TOEFL Writing: Practice Paper, Format, Scores, and Preparation Tips
Content Curator | Updated On - Jan 18, 2024
TOEFL writing evaluates the candidate's academic English writing skills. TOEFL writing part includes an integrated writing assignment and writing for an academic discussion task. Candidates are given a text to read and a lecture to listen to before beginning the integrated writing exercise. In the academic discussion task, you need to state and support an opinion in an online classroom discussion.
The TOEFL Writing section are scored following a combination of AI scoring and certified human raters. Raw scores are converted to a scaled section score of 0–30. An overall writing grade is given by adding together the points earned in both sections of the TOEFL writing exam. The scoring system is simple as you get 1 marks for each correct answer. There is no negetive marking in TOEFL Exam pattern.
Candidates should take about 29 minutes to complete the TOEFL writing section. The Integrated writing task should be around 20 minutes and the Academic Discussion task should be around 10 minutes. You must try to complete all the sections within the specified time. Since there is no negetive marking, you can attempt all questions. This will help you improve the TOEFL scores.
New Changes in TOEFL Writing Format
The TOEFL iBT test will now take less than two hours to complete, previously allotted three hours. A new, more modern “Writing for an Academic Discussion” task was added, which replaces the previous Independent Writing task. Previously, candidates were allotted 50 minutes to complete TOEFL writing section. With the new changes in TOEFL exam pattern, candidates now should take about 29 minutes to complete the writing section. TOEFL writing test is divided into two sections, integrated writing task, and writing for an academic discussion task. The integrated writing task is allotted 20 minutes and the response should be between 150 and 225 words. 10 minutes are allotted to writing for an academic discussion task, and the response should be at least 100 words. Candidates should have a great understanding of the TOEFL syllabus, before starting their preparation.
TOEFL Writing Format
TOEFL Writing section contains integrated writing and academic discussion tasks. Candidates need to understand and practice TOEFL writing topics regularly. Integrated writing comprises a short passage and listening to a short lecture. Candidates then need to write a response to what they read and listened to. In writing for an academic discussion task, candidates need to state and support an opinion in an online classroom discussion.
Integrated Writing Task
- Candidates will first get three minutes to read a passage about a topic on TOEFL integrated writing.
- Then, candidates have to listen to the same topic from a different perspective for about two minutes.
- Then, candidates will have 20 minutes to type their responses on the computer.
- There is no maximum length for a candidate's response, but typically an effective response has between 150 and 225 words.
Writing for an Academic Discussion Task
- Candidates have presented with an online academic discussion.
- A professor will post a question about a topic, and some classmates have responded with their ideas.
- Candidates have 10 minutes to type their own post that contributes to the discussion.
- There's no limited length for the response, but a good response is usually at least 100 words.
TOEFL Writing Topics
TOEFL writing exam include integrated writing tasks, and writing for an academic discussion task. The integrated writing task takes 20 minutes and focuses on the candidate’s ability to use of English language. Writing for an academic discussion task evaluates a candidate's ability to give an opinion to a discussion. Candidates are required to practice regularly with TOEFL writing essay examples to achieve their desired TOEFL writing score.
| TOEFL Integrated Writing Task | TOEFL Writing for an Academic Discussion Task |
|---|---|
| Culture | Social Media |
| Living on the Moon | Economic growth vs the environment |
| City or countryside | Smartphones |
| Bronze Age Collapse | Medical science |
| Technology | AI |
| The Phoenicians | Online Classes |
| Digital advancements | Space technology |
Integrated Writing Task
There are two sections in the Integrated Writing task. The first is Reading and the second is listening. In this section, candidates are required to initially read a brief article on a given subject. They will listen to a concise lecture covering the same theme. Lastly, the candidates will be allotted 20 minutes to craft an essay that incorporates information from both resources.
The details of the Integrated Writing Task are:
Reading Time: 3 minutes
Lecture Length: 2 minutes
Response Time: 20 minutes
TOEFL integrated writing examples:
Writing for an Academic Discussion Task
In this section, a professor will post a question about a topic, and some classmates will respond with their ideas. Candidates are allotted 10 minutes to write their ideas about the given discussion by the professor. This section requires candidates to state and support an opinion in an online classroom discussion.
