Does Pronunciation Really Matter in the TOEFL Exam?

The Test of English as a Foreign Language is an English proficiency examination taken by different people as a requirement for people applying for a study visa or work in English speaking countries. Like any other English proficiency examination, it has four sections: reading, listening, speaking, and writing. The speaking exam mostly puts a lot of pressure to candidates as a score of 26 is usually required for their applications. Some people think that having good pronunciation can get you a good score in the TOEFL test while some believe that the delivery matters most. Does pronunciation really matter in the TOEFL exam?

source: http://www.express-english.net/english-pronunciation-lesson-uh-vs-ooh/

Filipinos are good English speakers. They have been using the language since they are kids in school until they finish college and get work. English is practically embedded in their daily conversations. Being exposed to such, it is expected that Filipinos are very natural in speaking the language. Though this might be true to some, some have difficulties pronouncing words, and as a result, it affects their communication skills. However, in the TOEFL test, one’s accent cannot really have a great effect on the scoring of the response.

Clarity is important in the responses. You do not have to sound like a native speaker to get a very high score in the TOEFL speaking test. A TOEFL test examinee should bank more on the fluency of his or her response. Fluency refers to how one sounds in the delivery of the answer. It is best to speak in your normal tone of voice and accent during the test.  Try to avoid long pauses when giving your response. Set an outline to your response to avoid pauses and for a smooth flow of ideas.

Aside from clarity, the content of the answer is the most important. What is good pronunciation when the content lacks strength. The candidates for the TOEFL test need to understand that the TOEFL speaking is not about how good you are at speaking but on how well you understood the tasks that are presented. Further, being confident in your answer plays a huge role in the response. When you trust yourself on your answer, you can speak very fluently and without pauses.

To have fluency in the TOEFL speaking test, practice is recommended. Speaking coaches for the TOEFL are available in TOEFL review centers. They practice their students organization of ideas and even fix their pronunciation to have a better and much clearer responses on the six tasks of the TOEFL Speaking test. 

For more TOEFL Tips toeflreview.blogspot.com.