toefl words for essay

9 Engaging TOEFL Writing Samples to Hone Your Skills

Struggling to weave words that score high on the TOEFL writing section? You’re not alone.

This concise guide laces your preparation with TOEFL writing samples —your key to unlocking eloquence and precision in your test responses.

Excel in crafting essays that resonate with evaluators, using these exemplary models.

1. Capturing the TOEFL Integrated Writing Essence

2. excelling at independent toefl essay writing, 3. where to uncover more toefl writing examples, 4. analyzing toefl writing samples: a review strategy, 5. templates: simplifying the toefl writing process, 6. tips and tricks from toefl writing veterans, 7. mastering toefl integrated writing topics, 8. tackling the toefl independent writing challenges, 9. practicing your writing skills with sample prompts, toefl writing guidelines and evaluation criteria, leveraging writing samples beyond the toefl, conclusion: fine-tuning your toefl writing mastery.

When approaching the intriguing challenge of the TOEFL Integrated Writing task, the essence lies in harmonizing diverse sources of information into one cogent piece. Here’s a closer look at a top-scoring TOEFL writing sample:

• Synchronization of Ideas: The sample excels at integrating concepts from the reading and listening passages. It doesn’t just summarize the points but rather compares, contrasts, and connects them thoughtfully.
• Language Precision: Linguistic accuracy is pivotal. Notice how the writing uses complex sentence structures without compromising clarity.
• Cohesion and Coherence: Seamless transitions maintain the argument’s flow. The use of conjunctions and transitional phrases like “ however ” is artful, ensuring that each paragraph smoothly leads to the next.

By examining this top-scoring example , you can better understand how to create a composite narrative that stands up to stringent assessment.

Shifting gears to the Independent Writing task, this is your chance to shine – your argument, your structure, your voice. A high-scoring independent writing sample charts a path for success:

• Strong Introduction: It opens with a clear thesis statement that sets a compelling direction.
• Logical Development: Each paragraph presents a distinct but connected idea, reinforcing the central argument.
• Rich Examples: Concrete examples ensure your arguments resound with credibility and weight.
• Stylistic Fluency: The sample radiates linguistic finesse, sporting a range of vocabulary without appearing forced.

An effective strategy is to dissect writing samples that have aced the test. Analyze their structure and the techniques they employ in articulating persuasively held viewpoints.

Variety is the spice of language learning, and you’ll find a plethora of TOEFL writing samples online. Sources that could enrich your preparation include:

• Official Test Prep: A treasure trove of authentic material can be found on official TOEFL prep sites, ensuring you’re practicing with examples that accurately reflect the exam standards.
• Educational Platforms: Websites specializing in standardized test preparation often publish high-quality, evaluated samples accompanied by insightful analysis.

Embark on a quest to uncover more writing examples to help you master the art of writing essays that resonate with the TOEFL’s evaluation criteria.

Harness the power of reflection to elevate your writing. As you review TOEFL writing samples, employ strategies that seasoned language educators recommend:

• Organization Scrutiny: Examine how sample essays are structured, and identify the scaffolding of strong introductions, supporting paragraphs, and conclusive endings.
• Contrast and Compare: Zero in on the usage of contrast words, like “ however ,” which signify the writer’s ability to weave nuanced discussions.
• Grammar and Syntax: Pay particular attention to grammatical precision. Sample essays often illustrate complex entities like compound sentences that lead to higher language proficiency without sacrificing accuracy.

Delving into the intricacies of samples will arm you with the know-how to replicate success elements in your own writing endeavors.

Templates: they’re like blueprints for your TOEFL essays, providing a clear outline to follow for both integrated and independent tasks. Consider utilizing templates to:

• Structure your response: Following a template ensures all necessary components are present, making your essay complete and coherent.
• Streamline your writing: With a blueprint at hand, your focus can remain on expressing your ideas rather than worrying about the essay’s format.
• Gain confidence: Having a go-to structure can bolster your writing confidence, knowing you have a tried-and-tested formula backing you up.

For practical templates that can simplify your writing process, you may find the suggestions on TOEFL Resources particularly helpful.

Every athlete has a coach, and every successful TOEFL candidate has a slew of tactics up their sleeve. Here are some insider tips:

• Effective Note-Taking: Learning the art of jotting down quick, useful notes from passages can be a game-changer for your integrated writing task.
• Transitional Phrasings: Using phrases that bridge thoughts and ideas gives your essay a polished, expert feel, much like threading beads on a string.
• Mindful Time Management: Watching the clock is essential. Allocate your writing and review time efficiently to ensure a finished, well-polished submission.

Gleaning advice from those who’ve achieved high scores will provide a wealth of actionable writing tips and strategies to enhance your own performance.

Crafting a stellar response for the TOEFL Integrated Writing task first begins with a keen understanding of the topics you may encounter. While the topics are wide-ranging and sourced from various academic subjects, the primary goal stays constant: to sieve through the given resources and create a unified, coherent critique.

Typical themes could range from business dynamics to environmental policies, all the way to nuances in artistic movements. Here’s how you can prepare for any curveball:

• Stay Informed: Regularly read up on general knowledge subjects. The more informed you are, the more angles you’ll find to approach the integrated writing task.
• Practice Synthesis: Learn to quickly identify key points from reading and listening sources and integrate them using comparative language.
• Develop Critical Thinking: Go beyond surface-level comprehension. Assess the reading and listening material critically to make compelling arguments.

Understand that TOEFL writing samples serve as archetypes—steep yourself in their strategies, yet always be prepared to apply your own intellect to unique topics.

Indeed, TOEFL Independent Writing offers its unique set of challenges. Your opinion is the helmsman, steering the essay’s direction amidst the turbulent tides of ideas and elaboration. What common pitfalls might you face, and how can you triumphantly bypass them? Consider the following:

• Overly Complex Language: Clarity trumps complexity. It’s tempting to use sophisticated language, but if it muddles the clarity of your argument, it’s counterproductive.
• Insufficient Support: An opinion isn’t enough; your statements must be substantiated with relevant examples and explanations.
• Wavering Off-Topic: Remain vigilant in ensuring your essay stays tightly aligned with the assigned topic, resisting the drift into irrelevant tangents.

Nurturing the knack to sidestep these pitfalls comes from immersing yourself in exemplary TOEFL writing that exemplify the balance between complexity and clarity, while anchoring firmly to the topic.

To hone your skills effectively, what could be better than diving headfirst into practice? Find solace in the plethora of TOEFL writing samples and prompts available:

• Brainstorm and Outline: Before free-writing, take a moment to brainstorm and create a structured outline for each prompt.
• Timed Writing Sessions: Simulate test conditions by timing yourself, which will also aid in managing exam anxiety.
• Peer Review: Swap essays with fellow TOEFL hopefuls or use online forums. Fresh eyes on your work can provide valuable feedback.

Equip yourself with a plethora of TOEFL Independent Writing topics to kickstart your focused writing practice sessions.

Grasping the TOEFL writing samples is one part of the journey—understanding how they are evaluated is another mile to tread. What exactly are evaluators looking for in your essay to deem it as high-scoring?

• Focused and Coherent Responses: Your writing should signify clear, purposeful leadership toward a central idea.
• Language Usage : Mastery of English language conventions is vital—the more control you have over your linguistic tools, the finer the craftsmanship of your essay.
• Development and Support : Adequate examples and clear reasoning solidify your arguments, indicating depth in your understanding and expression.

Plunge deeper into the specifics of what makes a TOEFL essay transcend average quality; study the official scoring rubrics thoroughly to see through the lens of an evaluator.

The mastery achieved through dissecting TOEFL writing samples can transcend test day; you’re essentially honing a lifelong skill set. The clarity, coherence, and persuasiveness you labor over for your TOEFL essay are not merely for exam halls:

• Academic Endeavors: Essays, research papers, and dissertations will demand the same structured thought and command over language.
• Professional Aspirations: In the workplace, you’ll find that the ability to clearly articulate information is invaluable, from emails to reports to presentations.

Embrace the practice with TOEFL writing samples as a foundational exercise that fortifies your general English writing proficiency , carving a path of eloquence in both academic and professional landscapes.

Refining your TOEFL writing skills is an ongoing process—a harmonious blend of studying exemplary TOEFL writing samples and diligently practicing what you acquire from each analysis. Imprint upon your mind the ethos that each writing task is not only a testament to your English language abilities but also a stepping stone to greater academic and professional writing prowess.

