Avoid Word Choice Errors.

● Example: I have fewer homework assignments this quarter. Or, I have less homework
this quarter.
● Example: Among the three choices, I prefer to attend a smaller school. Or, the
decision to postpone the exam was decided between the students and the professor.

Your TOEFL independent speaking strategies are to minimize any word choice errors.

Use Precise Vocabulary.

The more precise your vocabulary, the more telling your detail is. As a result, you will score higher.
Avoid these generic vocabulary words:

1. Very: Avoid this word. There is no difference between “My mother is very caring.” and “My
mother is caring.” “Very” is typically used as an overstatement, so it is not needed.

2. Of course: Do not use this word since it implies that your listeners are not smart. Or, “Of course”
may suggest you are not explaining your ideas sufficiently. Therefore, instead of saying “Of course,
living in a dorm is a lot less expensive than living in an apartment.”, you could say, “Clearly, living
in a dorm is a lot less expensive than living in an apartment.”

3. Thing or stuff: Use either of these words in your speaking tasks, and the TOEFL iBT human
raters’ heads will explode. Using “thing” or “stuff” suggests that you do NOT know how to describe
an object or some other phenomena.

● I liked the thing my friend did.

● My friend’s helping me complete my homework showed her generous nature.

4. Always: “Always” typically overgeneralizes ideas in arguments. Therefore, do not use this
negative adverb.

● My roommate always throws his clothes on the floor.

● My roommate usually throws his clothes on the floor.

5. Never: Similar to “always,” “never” creates an overgeneralization. What person, place, or thing
“never” does a certain action?

● My roommate never lost her temper because she was a good person.
 ● Instilled in her that being angry was an unacceptable form of human expression, my
roommate rarely lost her temper.

6. So: Similar to “very,” “so” is also an overstatement.

● Our dorm was so hot.

● The stifling heat in our dorm made it difficult to breathe.

7. A lot: “A lot” does not specify exactly how much something or someone is. Use more exact
numbers if possible.

● I had a lot of ice cream.

● I had two dinner-sized bowls of ice cream.

8. Good: Similar to “thing” or “stuff”, “good” does not appropriately describe a subject.

● Therefore, I am glad that I had a good roommate.

● Therefore, I am glad that I had a commendable roommate.

9. Nice: “Nice” is also unclear in meaning. Hence, choose a word that is more precise.

● For these reasons, I have usually found my mother to be nice.

● For these reasons, I have usually found my mother to be cordial.

10. Really: Like “very,” “so,” and other types of intensifying adverbs, “really” adds almost no
meaning to your ideas. Thus, “really” is not a precise word.

● I told my friend that it was really important to talk to the professor if he had questions
about his final term project.
● I told my friend that it was distinctly important to talk to the professor if he had
questions about his final term project

11. Anything: “Anything” can well be “anything,” so this word is not specific. Use more specific
words instead.

● I would do almost anything in order to live with a compatible roommate.

● Interviewing several people before making my choice, requiring references, and
making sure the chosen candidate gives me a $2,000 deposit will ensure that I can
select the most qualified person to live with me.
12. Find out: Use a more advanced word than this.

● I found out that I could apply to an international student scholarship which would
finance most of my graduate studies.
● I discovered that I could apply to an international student scholarship which would
finance most of my graduate studies.

13. Variety, various: Instead of these two words, be more concrete in your description. For example,
if you have a variety of hobbies, state specific hobbies you are interested in.

● In my free time, I do a variety of hobbies.

● Reading, writing in my journal, running, and hiking are activities that I like to do
when I have free time.

Expand your Range of Vocabulary

If you have taken the TOEFL multiple times and have not reached 26, you may have some problems
with using inaccurate, basic, imprecise, or generic vocabulary. If you do not improve your
vocabulary, you will get stuck. As a result, you will keep getting similar TOEFL speaking scores.
Then you enter into a cycle of TOEFL Hell. To escape this vicious, frustrating, and seemingly
endless cycle, you must improve your vocabulary.

I know how important vocabulary is to your TOEFL score, so I have a free TOEFL Vocabulary
Resources web page. This web page contains TOEFL independent speaking strategies including the
following:

● A 261 page e-Book containing strategies for learning 1,700 college-level words
● Strategies for learning vocabulary without using dictionaries
● Vocabulary guessing strategies
● Video practice with 100+ idiomatic expressions to help you improve your speaking