toefl writing sample responses

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TOEFL iBT ® Test Writing Practice Sets

Note: These sample questions allow you to experience the types of tasks presented in the TOEFL iBT ® test. They are not intended to mimic the testing experience. Audio is not included with the questions in these sets. However, transcripts of the audio are provided.

Writing Practice Set 1 (Integrated)

Passage, lecture and question.

Directions: 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 case—American wood businesses sell most of their products in the United States, catering to a very large customer base that is satisfied with the merchandise.

Directions: 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 point—of course it's true that American consumers care a lot about price—who 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 small—say, 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.

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. 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.

Response Tips

What is important to understand from the lecture is that the professor disagrees with the points made in the reading, namely that American consumers mistrust advertising, that they are unwilling to pay extra for ecocertified products, and that American companies do not need to compete in parts of the world where ecocertification is valued.

In your response, you should convey the reasons presented by the professor for why ecocertification of wood should be adopted by U.S. companies. A high-scoring response will include the following points made by the professor that cast doubt on the points made in the reading:

Need More Practice?

Download additional TOEFL iBT Writing Practice Sets .

Download the large-print version of the TOEFL iBT Writing Practice Sets .

TOEFL® Resources by Michael Goodine

Toefl writing questions (2023 edition) – sample essays and questions, about these toefl ® writing samples.

On the TOEFL test, you’ll get an independent writing question based on one of the following essay styles:

Below are some samples of each type.

At the bottom of this page are some sample TOEFL integrated essays . The newest ones include a reading and lecture.

Be sure to check out our main page for detailed guides about how to write good essays.

If you like these samples, note that we also have a huge collection of speaking samples .

Help Writing Your Essays

If you want one on one help, you can sign up for our essay evaluation service .

Sample TOEFL Independent Essays

Agree/disagree style toefl essays.

This is the most common essay style.

Do you agree or disagree with the following statement? Overall, the widespread use of the internet has a mostly positive effect on life in today’s world.

Do you agree or disagree with the following statement? When doing research, it is better to use printed materials such as books and articles than it is to use the Internet. Use specific reasons and examples to support your answer.

Students who are given grades work harder than those who are not. Do you agree or disagree? Use specific reasons and examples to support your opinion.

Do you agree or disagree with the following statement? In my country, young people have better lives than their parents had when they were young. Use reasons and examples to support your answer.

Bonus: Speaking Samples

Remember that I’ve got a big list of sample speaking answers as well.

Movies and television strongly influence the way people behave. Do you agree or disagree? Use reasons and specific examples to support your answer.

Do you agree or disagree with the following statement? People communicate with each other less than in the past because of the popularity of television. Use specific reasons and examples to support your opinion .

Do you agree or disagree with the following statement? When people succeed, it is entirely because of hard work. Luck has nothing to do with their success. Use specific reasons and examples to explain your position.

Do you agree or disagree with the following statement? Nowadays, it is better for children to grow up in the countryside than in a large city. Use specific reasons and examples to develop your essay.

Do you agree or disagree with the following statement? Human activity is making the earth a worse place to live. Use specific reasons and examples to support your answer.

In twenty years there will be fewer cars in use than there are today. Do you agree or disagree?

Do you agree or disagree with the following statement? People today spend too much time on personal enjoyment, and not enough time on more serious duties and obligations. Use specific reasons and examples to support your answer

Do you agree or disagree with the following statement? My lifestyle is easier and more comfortable than the one my grandparents experienced when they were young. Use specific reasons and examples to support your choice. Be sure to use your own words. Do not use memorized examples.

Do you agree or disagree with the following statement? Sometimes it is better to be dishonest. Use specific reasons and details to support your answer.

Do you agree or disagree with the following statement? Parents are the best teachers. Use specific reasons and examples to support your answer.

Do you agree or disagree with the following statement? The knowledge we gain from our personal experiences is more valuable than the knowledge we gain from books. Use specific reasons and examples to support your answer. Do not use memorized examples.

Do you agree or disagree with the following statement? Students do not respect their teachers as much as they did in the past. Use specific reasons and examples to support your answer.

Do you agree or disagree with the following statement? Most of the biggest problems in the world will be solved in the next few decades. Use details and examples to support your answer.