Revisit the templates, prod the prompts, scrutinize the samples and, most importantly, acquaint yourself with the intricate tapestry of evaluation criteria. With each paragraph you compose, remember that you are knitting together strands of skills that will extend far beyond the TOEFL exam.

Finesse in TOEFL writing is a quiet herald of victories to come, both on your score reports and in the many chapters of your educational and career ambitions that lie ahead.

Toefl writing samples explored: Enhance your test preparation with our collection of model essays and effective writing strategies.

TOEFL iBT ®

The premier test of academic English communication

TOEFL iBT Test Writing Section

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.
• Writing for an Academic Discussion task (10 minutes) — state and support an opinion in an online classroom discussion.

You'll type your responses on a computer keyboard.

Test time:  It should take about 29 minutes to complete the Writing section.

Scoring: Writing tasks are scored based on the  Writing Scoring Guides (Rubrics) (PDF)  by a combination of AI scoring and certified human raters. Raw scores are converted to a scaled section score of 0–30.

Practice Your Writing Skills

Explore a variety of official prep offerings to practice your English-writing skills with TOEFL ® TestReady ™ . Get insights and feedback on your grammar, usage, mechanics and more.

Writing videos

Watch these videos to learn about the questions in the Writing section, plus helpful tips.

Question 1: Integrated Writing

Read a passage and listen to a lecture. Then write a response comparing them.

View Transcript

Question 2: Writing for an Academic Discussion

Share your opinion in an online discussion with a professor and other students.

Do you need to be an expert on the topics?

The writing tasks measure your English proficiency, so you don't need deep knowledge on a specific topic to get a high score. Score raters recognize that each essay is a first draft, and you can receive a high score with an essay that contains some errors.

How the Essay is Evaluated

• Development: How well you have developed your ideas and arguments.
• Organization: How well your essay is organized and structured.
• Language Use: How effectively you use grammar, vocabulary, and syntax to convey your ideas.
• Mechanics: How well you use punctuation, capitalization, and spelling.
• Overall Writing Quality: How well your essay meets the expectations of a proficient writer.

Understanding the Scoring Criteria

• Task Completion: This measures how well you have addressed the prompt and completed the task.
• Language Use: This assesses your ability to use a wide range of vocabulary and grammatical structures accurately and appropriately.
• Coherence and Cohesion: This evaluates how well you have organized your essay and used transition words and phrases to connect your ideas.
• Development and Support: This measures how well you have developed your ideas and provided appropriate examples and details to support them.

How the Criteria are Evaluated

• Addresses the prompt fully and directly
• Uses a variety of sentence structures and vocabulary words
• Has a clear and well-organized structure
• Uses transition words and phrases effectively
• Provides specific examples and details to support ideas

Best Practices for Preparing for the Independent Writing Task in TOEFL

1. emphasize practice and preparation.

• Allocate enough time for practicing writing in English before the test date
• Use official practice materials from ETS or reliable sources to practice writing
• Take timed practice tests to improve your time management and get accustomed to writing under pressure
• Identify your strengths and weaknesses and work on them through targeted practice
• Get feedback on your writing from a teacher or tutor, and use it to improve your skills

2. Tips for Brainstorming and Outlining

• Read the prompt carefully and identify the key points and requirements
• Brainstorm ideas related to the prompt and write them down
• Organize your ideas into a logical and coherent structure using an outline
• Include specific details and examples to support your ideas
• Ensure that your ideas are relevant to the prompt and answer the question directly

3. Importance of Developing a Clear and Concise Thesis Statement

• A thesis statement is the main point or argument that you will be making in your essay
• Developing a clear and concise thesis statement helps you stay focused and on-topic
• Your thesis statement should be included in your introduction paragraph and should be easy to understand
• Your thesis statement should directly address the prompt and answer the question being asked
• Make sure to support your thesis statement with relevant details and examples throughout your essay

4. Other Tips for Success

• Use appropriate sentence structures, vocabulary, and grammar
• Make sure your essay has an introduction, body, and conclusion
• Proofread your essay for spelling and punctuation errors
• Stick to the time limit and manage your time wisely
• Stay confident and focused, and avoid getting sidetracked

Best Practices for Writing the TOEFL Independent Essay

Importance of organization and structure.

• Plan your essay before writing: Create an outline of your essay to help you organize your thoughts and structure your essay effectively.
• Use paragraphs to organize your ideas: Each paragraph should focus on one main idea that supports your thesis statement.
• Use transitional words and phrases: Transitional words and phrases help to connect ideas between paragraphs and make your essay flow smoothly.
• Use clear and concise language: Avoid using unnecessary words or phrases that do not contribute to the clarity of your essay.

Effective Introduction and Conclusion

• Hook your reader in the introduction: Use an interesting fact or anecdote to grab the reader’s attention and make them want to read further.
• Provide background information: Give some context to the topic you are writing about to help the reader understand the importance of the issue.
• End with a clear thesis statement: Your thesis statement should be concise and specific, outlining the main argument of your essay.
• Summarize your main points in the conclusion: Recap the main points you discussed in your essay and tie them back to your thesis statement.
• Avoid introducing new information in the conclusion: The conclusion should not introduce any new information or arguments.

Supporting Ideas with Evidence and Examples

• Use credible sources: When supporting your ideas, use reliable sources such as academic journals, books, and reputable news sources.
• Provide specific examples: Use concrete examples to illustrate your points and make your arguments more convincing.
• Explain the relevance of your evidence: Make sure to explain how your evidence supports your argument and why it is important to the overall topic.

Effective Use of Language and Grammar

• Use a variety of sentence structures: Mix up your sentence structure to make your essay more interesting and engaging to read.
• Avoid using overly complex vocabulary: While it’s important to use proper academic vocabulary, don’t try to use words that you are not comfortable with or that are overly complex.
• Proofread your essay: Take time to review your essay and correct any grammatical or spelling errors. Make sure your sentences are clear and easy to understand.
• Practice writing essays: The more you practice writing essays, the better you will become at using proper language and grammar.

Strategies for Achieving a High Score

Time management, keep pace and stay on task, proofreading and editing, revising and improving an essay, what is the highest score possible for the independent writing task, how long should my essay be for the independent writing task, is it better to write a longer essay or a shorter one for the independent writing task, are there any resources available to help me prepare for the independent writing task, what should i do if i run out of time during the independent writing task, is it possible to prepare for toefl in 10 days, key takeaways.

• Practice and preparation are crucial to achieving a high score on the TOEFL independent essay.
• Effective organization and structure are necessary to clearly express your viewpoint.
• Support your ideas with evidence and examples to make your essay more convincing.
• Use proper language and grammar to enhance clarity and coherence.
• Time management is important for completing the essay on time.
• Proofreading and editing are essential for identifying and correcting errors in your writing.

Applying Strategies and Tips

TOEFL Speaking Question 4: Sample Question #1

TOEFL Exam Preparation Ultimate Guide

Master the TOEFL Speaking Question 3

TOEFL Speaking Question Three: Sample Question #2

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Ultimate TOEFL Vocabulary List: The 327 Best Words to Know

Developing solid TOEFL vocabulary skills can be one of the most challenging parts of studying for the exam, but it's also one of the most important. Many TOEFL questions either ask you the definition of a word outright or require you to have knowledge of certain words in order to answer a question correctly. With so many words in the English language, which are the ones you need to know?

We’ve done the hard work for you and determined the 327 most useful TOEFL words to know. They’re all listed below, along with a definition and sample sentence for each. We also end with tips on how to use this list most effectively in order to be prepared for vocabulary on the TOEFL.

How Did We Compile This TOEFL Vocabulary List?

To create this list, we first read through official TOEFL practice materials and made a list of all the words a person taking the TOEFL might struggle with. This was our primary source and finds words that you're more likely to see on the real test. Next, we cross-referenced our list with TOEFL vocabulary lists from other sites, such as Magoosh and TOEFL Vocabulary, and examined their overlap with our list.

Words that appeared especially frequently from our research was automatically added to the final TOEFL vocabulary list you see below, as well as a selection of other words deemed particularly useful to know for the TOEFL. Once the list of 327 best words was compiled, we added a definition and sample sentence to each one to help you better understand the words and how they are used.

The 327 TOEFL Words You Need to Know

Below are the 327 best TOEFL vocabulary words, in alphabetical order.

