Use of formulaic language in TOEFL iBT Speaking responses
Xiaoming Xi, Pam Mollaun, Larry Davis · 2024
The use of formulaic language by test-takers is very common in large-scale speaking tests, where test-takers are trained to memorize “scripts” and adapt them to respond to speaking items. This chapter explores the conceptual and practical challenge that formulaic language may present in the TOEFL iBT Speaking test. To help raters decide on the extent to which a response is informative for making inferences regarding test takers’ speaking proficiency, the chapter reviews the issue of formulaic language in terms of how speaking skills are developed, how speech is produced, how the use of formulaic language impacts perceptions of proficiency, and how formulaic language may appear in test taker responses. It then discusses the development of guiding principles for scoring formulaic responses to TOEFL iBT Speaking tasks, identifies six types of formulaic language use, and provides guidelines to aid raters in evaluating each type. The chapter concludes with consideration of other potential approaches to dealing with the issue of formulaic responses, such as the use of automated tools.