Time phrases: General knowledge phrases:
Here are some phrases you can use to end your first sentence:
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Expressing Concern Continuing Controversy
b) Your opinion on the topic
After making a general statement on the background of the topic, next you will state your opinion. The phrase will depend on the kind of question you are asked: start the general background of the topic question: pick a side, state your preference, or explain why you agree or disagree. Here are some other phrases you can use to state your opinion:
Pick a Side
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Preference Agree/Disagree
c) Your two supporting reasons
The last part of your introduction is to state your two supporting reasons for your opinion. Here are some other phrases you can use to introduce your supporting reasons:
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2. Body paragraphs
You will write two body paragraphs, one for each of your supporting reasons. Each body paragraph has 3 parts a) supporting reason, b) personal experience, and c) linking sentence.
a) Supporting Reason
To start, use a signpost word or phrase to begin each of your body paragraphs.
First paragraph Second paragraph
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b) Personal Experience
You should spend most of your body paragraph telling a personal story that supports or illustrates your reason. While this is the most free-flowing part of your essay, there are some helpful phrases to help you get started:
c) Linking Sentence
At the end of each of your body paragraphs, you should link your personal experience back to your opinion. To do this, use one of these signpost words and phrases:
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3. Conclusion
The end of your Independent Writing is a short conclusion sentence. All you need to do is restate your opinion, and your two supporting reasons. Here are some concluding signpost words and phrases to get you started:
Putting some of these phrases all together, here is an example Independent Writing Task Template:
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Test Resources
Complete toefl essay templates (2024 update).
TOEFL essay templates can help you answer both of the TOEFL writing questions. To write a strong TOEFL essay just fill in the blanks with the required information from your notes (in the integrated essay) or from your ideas (the writing for an academic discussion task). Note that I also have a set of TOEFL speaking templates . If you want more personalized help with your essays you can sign up for our TOEFL essay evaluation service .
The introduction.
No matter what question style is used, write your introduction using the following template:
Use the following templates for the body paragraphs:
Your TOEFL integrated essay should be about 280 to 300 words. To see this template in use, check out my collection of sample essays .
Here’s a really straightforward template that is easy to use.
Here’s a template that focuses on giving an entirely new answer and ignoring the other student responses. This is my favorite template.
Here’s a template that focuses on expanding on and challenging the points mentioned by the other students. I don’t like this template as much, but some people prefer it.
Your response should be about 120 words.
To practice, you can check out my collection of sample questions .
Further reading – need more help need speaking templates.
We also have in-depth guides to the academic discussion and integrated writing tasks. Check them out! We also have TOEFL speaking templates .
Submit your practice TOEFL essays for evaluation by the author of this website. Get feedback on grammar, structure, vocabulary and more. Learn how to score better on the TOEFL. Feedback in 48 hours.
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Worried about your performance in the TOEFL Writing Section? Follow the instructions, tips, and methods in this blog, and practice on one of the 10 TOEFL essay topics to nail your exam.
Part 1: the independent writing task, part 2: the integrated writing task, how to nail the toefl integrated writing question, integrated writing toefl essay topics, any last-minute tips.
A lot of students find the Reading, Listening, and Speaking sections of the TOEFL (Test of English as a Foreign Language) exam fairly easy. It’s the TOEFL Writing section that gives everybody a run for the woods. To reduce your nervousness and help you prepare for the TOEF L Writing section, I have included in-depth details about each question and shared tips on how to nail it. Along with that, you will also find 8 TOEFL essay topics to help you get started. So, what are you waiting for? Dive in!
The fourth and the last section of the TOEFL exam , the Writing Section measures your ability to write in English at a university level. Its aim is to test how you structure your thoughts and see if you can present them clearly (without any grammatical mistakes).
The Writing Section of TOEFL takes 50 minutes to complete and comprises of 2 questions-
While the Independent task tests your ability to organize your thoughts and express them, the Integrated task focuses on how well you can use English in class.
Let’s take a look at them one by one.