How to Use This TOEFL Vocabulary List

First, you should read through the list and identify any words you don’t know or are unsure of. If you’re even slightly unsure of a TOEFL vocabulary word, you’ll want to study it.  Be sure to read the definition and sample sentence of words you feel confident on to be sure you understand them fully.

Once you have your TOEFL word list that you need to study, you’ll want to work on memorizing their definitions. You don’t need to memorize the sample sentences, but you should review them to ensure you understand how the word is used. You can also search for individual TOEFL words in Google news to find articles that include the word and give you an even better idea of how the word is actually used.

Flashcards are a great way to study TOEFL vocab words because they allow you to easily flip between the word itself on one side and its definition and sample sentence on the other side. You can make your own TOEFL flashcards or use a site such as Quizlet which lets you make online flashcards for free from your TOEFL vocabulary list.

The Best Way to Use Your TOEFL Flashcards

We recommend using the waterfall method to learn TOEFL words. If you're not sure what the waterfall method is, we break it down for you below.

Once you have your TOEFL vocabulary flashcards , you’ll go through those cards one by one. For each card whose definition you know easily, you’ll put it in a “Know It” pile. If you don’t know the definition of a particular TOEFL word, put it in a “Struggled” pile.

After you've gone through each of the cards once, pick up your “Struggled” pile. You'll now go through this pile again. For words where you know the definition, place them in a second “Know It” pile next to (but not combined with) the first “Know It” pile. For words you don’t know, make a new “Struggled” pile. Repeat this process, placing new “Know It” piles in a row from left to right. This creates your waterfall. Repeat this process until the “Struggled” pile has only a few words left.

Now, you’ll move back up the waterfall. Starting with the most recent “Struggled” pile, go through the flashcards until you know all the words in the pile. Then, add the most recent (the rightmost) “Know It” pile. Go through those words. If you miss any, go through the entire pile again until you get all of them right. It may take awhile to get through the entire pile, but this method will guarantee that you learn those TOEFL words! Continue this process until you get all the way back up the waterfall.

This is the best method to study vocab flashcards because you'll spend the majority of your time reviewing the words you struggle the most with, as opposed to just studying the entire stack over and over.

Conclusion: Studying TOEFL Vocabulary

Vocabulary is an important part of the TOEFL, and many questions on the exam require you to have a strong vocabulary. Use our list of the 327 best TOEFL vocabulary words in order to guide your studying.

Flashcards are one of the best ways to learn your TOEFL vocabulary list, and the waterfall method is a great method to use with TOEFL flashcards. Don’t stop studying a word until you’ve memorized its definition and understand how it’s used in sentences!

What's Next?

Vocab is an important part of the TOEFL, particularly the Reading section, but it's not all you need to know. Get all the info you need to ace the TOEFL Reading section here !

Want more information on how the TOEFL is scored? Check out our guide to learn exactly how the TOEFL is scored so you can maximize the number of points you get.

Practice tests are one of the best ways to prepare for the TOEFL. We've gathered information on the highest-quality TOEFL practice tests into one place so you have access to the best study materials!

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Christine graduated from Michigan State University with degrees in Environmental Biology and Geography and received her Master's from Duke University. In high school she scored in the 99th percentile on the SAT and was named a National Merit Finalist. She has taught English and biology in several countries.

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Sample Essays for the Writing Section of the TOEFL® Test

Did you hear about the updated TOEFL iBT Writing section?

On July 26, 2023, ETS introduced  a new TOEFL Writing question : Writing for an Academic Discussion.

That’s right. The Independent Writing question has been retired from the official TOEFL iBT test.

Before we get into the topics and sample essays for the new TOEFL Writing question, let’s start with the first task, which hasn’t changed, the Integrated Writing.

TOEFL Integrated Writing Topics

In the TOEFL Writing Section, there are two questions you must respond to. The first question is called the TOEFL Integrated Writing task. The second question is called the TOEFL Writing for an Academic Discussion task.

The integrated question presents a reading and listening passage, followed by a question, which is a bit more complicated.

Simple, right?

No? Still confused.

No worries. The best way to understand something better is through examples.

Let’s do one together.

This TOEFL integrated writing topic deals with the use of Corn Ethanol.

Give yourself three minutes to read it:

The chemical compound, ethanol, has risen in recent years as the most viable alternative to fossil fuels. Ethanol is a renewable fuel made from crops, mainly from corn in the United States, which can power engines. There are many who argue that corn ethanol should replace fossil fuel gas as the primary source for running cars.

One major benefit of using corn ethanol is that it uses less energy than gasoline. Using less energy means that people can get better gas mileage while driving these more fuel-efficient cars. In the long-run, this will be cheaper for consumers because they can drive further than they do now with fossil-fueled cars. People will spend less money on gas because they won’t have to stop to fill up as frequently.

Another advantage of switching to corn ethanol is that it helps the American economy become less reliant on energy sources from other countries. Petroleum is not readily available in the U.S., so it must be imported from other countries. Depending on foreign relations with those countries, fuel becomes a political issue. Corn is a crop that America has in abundance. By using corn ethanol instead, the cost of gas will decrease because now the import taxes on fossil fuels are calculated into the price. This also means that we will be putting the money into our own economy, thus helping local corn farmers.

One of the most attractive aspects of corn ethanol is how environmentally friendly is when compared to current automobile gasoline. Fossil fuels release carbon that has been stored for years from the earth. Burning biofuels, like corn ethanol, is better for the environment because it releases less greenhouse gas emissions. Lessening the amount of carbon emissions will help prevent global warming and all of the other negative effects of climate change.

Once three minutes have ended, listen to a conversation about the same topic

Now, it’s time to write your TOEFL essay.

Stop reading.

Start writing.

Write your essay before you look at this TOEFL Writing sample. You will learn a lot more if you actually write the essay and then compare this to your own.

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. He believes that the benefits the author mentions are misleading and attacks each of the claims made in the reading.

In the reading, the author begins by stating that drivers will get better gas mileage on corn ethanol than on fossil fuels, and therefore save money on gas. The speaker, however, disagrees. He states that the production of corn ethanol is very expensive. He says that in order to make for the costs to create and distribute this biofuel, the price of ethanol gas will increase.  Therefore, it will not be any cheaper for consumers in the long run.

The writer also claims that making the switch to corn ethanol will help the American economy because it will make the United States less dependent on foreign oil. Again, the lecturer believes there are flaws in the writer’s argument. He holds instead that mass use of corn-based ethanol will hurt the economy. He elaborates this by point out that the inevitable competition for corn by multiple consumers, including beef and dairy farmers, will drive the price of corn up.

Another reason why the author feels that moving from traditional gasoline to corn ethanol is a good idea is that they are more environmentally friendly than fossil fuels. The professor in the listening passage is doubtful that this is accurate. He suggests that as more farmlands are created to support the demands for more corn, more carbon will be absorbed by the land. This means that these emissions will still be released to negatively affect the environment.

As you can see the author and speaker hold very different views about the use of corn ethanol.

The author here clearly defined the main idea, organized the supporting points from both the reading and listening passage, and showed how they differ from each other. 

I know it may seem a bit difficult, which is why I recommend that you start off with a TOEFL Writing template for both the Writing for an Academic Discussion task and Integrated essay.

Writing for an Academic Discussion Question

You will have 10 minutes to complete the  Writing for an Academic Discussion question .

For this task, you will participate in an online discussion. After you read the question and student responses, you will have to write a response that adds to the conversation.

Here’s the breakdown:

This question is straightforward, but let’s do a sample together.

When the question appears on the screen, take two minutes to scan the passage and the student’s opinions.

Start to write your response. Be sure to add to the discussion and avoid repeating the same points as the other students.

Aim to write at least 120 words.

Get peace of mind with these TOEFL Writing Templates

Now that you have a few TOEFL Writing topics and sample essays to study from, you may want to use a writing template to help guide your writing.

A TOEFL template is basically a pre-organized set of words and phrases that you can use in almost any TOEFL Writing response.

Here’s TST Prep’s template for the integrated TOEFL Writing question (question one):

And here’s our template for the independent TOEFL Writing for an Academic Discussion (question two):

The article introduces the topic of (general topic) . More specifically, the writer discusses (stance of the author on the topic) . The lecturer in the listening passage disagrees. He believes that (stance of the professor on the topic) and attacks each of the claims made in the reading.