Question 18 (new)

Do you agree or disagree with the following statement? “People should keep trying to reach their goals, even if they seem impossible to achieve.” Use specific reasons and examples to explain your position.

Question 19 (new)

It is beneficial for people to spend some time living in a country where they must speak a foreign language. Do you agree or disagree? Use specific reasons and examples to support your opinion.

Question 20 (new)

Friends have more impact on the academic performance of students than their teachers do. Do you agree or disagree? Use details and examples to support your opinion.

Multiple Choice Style TOEFL Essays

This style is also very common.

Neighbors are the people who live near us. In your opinion, what type of neighbor is the best to have?

Use specific details and examples in your answer.

When you face a difficult problem in life, what do you feel is the best way to solve it?

Use specific details and examples in your answer. Do not use memorized examples.

In general, people are living longer now. Which of the following do you think accounts for this phenomenon?

Use specific details and examples in your answer. You may choose more than one cause.

People have a lot of opinions about the value of advanced education. Which do you think is the most important reason to attend college or university? Use reasons and examples to support your answer.

Use specific details and examples in your answer.

Imagine you could improve the town where you live by changing one important thing about it. Which of the following would you choose to do?

These days, people enjoy a lot of time away from their work and school obligations. Many people use this time to visit new places and learn about them. What do you think is the best way to learn about a place you are visiting for the first time?

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

People in society work in many different settings, and for a variety of reasons. What do you think is the main reason why people have jobs?

Use specific examples and details to support your answer.

Everyone wants to be as healthy as possible. Fortunately, in modern society there are many things that people can do to improve their physical condition. What do you think is the best way to stay healthy?

Use specific reasons and examples to support your answer.

The people we work with have many different characteristics and all of them affect the quality of our time at work. Of the following, what do you think is the most important quality for a boss or supervisor to have?

You may choose more than one. Use specific details and examples in your answer.

All around the world, people are living longer than ever before. Which of the following do you think are the main causes of this phenomenon? You may choose more than one option.

Use specific reasons and details to develop your essay. Do not use memorized examples. (version 2)

During our careers, we work with many different kinds of people. All of them have unique characteristics and personality traits. In your opinion, which of the following is the most important characteristic of a coworker?

You may choose more than one of these options. Use reasons and specific examples to explain your answer. Do not use memorized examples.

If parents want their children to succeed in the future, which of the following things should they teach them?

Question 33 (new)

When employees feel that the management of their company is doing something wrong, what do you think is the best way for them to respond?

Question 34 (new)

What do you think is the best way for the government of your country to improve the environment?

Preference Style TOEFL Essays

Some students prefer classes with frequent discussions between the professor and the students with almost no lectures. Other students prefer classes with many lectures and almost no discussions. Which do you prefer? Use specific reasons and examples to support your answer.

Some people like to travel with a companion. Other people prefer to travel alone. Which do you prefer? Use specific reasons and examples to support your choice.

Some people think that the government should use extra money to fund programs to improve the environment. Others think that it is better for the government to spend money to support artistic programs. Which option do you prefer? Use specific reasons and examples to support your answer.

Some people like to spend their money as soon as they earn it, while others think it is better to save their money for some time in the future. Which do you prefer? Use specific reasons and examples to support your opinion. Do not use memorized examples.

Some people prefer to live in a small town. Others prefer to live in a big city. Which place would you prefer to live in? Use specific reasons and details to support your answer.

Some students prefer to study and do homework alone. Others prefer to study and work on class assignments with a group of fellow students. Which do you prefer? Use specific reasons and examples to support your answer.

Some people prefer to eat meals at restaurants, while others prefer to prepare and eat food in their own home. Which do you prefer? Use specific reasons and examples to support your answer.

Some people think the best way to learn new things is to study them alone. Others think that it is always better to get help from a skilled teacher. Which do you prefer? Use specific reasons to support your choice.

A large company wants to train its employees to use new techniques. Which is the best way to train the workers?

Question 44 (new)

Some people prefer to travel in their own country when they have some time off. Others think that it is better to take a trip to a foreign country. Which do you prefer? Use specific reasons to support your choice.

Imaginary Situation TOEFL Essays

This style is less common.

