Students always want to feel more self-assured when giving answers in English. They want to speak English more confidently. That's a praiseworthy goal! Being able to communicate in English with more self-confidence is one of the best ways to improve your score on the Speaking section of the TOEFL. So, here are some tips:
Check out: How TOEFL Tests Your Speaking Skills
#1: Speak up
When you are taking the TOEFL, you'll be in a room with many other students. You're all be wearing headsets, and talking over each other. When you're surrounded by lots of other students, it is natural to talk very quietly. Don't do that! If you speak softly, you'll feel less confident. And if you feel less confident, you'll come across that way too. And if you sound more diffident, this will detract from your delivery. Speak up and do so clearly and purposefully. You don't want to shout – that will make you sound worse, and annoy other test-takers. But you must ensure you can be heard – like you are answering a teacher's question in the classroom.
#2: Don’t pause
The next very important tip is to keep talking! Don't take long pauses in order to reflect on your next answer. Just say it. You won’t have much time to give your answer on the Speaking section – just 45 or 60 seconds. Feeling nervous is only natural, and when you get nervous it's natural to pause. So, even if you don't know what to say, don't hesitate. Saying something slightly wrong is much better than not saying anything at all.
#3: Don’t correct your mistakes
Even if you are really good at English, you are going to get some answers wrong. You might even notice you've made a mistake during the test. And then it's natural to try to pause and correct yourself, or slow down, or even fall completely silent. Don't do that! Everybody makes mistakes. That's just part of speaking English. So, when you notice you've made a mistake, accept it and keep going!
Check out: How IELTS Tests Your Speaking Skills
