TOEFL 2026 Speaking Practice — Level Medium (for score 90+) #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 had to finish a massive research paper for my history class during my sophomore year. It was honestly overwhelming because I had only four days to write twenty pages. At first, I was just spinning my wheels, but then I decided to get organized. I meticulously broke the project into small, manageable chunks, like dedicating specific hours just to finding sources and others to drafting. It was a huge contrast to my usual habit of procrastinating until the night before. I mean, by focusing on one section at a time, I felt way less anxious. As a result, I actually finished ahead of schedule. That experience was pivotal for me because it taught me that I’m capable of staying productive under pressure as long as I have a clear, structured plan.

137 words

Score 80 — Good

I remember a time when I had to finish a huge group project for my marketing class in just three days. It was really stressful because we had so much work to do and the deadline was coming up fast. So, I decided to break the project into small parts and assigned each person a specific section. This helped us stay organized and focused because we weren’t just working randomly. Before that, I used to procrastinate a lot, but this experience taught me that planning ahead is much better. I realized that I’m actually pretty good at finishing tasks when I have a clear plan, and that really helped me feel more confident.

113 words

Score 100 — Perfect

In my daily life, I’m definitely the type of person who swears by strict schedules and to-do lists. I mean, I find that I’m just way more productive when I have a clear roadmap for my day. For instance, every Sunday night, I meticulously map out my tasks for the entire week using a digital planner. It sounds a bit intense, but it keeps me from feeling overwhelmed. Honestly, I’ve tried the more spontaneous approach before, but I found it pretty ineffective because I’d just end up procrastinating. By having a structured plan, I can actually prioritize my most important work. It’s definitely a more disciplined way to live, but for me, it’s the only way to stay on top of everything. I guess that’s why I’ll always prefer structure over flexibility.

132 words

Score 80 — Good

In my daily life, I usually prefer using a strict to-do list because it helps me stay on track. If I don’t write down all my tasks for the day, I just feel kind of lost and I end up wasting a lot of time. Um, I mean, I try to list everything I need to do in the morning, and then I check things off as I go. Some of my friends like being more spontaneous and flexible, but that approach just doesn’t work for me at all. I think having a plan is better because it keeps me focused, so I don’t feel stressed about forgetting important things like that.

112 words

Score 100 — Perfect

Personally, I strongly prefer using a traditional paper planner over any digital app. I mean, don’t get me wrong, technology is great, but there’s something about physically writing things down that helps me remember them better. For instance, last semester, I tried using a popular time-tracking app to manage my assignments, but I found the constant notifications to be quite distracting. Instead of staying focused, I’d end up checking social media every time my phone buzzed. By contrast, using a simple notebook allows me to meticulously organize my daily goals without any digital interference. It’s a much more tactile experience, and it keeps me grounded. Because of this, I feel way more productive when I’m not staring at a screen all day. For me, the classic pen-and-paper method is definitely the superior way to stay on track.

137 words

Score 80 — Good

Personally, I strongly prefer using a pen-and-paper planner because it helps me focus much better. I mean, when I use digital apps, I get distracted by notifications or other things on my phone, so I end up wasting time. But with a paper planner, I just write down my tasks and look at them whenever I need to. It feels more personal to me, and I can remember my schedule better because writing things down by hand really helps. Digital tools are okay for some people, but for me, they are just too much. I think sticking to a simple notebook is the best way to stay organized and get my work done.

113 words

Score 100 — Perfect

I think that such policies would actually be pretty counterproductive if they were forced on everyone. I mean, people have completely different ways of working, right? For instance, last year at my internship, my manager tried to make our whole team use a strict time-tracking app to log every single task. It was honestly a nightmare because it disrupted my flow and felt like micromanagement. I think productivity is inherently personal; some people thrive on rigid schedules, while others, like me, work better with more flexibility. If a company forces a one-size-fits-all system, they might inadvertently kill the creativity of their employees. So, instead of mandating a specific technique, I’d say workplaces should provide resources but let people choose what works for them. That way, everyone can actually stay motivated and reach their goals.

134 words

Score 80 — Good

I think that such policies are not really a good idea, honestly. If a company forces everyone to use the same time-management system, it might actually hurt people more than help them. See, everyone works in different ways. Some people like to focus for a long time, but others prefer to take frequent breaks, so a one-size-fits-all approach just doesn’t make sense. If I’m forced to follow a strict method that doesn’t fit my style, I think I’d just get stressed out and feel less productive. I mean, it’s better to let employees choose what works for them because everyone is different, and forcing a system on them is just not the right way to manage a team.

118 words