TOEFL Writing Practice Questions & Sample Essays

You’ll initially get a TOEFL Integrated Writing Question on the test day. You will be given an article to read, then listen to a lecture, and finally, write an essay using details from both. 

Complete Sample Questions and Responses! 

• Colonizing Asteroids 

• Protecting Peregrine Falcons 

• Paradox of Choice 

• The Phoenicians 

• Bronze Age Collapse 

• Quick Decline Syndrome

• Living on the Moon 

• Machu Picchu

• REM Sleep (new) 

• The Cave of the Hands (new)

• Volcanic Building Materials (new)

• Moai of Easter Island (really old)

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Afterward, You will receive a “ Writing for an Academic Discussion” question. This requires you to answer a question that looks like it was posted to a university discussion group. Below is a list of some sample questions: 

• Targeted Advertising

• Social Media

• Grading Students

• Taxing Unhealthy Products

• AI

• Longevity

• University Spending

• Economic Growth vs the Environment

• City Spending

• Corporate Impact

• Work From Home

• Online Classes

• Smart Phones

• Learning Styles

• Influencers

• Starting a Business

• Space Exploration

Here are some essay topics based on famous books.

• Television Appearances by University Professors (ETS Official)

• Portrait of an Elderly Woman in a White Bonnet (ETS Official)

• Incan Fortress of Sacsayhuaman (casting doubt)

• Iron Fertilization (solution and problem)

• Humpback Whales (casting doubt)

• Going to Mars (Problem and Solution)

• The Usefulness of Coal (Casting Doubt)

• Monarch Butterflies (casting doubt)

• Large Animals (casting doubt)

• Wheat and Beer (from Princeton Review)

• Forest Fires (from Princeton Review)

• Endotherms (from “ETS Official Collection”)

• Online Encyclopedias (from “ETS Official Collection”)

• Buying a Franchise (from “ETS Official Collection”)

• Great Houses (from “ETS Official Collection”)

• Smart Cars (from “ETS Official Collection”)

• Eco-Friendly Wood (from ETS Website)

• The Chevalier (from “TOEFL Sample Test”)

• Wave Farms (from “Hackers Actual Test”)

• The Anasazi (from “Hackers Actual Test”)

• Trans Lunar Phenomena (from “Hackers Actual Test”)

• Four-day Workweek

• Do you agree or disagree with the following statement? Children should be given a modest weekly allowance for doing household chores.  Use specific reasons and examples to support your opinion. Do not use memorized examples.

• Do you agree or disagree with the following statement? Video games are great ways to help children learn creativity. Use specific reasons and examples to support your opinion. Do not use memorized examples.

• Do you agree or disagree with the following statement? Completing writing projects is more beneficial for students than taking multiple-choice exams. Use specific reasons and examples to support your opinion. Do not use memorized examples.

• Do you agree or disagree with the following statement? Consumers should be forced to buy electric-powered vehicles. Use specific reasons and examples to support your opinion. Do not use memorized examples.

• Do you agree or disagree with the following statement? Students should be given more options to learn in groups. Use specific reasons and examples to support your opinion. Do not use memorized examples.

• Do you agree or disagree with the following statement? Children should consult with their parents when choosing a college major. Use specific reasons and examples to support your opinion. Do not use memorized examples.

• Do you agree or disagree with the following statement? Remote learning using technologies such as Zoom is just as effective as in-person classroom learning. Use specific reasons and examples to support your opinion. Do not use memorized examples.

• Do you agree or disagree with the following statement? People who toss trash out of their car windows should be fined at least $500. Use specific reasons and examples to support your opinion. Do not use memorized examples.

• Do you agree or disagree with the following statement? Children should be encouraged to play sports such as soccer and basketball. Use specific reasons and examples to support your opinion. Do not use memorized examples.

• Do you agree or disagree with the following statement? Children between the ages of 5 and 18 should not be allowed to listen to sexually explicit songs. Use specific reasons and examples to support your opinion. Do not use memorized examples.

• Do you agree or disagree with the following statement? Following China’s policy that originated in the 1970s, families worldwide should only have one child per couple to prevent overpopulation. Use specific reasons and examples to support your opinion. Do not use memorized examples.

• Do you agree or disagree with the following statement? Football involves too much physical contact and should be banned.  Use specific reasons and examples to support your opinion. Do not use memorized examples.

• Do you agree or disagree with the following statement? English grammar is one of the most accessible language systems to learn. Use specific reasons and examples to support your opinion. Do not use memorized examples.

