TOEFL 2026 Speaking Practice — Level Hard (for score 100+) #22

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

Score 100 — Perfect

I vividly remember taking the Suneung, the national college entrance exam in Korea, about three years ago. The atmosphere in the testing hall was honestly suffocating; it was so quiet that you could hear a pin drop, which just made the tension even more palpable. I felt a tremendous amount of pressure, and to be frank, I think the test is inherently flawed. While it’s designed to be objective, it doesn’t account for the systemic disparities in access to private tutoring that many students face. I mean, it measures your ability to perform under extreme stress rather than your actual intellectual curiosity. Because of this, I’ve always felt that such a high-stakes exam provides a disproportionate view of a student’s potential, failing to capture the nuance of what someone is truly capable of achieving.

134 words

Score 80 — Good

I vividly remember taking the national college entrance exam back in Korea. The atmosphere in the testing room was really tense and quiet, like you could hear a pin drop. Everyone was just staring at their papers and looking pretty stressed out. Honestly, I don’t think that test was a fair way to measure my actual abilities. It was just about memorizing facts and answering questions quickly, and it didn’t really show if I was creative or good at solving problems. So, it felt like my whole future was hanging on just one day of testing, which was frustrating because I knew I was more capable than just the score I got.

112 words

Score 100 — Perfect

When preparing for exams, I usually lean toward self-study rather than relying on expensive tutoring. I think I’ve developed this approach because it forces me to engage with the material more deeply. You know, I actually find that when I’m forced to decode complex concepts on my own, I retain the information much better than if someone just spoon-feeds me the answers. For instance, back when I was studying for my calculus midterm, I spent three straight nights in the library, meticulously breaking down every single formula. It was tough, but the effort paid off. I mean, relying on private tutors can sometimes inadvertently create a dependency that hinders your critical thinking skills. So, by taking full ownership of my learning process, I feel like I’m building a more resilient academic foundation for the future.

135 words

Score 80 — Good

When preparing for exams, I usually prefer to study by myself rather than taking expensive prep courses. Honestly, I think I’ve developed this habit because I’m just more comfortable working at my own pace. Like, when I’m in a big class or a group, I often feel like I’m either moving too fast or getting left behind, and that’s pretty stressful. So, I just stick to my textbooks and review my notes alone at home. It’s definitely cheaper, and it also helps me focus on the specific areas where I’m struggling. It just works better for me because I can spend more time on the hard stuff and skip the things I already know.

114 words

Score 100 — Perfect

Personally, I believe that standardized tests are inherently biased and actually end up reinforcing existing social inequalities. While proponents claim they’re objective, I’d say they really just measure a student’s access to resources. For instance, I have a friend who spent thousands of dollars on a private SAT prep course in Seoul, and as a result, his score jumped by nearly three hundred points. It’s not that he suddenly became smarter; he just had the capital to master the test-taking strategies. Not only that, but students from lower-income backgrounds often lack the time or money for such support. Because of this, these tests don’t provide a level playing field at all. Ultimately, I think relying on them as a primary metric is flawed, as it disproportionately penalizes students who simply don’t have the same opportunities.

135 words

Score 80 — Good

Personally, I believe that standardized tests actually create an unfair advantage for students who have more money. I mean, it’s pretty clear that kids from wealthy families can afford expensive private tutors and test preparation courses, so they get much higher scores. Meanwhile, students from lower-income backgrounds just don’t have those same opportunities to practice. It feels like these tests are measuring a family’s financial situation more than a student’s actual intelligence or potential. So, even though people say these tests are objective, they don’t really account for the big differences in resources. It’s just not a level playing field for everyone, and that’s why I think they are inherently unfair.

111 words

Score 100 — Perfect

I think that moving toward a more holistic review process is actually long overdue. Relying solely on a single test score feels inherently flawed because it ignores the diverse talents that students bring to the table. I mean, standardized tests only capture a narrow slice of someone’s potential, right? For instance, my cousin back in Seoul spent years leading a volunteer program for elderly residents, which taught her incredible leadership skills, yet she barely scraped by on the national exam. If universities focused on her portfolio and life experiences instead, they’d see a much more nuanced picture of her character. As a result, schools would cultivate a more vibrant, well-rounded student body. So, I’d say shifting away from these rigid metrics is essential to creating a fairer, more equitable admissions system that truly values individual growth over mere rote memorization.

140 words

Score 80 — Good

I think that moving toward a holistic review process is a really good idea. You know, relying on just one test score feels pretty limited because it doesn’t show the whole picture of a student. Like, if someone is a great leader in their community or has overcome some tough challenges at home, a simple test can’t capture that at all. So, I think looking at portfolios and life experiences is better because it’s a fairer way to see what a person is actually capable of. It’s definitely more work for the universities, but I really believe it helps them find students who are more than just good at taking tests, you know?

113 words