Imagine that the administrators of a university are revising their budget and have decided to change their funding priorities. As a result, the university will now spend more money on sports and athletic facilities than they do on the campus libraries. Do you think this is a good idea? Why or why not? Use specific reasons and examples to explain your position.

Imagine that it has been announced that a large shopping center will open in your neighborhood and you are being asked your opinion. Would you support or oppose its construction? Use specific reasons and details to support your answer.

It is very important for students to learn as much as possible before their graduation from university. For this reason, many schools require students to attend all of their classes in person in order to achieve a passing grade. Do you agree or disagree with this kind of policy? Use specific reasons and examples to support your argument.

Consider a situation where you are required to learn a challenging new skill. You could learn this skills from someone above you, like a boss or supervisor. Or you could be taught the skills by someone at your own level, like a classmate or colleague. Which would you prefer?

Imagine that you must make an important decision that will have a major impact on the rest of your life. You could make the decision entirely on your own, or ask someone to help you make it. Which would you choose? Use specific reasons and examples to support your choice.

Consider a situation where you are asked by your supervisor to work with one of your coworkers on a project. This coworker has opinions that are very different from yours and they feel very strongly about these opinions. Do you think this is a good idea? Use reasons and examples to support your answer.

Imagine that your city government has given permission for a major company to build a large factory near your neighborhood. Do you think this is a good idea? Why or why not? Explain your position using specific reasons and examples.

Consider a situation where you are working in a company and are unable to finish an important assignment before a deadline. What do you think is the best thing to do in this case – submit the assignment before it is completed, or wait until it is finished and submit it after the deadline?

Imagine that you are graduating from high school and have been offered a complete scholarship at a university that is located in another country, far from your friends and family. Would you accept this offer, or would you try to attend a university closer to home?

Sample TOEFL Integrated Essays

Essays with the reading and lecture.

More Integrated Essays

These essays are all based on questions from famous books. I can’t give you the reading and listening, but you might like looking at their structure and organization.

TOEFL Writing Guides and Templates

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TOEFL Writing Task 2 Question with Model Answer

toefl writing sample responses

Today, we’re going to look at a TOEFL Writing Task 2 question, with a model answer. From there, we’ll analyze an important dimension of TOEFL Writing Task 2 responses: grammar, with a focus on the often important use of “if” clauses. Finally, we’ll look at how the model answer– which is fairly well written as-is– can be revised to be even stronger, with greater grammar variety.

Table of Contents

Sample toefl writing task 2 prompt.

So, let’s get to work! Here is the sample TOEFL Writing Task 2 question:

Do you agree or disagree with the following statement? The Internet causes people to interact with each other less than they did in the past. Use specific reasons to support your answers.

Before you look at the sample response below, you may want to write your own practice response to the prompt, which you can then compare to the model response below. If you do decide to practice with this prompt, you can make your practice especially authentic by giving yourself the same 30-minute time limit you’d get on test day. (But if you’re not ready to write that quickly just yet, untimed practice is very valuable too!)

And now, here is an example response that uses “if” statements (with the word if in bold ). In this model answer, I’ve chosen to agree with the statement in the task prompt.

TOEFL Independent Writing Model Answer

TOEFL Writing Task 2 Internet

Internet technology has revolutionized the way we live. Now, more than ever, we have so much information and media at our fingertips. The ability to look up any information, watch any TV show, or listen to any music from the comfort of our own homes actually has some disadvantages. I agree with the idea that the Internet is causing people to be less social.

One of the reasons the Internet causes us to interact with others less is that it makes many public gathering places obsolete. Libraries used to be popular places for community events. But if people in a community can find entire books online in PDF, they won’t interact with each other at libraries as much anymore. Schools and workplaces are moving onto the Internet too. More and more, people get online degrees or use their Internet connections to work from home. If people take this Internet route to work and school, they miss out on the friendship and human interaction they’d normally get in class or at their jobs.

Some could argue that the Internet allows people to meet and interact electronically. But this is still less social than non-Internet meetings. If people stay at home and use the Internet to try to find a date for instance, they no longer look for love in truly social environments, like coffee shop or public park. Also, if most of your interactions with your friends are online, you don’t get to hear your friends’ voices or see their faces nearly as often.