In the reading, the author begins by stating that (first point made to support stance) . The lecturer, however, disagrees. He states that (first counterargument by the professor) . He goes on to say that (additional detail about first counterargument) .

The author also claims that (second point made to support stance) . Again, the lecturer believes there are flaws in the writer’s argument. The speaker holds that (two sentences about the professor’s second counter-argument) .

Another reason why the author feels that (restate stance of author) is that (third point made to support stance) . The professor in the listening passage is doubtful that this is accurate. He suggests that (two sentences about the professor’s third counter argument) .

To sum up, both the writer and professor hold conflicting views about (general topic) . It’s clear that they will have trouble finding common ground on this issue.

You will notice that the sample essays in this article differ from the templates.

You do not have to use templates, it’s up to you. Some people prefer to write in their own unique fashion for the entire exam. However, you will notice that the structure of the templates is similar to the TOEFL example essays.

These templates follow the exact organization and structure you are expected to use on test day, so don’t hesitate to use them in your writing.

Also, don’t forget to download the free  24+ TOEFL Writing Guide   if you would like more example essays, templates, and exclusive tips to help you earn the best possible TOEFL Writing score on test day.

If you read this far, it means you are serious about your TOEFL studies. Don’t hesitate to send us an email and let us know how we can help you earn the TOEFL score of your dreams – [email protected]

Did we forget anything? Please comment and let us know how we can improve our TOEFL Writing advice (or if you want to just say hi that would be great too).

113 Comments

Hello, Josh. Firstly, thanks for the useful tips. I wonder if I can get a point if I don’t understand the lecture but write everything about reading. Should every idea in the passage and audio be matched?

Hi Ella, Thanks for your question. In general, the listening points should correspond with the reading. This is because the listening usually argues the opposite points.

Hi, Josh. I have a question about copying and pasting in TOEFL writing. I heard some TOEFL teachers say it should be avoided because ETS will consider it a potential form of plagiarism in future academic study.

Could you please provide some suggestions in terms of this issue? Is it ok to copy and paste, since it saves a lot of time in writing, especially on the test day. Thank you!

Great question. The copy-and-paste feature will not work at the test center, and I do not believe it works on the Home Edition either. Regardless, copying and pasting or manually copying the exact words should be avoided. You are always better off putting the answer into your own words.

Abdul Siyar Azizi

Hello Josh, I have a question regarding how we can write an advanced writing that will be scored 25+?

Thanks very much for your question. We do have some templates that can help to increase your score. However, to give you a more detailed answer, I would suggest you consider doing an essay evaluation with us so we can help you determine specific areas for improvement. In the meantime, here are some articles that can help.

https://tstprep.com/articles/toefl/ten-awesome-tips-for-the-writing-section-of-the-toefl-test/

https://tstprep.com/articles/toefl/sample-essays-for-the-writing-section-of-the-toefl-test/

Hi Josh! For the academic writing, I only gave my reason for the topic, and I forgot to mention the opinion of the other student. I checked my word count. It is already past 100 words, and I do not want it to be too long. Do we really need to mention the other students’ opinion?

Hi Ireen. Great question! We often suggest mentioning one of the other students, but it is not required. As long as what you said was on topic, you “added to the discussion,” and gave specific reasons and examples, you should be okay with the 100 words you wrote.

Hello, I have a question about the independent writing: Is it a problem if I just give one reason in my essay (but detailed enough)? Thank you

Hi there and thank you for your question. There are no specific grading criteria that say you MUST give two reasons for your opinion, so, in theory, yes, you can just give one reason. I don’t think you will be marked down for it. If possible, try to give two though. It will make your word count higher.

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Improve Your Speaking for English Tests – Interview with Hadar Shemesh

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Free High-Quality TOEFL Lessons

TOEFL Transition Words

TOEFL transition words help you to express the relationship of ideas in your speaking and writing tasks.  In this 7,440 word lesson, you will learn why these words are important. Moreover, you will learn how to learn them as you create a personalized study path to help you conquer the speaking and writing sections. Next, you will see an extensive list of transition words/phrases along with sample sentences so that you can see how these words/phrases are used grammatically for meaning. In addition, some additional links will take you to more web pages so that you can continue practicing these important connecting words. Finally, you will learn how you can send me your speaking and writing practice tests for evaluation.

Table of Contents

Why should  you learn TOEFL transition words?

These important connecting words

• Make it easier for you to understand the organization of reading and listening passages.
• Give you important relationships among ideas so that you can have more effective note-taking during all sections of the TOEFL exam. It certain that you will see and hear many of the TOEFL transition words in this lesson during the reading, listening, speaking, and writing sections.
• Help you to clearly show how your speaking and writing tasks are organized. Thus, the TOEFL iBT human raters and ETS’s scoring engine for writing will give you higher scores.

How do you learn these TOEFL transition words?

Research shows that, if you use a new word or phrase 5-15 times, it will become part of your long-term memory. Thus, you need to use the words that you are studying.  “How do I use these TOEFL transition words?” you may be thinking.  Here are some guidelines:

Create note cards with the word or phrase on one side and a sample sentence on the other.  One of the sentences you write should be the sentence that you see on this web page. The other should be a new sentence that you came up with.  Note the front and back of an example single notecard:

As you do your speaking and writing practice, find opportunities to use these TOEFL transition words.

Using them increases your chances of remembering these words. As a result, it will be more likely that you will use these TOEFL transition words during the speaking and writing sections of the exam.

In addition, if you use these words and study them on your note-cards, you will more likely recognize these types of words during the reading and listening sections.

TOEFL Transition Words: To argue/make a suggestion

During the independent speaking tasks, you may be asked to present an argument or make a suggestion. The speaking integrated tasks may ask you to explain someone else’s argument or suggestion. Whatever the case, the following transition words will help you learn how to present and argument or suggestion from you or from someone else.

• . . . seems to warrant :  The speaker’s assertion seems to warrant the claim that spending too much time on reading documents will slow employees’ productivity.
• . . . contend/s : The author in the reading passage contends that employees should read all documents in their entirety.
• . . . argue/s :  The students disagrees with the new policy about bicycling parking on campus. He argues that bike riders will be unnecessarily fined when they park too close to their classrooms.
• . . . justify/ies :  The speaker justifies his argument by giving a personal example of why he needs to park close to his classes.
• This observation is supported by :  This observation is then supported by his classmate who also shares a similar concern.
• To plead :   The defendant in the murder trial decided to plead not guilty to the charges.
• . . . suggest/s:  As a result, the judged suggested that the attorneys in the case agree on a trial date for the defendant within the next six months.
• The suggestion is valid : The woman feels that the man’s suggestion is valid . In other words, she also does not want any increases in parking fees on campus.
• . . . propose/s :  According to the new policy, the president of the university is proposing an increased tuition fee.
• . . . claim/s :  The president claims that the added revenue will allow officials to modernize classrooms so that they can become  smart classrooms.
• . . . state/s : The president states that modernizing classrooms will facilitate student learning.
• . . . clearly proof enough : According to the man, that the classrooms do not have smartboards or any other type of computer technology is clearly proof enough that they should be modernized by using new revenue streams from tuition increases.
• If I had the choice :  If I had the choice , I would choose having the woman talk to her advisor to find out why the admissions office placed a hold on her grades.
• . . . examine/s :  After the man examines the school policy closely, he concludes that cell phones should not be restricted during classroom instruction.
• . . . assert/s : In fact, to support his argument, the man asserts that cell phones can be useful educational devices for students.

TOEFL Transition Words: To choose one option in preference to another

During the independent speaking task,  you make be asked to choose one idea over another. Or, in an integrated speaking task, you may have to explain some’s else preference.  In particular, during integrated speaking task 5, you will be asked to summarize two solutions to a problem. Then you will need to explain which solution is better and why. Please note that TOEFL integrated speaking task 5 will be eliminated from the TOEFL speaking section in August 2019. You can certainly find uses for the following TOEFL transition words during the writing section, especially if you are asked to agree or disagree to two controversial statements.

