TOEFL Speaking
time management
Practice questions
- 1.What strategy do you use to manage your time, and how has it helped you?
- 2.Some people prefer to follow a detailed daily schedule, while others like to plan more flexibly. Which approach works better for you, and why?
- 3.Describe a time when you had several important tasks to complete at once. How did you decide what to do first?
- 4.Do you think students should set aside specific times for breaks while studying? Explain your opinion.
Model answer
One strategy that has improved my time management is planning my week on Sunday evening. I used to make a long list of tasks each morning, but I often felt overwhelmed and spent too much time deciding what to do next. Now I write down my deadlines and divide large assignments into smaller steps. Then I choose the three most important tasks for each day. This helps me focus on priorities instead of reacting to every message or interruption. I also schedule short breaks because I concentrate better when I have time to recharge. For example, when I had a research paper and two exams in the same week, I set aside one hour each evening for the paper and reviewed my course notes in shorter sessions. I finished the paper a day early and felt less stressed before my exams. The main benefit is not that my schedule is perfect, but that I can see what matters and adjust when something unexpected happens. Overall, this simple routine makes me more reliable and gives me more control over my free time.
Target vocabulary
prioritize
To decide which tasks are most important and should be done first.
deadline
The latest time or date by which a task must be completed.
overwhelmed
Feeling that there is too much to manage or deal with.
break a task into steps
To divide a large piece of work into smaller, easier parts.
distraction
Something that takes your attention away from what you are doing.
schedule
A plan that shows when activities or tasks will happen.
recharge
To rest and regain energy.