

3. You've studied English for many years. This is the time to use your best English. Don't use slang.

4. Use correct grammar. Don't say ain't, even if you heard it in the movies.

5. Avoid boring, overly-used words like nice, good, or bad. Use expressive words like terrific, awful, or excellent.

6. Stay away from vague words or expressions like "He's a good teacher." Use specific words like kind, patient, or passionate.

7. Vary the tone of your voice. Avoid speaking a robotic, monotone voice. Speak with expression.

8. Speak slowly enough that you can be understood and much slower than you think you need to speak. It's the only way that your foreign accent will be understood. If it's a choice between quantity of words and quality fo speech, choose quality every time. No point in giving a wonderful answer which no-one can understand, because you spoke too quickly to make yourself understood.

Follow these principles and your speaking score will speak for itself!