• . . . might be the better option :  The woman’s solution of having the man postpone his job interview might be the better option .
• . . . make/s it a better policy :  Instead of having the students’ postpone their writing projects, the man’s makes it a better policy for them to complete the assignment as a take-home exam.
• It’s beneficial/better/positive :  As a result it is more beneficial to have the students complete the assignment as soon as possible since they will have more assignment later on in the school year.
• I t’s detrimental/worse/negative :  However, postponing the assignment is detrimental since the students will have to complete that project along with other assignments simultaneously, hence causing them unnecessary stress.
• . . . is true/false : Even though a growing number of flat Earthers exist, that the Earth is flat is false.
• The assertion that …:  The assertion that the Earth is flat represents flawed, uneducated thinking.
• . . . seem/s to offer strong arguments for/against : In the listening passage, the woman seems to offer strong arguments for why the man should ask his professor for a postponement of his research project.
• . . . is/are better/worse than :  Postponing the research paper is better than not turning the paper in at all.

TOEFL Transition Words: To emphasize

Emphasizing ideas at times can highlight important information during the TOEFL speaking and writing sections. Read over the following example transition words of emphasis. Think about how you might use these words to more effectively emphasize your ideas.

• Above all :  Above all , the man believes that the university should not impose any additional hardships, so any possible tuition increases are out of the question.
• Obviously :  Obviously , living in California is very expensive, especially since the average price of a home is $450,000.
• Clearly :  The speaker clearly believes that snake shedding is a normal activity to ensure that snakes remain in optimal health throughout the year.
• Evidently :  Evidently , according to the professor, shallow earthquakes cause more extensive damage than deeper ones.
• Actually : Some believe that the stronger the wind, the more dangerous the tornado. Actually , according to the professor, other factors other than wind speed need to be considered when determining the strength of a tornado.
• In fact :  Most people, in fact, who are killed in tornadoes, are struck by flying debris.
• Certainly : Certainly , meteorologists want to decrease the number of people who die in tornadoes.
• Definitely :  The professor definitely believes that governmental policies directly impact a country’s economy.
• Extremely : Death Valley’s location and low altitude create extremely hot temperatures, often reaching above 120 F during the summer.
• Indeed : Indeed , Death Valley set a world record two years ago by having 10 consecutive days with temperatures above 120 F.
• Absolutely :  In contrast to the man, the woman absolutely believes that the new tuition increase policy should be reconsidered.
• Positively : The woman’s belief that students should be able to critique each other positively gives them chances to evaluate, an important critical thinking activity.
• Surprisingly : In the listening passage, the man surprisingly believes that students will pay extra money in their tuition if they can park closer to their classrooms.
• Unquestionably :  In the listening passage, the professor unquestionably believes that man is not alone in the universe.
• Without a doubt : Without a doubt , the professor believes that human activities affect our climate negatively.
• Objectively :  During TOEFL writing task 1, test-takers should objectively discuss how the points in the listening passage relate to the information in the reading passage.
• In fact : In fact , you should also use a neutral tone during integrated speaking task, except for integrated speaking task 5 in which case you are asked to explain which of the two solutions you prefer.

TOEFL Transition Words: To further an argument

To show the relationship of your speaking and writing responses, you will need to add to what you have already said.  Therefore, you are adding to your or someone’s else argument that you are explaining. Here is a thorough list of “addition” words that you should be putting into your speaking and writing practice tests right now. Remember that, if you use the words in your speaking and writing practice tests, you will be more likely to use them during the speaking and writing sections of the TOEFL exam.

• First (of all) . . . Second . . .Third :  Second , studying alone creates fewer distractions, so I can prepare my study guides quickly.
• In addition :  In addition , I can concentrate better when I am studying alone; ultimately, studying alone will help me score high on my examinations.
• There are three reasons why : There are three reasons why I prefer to study alone: fewer distractions, better concentration, and higher test scores.
• Similarly :  Many students prefer not to study in groups. Similarly , I prefer to study alone because I do not have to worry about having to engage in small talk with others.
• Furthermore : Furthermore , instead of small talk, I can study the important concepts that I need to learn.
• Moreover :  Moreover , I will spend less time learning these important concepts.
• Further :  Further , if I studied in a group, I would have to spend more time learning the important concepts for my test.
• As an example : As an example , last year, I spent about 4 hours over several days  preparing for a biology exam.
• For instance :  For instance , one of my friends who studied for his biology exam had to spend 14 hours over several days to prepare because he studied with three other students from his class.
• What’s more : What’s more is that my friend scored lower on the same biology test that I took even though he spent more time preparing for the exam with his group.
• Not only . . . but also : Not only do I believe that individual study has fewer distractions, but I also believe that it allows me to concentrate better on what I am learning.
• . . . including :  Studying alone has so many benefits over group study, including saving me time from pointless chit-chat that will not help me prepare effectively for the exam.
• More than : Because of all these reasons, individual study is more effective for me than group study.
• Also : Concentrating better on my school work is also why I prefer to study alone when preparing for an exam.
• . . . coupled with : Better concentration coupled with higher test scores represent why I like to study alone.
• Both . . . and : Others believe that both group and individual study will properly prepare them for exams.

TOEFL Transition Words: To generalize

In the beginning and end of your speaking and writing responses, you can include some generalizations. Further, generalizations can be appropriate in the topic sentences of your responses. Do NOT forget that, once you include a generalization, you now need to include specific details. In fact, make it a point to not use any of the below transition words + example sentences in the middle of the body paragraphs of your speaking and writing responses.

• Overall :  Overall , having a roommate who is responsible and clean will create more harmony in the living spaces that s/he shares.
• For the most part :  For the most part , unlike the woman, the man believes that the new policy about bicycle parking on campus has negative effects on the student body.
• In general : The speaker in the lecture, in general , argues that climate change by 2100 will cause sea levels to rise, hence forcing many coastal communities to relocate their citizens.
• Generally speaking :  Generally speaking , roommates who are dirty and disrespectful could have trouble getting along with others in their apartments.
• By and large : Most students, by and large , do not want bicycle restrictions on campus since they want to park close to their classrooms.

TOEFL Transition Words: To give an opinion

During the independent speaking tasks 1-2 and during the integrated speaking task 5, which will soon be eliminated from the test on August 1, 2019 , you will need to give an opinion. Learning the below transition words will help you to create an argumentative tone, after which you should use your personal experience to defend your stance.

• (Why) I believe :  I believe being respectful to others is an important quality in a good roommate.
• I’d like to explain why : I’d like to explain why these three qualities are important in a good co-worker.
• Personally : Personally , I think co-workers need to show up to work on time.
• I’d enjoy : I’d also enjoy co-workers who work well on teams.
• I would prefer : Rather than having a roommate that I cannot get along with, I would prefer a roommate who shows respect to me and others.
• I think : In this regard, I think I would get along much better if my roommates were courteous to me and others.
• In my opinion :  Co-workers who show up to work late, in my opinion , are disrespecting others in the workplace.
• As far as I’m concerned : Talking to the librarian about the research paper, as far as I am concerned , will help the woman find the sources she needs to complete the project.
• It seems to me :  Having the students postpone their presentation, it seems to me , will allow them more time to complete the difficult assignment.
• I suggest :  I suggest that the woman consult her advisor who can figure out exactly what financial aid options are available.

TOEFL Transition Words: To restate an argument

In the independent and integrated speaking and writing tasks, you may want to restate either your own or someone else’s argument.  As you do your speaking and writing practice, find opportunities to use these TOEFL transition words.

• To put it differently : The speaker believes that most organisms can adapt to their environments. To put it differently , he sees evolution as a way of helping the animals survive when their conditions slowly change.
• To repeat : To repeat , animals will change their behaviors and even their biology according to whatever is happening around them.
• Namely : People who become overweight can become sick, namely suffering from diabetes.
• That is : To control the obesity epidemic, people need to avoid sedentary lifestyles; that is , they need to exercise regularly and to avoid watching too much television or playing video games for long periods.
• In other words :  To get along with my roommate, I would hope that he is not too obnoxious. In other words , I do not want a roommate who is annoyingly bothersome by talking to me incessantly when I am trying to study for an examination.

TOEFL Transition Words: To set up a condition

During an independent speaking  or independent writing task, you may find a chance to set up a condition. If you have that chance but do not use a conditional sentence, it will show TOEFL iBT human raters and ETS’s eRater scoring engine for writing that you have grammar limitations. Consequently, you will score lower. To supplement this web page, use Google to find relevant web pages related to the following conditional grammar concepts: “real and unreal conditionals,” “present possible” and “present impossible conditional statements,” and “past impossible conditional statements.” Make sure that you understand this complex grammar inside and out. Then, make it a point in your speaking and writing practice to find opportunities to use this grammar. The more you use this, the better control you will have.

