在ETS官网上（ets.org）ETS分享了一系列为了维护考试公正性的材料，包含视频和文本，希望宣传考试的公正性。那么，在托福考试中，托福口语rater 如何评价考生们的分数呢？

托福口语的整体分数由四个维度决定：分别是general description， delivery，language use 和 topic development。考试题目的设置目的是培养考生总结，整合，分析和回答问题的能力，希望辅助考生为北美校园生活做好准备。

在我们看到Speaking -Level 4 之前，我们先 看一下Level 4 评分标准。

TOEFL speaking Task 2 样题：

Some universities require first students to live in dormitories on campus. Others allow students to live off campus. Which policy do you think is better for first-year students and why? Include details and examples in your explanation.

Preparation time: 15 seconds; record time :45 seconds.

Test Taker 样本答案：

Uh, I think it's better for the first-year students to live on campus rather than off-campus. Uh, main reason because um, they are new to the city and it's safer for them to live on campus where there's more security, um because they don't know much about the city in the first place. Uh, second of all, it helps them to… become more familiar with their surroundings, where they have to study. It also helps them to meet new people. Uh living in a dorm encourages friendships with people who you might… not… uh, seem very comfortable with the first time. And um, it helps you meet new people, it helps you interact with your seniors, if any living in your dorm.

ETS rater 的评语：

— In this response, the speaker provides a clear and coherent response. She is able to maintain a steady, fluid pace with little to no hesitation. Her pronunciation is very good. There is minor but noticeable first-language influence on stress and intonation patterns, but they do not obscure meaning for the listener. She demonstrates a range of vocabulary and grammar that is appropriate to the task. In general, the response is well developed. The speaker clearly states her opinion and provides several reasons for her point of view. She then explains each reason in varying degrees of detail. There is a clear progression of ideas and an ease of presentation typical of a level 4 response.（ Please note that each score band — 1 through 4 — actually represents a range of abilities. The performance within a level will actually vary slightly from one test taker to the next.）

在评语中，ETS rater 说，response 整体上清晰连贯。delivery 方面能够维持流畅和稳定的节奏，几乎没有犹豫的情况，发音较好，母语影响不会给听者带来困难。 在话题延展方面能够给出推进和不同程度的细节，其中的延展已经用高光进行标记，独立口语部分，考生们备考千万记得别只是给出一个理由，之后举例子。那样的答案已经不能满足ETS 的level 4 要求。