Ultimately, the Internet leads people to isolate themselves from others, staying at home instead of going out. Moreover, human interaction on the Internet is not as personal as face-to-face meetings between people. The Internet has some benefits, but it really does cause us to be less social.

Practice for your TOEFL exam with Magoosh.

A Closer Look at “If” Statements” for this Prompt

In TOEFL independent writing, statements with “if” in them are often useful. “If” statements can help you give good supporting details for your opinions.

How “if” statements work in general

In English, the word “if” is used in statements called conditionals . There are a few different possible grammar structures for conditional if statements. You can go over these structures in Kate’s review of conditionals if you want. But for this post, all you need to know about if statements is that they demonstrate cause and effect . To give one very simple example, I can tell you that if you read this post, you will learn something new about TOEFL Independent Writing. (Reading this blog post is a cause , and learning something new is the effect .)

How “if” statements work in TOEFL Independent Writing

In TOEFL Independent writing, you’re asked to express and support an opinion about a social issue. One of the best ways to support an opinion about society is to talk about what must be true if you are correct.

Suppose, for instance, that you strongly feel that governments need to make regulations to reduce pollution. You could say that if governments don’t make good laws, pollution will increase. On the other hand, you might feel that individual people need to make better decisions that reduce pollution. In that case, you could support your opinion by making a statement such as “ If people make more of an effort to recycle and if people are more willing to use public transportation, we can have less pollution.”

In short, by using “if” to support your opinion, you encourage your reader to imagine situations that demonstrate your points.

Examples of if statements in a TOEFL Independent Writing response

Now, let’s look at some if statements that could be used in a response to the actual TOEFL Task 2 question you saw at the beginning of thi post. Let’s take another look at this TOEFL Writing Task 2 prompt:

Do you agree or disagree with the following statement? The Internet causes people to interact with each other less than they did in the past. Use specific reasons to support your answers.

Like many TOEFL Independent Writing questions, you are being asked to take a side on an issue. No matter which side you take, you can use “if” statements to give examples that support your argument. Below are some possible statements for the agree and disagree options.

Using “if” statements in a full TOEFL Writing Task 2 response

These examples can help you think about how you might respond to the question above. Try writing your own answer to this Independent Writing question. Use the word “if” to give cause/effect details that support your opinion. You saw this grammar form many times in the model Task 2 esssay above. But wait, there’s more! Read on to see how the model essay I initially showed you can be made even better with more grammar variety.

Revising this Model Essay: It’s All About the Grammar!

Varied grammar is one of the important TOEFL Writing features, as listed on ETS’s official TOEFL Writing rubrics . Today, we’ll look at ways that you can add grammar variety to your TOEFL essays.

In TOEFL Independent Writing, it’s especially important to vary your grammar when you describe cause and effect. Cause and effect statements make for great supporting details in your TOEFL Independent Essay, because they help your reader picture situations that illustrate your claims.

Paraphrase if statements with varied grammar

The easiest way to describe cause and effect is by using “if.” For example, in a TOEFL essay about whether or not kids should be allowed to play computer games (as seen in Official TOEFL iBT Tests, Volume 2 ), you could say something like “ if kids play educational computer games, it can get them more excited about learning.”

Now, it’s possible to write a good TOEFL Writing Task 2 essay by using lots of “if” statements. But you increase your chances of writing a truly great essay–and getting a top score–by using more varied grammar.

The trick is to think of alternatives to the “if” phrases. This is really a form of paraphrasing . And below, I’ll show you how this kind of paraphrasing can work. I’ll give you a paraphrased version of the TOEFL Writing task 2 model answer I recently showed you .

In my original model answer, I used two if clauses in each body paragraph. In my revised essay below, I have paraphrased every “if” clause, so that all the if s are gone. This paraphrase is a bit extreme–in your own TOEFL Independent Writing, you don’t need to get rid of every if. After each body paragraph, you can see the if clauses that appeared in the original essay. Compare these originals to the revisions to see different ways of paraphrasing if statements.

TOEFL Independent Writing Model Response–Revised (no if s for cause and effect)

Internet technology has revolutionized the way we live. Now, more than ever, we have so much information and media at our fingertips. The ability to look up any information, watch any TV show, or listen to any music from the comfort of our own homes actually has some disadvantages. I agree with the idea that the Internet is causing people to be less social.