• If :  If I did inherit 10 million dollars, I would donate half of that money to my local hospital.
• Even if :  Even if the hospital did not need the money, they could still modernize their facilities by buying new x-ray machines and heart monitor equipment.
• If I could :  If I could give this hospital at least 5 million dollars, it would be able to better serve the residents of my city.
• Whether (or not) :  The first speaker is not sure whether or not the tuition increase will benefit the student community.
• . . . may/might : The first speaker believes that the new changes in the cafeteria might encourage more students to purchase meal plans.
• . . . can be :  According to the professor, the new policy of offering free public transportation can be an advantage to those students who do not have cars.

TOEFL Transition Words: To show cause/ reason and effect/result

You will need to show cause-effect relationships during your TOEFL speaking and writing tasks in one way or another. For example, during integrated speaking task 4, the reading passage might introduce an academic concept, and then the speaker in the lecture explains some possible effects of this idea. In this case, you will want to show the cause-effect relationship between the two passages. The following cause/effect words/phrases will give you some examples of how you can present this casual relationship.

• Consequently : Greenhouse gases, according to the professor, cause warming trends. Consequently , the rapid melting of the glaciers at the polar ice caps has been accelerating in recent years.
• Because (of) : Because of the torrential rain in the Midwest, the Arkansas River is flowing at 557,000 cubit feet per second, the highest volume of water ever recorded for this waterway.
• Due to : Due to the additional homework, most of the students will be busy all weekend.
• Thanks to : Thanks to the more than 600 inches of snow in the high Sierra Mountains, California’s reservoirs are at full capacity, thus ending the drought that lasted more than 7 years.
• If this occurs, then : If this ample rainfall occurs in California next season, then cities in the north will need stronger levees on the American, Sacramento, and Yuba Rivers to prevent mass flooding.
• To this end : To this end , California state legislators have allocated more money to help the state to strengthen the levees lining waterways.
• Since :  Since the artic fox does not want to be eaten, its fur coat changes to white during the winter to make it more difficult for predators to spot them.
• For this reason : Large tsunamis have pummeled Japan’s coast in recent years; for this reason , Japan has an early warning tsunami system so that its citizens can get to high ground in case of another large earthquake in the ocean.
• As a result : Tornadoes occur in Oklahoma frequently. As a result , many residents build tornado shelters underground in their backyards so that they can be protected by these massive whirlwinds.
• Caused by : Obesity is caused by eating unhealthy foods and sedentary lifestyles.

TOEFL Transition Words: To show contrast/make an exception

You may need to show some type of contrast as you complete TOEFL speaking and writing tasks. To illustrate, typically, during the integrated writing task, the lecture opposes three specific ideas mentioned in the reading passage. As a result, using various transition words of contrast will help you to show how the information in the lecture contradicts the information in the reading passage. Spending time learning the transition words of contrast listed below, which will help you to better express your ideas.

• Some may argue that :   Although some may argue that climate change occurs due to natural factors, I believe that human activities also play a huge role in global warming.
• Although : Although some prefer studying alone, I think that studying in a group in more effective.
• Even though :  Even though my first roommate was considerate, he never paid his rent in a timely manner.
• Whereas : I tend to do my homework at the library of my university, whereas my roommate prefers to complete his assignments in our apartment.
• Instead of : Instead of increasing tuition to pay for the new parking structures on campus, the man believes that students should be encouraged to carpool more or to ride their bikes.
• In contrast : Running equipment is relatively inexpensive. In contrast , bicycling equipment can cost 1000’s of dollars since bikes are so expensive nowadays.
• On the one hand ; on the other hand :  On the one hand , riding a bike enables me to cover a lot of distance; on the other hand , I stand a higher chance of being hit by a car.
• However : The hottest and most hostile desert in the United States, Death Valley receives less than two inches of rain annually; however , the arid region is quite popular with tourists who visit that national park all during the year.
• In spite of : In spite of the ample rainfall for two consecutive seasons, California residents are still fined once they go beyond the expected water use.
• Despite : Despite the high winds and stinging rain, race officials decided not to cancel the marathon.
• Unlike : Unlike the man , the woman believes that the new policy will benefit her and her fellow students.
• On the contrary : The man argues that the new policy will force students to take part-time jobs to pay for their tuition hikes. On the contrary , the woman thinks that the tuition will not hurt most students since they receive financial aid.
• But : I certainly want a roommate who likes talking to me, but , if he talks to me when I am trying to study, it  will disrupt my concentration.
• Yet : I enjoy going to my parents, yet every time that I go there someone always ends up in an argument.
• Rather than : Rather than attend the concert alone, the man can wait until the next concert and attend that one with his friends.
• Either :  The woman has no desire to go to the movies, and the man doesn’t want to go either.
• Or :  The man will need to talk to the professor to get an extension on the due date for his project, or he will need to turn in the project in an uncompleted form.
• Nor : The woman believes that she cannot complete the writing project on time, nor does she need to discuss the assignment further with her professor.
• Neither : The students will not be attending the anti-Trump protest on campus and neither will the professor.
• Either . . . or : According to the listening passage, either the woman has to choose between wearing an off-white shirt to her job or she will have to go to the mall to try to buy a new one before she starts her shift.
• Neither . . . nor : Neither the other students nor Tomas is attending the lecture in the  San Manual Student Center.
• Nevertheless : I ran about 95 miles last week as I continue to prepare for my upcoming marathon. Nevertheless , my legs do not feel that tired right now.
• Nonetheless : The climate changes due to global warming are impacting our Earth negatively; nonetheless , many politicians and regular folk are doing nothing to lessen the emission of greenhouses gases.
• Sometimes : A lot of friends do not like to swim in the ocean off the coast of California because the water is too cold. Sometimes , however, I swim in the ocean because I like to look for sea shells.
• Once in a while : Every once in a while , some of my friends join me for a swim in the ocean.
• Occasionally : Occasionally , I might study with others as I prepare for examinations, but in most situations I prefer to study alone.
• Some … other(s) : Some tourists like to travel with a tour guide, whereas others tend to travel with just their family and friends.
• Other(s) : One section of Geology 101 went to study the San Andreas Fault behind California State University, San Bernardino. The other classes went to study the Ubehebe Crater in Death Valley, California.
• Often : According to the listening passage, the man has no need to use his cell phone while he is on campus.  The woman, however, claims she often uses her cell phone while she is at school.
• None : California urges its citizens to have emergency preparedness kits. However, none of my friends have their 72 hour kits.

TOEFL Transition Words: To show evidence/exemplify

Once you include a general statement about a topic in a speaking or writing task, you need to give an example to further illustrate the idea. For example, when you agree or disagree with some idea during an independent speaking or writing task, you will need to present some examples to support and thus strengthen your argument. The “example” transition words compiled here help you introduce specific information. Study these words/phrases, and then practice using them as you complete your speaking and writing practice.

• As evidence of : As evidence of climate change, the professor points to the rapid melting of the glaciers at the polar icecaps.
• The legitimacy of : The legitimacy of the woman’s solution of having the man delay his trip to see his parents is established as she points out the many pressing issues that the man needs to work on.
• Such as : In support of the campus announcement about shortening final exam days, the man says he has effective study habits such as breaking up his study routine into 2-3 hour blocks which helps him to master the content in his courses in a short period of time.
• For example : To increase my energy levels and help me move around easier, I started an exercise regimen six days a week. For example , I  do a full-body workout for 20 minutes, and then I run 3-5 miles.
• A few of these are : The man objects to the new campus policy forcing first-year students for several reasons. A few of these are first-year students who may choose to commute to campus from their homes, others may want to live off-campus in apartments with friends or relatives, and others may not be able to afford to pay the high costs of living on campus in dorms. In any case, first-year students should not be forced to live on campus.
• In the case of :  According to the professor, animals have innate mechanisms to make it harder for predators to eat them. In the case of the artic fox, its coat turns pure white during the winter. As a result, wolves, polar bears, and leopard seals have a harder time seeing the artic fox because it blends in so easily to the snow landscape.
• In addition : The reading passage introduces an economic concept called NIMBY. In addition , the professor in the lecture gives an example to further illustrate the idea.
• For one thing . . . for another : I totally agree with the idea that two heads are better than one.  For one thing , students studying together can help each other fill in the gaps of misunderstanding as they prepare for exams. For another , working together as a team can help employees fulfill their company’s goals much faster.

