The landscape of standardized English language testing is undergoing a significant transformation, particularly in the Speaking section of the Test of English as a Foreign Language (TOEFL). As the Educational Testing Service (ETS) prepares to implement its most substantial overhaul to the TOEFL iBT Speaking format in January 2026, a new digital tool has emerged to guide test-takers through this transition. My Speaking Score, an AI-powered platform, has positioned itself as the leading preparatory resource, offering unparalleled access to practice materials, predictive scoring, and detailed feedback powered by the same technology used in official TOEFL scoring. This article provides an in-depth examination of My Speaking Score, its features, its alignment with the upcoming TOEFL changes, and its role in the modern test preparation ecosystem, drawing exclusively from the provided materials.
A Landmark Change in TOEFL Speaking
The TOEFL iBT Speaking section is set for a major revision effective January 21, 2026. According to announcements from My Speaking Score, this update represents "the biggest change to TOEFL Speaking ever," as stated by the platform's founder, John Healy. The new format will eliminate the old 4-task structure and replace it with more conversational and cognitively demanding tasks. Specifically, the updated section will introduce new task types: Listen and Repeat and Take an Interview. These tasks are designed to better simulate real-world academic and professional communication scenarios, moving away from the previous independent and integrated speaking prompts.
This shift requires test-takers to adapt their preparation strategies. The traditional methods of memorizing templates or practicing scripted responses may prove less effective under the new format, which demands spontaneous, coherent, and contextually appropriate speech. My Speaking Score has been developed specifically to address this new reality, offering a platform that guides learners through the transition without relying on guesswork, scripts, or gimmicks. The platform's claim is built on providing both scale and accuracy, offering more free tests and better predictive feedback than any other available online resource.
My Speaking Score: Platform Overview and Core Technology
My Speaking Score is an AI-powered platform explicitly designed to help non-native English speakers achieve high scores on the TOEFL Speaking section. It leverages predictive analytics, real test data, and proprietary feedback tools to make preparation faster, more transparent, and more effective. The platform serves a vast user base, with learners in over 100 countries.
At the heart of the platform's effectiveness is its use of SpeechRater®, the same automated scoring technology developed and used by ETS for the official TOEFL iBT. This integration is a critical differentiator, as it allows My Speaking Score to provide feedback that is directly aligned with the official scoring logic. The platform combines SpeechRater® for interview scoring with its proprietary VoxAI model for sentence-level repeat evaluation, delivering what is described as unparalleled insight into a test-taker's performance.
The core function of My Speaking Score is to provide instant, data-driven feedback across three primary dimensions: Delivery, Language Use, and Topic Development. For the upcoming TOEFL Speaking section, the platform will offer detailed analysis across 12 specific speaking dimensions, pinpointing areas of strength and weakness with precision. This granular feedback allows users to focus their efforts on the most critical aspects of their speaking performance, moving beyond generic advice to targeted improvement.
Features and User Experience
My Speaking Score is structured to offer a comprehensive suite of tools for TOEFL preparation. Its features are designed to cater to a wide range of learners, from those seeking free practice to those opting for more advanced, paid plans.
1. Early Access and Task-Specific Preparation: In anticipation of the January 2026 format change, My Speaking Score will grant early access to its users starting October 1, 2025. This allows test-takers to begin practicing the new Listen and Repeat and Take an Interview task types well before the official launch, providing a crucial head start. The platform will offer the largest library of free practice tests available online, ensuring that cost is not a barrier to quality preparation.
2. Practice Modes and Materials: Users can choose from a library of 28 TOEFL Speaking tests or use their own materials for practice. The platform offers two distinct practice modes: * AI Assist Mode: This mode provides structured guidance and feedback during the practice session, helping users refine their responses in real-time. * Real Mode: This mode simulates the actual test environment, allowing users to practice under conditions that mirror the real TOEFL experience.
3. Feedback and Reporting: After each practice session, users receive detailed, rubric-aligned feedback. Reports are color-coded and include scores out of 30 for the overall speaking section and out of 4 for individual tasks. These reports provide transcripts of the user's responses, audio files for review, and sharable links. This wealth of data enables users to track their progress over time, identify recurring issues, and focus their study efforts with surgical precision, potentially reducing the need for a human tutor.
4. The Elite Plan: For users seeking the most comprehensive experience, My Speaking Score offers an "Elite" plan. While specific details on the Elite Plan are not fully elaborated in the provided materials, it is described as the platform's "best value," suggesting enhanced features, more tests, or more advanced analytics compared to the free offering.