Writing for an Academic Discussion Task Examples:
TOEFL Writing Score
The final TOEFL score in the writing section out of 30 will be determined by combining the results from the two assignments. The standards for the integrated and academic discussion tasks are somewhat different. However, good language usage, organized thought, and thorough development of concepts are expected from candidates in both sections.
| Raw Score | Scaled score |
|---|---|
| 0 | 0 |
| 0.5 | 4 |
| 1 | 5 |
| 1.5 | 7 |
| 2 | 8 |
| 2.5 | 10 |
| 3 | 11 |
| 3.5 | 12 |
| 4 | 14 |
| 4.5 | 15 |
| 5 | 17 |
| 5.5 | 18 |
| 6 | 20 |
| 6.5 | 21 |
| 7 | 22 |
| 7.5 | 24 |
| 8 | 25 |
| 8.5 | 27 |
| 9 | 28 |
| 9.5 | 29 |
| 10 | 30 |
TOEFL Writing Practice Tips
Candidates need to practice regularly TOEFL iBT writing practice test. TOEFL writing practice involves dedication and commitment. Candidates can take TOEFL preparation with expert mentorship. There are also free academic discussions and TOEFL integrated writing practice papers available for students' preparations.
- Study the test's structure to ensure success: Learn how the TOEFL essay questions are organized and what is expected.
- Strong vocabulary: Create a vocabulary list and work on incorporating the new terms into writing.
- Modify sentence structure and grammar: Make sure to utilize proper English grammar and sentence structure. Consider the most frequent grammar mistakes and how to fix them.
- Feedback on writing: Feedback is essential to evaluate the progress. Go to someone who is fluent in English, go through written essays, and provide suggestions for improvement in grammar, sentence structure, and overall organization.
- Practice rewriting and editing: To improve writing clarity, coherence, and overall impact, examine the coherence of the written essay, and the validity of the given argument.
- Be familiar with the TOEFL exam structure: Practice regularly with official TOEFL essay writing preparation resources, such as sample tests and study guides.
TOEFL Writing Books
The TOEFL writing books contain TOEFL writing examples and question papers for effective preparation. TOEFL books provide customized study materials and expert guidance. Candidates can self-prepare with the best TOEFL books and can achieve their desired TOEFL score. Some of the books are listed below:
- Official TOEFL iBT Tests - Check PDF
- Cambridge Preparation for TOEFL- Check PDF
- Barron’s Essential Words for the TOEFL, 7th Edition- Check PDF
TOEFL Writing Sample Papers
TOEFL writing practice papers will help the candidates to ace the exam preparation. Practicing TOEFL writing test papers makes the candidate's exam ready before the TOEFL exam dates.
| TOEFL Writing Sample Papers 1 | TOEFL Writing Sample Papers 2 |
| TOEFL Writing Sample Papers 3 | TOEFL Writing Sample Papers 4 |
| TOEFL Writing Sample Papers 5 | TOEFL Writing Sample Papers 6 |
The TOEFL writing section requires proper preparation, grammatical knowledge, and regular practice. Practicing with sample papers regularly, expert guidance and score reviews will help candidates improve their writing abilities. Dedicated study is necessary to achieve the desired TOEFL score.
FAQs
Ques - How do you write TOEFL writing?
Ans - Use a mix of simple, compound, and complex sentences, emphasize the examples, and avoid very short sentences.
Ques - What is a writing test in TOEFL?
Ans - TOEFL writing test evaluates a candidate's ability to write, review, and edit texts in English for different communication purposes.
Ques - Is it easy to get 30 in TOEFL writing?
Ans - With proper preparation, expert guidance, and a good grip on the English language, it is not difficult to get 30 in TOEFL writing.
Ques - How can I improve my TOEFL writing?
Ans - Paraphrase, focus on the lecture, take good notes, and practice grammar.
Ques - What are the topics for TOEFL writing?
Ans - The topics for TOEFL writing include education, technology, environment, health, relationships, and social issues.
Ques - What is the format of TOEFL writing?
Ans - TOEFL writing consists of two tasks - integrated writing and writing for an academic discussion task.
Ques - What are good strategies for TOEFL writing?
Ans - Good strategies include outlining responses before writing, different sentence structures, and proofreading for errors.
Ques - How can I improve my TOEFL writing score?
Ans - To improve TOEFL writing score, focus on organizing ideas properly, using proper vocabulary, and having strong grammar knowledge.
Ques - How is TOEFL writing scored?
Ans - TOEFL writing scoring following a combination of AI scoring and certified human raters. Raw scores are converted to a scaled section score of 0–30.
Ques - Is TOEFL valid for life?
Ans - TOEFL scores are valid for two years after the test date.
Ques – How long is the TOEFL Writing section?
Ques – What are the two tasks in TOEFL Writing section?
Ques – How are the TOEFL sections scored?
Ques – What is the time division of TOEFL Integrated task?
Ques – What's the maximum word count for TOEFL Writing?
Ques – What are the subjects from where TOEFL Integrated writing tasks can be provided?
Ques – What is the raw score if I get scaled score of 25 in TOEFL Writing?
Ques – Can I take notes while listening the lecture?
Ques – How can I practice TOEFL Writing sections?
Ques – What are some of the tips for TOEFL Writing?
*The article might have information for the previous academic years, please refer the official website of the exam.