TOEFL Transition Words: To show disagreement

The perfect opportunity to show disagreement is when you disagree with an idea presented in a speaking or writing task. In addition, you will use “disagreement” transition words as you show the relationship between the information in the reading and listening passage during the integrated writing task. During the integrated writing task, you will show how the listening passage disagrees with the information in the reading passage. Carefully, look over these “disagreement” transition words. Then practice using them as you complete your speaking and writing practice.

• . . . object/s (to) : The speaker objects to the assertion by the author in the reading passage that employees should attend all required meetings.
• . . . disagree/s with : In the lecture, the speaker disagrees with the author’s claim that victims should run away if a bear charges.
• . . . contradict/s : According to the author, businesses can succeed if they follow three basic principles. The speaker in the lecture, however, contradicts each principle that the speaker explains.
• . . . doesn’t/don’t support : According to the new policy, students will need to pay an extra 15% parking fee.  Both the man and the woman do not support this new policy.
• . . . is/are invalid :  The speaker believes that the author’s assertion that motivation should always come from within is invalid .
• These arguments, one by one, can be challenged: In the reading passage, the author claims that bloggers are unprofessional,  are inexperienced, and lack integrity.  These arguments, one by one, are challenged by the speaker in the listening passage.
• . . . is absurd/ridiculous/unfounded/illogical :  The speaker believes that the author’s claim that bears are more likely to attack humans when bears lose their fear of them is unfounded .
• . . . not to be taken seriously : Even though the author argues that bloggers lack the experience to write professionally, the speaker does not take this claim seriously.
• . . . has/have no scientific basis : The author in the reading passage claims that dinosaurs might have become extinct because they ate poisonous plants which caused the great beasts to overdose. However, the speaker believes that this “overdose” theory has no scientific basis in fact .
• . . . dispute/s : The campus announcement claims that the new cafeteria changes will benefit the student body by providing a more healthy variety of food choices.  However, the student disputes this claim by providing two reasons.

TOEFL Transition Words: To show purpose

Similar to showing reason, you will need to show purpose in pretty much every speaking and writing task you complete. These transition words/phrases teach you how to show purpose in a way that you helps you to use advanced grammar. Study them, and begin using them in your speaking and writing practice.

• In order to : In order to get to Las Vegas without being stuck in a traffic jam, I advised that my friend leave Monday morning.
• For :  Typically, I travel to Los Angeles on a Saturday, for the traffic is sometimes better on that day.
• So that : I will let my friend borrow my car so that he can take his friend to the airport.
• So as to : The professor gave an example so as to further illustrate the concept discussed in the reading passage.

TOEFL Transition Words: To show similarity

When you show similarity, you show how two things are alike.  You will need to do this if you are asked to compare two things in an independent speaking or writing task. In addition, you may want to show how a speaker’s opinion in similar to a campus announcement during integrated speaking task 3. The collection of words below exemplify “similarity” transition words that you can use in these speaking and writing tasks.

• Just as : Just as the woman believes that the campus announcement about bicycle parking is harmful, the man believes that students will not be helped by this new policy.
• In the same way : The man doesn’t not want the final exam week shortened by two days. In the same way , the woman believes that the current length of time for final exams is appropriate and thus should not be reduced.
• Similarly :  Georgia has a small population and has a hot, humid climate during the summer. Similarly , Mississippi has no more than about 3 million residents who live in the searingly hot and humid summer-time weather.
• Likewise:  The man doesn’t like the idea of making class attendance optional. Likewise, the woman believes that students should be required to attend their classes, especially the ones in their majors.
• As in/as with/as was/etc . After a large earthquake, a giant Tsunami pummeled Japan’s coast as was the case with Indonesia, when it was hit by a large wave on its coastline.

TOEFL Transition Words: To show spatial relationships

During the independent speaking and writing tasks, you may be asked to describe something. As part of that description, you need to use words that can show location or spatial relationships. In other cases, you may have to explain a reading or listening passage that describes location or space. These words in this part of my lesson help you to do exactly that. Examine these words and begin using them as you complete your speaking and writing practice.

• at the left : At the left of the cabinet are the water bottles we need.
• at the right : Parking is only allowed at the right of the building.
• in the center : The classroom has 25 desks, in the center of which is a group of laptop computers.
• on the side: After ordering his dinner, the students asked to have some French fries on the side .
• along the edge : We hiked along the edge of the Grand Canyon for a few hours in one of the most breathtaking trips I have ever been on.
• on top , below : The professor placed the papers on top of his file cabinet to await grading, and the trash basket always remained below the desk.
• beneath : If a tornado approaches, residents should get in a storm shelter that is located beneath the ground’s surface.
• under :  Most students put their books under their desks when they sit down.
• around : The 5 kilometer race went around Fairmont Park two times.
• above :  The geese flew above the lake for two miles before landing in the forest to rest.
• over : Dreaded hurricane Maria slowly passed over Puerto Rico as high winds, heavy rain, and storm surges pummeled the tiny territory.
• straight ahead :  As the car went straight ahead through the intersection, it was hit in the side as a drunk driver went through a red light.
• at the top : At the top of Mount Baldy are scattered rocks with a few small bushes and Lodgepole Pines.
• at the bottom : Once hikers arrive at the bottom of Mount Baldy , they can go to the Ranger Station to check in.
• surrounding : Surrounding my house in almost every direction are Desert Juniper and Joshua trees.
• opposite :  A vacant parking lot is opposite the elementary school.
• at the rear –  at the front –  in front of: At the rear of most cars on the back axles which support the rear tires. At the front of the car are the axels supporting the two tires propelling the car.
• beside – behind : I usually park behind University Hall, which is where I attend most of my college classes, and I place my backpack beside me in the passenger seat so that I do not forget to bring it to class.
• next to : Bicycle parking is not allowed next to any campus buildings.
• nearby:  However, students can park their bicycles nearby in the grassy area by the soccer fields.
• in the distance : The storm chaser saw a tornado forming in the distance approximately two miles from where he was set up.
• beyond : Most hikers in Death Valley National Park do not go beyond Badwater since water is not available after that.
• in the forefront – in the foreground :  Most directors put their most prominent actors in the foreground during plays because they want the audience to see these cast members up close.
• within sight – out of sight : My mother always kept us sons within sight when we were playing outside because she did not want anything bad to happen to us. Kenneth fired his toy rocket, and it went straight up in the air until it was out of sight .
• across : Incredibly, he threw the heavy stone across the lake without it falling into the water.
• under : When I was younger, I could hold my breath under water for almost three minutes.
• nearer : After the researchers had collaborated for more than three weeks, they were nearer to solving the nuclear fusion puzzle. Perhaps, a promising theory may emerge soon.
• adjacent :  Adjacent to our backyard is my neighbor’s back fence.
• in the background : Elderly people sometimes have trouble hearing each other when there is a lot noise in the background .

To show time relationships

Organizing ideas according to time can help you to tell stories and make it easier for others to understand them. Thus, you will need to use these types of words during the independent speaking and writing tasks. As a result, look over this list to see the different types of words expressing time relationships. Then, begin using them as you do your speaking and writing practice.

• Immediately : Immediately , when an earthquake occurs, victims should crawl under a desk or some other support surface and place their hands around their face and head to protect themselves from falling debris.
• Then :  An angler should cast his line into the water. Then he needs to wait until he feels a tugging of the line.
• Later : Typically, I tend to exercise later in the day during the summer when the temperature is not as hot.
• Afterwards :  Polpot ate a healthy dinner, and he had dessert afterwards .
• After :  After Georgia finishes her homework assignment, she will give her friend a birthday present.
• Before : Before athletes complete intense cardiovascular workouts, they should perform some flexibility exercises.
• While :  While I was closing the door, I realized that my keys were inside the car.
• During :  During the concert, a middle-aged gentlemen who was complaining of chest pains was taken to the hospital.
• As soon as : As soon as the student had finished giving her oral presentation, the professor left the class due to a family emergency.
• As : As a last resort, spray an attacking bear with pepper spray which may deter it from harming you.
• Sometimes :  Sometimes moist air from Arizona comes to California in August and causes monsoonal rain.
• Last :  Some distance runners runs strides in the last mile of their workout.
• Frequently : If some users spend more than 3-4 hours daily using electronic gadgets, they will frequently get headaches.
• When :  When the sirens went off in Kansas City, citizens knew that a tornado was approaching.
• Once : Once he had finished the multiple choice section, the student began framing his responses for the two essay questions.
• Often : In conversations, men often speak more directly than their female counterparts.
• Oftentimes : During the summer in Southern California, oftentimes the temperatures exceed 95F.
• Since :  Since last year, the United States has had a booming economy with an unemployment rate for 3.6%.

