The speaker discusses commuting but misses the business effects
This TOEFL Speaking Interview response scored 1.8 out of five on My Speaking Score. The speaker produced 73 words in 45 seconds, at an average pace of 97 words per minute. Coverage was marked Missing.
The speaker explains that less commuting saves people time. They then describe a possible drawback: people might stay indoors and get less sunlight.
Those ideas relate to commuting. However, the question asks how a severe decline in commuting might affect businesses. The original response never explains either business consequence.
The main lesson is to connect your ideas explicitly to the subject the question asks about.
What the question requires
“Considering advances in technology, some people believe that commuting might disappear entirely. How do you think a severe decline in commuting might affect businesses in positive ways and negative ways? Please give one example of each.”
The answer needs a positive business effect and a negative business effect, with an example supporting each one.
| Required part | What the original response provides | What is missing |
|---|---|---|
| A positive effect on businesses | People save time because they do not commute. | An explanation of how a business benefits. |
| An example of that positive effect | The speaker mentions remote work. | A specific example showing a business benefit. |
| A negative effect on businesses | People may spend less time outside. | An explanation of how a business suffers. |
| An example of that negative effect | The speaker mentions the need for sunlight. | A specific example showing a business consequence. |
A listener should not have to invent the connection between your point and the requested business effect. State that connection in the answer.
The positive idea needs one more connection
The speaker begins with a reasonable observation:
“It can save people a lot of time.”
That describes a benefit for commuters. To use it in this answer, the speaker needs to explain how the saved time could benefit a business.
For example:
“Employees could use some of the time they save to start work earlier. For example, someone who previously spent an hour driving could begin handling customer requests sooner.”
This is a possible business connection, not an automatic result of remote work. The explanation makes the connection visible.
Another straightforward option is to discuss office costs:
“Businesses could reduce office costs. For example, a company with employees working remotely could rent a smaller office and spend less on rent.”
Both examples show how to move from a general commuting observation to a stated business benefit.
The negative effect needs a business example
The speaker’s concern about staying indoors focuses on individuals. The answer does not explain how that concern affects a business.
A clearer negative effect is reduced customer traffic for businesses that serve commuters:
“Cafés near office buildings could lose customers. For example, a café that sells coffee and sandwiches to commuters might make fewer sales when those people work from home.”
The example identifies the business, the change in customer behavior, and the consequence. Each detail helps answer the question.
| Starting idea | Business connection | Supporting example |
|---|---|---|
| More people work remotely. | Companies may need less office space. | A company rents a smaller office and reduces its rent. |
| Fewer people travel to offices. | Nearby businesses may lose commuter customers. | A café sells fewer coffees and sandwiches during the morning rush. |
Delivery also needs attention
The response contains 73 words at 97 words per minute. The displayed fluency feedback reports long pauses that divide the delivery into short bursts, including a two-second pause between “to” and “take.”
Those interruptions leave less time to explain the required points. However, increasing the speaking rate alone would not resolve the missing coverage. The speaker needs to practice a complete answer and deliver its phrases more comfortably.
The displayed feedback rates Intelligibility as Good. Clear pronunciation is therefore a strength to preserve while working on coverage, fluency, and phrasing.
One awkward phrase in the transcript is:
“How they transport from their home to workplace.”
A simpler version is:
“How they travel from home to work.”
Practice that wording as a complete phrase, then use it within an answer. Familiar constructions can make it easier to continue without searching for the next word.
A model answer that covers the requested parts
This practice answer demonstrates one positive business effect and one negative business effect, with an example of each:
“I think a severe decline in commuting could help some businesses reduce costs. If employees work remotely, companies may need less office space. For example, a small company could rent a smaller office and spend the money it saves on better equipment. However, businesses that depend on commuters could lose customers. A café near an office building might sell fewer coffees and sandwiches because people no longer pass it on their way to work. So the effects would depend on the business: some companies could save money, while shops and cafés near offices could lose sales.”
The answer uses ordinary vocabulary. Its strength is that every main point connects to businesses and each effect has a supporting example.
A quick check before you speak
Identify three things in the prompt:
- The subject: Who or what must your answer discuss?
- The required parts: Do you need a preference, a comparison, positive and negative effects, or something else?
- The support: Does the question explicitly request reasons or examples?
For this question, the subject is businesses, the required parts are positive and negative effects, and the support is one example of each.
Keep those requirements in mind as you practice. After recording, check whether the listener can identify every requested part without supplying missing connections.
Frequently asked questions
Is the original answer completely unrelated to the question?
No. It discusses commuting, which is the topic. The problem is that it does not explain the requested effects on businesses.
Can saving people time count as a positive business effect?
It can support one if you explain how the business benefits. The original response stops at the individual benefit.
Do the positive and negative effects need to concern the same business?
The prompt does not require that. You can explain a benefit for one type of business and a drawback for another, as long as both effects follow from reduced commuting.
Would speaking faster fix this response?
Smoother delivery could create more room for explanation, but the content still needs explicit business effects and examples.
How can I practice a more complete answer?
Plan one positive effect and example, followed by one negative effect and example. Record the answer, check coverage, and then listen for phrases interrupted by long hesitations.
The main takeaway
Recognizing the topic is only the first step. Your answer also needs to address the subject and requirements inside the question.
Here, the speaker needs to explain how reduced commuting affects businesses and give an example of each effect.
Inside My Speaking Score, use Follow Along in Improved Version with speed control to practice delivering complete explanations smoothly.
Take a free TOEFL Speaking assessment at www.myspeakingscore.com and check whether your next answer supplies every requested part.