Vocabulary Diversity: Diversifying your word choices

Modified on Mon, 29 Jul at 1:47 PM

Vocabulary Diversity in TOEFL Speaking refers to the variety of words you use in your speech.


  • Analogy: Imagine you have a big basket filled with different kinds of fruits. Each fruit represents a different word or type of word in your vocabulary.
  • Good Vocabulary Diversity: This is like having a variety of fruits in your basket, such as apples, oranges, bananas, and grapes. It means you use many different kinds of words in your speech, making it interesting and expressive.
  • Importance: Using a diverse vocabulary ensures you don't repeat the same words repeatedly, similar to enjoying different fruits instead of just one kind. This diversity makes your speech more engaging and shows a broad range of words at your disposal.


In the TOEFL Speaking test, showcase your vocabulary diversity by using different words to describe things and express your ideas, making your speech more engaging and effective.


Technical Explanation

  • Dimension: Vocabulary Diversity
  • Model: Language Use
  • Construct: Vocabulary
  • Impact on Overall Score: Moderate
  • Definition: Measures how varied your vocabulary is, including the use of different parts of speech like adverbs, adjectives, etc.


Responses with a higher Vocabulary Diversity score (i.e., more varied vocabulary) correlate moderately with higher TOEFL Speaking scores.



Overall Score Ranges

  • Good: 26-30
  • Fair: 18-25
  • Limited: 10-17
  • Weak: 0-9


What the Numbers Tell Us

  • For the Vocabulary Diversity dimension, there is a moderate relationship between the variety of word types in your response and your overall TOEFL Speaking score. To achieve a high score, it is beneficial to use a diverse range of words, including different parts of speech.
  • The chart shows that a Vocabulary Diversity score of 80 places this response in the "Good" range (26-30) for overall TOEFL Speaking scores. This indicates that a rich and varied vocabulary contributes significantly to achieving better scores.
  • Approximately 24% of responses scored higher, suggesting that a higher vocabulary diversity is associated with better scoring responses.
  • There is an overlap where responses with Vocabulary Diversity scores between 59 and 73 scored in both the "Fair" and "Good" ranges, indicating that while vocabulary diversity is important, it is not the sole determinant of the final score.
  • The impact of this dimension is rated as moderate (2/4), suggesting that while vocabulary diversity contributes to your overall TOEFL Speaking score, it is one of many factors influencing performance.


Conclusion: To enhance your TOEFL Speaking score, focus on expanding your vocabulary and using a variety of words in your responses. This will make your speech more engaging and effective, showcasing your ability to use language creatively and precisely.


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