These questions are tricky, IELTS and TOEFL are pretty advanced English tests, the vast majority wouldn't take them unless it's for one of the following reasons: 1. Going abroad; 2. The job requires it or obtaining the certificate would put you in a better position while you are looking for a job; 3. Personal interest. English is a compulsory course here, we have CET-SET 4 & 6 here, if you don't pass CET-SET 4, kids can't even graduate or get a certain certificate from colleges. The fact is, a lot of people would stop learning English after they have graduated cuz it is not "NECESARRY". Now back to your questions, there are institutions and teachers who are engaging in teaching students to get a high score in these tests, it's pretty usual that they prepare or train the students with some useful scenar ios, sometimes even try to "guess" with the topics that could possibly appear in the exam. So when the students are taking the speaking tests, on many cases, they are literarily reciting it out loud, or change a small part of it, or make an example to pivot the topic to something he/she had memorized. However, I wouldn't agree that Chinese students would get lower scores on writings than speaking, because statistically, there is not enough evidence to substantiate that. Those people who gave you their opinions on this cuz they are speaking from their perspectives, it does not necessarily mean they are right. People have this mindset here that they could do better on writing than speaking, because they don't practice it enough. Which I think you may have noticed since you are a teacher in a college. Hope my answer is clear enough for your questions.

Im vietnamese and I have to take IELTS , the reason for all the asian students to be exceled at writing becuz it;s easier becuz they dont judge ur pronunciation , whereas speaking normally require deep answer and pronunciation as well , and we don't have any one to talk to

hi, thanks for asking. I'm a chinese. I think if we must choose, then i would say writing would be a little better because most chinese learning english seldom have chances to talk to native speaker.