TOEFL 2026 Speaking Practice — Level Hard (for score 100+) #12

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 was struggling to organize a massive dataset for my senior thesis project last semester. I had hundreds of survey responses, and frankly, I was drowning in raw data. I decided to use a generative AI tool to help me categorize the information and identify some initial patterns. It was actually pretty incredible; in a matter of seconds, it performed a complex analysis that would have taken me days to finish manually. Because of this, my initial skepticism about AI just kind of evaporated. I realized it wasn’t necessarily a threat to my work, but rather a **pivotal** tool for efficiency. It allowed me to focus on the higher-level interpretation instead of the tedious legwork, which fundamentally changed how I view AI’s role in future professional success.

132 words

Score 80 — Good

I remember a time when I used a generative AI tool for a big research project in my university class. I had so much data to summarize, and it was taking me forever to read through everything. So, I decided to use an AI tool to help me organize my notes and summarize the main points. It was actually super helpful because it saved me a lot of time and allowed me to focus on writing my paper instead. That experience gave me a really positive impression of AI. I felt like it was a great assistant for simple tasks, and it made me feel less stressed about my workload. It was just a really useful tool to have.

119 words

Score 100 — Perfect

In my daily work, I actually use AI quite a bit, specifically for brainstorming and outlining my essays. When I’m staring at a blank page, it’s honestly pretty daunting, so I’ll use tools like ChatGPT to generate a few potential structures or to clarify complex concepts I’m struggling with. I’d say my approach is a blend of reliance and caution; I treat AI as a sounding board rather than an author. I’ve developed this habit because it’s inherently more efficient than staring at a screen for hours, yet I’m wary of losing my own voice. For instance, last week while writing a paper on environmental policy, I used AI to synthesize data, but I wrote every single paragraph myself to maintain a nuanced perspective. It’s a balanced strategy that keeps me productive without sacrificing my critical thinking skills.

138 words

Score 80 — Good

In my daily work, I use AI tools quite a lot, especially for things like drafting emails or organizing my research notes. I usually rely on them to quickly summarize long articles because it saves me so much time. I guess I developed this habit because I always feel like I have too much to do and not enough time to finish it all. So, using AI helps me stay on track and be more productive during the day. I know some people prefer doing everything by hand, but for me, it’s just a really helpful assistant that makes my life easier. I don’t think I could go back to the old way now.

114 words

Score 100 — Perfect

Personally, I strongly believe that AI will ultimately be a net positive, even though it’s definitely going to be a bumpy transition. I mean, while it’s true that some repetitive roles might disappear, I think it’s actually going to spark a massive wave of innovation. For instance, look at what happened with my cousin, who’s a graphic designer in Seoul. A few years ago, he was terrified that AI tools would replace him, but now he uses them to handle all the tedious, technical parts of his work, which allows him to focus on more creative, high-level strategy. It’s profoundly changed his output. Because of this, I’m convinced that instead of just destroying jobs, AI will serve as a catalyst for new industries that we can’t even imagine yet. So, I’m optimistic about the future.

135 words

Score 80 — Good

Personally, I strongly believe that AI will actually be a net positive for the future of employment. You know, some people are really worried about machines taking over, but I think it’s more about our jobs just changing rather than disappearing. Like, throughout history, technology has always replaced old tasks, but then it creates totally new roles that we didn’t even imagine before. So, AI will handle the boring or repetitive stuff, which lets people focus on more creative and complex work. It’s like, it frees us up to do things that actually require a human touch. I mean, it’s definitely a big shift, but I think it’s going to make our work much more meaningful in the long run.

120 words

Score 100 — Perfect

I think it would be absolutely essential for governments to step in and implement policies as AI evolves. I mean, we’re seeing such a rapid shift in the labor market that relying solely on corporations to regulate themselves feels a bit naive. For instance, consider the manufacturing sector in my hometown, where dozens of workers were laid off last year when a new automated assembly line was installed; those people were just left to fend for themselves. Because of this, I believe mandates for retraining programs are inherently necessary to prevent a systemic crisis. It’s not just about efficiency; it’s about social stability. If we don’t proactively manage this transition, we’re going to face a disproportionate amount of economic inequality. So, yeah, policy intervention is the only way to ensure AI benefits everyone, not just the tech giants.

138 words

Score 80 — Good

I think it would be really important for governments to step in and make policies about AI. I mean, because AI is changing everything so fast, many people are worried about losing their jobs to machines. So, I think it’s a good idea if companies are required to retrain their workers. If a person’s job gets automated, they shouldn’t just be fired, right? They should have the chance to learn new skills so they can keep working in other areas. Also, labeling AI work is helpful because it’s fair for customers to know who or what they are dealing with. It just feels like a necessary step to keep things fair and stable for everyone.

115 words