One of the reasons the Internet causes us to interact with others less is that it makes many public gathering places obsolete. Libraries used to be popular places for community events. Because community members can find entire books online in PDF, people don’t interact with each other at libraries as much anymore. Schools and workplaces are moving onto the Internet too. More and more, people get online degrees or use their Internet connections to work from home. This causes people to miss out on the friendship and human interaction they’d normally get in class or at their jobs.

Some could argue that the Internet allows people to meet and interact electronically. But this is still less social than non-Internet meetings. People who use Internet dating services, for example, just message people one at a time. This isn’t as social as trying to find a date in a coffee shop or at the park, where there are lots of people. And in Internet-based friendship, you don’t see a person in reality, and often communicate with them only in writing. As a result, people experience less personal interactions, even with their friends.

Ultimately, the Internet leads people to isolate themselves from others, staying at home instead of going out. Moreover, human interaction on the Internet through is not as personal as face-to-face meetings between people. The Internet has some benefits, but it really does cause us to be less social.

The Takeaway

Often, taking a side on a TOEFL Independent Writing issue is all about demonstrating cause and effect. You want to show the problems–or good things–that are caused by some kind of behavior or some social force. In the essay above, I described bad social effects that all have the same cause: the Internet.

I used “if” statements frequently in my writing, but in the conclusion, I summarized all my if s in a different way. Instead of using an “if…then” structure, I described cause and effect by saying “the Internet leads people to isolate themselves from others.” This is an if statement without the if ; it means the same thing as “if people use the Internet, they will isolate themselves from others.”

As you practice using cause and effect statements in your TOEFL Independent Writing, you should think of ways to show cause and effect both with and without if . Grammatical variety will make your ideas more interesting, and it’ll boost your TOEFL score. “If” clauses are one of the easiest grammar forms to use in cause and effect. So you could use “if” as a starting point for creating cause/effect statements in English. Then paraphrase some of your if statements so that you describe cause and effect in a variety of ways.

Follow-up TOEFL Writing Practice Activity

Write down a list of if statements. They don’t necessarily need to be ones you’d use in a specific TOEFL Independent Writing response. Then, after each if statement, write one or two paraphrases of the statement, getting rid of the word “if.” This exercise will help you describe cause-and-effect relationships in a variety of ways, and increase your chances of a top score in TOEFL Independent Writing.

Then, to study more sample TOEFL Task 2 responses, check out Magoosh’s complete guide to TOEFL model essays . And to practice woth some additional Task 2 prompts, check out Magoosh’s collection of TOEFL Writing topics .

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David is a Test Prep Expert for Magoosh TOEFL and IELTS. Additionally, he's helped students with TOEIC, PET, FCE, BULATS, Eiken, SAT, ACT, GRE, and GMAT. David has a BS from the University of Wisconsin-Eau Claire and an MA from the University of Wisconsin-River Falls. His work at Magoosh has been cited in many scholarly articles , his Master's Thesis is featured on the Reading with Pictures website, and he's presented at the WITESOL (link to PDF) and NAFSA conferences. David has taught K-12 ESL in South Korea as well as undergraduate English and MBA-level business English at American universities. He has also trained English teachers in America, Italy, and Peru. Come join David and the Magoosh team on Youtube , Facebook , and Instagram , or connect with him via LinkedIn !

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TOEFL Writing Task 1: The TOEFL Integrated Writing Practice Task

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TOEFL Sample Essays

TOEFL Sample Essays

The Test Of English as a Foreign Language ( TOEFL ) is an esteemed language proficiency exam undertaken by those planning to study abroad. TOEFL is amongst the widely accepted English proficiency tests and is conducted by the Educational Testing Service (ETS). It aims to assess candidates on four parameters, i.e. Reading , Writing, Speaking and Listening. To all the aspirants preparing to get their dream score in this exam, here is a blog to providing with various TOEFL sample essays and preparation tips for the writing section of the test.

This Blog Includes:

Toefl writing samples- task 1, toefl sample essays: writing task 2, toefl sample essay type, toefl sample essay list, toefl writing tips .

