TOEFL Writing Section With Samples 2025

TOEFL Test format consists of four sections to assess the candidate's Reading, listening, writing, and speaking ability. 

The test duration lasts 116 minutes in which the candidate has to answer 48 questions and perform 6 additional tasks. Here is a brief overview of the TOEFL Test format.

The TOEFL Writing Section measures how well you write in an academic setting and express your views and ideas in an organized way. Candidates need to perform 2 tasks in the TOEFL writing section, the Integrated writing task is the first one followed by the second one called TOEFL Writing for an Academic Discussion task. It is advised to practice some TOEFL writing samples with answers to confidently answer the questions in the TOEFL Writing section. 

• Integrated Writing Task (20 minutes): Read the passage and listen to the lecture, then write a response based on both.
• Writing for Academic Discussion (10 min): Share your opinion in the online discussion and back it up with reasoning, typing your response on the keyboard.

The TOEFL Writing section is an important part of the exam and can help you score decent marks once you start Practicing TOEFL writing samples with answers and following some tips. Here are some tips you can follow to increase your TOEFL Writing section score.

Here is an example of a TOEFL test writing sample for the Integrated Test.

There will be a passage of approximately 300 words. You are allowed 3 minutes to read the passage. There will be an audio related to the same topic, it is advised to take notes of the key points of the passage and audio. Follow these instructions for your practice.

Passage:

In many organizations, the most effective way to approach certain new projects is by forming a team. Assembling a group offers several benefits. First, a team brings together a broader range of knowledge, expertise, and skills than any single person could have on their own. Additionally, with more people and resources at their disposal, a team can respond more quickly to challenges and generate more creative solutions. Often, the collective nature of the group encourages risk-taking, as the responsibility for decisions is shared, making individuals more willing to take chances that they might avoid alone.

Being part of a team can also be highly rewarding for its members. When individuals contribute to decision-making, they are more likely to feel invested in the outcomes and motivated to carry out the tasks involved. Furthermore, team members have greater opportunities to stand out and have their contributions recognized. Because the results of a team’s work can be more far-reaching and impactful, individual ideas and efforts are often seen as more significant than if they were carried out in isolation.

Listening:

Let me tell you about a company that decided to assign some of its new projects to teams, giving them full responsibility for planning and executing the work. After six months, the company reviewed the teams' performance and found some unexpected results. In almost every team, there were members who contributed very little but still reaped the benefits if the team succeeded. Conversely, the members who put in significant effort and offered valuable insights didn’t receive individual recognition the credit went to the team as a whole, with no specific names mentioned. As you might imagine, the more active contributors were frustrated by this lack of acknowledgment, which went against the idealized view of teamwork where everyone's contributions are appreciated.

Another issue the company discovered was that some projects moved very slowly because the team spent too much time trying to reach a consensus. Countless meetings were needed to get everyone on the same page, delaying progress. Conversely, in other situations, one or two dominant individuals took control, influencing the direction of the project. For example, if these influencers dismissed an idea with a quick “That will never work,” the rest of the group often dropped the idea without further discussion. In some cases, these influencers convinced the team that their plans were "highly creative"—even when some team members raised concerns about potential issues. Sadly, those warnings were ignored. As you might expect, when the project ultimately failed, the blame was spread across the entire team.

Directions:

Candidates are allotted 20 minutes to plan and write their responses. Responses will be judged based on quality, coherence, grammar, vocabulary, and content relevance. An effective response can range between 150 to 250 words.

TOEFL Writing Task 1 Sample Answers

The lecturer discusses research conducted by a company that implemented a group-based approach to handling projects. He highlights several ways in which the real-world outcomes differed from the theory presented in the passage.

First, some team members took advantage of the system by contributing very little, yet still receiving recognition if the project succeeded. This means that those who worked hard and offered valuable insights didn’t receive the recognition they deserved. In other words, they weren’t given the opportunity to "shine," which directly contradicts the passage’s suggestion that group work helps individual contributions stand out.

Second, the lecturer notes that groups were actually slower in making progress than individuals. While the passage argues that groups are more responsive and efficient due to the combined knowledge and resources of multiple people, the lecturer points out that the company found decision-making to be slow. Groups needed extensive meetings to build consensus, which delayed progress, again contradicting the passage’s claim that groups are quicker and more efficient.