For this task, you will be asked a question on a personal topic or an issue. Depending on what the question is, you will either have to share a personal experience or give your opinion on the topic. In case it’s an issue-based topic, you will also have to give reasons and examples that support your opinion.
The question you will get will fall into one of these three broad categories-
The first two appear more commonly in exams than the third.
But no matter what the question or the question type, I have a one-stop solution for you (so excited to share this)!
1) Let’s dive straight into it – the first thing you need to do is structure your essay. And this is something you can (and should) do even before the exam begins.
2) Choose to have a limited number of paras. Start by stating the topic and your opinion, use the second and the third paragraphs to support your opinion with 2 strong points. Use examples to support these points if needed.
3) In the fourth paragraph, acknowledge that your opinion is not perfect (because it’s an opinion and not fact) and talk about the strengths of the opinion you did not pick.
4) Use the fifth paragraph to say that even though the other side has its own advantages, you prefer yours. This is a good place to add a third point in favor of your own argument.
5) Conclude with the sixth paragraph by tying up everything you have said so far and restate your opinion.
There! The perfect structure to nail your TOEFL Independent Writing task.
A few things to keep in mind-
Now that you know how to go about the Independent Writing task and have also looked at a sample answer, it’s time to practice with some TOEFL Writing samples!
I’m sharing a few TOEFL essay topics given by ETS (the official TOEFL test-takers) for you to choose from-
For this task, you will have to read a short passage, listen to a 2-minute lecture about the same topic, and write a response to what you read and listened to.
The question tests your listening, reading, and writing chops and evaluates how you would do in a real classroom. So, answer it in a way that includes the content of both the passage and the audio recording.
Here, you do not need to provide an opinion. You just have to summarize what you learned from the essay and the recording. And while you will have the passage in front of you as you write the answer, you will not be able to listen to the audio recording again. But this should not affect you in any way. Let’s see why.
The ideal way to solve this problem is to take notes. Start by reading the passage, slowly. Since it’s a short passage, the amount of time allotted will be more than enough. As you read each para, write down one sentence (of 4-5 words) describing what you learned from that paragraph. Do this for the entire passage.
When you’re listening to the audio, again make notes. Write down the primary points leading the argument in the recording.
When it’s time to start writing, take a few seconds. Collate all your points and structure your answer.
Split it into 4 paragraphs. Use the first para to state the topic, and the second one to talk about what the passage states. In the third paragraph, use points from the audio recording. And conclude with a sentence or two in the fourth para.
That’s it – you’ll have close to 250 to 300 words and you’ll have presented a clear, concise answer!
Here are TOEFL essay topics I borrowed from ETS, the official TOEFL test-takers-
Give yourself 3 minutes to read the passage.
Reading Time: 3 minutes
In an effort to encourage ecologically sustainable forestry practices, an international organization started issuing certifications to wood companies that meet high ecological standards by conserving resources and recycling materials. Companies that receive this certification can attract customers by advertising their products as “ecocertified.” Around the world, many wood companies have adopted new, ecologically friendly practices in order to receive ecocertification. However, it is unlikely that wood companies in the United States will do the same, for several reasons.
First, American consumers are exposed to so much advertising that they would not value or even pay attention to the ecocertification label. Because so many mediocre products are labeled “new” or “improved,” American consumers do not place much trust in advertising claims in general.
Second, ecocertified wood will be more expensive than uncertified wood because in order to earn ecocertification, a wood company must pay to have its business examined by a certification agency. This additional cost gets passed on to consumers. American consumers tend to be strongly motivated by price, and therefore they are likely to choose cheaper uncertified wood products. Accordingly, American wood companies will prefer to keep their prices low rather than obtain ecocertification.
Third, although some people claim that it always makes good business sense for American companies to keep up with the developments in the rest of the world, this argument is not convincing. Pursuing certification would make sense for American wood companies only if they marketed most of their products abroad. But that is not the caseAmerican wood businesses sell most of their products in the United States, catering to a very large customer base that is satisfied with the merchandise.
Read the transcript.
Narrator: Now listen to part of a lecture on the topic you just read about.