Recommended Read: TOEFL Registration

TOEFL Writing Task 1- TOEFL Integrated Writing Task

The first TOEFL Writing task is Integrated Writing. This task expects you to use your reading, writing and listening skills. In this, you first read a short passage for three minutes, then you listen to an audio clip of the speaker discussing the same passage. Now you get 20 minutes to respond to the question with reference from these two sources.

During your answer, you can read the passage again but cannot listen to the clip again. This section is marked from 0-5 and you will be judged not only on your writing skills but also on your reading and listening skills.

The following Sample is from the official website of TOEFL iBT :

Were Dinosaurs Endotherms?

Reading passage: .

Endotherms are animals such as modern birds and mammals that keep their body temperatures constant. For instance, humans are endotherms and maintain an internal temperature of 37°C, no matter whether the environment is warm or cold. Because dinosaurs were reptiles, and modern reptiles are not endotherms, it was long assumed that dinosaurs were not endotherms. However, dinosaurs differ in many ways from modern reptiles, and there is now considerable evidence that dinosaurs were, in fact, endotherms. Polar dinosaurs One reason for believing that dinosaurs were endotherms is that dinosaur fossils have been discovered in polar regions. Only animals that can maintain a temperature well above that of the surrounding environment could be active in such cold climates. Leg position and movement There is a connection between endothermy and the position and movement of the legs. The physiology of endothermy allows sustained physical activity, such as running. But running is efficient only if an animal’s legs are positioned underneath its body, not at the body’s side, as they are for crocodiles and many lizards. The legs of all modern endotherms are underneath the body, and so were the legs of dinosaurs. This strongly suggests that dinosaurs were endotherms. Haversian canals There is also a connection between endothermy and bone structure. The bones of endotherms usually include structures called Haversian canals. These canals house nerves and blood vessels that allow the living animal to grow quickly, and rapid body growth is a characteristic of endothermy. The presence of Haversian canals in bone is a strong indicator that the animal is an endotherm, and fossilized bones of dinosaurs are usually dense with Haversian canals.

[Narrator] Now listen to part of a lecture on the topic you just read about.

[Professor] Many scientists have problems with the arguments you read in the passage. They don’t think those arguments prove that dinosaurs were endotherms. Take the polar dinosaur argument. When dinosaurs lived, even the polar regions where dinosaur fossils have been found were much warmer than today—warm enough during part of the year for animals that were not endotherms to live. And during the months when the polar regions were cold, the so-called polar dinosaurs could have migrated to warmer areas or hibernated as many modern reptiles do. So the presence of dinosaur fossils in polar regions doesn’t prove the dinosaurs were endotherms. Well, what about the fact that dinosaurs had their legs placed under their bodies, not out to the side, like a crocodile’s? That doesn’t necessarily mean dinosaurs were high-energy endotherms built for running. There’s another explanation for having legs under the body: this body structure supports more weight. So with legs under their bodies, dinosaurs could grow to a very large size. Being largely had advantages for dinosaurs, so we don’t need the idea of endothermy and running to explain why dinosaurs evolved to have their legs under their bodies. OK, so how about bone structure? Many dinosaur bones do have Haversian canals, that’s true, but dinosaur bones also have growth rings. Growth rings are a thickening of the bone that indicates periods of time when the dinosaurs weren’t rapidly growing. These growth rings are evidence that dinosaurs stopped growing or grew more slowly during cooler periods. This pattern of periodic growth—you know, rapid growth followed by no growth or slow growth and then rapid growth again—is characteristic of animals that are not endotherms. Animals that maintain a constant body temperature year-round, as true endotherms do, grow rapidly even when the environment becomes cool.

Prompt: Summarize the points made in the lecture, being sure to explain how they challenge the specific points made in the reading passage.

Life on Mars

For years, scientists have been trying to discover whether life exists on Mars. Most have concluded that the Martian environment today is too harsh to support living organisms. However, three recent discoveries lend support to the idea that there may very well be life on Mars after all. First, large amounts of methane have been detected in the Martian atmosphere. This suggests the presence of living methanogens, tiny organisms that release methane into the atmosphere as a by-product of their life processes. Methanogens get their energy from hydrogen in rocks and do not need oxygen or sunlight to live, so they can survive in harsh environments like Mars. Since methane can remain in Mars’ atmosphere only for a few centuries after it’s created, these methanogens must be present and producing methane today.