The Problem with Generic AI Feedback and the My Speaking Score Solution
A significant challenge for TOEFL test-takers using generic AI tools or large language models (LLMs) for feedback is the lack of alignment with official scoring criteria. As noted in the materials, these generic tools often fail to "see hesitation patterns, rhythm breakdowns, or delivery inconsistency in a way that aligns with TOEFL scoring logic." This results in biased feedback that overweights vocabulary and grammar while underweighting delivery—the prosodic and phonetic aspects of speech that are critical in the official assessment.
This misalignment can create false confidence, where a response receives positive feedback from a generic AI but would trigger hidden penalties in the actual ETS scoring system. My Speaking Score directly addresses this flaw by using the official SpeechRater® engine. This ensures that the feedback on delivery, language use, and topic development is not just theoretically correct but is practically aligned with how responses are scored on test day. The platform's proprietary VoxAI model further refines this by providing sentence-level evaluation, particularly for the new Listen and Repeat tasks, ensuring a holistic assessment of speaking ability.
Founder's Vision and Platform Philosophy
The development of My Speaking Score is driven by the vision of its founder, John Healy. With a background of 15 years teaching English in South Korea, Healy brings pedagogical experience to the technological solution. His philosophy is rooted in a belief in "self-guided learning," asserting that students can prepare effectively for the TOEFL without necessarily hiring a personal tutor. This is not an anti-teacher stance, but rather an emphasis on empowering learners with the right tools for measurable progress.
Healy's approach is described as practical and results-oriented, focusing on structured responses and data-guided improvement. Through My Speaking Score, he aims to help students see exactly where they are strong, where they are losing points, and how to fix it. The platform is the culmination of an "unreasonable amount of time" spent thinking about TOEFL Speaking assessment, SpeechRater® analytics, and structured training systems.
Practical Application for Test-Takers
For individuals preparing for the TOEFL, particularly for critical goals such as pharmacy licensure, graduate admission, or professional certification, My Speaking Score offers a structured pathway to success. The platform's utility is clear across several scenarios:
- Transitioning to the New Format: Test-takers scheduled to take the TOEFL after January 2026 can use the platform to master the Listen and Repeat and Take an Interview tasks, building familiarity and confidence before the official change.
- Diagnostic and Improvement: The instant feedback and score prediction features allow users to establish a baseline score and identify specific weaknesses. The detailed reports guide targeted practice, making study time more efficient.
- Cost-Effective Preparation: With a significant library of free practice tests, the platform lowers the financial barrier to high-quality TOEFL preparation. This is particularly valuable for international students and professionals who may have limited resources.
- Progress Tracking: The ability to record responses, receive scores, and track progress over time provides a clear metric of improvement, which is often lacking in unstructured self-study.
The Broader Context: AI in Language Assessment
My Speaking Score exists within a growing trend of AI-powered tools in language learning and assessment. However, its specific integration with ETS's SpeechRater® technology sets it apart. While many AI tools offer generic language correction or speaking practice, few are built upon the exact scoring engine of a major standardized test. This alignment ensures that practice is not just about improving general English proficiency but is specifically optimized for the TOEFL's unique criteria and weighting.
The platform's approach also highlights a shift in educational technology from broad, one-size-fits-all feedback to highly specialized, criterion-referenced assessment. By focusing exclusively on the TOEFL Speaking section, My Speaking Score can develop a depth of analysis that broader language learning platforms cannot match. This specialization is key to its value proposition for serious test-takers.
Conclusion
The impending 2026 update to the TOEFL iBT Speaking section marks a pivotal moment for English language learners worldwide. The shift to more conversational and cognitively demanding tasks requires a new paradigm in test preparation. My Speaking Score has emerged as a critical resource in this transition, offering a platform that is uniquely aligned with the official scoring technology and the new task formats.
By providing free access to a vast library of practice materials, early access to new task types, and precise, data-driven feedback powered by ETS's SpeechRater® engine, My Speaking Score addresses the core challenges of TOEFL Speaking preparation. It empowers learners to move beyond generic advice and scripted responses, focusing instead on measurable improvement in delivery, language use, and topic development. For the millions of test-takers aiming for academic and professional success, this platform represents a significant advancement in making TOEFL preparation more transparent, efficient, and effective. As the January 2026 deadline approaches, tools like My Speaking Score will be instrumental in helping test-takers navigate and conquer the new landscape of the TOEFL Speaking section.