• Do you agree or disagree with the following statement? When looking for a spouse, a person should date several people simultaneously. Use specific reasons and examples to support your opinion. Do not use memorized examples.

• Do you agree or disagree with the following statement? Middle-class and affluent citizens should pay at least 30% of their income to federal and state taxes so that governments can use this money to help the poor. Use specific reasons and examples to support your opinion. Do not use memorized examples.

• Do you agree or disagree with the following statement?  Consulting tutors when students struggle with course content will help them succeed academically. Use specific reasons and examples to support your opinion. Do not use memorized examples.

• Do you agree or disagree with the following statement? All households should be required to conserve by using 30% less water each month. Use specific reasons and examples to support your opinion. Do not use memorized examples.

• Do you agree or disagree with the following statement?  All children should be required to get vaccinations for illnesses such as measles, smallpox, coronavirus, and polio. Use specific reasons and examples to support your opinion. Do not use memorized examples.

• Do you agree or disagree with the following statement? A diet with little or no meat is the most healthy. Use specific reasons and examples to support your opinion. Do not use memorized examples.

• Do you agree or disagree with the following statement? Children should have part-time jobs while attending high school. Use specific reasons and examples to support your opinion. Do not use memorized examples.

• Do you agree or disagree with the following statement? It is always good for people to have a hobby outside of work interests. Use specific reasons and examples to support your opinion. Do not use memorized examples.

• Do you agree or disagree with the following statement? Not everyone will succeed in life on their first try. However, they should not give up. Use specific reasons and examples to support your opinion. Do not use memorized examples.

• Do you agree or disagree with the following statement? Good listeners are much better friends than good conversationalists. Use specific reasons and examples to support your opinion. Do not use memorized examples.

• Do you agree or disagree with the following statement? Eating 3-5 smaller meals daily is much better for the digestive system than eating 1-2 large meals. Use specific reasons and examples to support your opinion. Do not use memorized examples.

• Do you agree or disagree with the following statement? All children and able-bodied adults should exercise 45 minutes daily at least five times per week. Use specific reasons and examples to support your opinion. Do not use memorized examples.

• Do you agree or disagree with the following statement? The currently accepted work week is 40 hours a week, but it should be reduced to only 30 hours. Use specific reasons and examples to support your opinion. Do not use memorized examples.

• Do you agree or disagree with the following statement? Companies that sell junk food and sugary drinks should be prohibited from advertising their products on television. Use specific reasons and examples to support your opinion. Do not use memorized examples.

• Do you agree or disagree with the following statement? People who are arrested for selling drugs should not be imprisoned. Instead, they should be rehabilitated. Use specific reasons and examples to support your opinion. Do not use memorized examples.

• Do you agree or disagree with the following statement? Employees should change jobs frequently to gain more experience. Use specific reasons and examples to support your opinion. Do not use memorized examples.

• Do you agree or disagree with the following statement? At Christmas and birthdays, it is always better to give than it is to receive. Use specific reasons and examples to support your opinion. Do not use memorized examples.

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• Which of the following employee attributes are most important?

1. Workers should be able to get along well with others.

2. Honest workers will make the most contributions.

3. Workers need to always show up on time and should never leave early.

Use specific reasons and examples to support your opinion. Do not use memorized examples. 

• Which of the following are most important when choosing a house?

1. Close to where you work

2. Near where your children attend school

3. In a safe neighborhood away from the city

Use specific reasons and examples to support your opinion. Do not use memorized examples. 

•  Which of the following is most important when deciding on a university?

1. An international reputation for research and teaching

2. A reasonably priced institution that will not indebt its study body

3. One which is located near a pristine beach

Use specific reasons and examples to support your opinion. Do not use memorized examples.

•  Which of the following is most important for someone suffering from depression?

1. Having an affectionate pet, such as a dog or cat

2. Being able to interact with friends and family members regularly

3. Having accurately prescribed medication to treat the mental illness

Use specific reasons and examples to support your opinion. Do not use memorized examples. 

• Which of the following is essential in maintaining an orderly society?

1. A robust police department that builds relationships of trust with the public

2. Having well-funded educational systems with trained and knowledgeable teachers

3. Creating an environment in which churches have well-attended services

Use specific reasons and examples to support your opinion. Do not use memorized examples. 

• Which of the following is most important in having an environmentally-friendly city?

1. A city with a public transportation system so extensive that private cars are not needed

2. A city that requires all residences to use solar power for at least 80% of their energy needs

3. A city with residences must recycle at least 50% of all water.

Use specific reasons and examples to support your opinion. Do not use memorized examples. 

• Which of the following is the most healthy part of a person’s lifestyle?