Third, the lecturer discusses how influential individuals within a group can steer the team toward success or failure. While having strong leaders can benefit a project, if those individuals lead the group in the wrong direction, there’s often no one with enough influence to challenge their decisions. This can turn the group dynamic into something resembling a dictatorship, where the dominant voices shape the outcome, potentially leading the team down a narrow, one-sided path. This lack of flexibility can result in failure, showing another way, the group process can fall short of the ideal presented in the passage.

TOEFL Writing Task 2 Sample Answers

This task simulates a discussion board on a university website, where candidates see questions posted by a professor along with two student responses. Students are expected to read the question and responses to frame their own answer within the allotted time i.e. 10 minutes. Candidates must have to write a 100-word answer on the dashboard, a word counter will be displayed on the screen as they write. Candidates can see the questions and responses while writing the answer which eliminates the need to take notes.

Sample:

Write a post on the professor’s question about a class on Ecology.

Your Response Should Include

• Support to your opinion
• Contribute to the discussion

An effective essay contains at least 100 words.

As our cities and industries continue to expand, we face the challenge of balancing human needs with environmental conservation. Some argue that land should primarily be used for farmland, housing, and industry, rather than setting it aside for endangered species. Do you think human development should take precedence over protecting wildlife habitats, or is it possible to prioritize both human needs and the preservation of endangered species? How can we find a balance between the two?

Response 1:

‍Hey everyone! I believe it's important to strike a balance. While farmland, housing, and industry are essential for our survival and economic development, we must also recognize our responsibility to protect endangered species. By safeguarding their habitats, we help maintain the balance of ecosystems, which ultimately benefits both wildlife and human communities.

Response 2:

‍Hey everyone, I believe it's really important to find a balanced approach in this discussion. While it's essential to meet our basic needs, such as housing and agriculture, we must also recognize that we share the planet with other species. We can't justify compromising their right to exist simply for our convenience. It's crucial to consider both human and environmental needs as we plan for the future.

Answer: 

I believe it is essential to strike a balance between human development and environmental preservation. While it’s true that we need land for housing, farming, and industry to support growing populations and economies, we must also recognize that healthy ecosystems are critical for our long-term survival. Endangered animals play vital roles in maintaining ecological stability, such as pollination and pest control, and their extinction can disrupt these processes with far-reaching consequences. Rather than viewing conservation as an obstacle to progress, we should approach development in a way that minimizes harm to natural habitats. By adopting sustainable practices like responsible land use and protecting key wildlife areas we can meet human needs without compromising biodiversity. Ultimately, preserving both human well-being and the natural environment should not be seen as opposing goals, but as interconnected priorities that support the overall health of the planet.

The TOEFL marking scheme for the writing section varies for integrated and academic writing tasks, though their score ranges from 0 to 5. The marking scheme for the TOEFL integrated task is given below.

Scoring Rubric for TOEFL Integrated Writing Section

Scoring Rubric for TOEFL Academic Writing Section

The TOEFL writing section assesses a candidate's ability to write in English at an academic setting, which is essential for success in universities. Achieving a good score on this section is crucial for students aiming to study abroad. To improve their chances of success, applicants must familiarize themselves with the TOEFL writing score system, test structure, and marking criteria. Understanding these components and practicing some TOEFL writing samples with answers can help students focus on the areas that matter most, allowing them to demonstrate their writing skills effectively and increase their likelihood of passing the exam.

1. How To Practice for the TOEFL Writing section?

The TOEFL Writing section can be daunting for candidates, but preparing for some TOEFL writing samples with answers and practicing taking notes can help in getting good scores.

2. Can I score 30 in the TOEFL Writing section?

Scoring 30 can be achieved with A well-organized independent essay, approximately 400 words in length, with a clear, relevant argument and flawless grammar and language. Practicing some TOEFL test writing samples with answers can help in scoring 30.

3. Is the Writing Section in TOEFL Hard?

The writing section in the TOEFL exam is considered hard because of its demand to present well-organized, clear ideas within a short time frame. 

4. Which exam is comparatively tougher among TOEFL and IELTS?

Though the toughness of the exams is subjective, candidates often consider TOEFL to be tougher compared to IELTS.

5. Is the TOEFL exam easier for Indian students?

The difficulty of the TOEFL varies from person to person. However, many Indian students find it challenging because of its distinct format and focus on academic English. Referring to some TOEFL writing samples with answers can help them ace the exam.