Professor Well, despite what many people say, there’s good reason to think that many American wood companies will eventually seek ecocertification for their wood products. First off, consumers in the United States don’t treat all advertising the same. They distinguish between advertising claims that companies make about their own products and claims made by independent certification agencies. Americans have a lot of confidence in independent consumer agencies. Thus, ecologically minded Americans are likely to react very favorably to wood products ecologically certified by an independent organization with an international reputation for trustworthiness.
Second pointof course it’s true that American consumers care a lot about pricewho doesn’t? But studies of how consumers make decisions show that price alone determines consumers’ decisions only when the price of one competing product is much higher or lower than another. When the price difference between two products is smallsay, less than five percent, as is the case with certified wood Americans often do choose on factors other than price. And Americans are becoming increasingly convinced of the value of preserving and protecting the environment.
And third, U.S. wood companies should definitely pay attention to what’s going on in the wood business internationally, not because of foreign consumers, but because of foreign competition. As I just told you, there’s a good chance that many American consumers will be interested in ecocertified products. And guess what, if American companies are slow capturing those customers, you can be sure that foreign companies will soon start crowding into the American market, offering ecocertified wood that domestic companies don’t.
Give yourself 20 minutes to plan and write your response. Your response is judged on the quality of the writing and on how well it presents the points in the lecture and their relationship to the reading passage. Typically, an effective response will be 150 to 225 words. You may view the reading passage while you respond.
Response time: 20 minutes
Question: Summarize the points made in the lecture, being sure to explain how they cast doubt on specific points made in the reading passage.
Yes, just two-
A bonus tip is this – practice, practice, practice. It will help you stay prepared for whatever question may come your way.
And if you need any help, you know where to find me! Drop a comment and let me know what I can do to help with your TOEFL essay topics. I would be more than happy to help.
All the best for your exam!
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3 thoughts on “8 toefl essay topics to prepare for the toefl exam”, see what others are saying.
Nice article. Very helpful for students who are preparing for TOEFL . Good work. Keep it up.
Nice article, this will help test takers a lot, keep it up
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TOEFL Independent Writing Master Guide (2023 Update) Here's how the TOEFL Independent writing question works: It is the second writing question on the TOEFL Test. You will be asked a question about your personal opinion and be given 30 minutes to write about it. Questions can be about any topics, but they are most often about education, work ...
TOEFL iBT Independent essay sample topic + how to outline your response April 6, 2011; Toefl IBT Speaking: Independent Task: The Paired-Choice Response April 6, 2011; TOEFL iBT Writing: "The best way to travel is in a group led by a tour guide." April 6, 2011; How You Can Get a High TOEFL iBT Score: One of the Tips May Surprise You! April 6 ...
The first TOEFL writing question is the Integrated Writing Task. You will first read an article, then listen to a lecture, and finally write an essay using details from both. Your essay should be about 280 words. You will have 20 minutes to write. Below are some practice questions you can use to get ready for the test.
For the Independent Writing task, you'll receive a question on a particular topic or issue. You'll need to write a response to that topic that explains your opinion, and you'll also need to give reasons and examples that support your opinion. Writing Time: 30 minutes. Suggested Essay Length: At least 300 words.
Below is an official TOEFL Integrated Writing sample question and as well as an essay response that received a score of 5. It includes a written passage, the transcript of a conversation (which would be an audio recording on the actual TOEFL, and the essay prompt. After the prompt is an example of a top-scoring essay.
This PDF is another free and official resource. In addition to other question types, it includes two Writing tasks: one TOEFL Integrated Writing practice question and one Independent Writing practice question. Each sample TOEFL Writing topic is followed by a sample essay as well as an in-depth score explanation, which is a great tool for studiers.
in. TOEFL Writing Task 2 (Independent) While the TOEFL is generally a very different type of test from the GRE, the GMAT, and the SAT, there are a few similarities, and the nature of the TOEFL Writing topics (specifically TOEFL Independent Writing topics) is one of them. As with most standardized tests, the TOEFL asks you to write an essay.
