TOEFL 2026 Speaking Practice — Level Easy (for score 80+) #34

Listen to each question and give a spoken response. Aim to speak for 20–30 seconds per answer.

Score 100 — Perfect

I remember a time when I decided to cook pasta carbonara for my friends last month. Honestly, I’m not much of a chef, so I was pretty nervous about getting the eggs right without scrambling them. I followed this online recipe, but I accidentally added way too much black pepper. It was a bit of a disaster at first, but we all just laughed about it. We ended up ordering some pizza, and the whole night turned into this spontaneous, fun memory. It really resonated with me because it wasn’t about the food being perfect; it was just about the company. Even though the cooking part was a bit of a failure, I’ll always look back on that dinner as a highlight of my semester because of the great time we had together.

133 words

Score 80 — Good

I remember a time when I decided to cook a big Korean dinner for my friends last month. I made kimchi fried rice because it is my favorite comfort food, and I really wanted to share it with them. I spent a lot of time in the kitchen, but I actually made a huge mess while chopping the vegetables. It was kind of funny because I’m not a great cook, so I accidentally spilled oil everywhere. Even though the kitchen was a total disaster, my friends said the food tasted great. It was a really memorable night for me because we just laughed and ate together, and that felt special.

110 words

Score 100 — Perfect

In my daily life, I definitely view cooking as a daily chore rather than a hobby. I’m usually super busy with my studies, so I prefer quick, efficient methods to get dinner on the table. For instance, I almost always stick to a simple stir-fry or just reheating leftovers because I don’t want to spend hours in the kitchen. I think I have this tendency because my schedule is just so packed; honestly, the idea of spending my evening meticulously chopping vegetables feels a bit overwhelming. I mean, I’d rather use that time to relax or catch up on my reading. It’s not that I dislike food, but I prioritize convenience above all else. So, for me, cooking is just a practical necessity that I try to finish as fast as possible.

132 words

Score 80 — Good

In my daily life, I definitely see cooking as a daily chore. I’m usually pretty busy with my classes and studying, so I don’t really have the time to spend hours in the kitchen. I just want something quick and simple to eat, like stir-fried rice or a sandwich, because it’s efficient. I think I have this tendency because I’m just always in a rush. I mean, I prefer to spend my free time relaxing or hanging out with my friends rather than cooking fancy meals. So, for me, it’s just about getting the job done fast and moving on to other things like that.

105 words

Score 100 — Perfect

Personally, I strongly believe that home-cooked meals are better, even though they take a lot of time. Honestly, I think there’s something special about knowing exactly what goes into your food. For instance, every Sunday, I love making my mom’s kimchi stew from scratch. It’s definitely a labor-intensive process, but the flavor is just so much more authentic than anything I get at a restaurant. Not only that, but cooking at home allows me to adjust the ingredients to be healthier, which is pretty important to me. Eating out is convenient, sure, but it often feels impersonal. When I cook, I feel a profound sense of satisfaction that you just don’t get from a takeout box. So, for me, the extra effort is absolutely worth it for the quality and comfort.

131 words

Score 80 — Good

Personally, I strongly believe that home-cooked meals are much better than eating at restaurants. For one thing, it’s way healthier because you can control exactly what goes into your food. Like, when I cook at home, I don’t use too much salt or oil, but restaurant food is often way too greasy. Also, cooking at home is just a lot cheaper, so you save a lot of money over time. Eating out is nice sometimes, but I just prefer my own cooking because it feels more comfortable and healthy. It’s just a better way to eat every day, and I really enjoy the process of making my own dinner after a long day.

113 words

Score 100 — Perfect

I think it would be a fantastic idea for schools and workplaces to offer cooking workshops. Honestly, many of us, especially young people, rely too much on processed snacks or fast food. It’s a real problem for our health. For instance, back when I was a freshman at Yonsei University, I lived off instant ramen and convenience store gimbap for months, and I felt exhausted all the time. If the school had provided a simple workshop on preparing quick, nutritious meals, I would have definitely changed my habits. Providing these classes is actually a **pivotal** step toward improving public well-being because it empowers people to take control of their own diets. Not only that, but it fosters a sense of community. So yeah, I wholeheartedly believe that teaching people to cook is a smart, **profoundly** beneficial investment for any organization.

140 words

Score 80 — Good

I think it would be a great idea for schools and workplaces to offer cooking classes. Um, I mean, so many people today just rely on fast food because they’re busy or maybe they just don’t know how to cook. If companies or schools provided these workshops, it would help everyone eat much better. For example, at my old office, we always just ordered greasy pizza for lunch. If we had a class on how to make a quick, healthy salad or something like that, we would probably feel more energetic and healthy. It’s a simple way to improve our habits, so I really think it’s a good use of time for them.

113 words