TOEFL 2026 Speaking Practice — Level Medium (for score 90+) #25

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 choose between a major project at work and my sister’s graduation ceremony. It was actually a really tough spot because my manager had assigned me to lead a team for a new product launch that was happening on the exact same day. Honestly, the pressure to succeed in my career was pretty intense, but I felt like I just couldn’t miss such a pivotal moment for my family. In the end, I decided to delegate some of my tasks to a colleague so I could attend the ceremony. It was a bit stressful at first, but looking back, it was the right call. I realized that while professional success is important, maintaining those personal connections is inherently more valuable. I’m glad I chose my family.

133 words

Score 80 — Good

I remember a time when I had to choose between a big project at work and my sister’s wedding. It was a really tough spot because my boss wanted me to finish a report by the end of the week, but the wedding was in another city. I actually decided to stay and finish the project because I was worried about my career growth. Looking back, I feel kind of sad about it because I missed a special family day. My work was important, but I think the time with my family would have been better. It was just a hard choice, and honestly, I still think about if I made the right call.

114 words

Score 100 — Perfect

In my daily life, I actually try to maintain a pretty strict separation between my professional tasks and my personal time. I guess you could say I lean toward protecting my free time, because I’ve realized that burnout is just not worth the temporary gain. For instance, last semester when I was working as a research assistant, I made a rule to turn off all notifications by 7 p.m. every night. This was pivotal for my mental health because it allowed me to recharge without feeling like I was constantly on call. Some of my peers are more ambitious and work late into the night, but I’ve found that being well-rested makes me more productive during the day. I’ve developed this approach because I’ve seen how an imbalanced life can be counterintuitive to long-term success.

135 words

Score 80 — Good

In my daily life, I try to keep a pretty strict balance between my job and my free time. I mean, I definitely want to be successful, but I don’t want to burn out early in my career. So, when I’m at the office, I focus really hard and get everything done. But once I leave, I stop checking my emails or doing any work stuff. I think I developed this approach because I saw my older brother work way too many hours when he started his career. He was always tired and unhappy, and I just didn’t want that for myself. So, I guess I just value my personal time a lot more than working extra hours.

118 words

Score 100 — Perfect

Personally, I strongly believe that you don’t need to sacrifice your personal life to be successful. While some might argue that long hours are the only way to climb the ladder, I think that perspective is actually pretty outdated. I mean, I have a friend named David who started his own marketing firm last year. He makes it a point to finish work by six every day so he can play soccer with his local club. Because of this, he stays energized and avoids burnout, which is a **pivotal** factor in his productivity. In contrast, many people who work around the clock end up feeling exhausted and uninspired. I’d say that maintaining a balanced life is **inherently** more sustainable, and it ultimately leads to better, more creative work in the long run.

132 words

Score 80 — Good

Personally, I strongly believe that you don’t actually need to sacrifice your personal life to be successful. Some people think you have to work all the time, but I feel like that just leads to burnout. For me, having a balanced life is really important because it helps me stay focused and motivated when I’m actually at work. If I’m just working constantly, I get tired and I don’t produce good results. I mean, I have friends who work really hard but also make time for hobbies, and they are doing great in their careers. So, I think it’s definitely possible to have both, and that’s a much better way to live.

112 words

Score 100 — Perfect

I think it would be a fantastic idea for companies to implement stricter policies. Honestly, in today’s world, the pressure to be constantly available is just overwhelming. I mean, I have a friend who works at a marketing firm in Seoul, and he’s expected to answer emails late at night, which is honestly exhausting. Because of this, he’s constantly burned out. If companies actually banned after-hours communication, it would be a pivotal change for employee mental health. It’s kind of a counterintuitive approach—people might think productivity would drop—but I’d argue that well-rested employees are actually way more creative. Not only that, but mandatory vacation time forces people to disconnect and recharge. So, overall, I definitely believe these policies are necessary to ensure that work doesn’t completely consume our personal lives.

130 words

Score 80 — Good

I think it would be a really good idea for companies to have stricter policies for work-life balance. Um, honestly, I feel like people are just working way too much these days. If companies banned emails after work, employees could actually relax and spend time with their families. I mean, right now, it’s like we are always on call, and that’s pretty exhausting. Some people might say that being available is good for their career, but I think it just leads to burnout. So, if the government mandated more vacation days, it would help everyone feel much more refreshed. It’s just better for our mental health to have a clear break from work, you know?

115 words