Here's an expert TOEFL teacher's sample essay to this particular TOEFL Writing topic. The article introduces the topic of corn-based ethanol. More specifically, the writer discusses the advantages of switching from fossil fuels to this alternative energy source. The lecturer in the listening passage disagrees.
Incorporate a Variety of Perspectives: Consider how different interpretations of history can provide a more nuanced understanding. Your adeptness at this type of essay showcases your ability to extract lessons from history and express them in a cohesive, articulate manner. 9. Contemplate Health and Lifestyle Changes.
The writing section is the final part of the TOEFL® test. You'll have about 30 minutes to answer two writing questions. They are known as the TOEFL Integrated essay, and the TOEFL Writing for an Academic Discussion Task. You'll be graded based on your content, organization, grammar and language use. Below are links to my best stuff, or ...
Directions: Give yourself 20 minutes to plan and write your response. Your response is judged on the quality of the writing and on how well it presents the points in the lecture and their relationship to the reading passage. Typically, an effective response will be 150 to 225 words.
After you complete the exam, your essays will be graded by several (typically four) graders. Each essay will receive a score from 0-5. The sum of those two scores will then be scaled to a score from 0-30, which is your official Writing score. The Writing section makes of 25% of your total TOEFL score (from 0-120).
Writing Practice Set 2 (Independent): Question. Directions: Read the question below. Give yourself 30 minutes to plan, write, and revise your essay. Typically, an effective response will contain a minimum of 300 words.
The lists of TOEFL Independent Writing topics below can help you gain a better understanding of the type of essay you could be asked to write on your exam. Rather than give you one long confusing list of topics, the essay topics have been divided into five categories. This is not an exhaustive list, but only a representative sample of essay topics.
Preference. The lists of ' Preference' TOEFL Independent Writing topics below will help you prepare for this type of question on your exam. Look at questions in the following four categories as well, to be prepared for all the types of TOEFL essays. Agree or Disagree. Description / Explanation. If / Imaginary. Compare & Contrast.
TOEFL Independent Writing Topics TOEFL Essay Practice Questions This list is from an old version of the Official Guide to the TOEFL. I want to emphasize that these questions are quite old, and the questions on the real test are quite different. I'm leaving it online, tho.
Independent Writing, which involves writing a four to five-paragraph essay of 300-350 words in 30 minutes; The following free sample TOEFL essays illustrate how to get a high score on the independent writing section of the iBT. By reading through the essays, you can learn how to: develop any topic into a well-organized, logical answer
The TOEFL iBT test Writing section measures your ability to write in English in an academic setting, and to present your ideas in a clear, well-organized way. There are two writing tasks. Integrated writing task (20 minutes) — read a short passage and listen to a short lecture, then write in response to what you read and listened to.
The TOEFL independent writing task encompasses four primary question types, each requiring a distinct approach: Agree or Disagree (65% weightage): In this type, candidates articulate their stance on a given subject, providing logical reasoning and relevant examples to support their viewpoint. Accessing TOEFL independent writing sample essays ...
TOEFL Independent Writing Task is the second part of the writing section. Candidates get 30 minutes to write TOEFL independent writing tasks on the computer.TOEFL independent writing topics ask candidates to provide their opinion on a particular topic.Independent TOEFL essay doesn't have any specific word count.
You will have 30 minutes to plan and write about your opinion on the topic, including providing reasons for your opinion and a personal experience to support each reason. The TOEFL suggests an Independent Writing that is 300-325 words, but we recommend writing 350-400 words. How to structure your TOEFL Independent Writing Task Essay?
TOEFL essay templates can help you answer both of the TOEFL writing questions. To write a strong TOEFL essay just fill in the blanks with the required information from your notes (in the integrated essay) or from your ideas (the writing for an academic discussion task). ... This is a challenging topic, but I think that [respond directly to the ...
5) Conclude with the sixth paragraph by tying up everything you have said so far and restate your opinion. There! The perfect structure to nail your TOEFL Independent Writing task. A few things to keep in mind-. Do not limit your essay to 300 words, try to reach 600-700 words if possible.