TOEFL 2026 Speaking Practice — Level Hard (for score 100+) #03

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 stumbled across this viral post on Twitter claiming that a certain type of lemon juice could cure the common cold overnight. Honestly, I was pretty skeptical, but it had thousands of retweets, so I almost fell for it. I mean, it’s so easy to get caught up in those sensational headlines, right? But then, I decided to do a bit of digging, and I found a peer-reviewed study from a medical journal that completely debunked the claim. It turns out the whole thing was just a marketing ploy for a supplement company, which I found pretty alarming. Because of this, I’ve become much more vigilant about verifying sources. It’s really a stark reminder that we have to be critical of what we consume online to avoid spreading misinformation.

134 words

Score 80 — Good

I remember a time when I saw a post on social media about a miracle health drink that could supposedly cure the flu in just one day. It looked really convincing because it had a picture of a doctor in a lab coat, so I actually shared it with my family. But then, a few days later, I saw a news report that explained it was just a fake story made to get clicks. I felt kind of silly for believing it. It made me realize that I shouldn’t just trust things I see online. Now, I always double-check the source before I believe stuff like that and share it with others.

112 words

Score 100 — Perfect

When I see new information, I’m actually quite cautious; I almost always cross-reference the claims before I even think about sharing them. Honestly, I’ve developed this habit because I’ve been burned before. For instance, last year I saw this viral post claiming a local park was closing permanently, so I shared it immediately, only to find out later it was a total fabrication. It was pretty embarrassing, right? Because of that, I’ve become much more skeptical of viral content. I think we’re living in an era where misinformation is inherently systemic, so it’s crucial to be a bit of a gatekeeper. I mean, it’s not just about being right; it’s about not contributing to the noise. As a result, I’ve adopted this meticulous approach to ensure I’m not inadvertently spreading falsehoods to my friends.

134 words

Score 80 — Good

When I see new information, I usually try to check if it’s true before I share it with others. I think it’s important to be careful because there’s so much fake news on social media these days. If I see something that sounds really shocking, I look at other websites to see if they say the same thing. I developed this habit because I once shared a post that was totally wrong, and I felt really embarrassed when my friend told me. So now, I always take a minute to double-check things. I don’t want to spread rumors or misinformation, so I just try to be more responsible whenever I’m online.

111 words

Score 100 — Perfect

Personally, I believe that the responsibility for verifying information should fall primarily on social media platforms, rather than just the individual. I mean, the sheer volume of content we’re exposed to is just overwhelming, right? Algorithms are designed to prioritize engagement, and often, that inadvertently amplifies sensationalized or false claims. For instance, last month I saw a blatantly fake news story about a local election circulating on Twitter, and it had thousands of shares before any fact-checkers could even intervene. It’s pretty much impossible for an average user to vet every single post they scroll past. Because of this, platforms need systemic safeguards to curb the spread of misinformation at the source. If they have the power to curate what we see, they should definitely be accountable for the accuracy of that content.

133 words

Score 80 — Good

Personally, I believe that the responsibility for checking facts should mainly be on social media companies. I think this because these platforms have so much power over what we see every day. They use algorithms to show us content, and often those things are just designed to get our attention, not to be true. So, if a platform spreads false information to millions of people, it’s really hard for just one person to stop it. I mean, it’s pretty much impossible for a regular user to verify everything they see on their feed. They should definitely do more to flag fake news and keep their sites reliable for everyone.

109 words

Score 100 — Perfect

I think it is essential that schools mandate media literacy because, honestly, we’re living in an era where misinformation is just everywhere. I mean, social media algorithms are designed to keep us engaged, but they often inadvertently amplify sensationalist or false content, right? For instance, I remember during the last election cycle, my younger brother was completely convinced by a doctored video he saw on TikTok. He didn’t even think to check the source. If students were taught to critically evaluate digital content—like checking for bias or verifying primary sources—they wouldn’t be so susceptible to these echo chambers. It’s not just about learning facts; it’s about fostering a more informed citizenry. As a result, I truly believe integrating these courses is a systemic necessity to protect the integrity of our public discourse.

132 words

Score 80 — Good

I think it is essential that schools teach media literacy because fake news is everywhere online. It’s really hard for students to know what is true and what is not when they are scrolling through social media, so they need help. If schools make these courses a standard part of the curriculum, students could learn how to check facts and think critically about the articles they read. I mean, it’s just so easy to believe a headline that isn’t true, and that can cause a lot of problems for everyone. So, I definitely support the idea of making this a requirement because it’s important for young people to be smart about the things they see online.

116 words