Second, the existence of life on Mars is also strongly supported by a meteorite discovered in Antarctica in 1996. The particular chemical composition of this meteorite indicates that it is a rock from the surface of Mars. The meteorite also contains chemically pure and flawless crystals of the compound magnetite. Such magnetite crystals are produced in nature only by bacteria. Third, observations of hydrogen on Mars made in 2001 by NASA’s Mars Odyssey spacecraft suggest the presence of liquid water there that could support organisms. The spacecraft detected the hydrogen in the top layer of Martian soil. This hydrogen is just what one would expect if there were liquid water under the surface. A subterranean reservoir of liquid water is an extremely suitable environment for microscopic life.

Listening:

[Narrator] Now listen to part of a lecture on the topic you just read about.

[Professor] Mars is a very unfriendly place for life. The evidence that has been put forward as supporting there being life on Mars is actually very ambiguous. The facts as we know them can easily be accounted for without supposing life on Mars. First, methanogens are not necessarily the source of methane. Methane can be produced by non-biological processes like volcanic eruptions. The same experiments that detected the atmospheric methane also indicated recent volcano activity. Moreover, unlike methanogens, volcanoes have actually been found on Mars. So since no methanogens have been found yet, it’s more likely that volcanoes are the source of Mars’s methane. Second, while the magnetite crystals found in the meteorite from Mars were probably made by bacteria, there is no indication that the bacteria themselves originated on Mars. The meteorite arrived on Earth about 13,000 years ago, which means it has had thousands of years to become exposed to bacteria on Earth. So it could have been bacteria on Earth that formed the crystals we now observe. Indeed, recent research performed on the meteorite found that, in fact, it has become contaminated by Earth bacteria. Since the sample has been contaminated, the magnetite crystals on the meteorite cannot be used as evidence of life on Mars. Third, what about the supposed existence of liquid water near enough to the surface of Mars to support life? The recent investigations of Mars detected hydrogen; they didn’t detect liquid water per se. It’s actually much more likely that if there’s any water close to the Martian surface, it’s frozen; in other words, it’s ice, not liquid water. And that’s not a great environment for life.

Prompt: Summarize the points made in the lecture, being sure to explain how they cast doubt on the specific points made in the reading passage.

TOEFL Writing Task 2- TOEFL Independent Writing Task

The second task of the Writing Essay is the Independent Writing Task. In this, you will be asked a question on a particular topic or issue. You get 30 minutes to write your views on the topic and explain your opinion. You must give reasons for your opinion and it is recommended that you finish the answer in 300 words.

Also Read: TOEFL Sample Test

Now that you know the key tips and tricks, take a look at the following TOEFL sample essays to understand the format, structure and style of writing that will get you a higher score:

Q. Few people prefer to live in urban areas or big cities. While some like to live in small towns. Which place would you prefer to live in for the rest of your life? Support your answer with specific examples.

I was born and raised in a small town but moved to a big city to seek a quality education. Beginning my early schooling in a small town, I was eager to switch to a high-end school in a big city. After completing my undergraduate degree in an urban metropolis, I decided to settle down in the city itself.

In my opinion, both small towns and big cities have unavoidable problems of their own. Willingly or unwillingly, we are bound to adapt to the situations that affect living in such areas. Further, one can easily afford to have a lavish lifestyle in small towns. While on the other hand, availing luxuries doesn’t come easy to those living in big cities. Basic amenities are also readily accessible in an urban city while it is not feasible for people living in remote areas to get a hold of the fundamental necessities especially, in times of emergency.

Moreover, there are more career opportunities available to those living in urban areas. I am fond of the challenges that I face living in a big city as conquering one makes me explore something new about myself. On the contrary, the setup of rural areas may develop a feeling of being content with lesser luxuries.

Whether one is living in a metropolis or a small town, both these two come with their own advantages and disadvantages. I love the bustling life that a big city experiences as well as the thrill of new challenges that it presents me with which seems far better to me rather than spending a monotonous life in small city.

Exploring TOEFL Sample Essays? You must also check out IELTS Sample Essays !

Q. Some students align with the idea of early morning studies while some feel nights are more peaceful to study. Which of the two is your preferred mode of study?