1. Continuous cardiovascular exercise for 45 minutes daily, five days a week

2. Eating an abundance of fresh vegetables and fruits

3. Getting 8-9 hours of deep sleep nightly

Use specific reasons and examples to support your opinion. Do not use memorized examples. 

• Who would you most likely fire if you were the CEO of a large company?

1. An employee who often arrives late

2. Someone who argues a lot with other co-workers

3. A worker who doesn’t complete his job tasks competently

Use specific reasons and examples to support your opinion. Do not use memorized examples.

• You just received an inheritance of more than 50 million dollars, and you MUST donate 1/2 of the money to one of the following:

1. A hospital

2. An elementary or high school

3. A church

Which organization would you donate the money to? Why? Use specific reasons and examples to support your opinion. Do not use memorized examples. 

• You are going into the wilderness for two weeks. Which three objects would you bring with you?

1. Matches, a pocket knife, and a hat

2. Sunglasses, poncho (rain suit), and 1/2 pound of dried meat

3. A compass, a shovel, and 2 liters of water

Use specific reasons and examples to support your opinion. Do not use memorized examples. 

• Which of the following measures would make a city safer?

1. Hiring more police officers and getting them properly trained to serve the public

2. Increasing the number of rehab facilities to help people quit using illegal drugs

3. Improving educational facilities to prevent children from dropping out of school

Use specific reasons and examples to support your opinion. Do not use memorized examples. 

• Which of the following forms of social media are most harmful to children?

1. TikTok

2. Facebook

3. YouTube

Use specific reasons and examples to support your opinion. Do not use memorized examples. 

• Which of the following is the most beneficial form of exercise for adults?

1. Long-distance running

2. Swimming

3. Bicycling

Use specific reasons and examples to support your opinion. Do not use memorized examples. 

• Which politician would you most likely vote for?

1. A candidate who will make it a priority to help the poor

2. One who lowers taxes and deregulates small businesses

3. A politician who promises to serve only one term in government

Use specific reasons and examples to support your opinion. Do not use memorized examples. 

• Which of the following animals would win in a fierce fight?

1. A 1000 kg Salt Water Crocodile

2. A 1,500 kg African hippopotamus

3. A 227 kg Siberian Tiger

Use specific reasons and examples to support your opinion. Do not use memorized examples. 

• Which of the following jobs appeals to you the most?

1. A doctor who cures infectious diseases

2. A lawyer who represents the rights of the underprivileged

3. An engineer who designs bridges and skyscrapers

Use specific reasons and examples to support your opinion. Do not use memorized examples. 

• Which of the following will attract more tourists to a city?

1. A mega-entertainment center such as Disneyworld

2. An abundance of trails and paved paths for bikers, runners, and walkers

3. Substantial shopping complexes offering discounts on 100’s of items

Use specific reasons and examples to support your opinion. Do not use memorized examples. 

• If the death penalty were allowed in your country, which method of execution should be implemented?

1. Lethal injection

2. A firing squad

3. The electric chair

Use specific reasons and examples to support your opinion. Do not use memorized examples. 

• Which strategy is most effective when you have a lot of homework assignments?

1. Completing the assignments with other members of the class

2. Setting aside two-hour blocks daily to tackle all the assignments alone

3. To prioritize by completing the most challenging assignments to the least difficult ones

Use specific reasons and examples to support your opinion. Do not use memorized examples. 

• Which of the following events would cause the most harm to our planet?

1. An eruption from a supervolcano

2. Impact from an asteroid which is at least 10 km in diameter

3. A full-scale nuclear exchange of weapons involving the United States, Russia, China, the United Kingdom, India, Pakistan, Iran, and North Korea

Use specific reasons and examples to support your opinion. Do not use memorized examples. 

• Computers are becoming increasingly acceptable as tools that educators use in classrooms. This type of technology is helpful for student learning. Others, on the other hand, believe that computers are not required for student learning. Which view do you support? Use reasons and examples to support your point of view. Make sure that you do NOT use memorized examples. 

• Some believe that food is becoming more and more scarce. Therefore, international laws that limit couples to having only one child should be passed. Others, on the other hand, believe there will always be plenty of food for the world’s population. As a result, no laws are needed to restrict worldwide population growth. Which view do you support? Use reasons and examples to support your point of view. Make sure that you do NOT use memorized examples.

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TOEFL is an essential test to prove that you can understand and use English for academic purposes. Countless universities ask for TOEFL scores in their admission process. The variety of sample essays and questions provided here will help you. It will give you an idea of the questions you might encounter on the test day. 

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