“Early to bed and early to rise, makes a man healthy, wealthy and wise”. This common saying beautifully describes the advantages of starting your day by waking up early in the morning. Getting up with a fresh mind motivates you to kickstart your studies in the right way. The early morning time rejuvenates your senses thus accentuating your focus as well as memory retention. On the other hand, starting your preparation late in the night with a tired brain might not work in your favour. An early morning walk or exercise before starting your course of the day can work as the cherry on top. I have always made it a rule to start my studies early in the morning with an awake mind instead of purposely keeping myself up for late nights.

Here is a type of Questions that can be asked in the Independent Writing Task:

The writing section is an integral part of language proficiency assessments. Thus, it becomes important to work on your writing skills as well as vocabulary and grammar before appearing for the exam. Here are the best TOEFL preparation tips for the writing section which will surely help you gain your desired score:

There are a few things to keep in mind as you write the body paragraphs: Use a mix of simple, compound and complex sentences. Emphasize the examples. … Avoid very short sentences (less than seven words) and very long sentences (more than 60 words). Don’t start sentences with coordinating conjunctions.

The introduction is the most important paragraph of your TOEFL essay. The first paragraph of the essay. Usually 3 to 5 sentences long. Introduces the essay topic. Clearly gives your opinion. Has a strong thesis statement.

You can use percentiles to determine what a “good” TOEFL Writing score is. You might define “good” as anything that’s above average, or the 50th percentile. Using that definition, any scaled Writing score higher than 22 would be a good score.

Hopefully, these TOEFL sample essays have helped you get a better idea about the writing style required to ace this examination. Reach out to our Leverage Edu experts and we will impart you with the best preparation tips and strategies that can help you get your dream score in your chosen English proficiency exam.

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IMAGES

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How to Ace the TOEFL Writing Section: 7 Expert Tips • PrepScholar TOEFL
Sample TOEFL Essay in 2021

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TOEFL SPEAKING SCORE 26(Real Time Sample Responses- female)
TOEFL PREPARATION Lesson Three (ARTICLES)
TOEFL Section 2 practice 7
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TOEFL Independent Writing
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2 Perfect-Scoring TOEFL Writing Samples ... - PrepScholar
TOEFL iBT Writing Sample Responses This resource contains several sample essays (including the two sample responses used above). The essays from on this site received different scores as well as analysis of why they received the score they did.
TOEFL Writing Sample Responses
TOEFL® iBT Writing Sample Responses There are two writing tasks on the next generation TOEFL Internet-based test (iBT). The first is an integrated task that requires test takers to read, listen, and then write in response to what they have read and heard. The second is an independent task where test takers support an opinion on a topic.
TOEFL iBT® Writing Practice Questions - ETS Home
Writing Practice Set 2 (Independent): Response Tips To earn a top score, you should develop a multi-paragraph essay that responds to the issue of whether TV advertising directed at young children should be permitted.
TOEFL iBT Writing Practice Sets (For Test Takers)
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
TOEFL Writing Questions (2023 edition) – Sample Essays and ...
Sample TOEFL Independent Essays Agree/Disagree Style TOEFL Essays This is the most common essay style. Question 1 Do you agree or disagree with the following statement? Overall, the widespread use of the internet has a mostly positive effect on life in today’s world. Question 2 Do you agree or disagree with the following statement?
TOEFL Writing Sample Essays - Free Lessons to Improve Your ...
In the following section, we will provide you with TOEFL writing sample questions, sample writing responses, and useful writing templates for each of them. TOEFL Integrated Writing Task: Scenario 1 - Contradiction This scenario is the most common scenario.
TOEFL Writing Task 2 Question with Model Answer
Using “if” statements in a full TOEFL Writing Task 2 response These examples can help you think about how you might respond to the question above. Try writing your own answer to this Independent Writing question. Use the word “if” to give cause/effect details that support your opinion.
TOEFL Sample Essays: Writing Topics & Samples | Leverage Edu
TOEFL Sample Essay Type Here is a type of Questions that can be asked in the Independent Writing Task: Motion For or Against a Topic Explaining both sides of a topic Choosing your stance from different options TOEFL Sample Essay List What are your observations on the effects of widespread use of the internet?