To state the options

During integrated speaking task 5-Listening, Speaking, Campus-related- you will need to explain two solutions or options to a problem that the speaking is having.  You may have to explain something similar to this in an independent speaking or writing task. You can use the example “option” transition words to explain two options to a problem.

• One option is :  One option , according to the man, is to have the woman consult her academic advisor to help her choose a major.
• The other option is :  The other option , according to the speaker, is to have the woman complete an extensive career survey to see which types of jobs she is interested in.

To state the problem

Follow the example words in this section when you need to explain a problem that you or someone else is having.  Be sure to practice these words/phrases as you do your TOEFL speaking practice.

• The problem is (how) : The man’s problem is that he doesn’t have transportation to get to the academic debate.
• The question is : According to the listening passage, the question is whether or not the man should ask his professor for an extension on his research project.
• What is being asked/challenged : What is being challenged by the speaker is the author’s assertion that children only learn a language by memorizing words and phrases.

To state the reasons

Expressing reasons helps listeners and readers understand how your ideas are connected.  Whether it is a speaking or writing task, you will certainly have opportunities to give your own or to explain someone else’s reasons. Here are some example phrases of how you can express reasons.

• There are different reasons why :  In the listening passage, there are different reasons why the speaker disagrees with the three main arguments asserted by the author in the reading passage.
• There are several explanations for :  In the reading passage, there are several explanations for why the author believes that dinosaurs became extinct.
• There are many positive/negative reasons for :  Although many believe studying alone is preferable, there are many positive reasons for group study.
• There are some/more/fewer benefits/disadvantages to : Instead of spending money on space exploration, there are more benefits to spending money to meet the needs of people on Earth.

To summarize/conclude

• In conclusion : In conclusion , most likely running will benefit most participants since it burn more calories.
• Finally : Finally , the speaker believes that getting advice from parents will guide him so he can make the right choices.
• As a result (of) : As a result of consulting my parents, I decided to pursue pharmacy studies.
• In summary : In summary , I prefer to attend a smaller university since it provides smaller classes, more interaction between students and professors, and less traffic when I am trying to park.
• Therefore : Therefore , larger universities have better research facilities, more opportunities for extracurricular activities, and more internships after graduation.
• To sum up : To sum up , the speaker casts doubt on the three suggestions for business success discussed by the author in the reading passage.
• In other words : In other words , the speaker disagrees with the three main arguments posited by the author in the reading passage.
• To summarize : To summarize , students should not work while they attend school inasmuch as it takes valuable time away from their studies, makes it more difficult for social interaction, and can impact their grades negatively.
• In brief : In brief , the author in the reading passage and the speaker in the lecture have differing views regarding child language acquisition.
• On the whole : On the whole , the speaker in the lecture uses the example of the Artic Fox to further the academic concept of defensive mechanisms discussed in the reading passage.
• To conclude : To conclude , although many believe that universities should offer free tuition to everyone, I disagree with this notion since it will cost the tax payer way too much of their earnings.
• As we have seen : As we have seen , without restriction, human activities will create far too many greenhouse gases which will cause erratic climactic changes that may be irreversible.
• As has been said : As has been said , two heads are better than one.  Therefore, studying in groups will help me to master difficult concepts faster, will improve my social interaction skills, and will help me score higher on exams.

Relevant links to more practice with transition words

I’ve put together some additional resources to help you better connect your ideas during the speaking and writing sections of the TOEFL exam. Every link leads you to further explanations + examples about transition words.

• Connecting words : See how prepositions, coordinators, subordinators, and transition words can be used to connect old and new information together.
• Creating transitions in speaking and writing : Get a simple way to connect old information to new.
• Discerning transitions from main ideas in listening passages : Learn how to separate the main idea from a transitional idea in an academic lecture.
• Speaking and writing transitions :  Transition words in this lesson are used within the context of a model essay. You will also learn how these transition words are important in all sections of the exam.

Get feedback on your speaking and writing practice tests

Are you ready for TOEFL speaking and writing practice? I am ready to help to improve your speaking and writing scores to at least 26 and 24 points. If I can create this 7,440 word TOEFL lesson on TOEFL transition words, I can certainly help you too.  Go to Online TOEFL Course and choose a course that fits your specific situation. Whatever course you choose, you will be able to complete speaking and writing practice daily.  In addition, I will provide you audio and written feedback so that you can monitor your progress.

Michael Buckhoff , [email protected]

http://onlinetoeflcourse.com

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TOEFL Tuesday: Can a TOEFL Essay Be Too Long?

How much is too much? Everybody knows that writing an essay that’s too short is a problem. But sometimes, students ask about the maximum essay length, thinking that either the graders will take off points or that the essay will simply be cut off, not able to continue.

But I can say in short, there is no maximum. You can write an enormous essay and get a perfect score.

Official recommendations from ETS

ETS (the company that makes the TOEFL) gives specific numbers for essay length in all their preparation material and during the actual test.  The recommendations are simple:

• Integrated essay : 150 – 225 words
• Independent essay : 300 words

These aren’t maximum scores, nor are they minimums. But to be honest, an essay that’s shorter than these recommended lengths may not get a perfect score. Usually, top scoring essays are longer.

Still, writing much more does not mean a higher score.

Quantity and quality

There’s a clear reason why shorter essays might have lower scores—they don’t have enough room to include details. That means the essay is not just shorter, but also lower quality. A longer essay gives enough room to add those important details.

Still, a long essay can cause a problem. Imagine trying to write 1000 words in 30 minutes for the independent essay. How much will you be able to focus on grammar, vocabulary, structure, and clarity? Not much. The more you write, the less attention you can pay to each word and sentence.

In other words, it’s possible to write too much, but only because you’re not focusing on the more important aspects of your essay.  It’s possible to write a 1000 word essay and get a perfect score, but I don’t recommend trying it. It’s much easier to write a 400 or 500 word essay with a perfect score.

So first, try to reach the recommended lengths from ETS. If you can write more, that’s best. But don’t worry about writing two times the recommended length—it’s better to focus on quality at that point, not quantity.

Lucas is the teacher behind Magoosh TOEFL. He’s been teaching TOEFL preparation and more general English since 2009, and the SAT since 2008. Between his time at Bard College and teaching abroad, he has studied Japanese, Czech, and Korean. None of them come in handy, nowadays.

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22 responses to “TOEFL Tuesday: Can a TOEFL Essay Be Too Long?”

hi lucas, i could nit finish last line of my independent essay. will that result in deduction?

Hi Apoorva,

There is a small chance that it will affect your score a bit, but if the rest of your essay was strong, it will be fine. 🙂

Hi.. I wrote an essay tat is less than 300 words in independent.will tat greatly affect my score? Thnks

Hi Aishwarya,

Nope! You want to aim for 300-350 ideally, but if it isn’t too much shorter, no worries. 🙂

Hi , i wrote the integrated essay of 400 words and i think it’s too long. How many marks are going to be deducted?

Marks would not be deducted for a long essay, but if the quality of that text is poor (content or grammar) then that would affect you. If the text is solid, though, 400 words is fine!

Hey for my independent essay I had about 257 words. Will any marks be deducted?

The 300 word count is just a recommendation. So you certainly won’t automatically lost points for having 257 words. If you’ve managed to fully develop your essay and satisfy the criteria in the official TOEFL Writing rubric , you could get a decent score. However, 257 still is a bit low. It’s difficult to put together a fully developed written response unless you’re closer to 300 words, or slightly over. So a 257 word essay is more likely to get a lower score than an TOEFL Independent response that’s around 300 words.

Hi, I have written an independent essay of 222 words, but it is fully developed, with introduction, two body paragraphs and conclusion, grammar is also normal, academic vocabulary is udes, how many scores are possible to get with this essay? Thank you

As we mentioned in this blog post, there is no specific grading on the length of the essay. Writing an essay with 222 words does not guarantee you a certain score or score range. In general, higher scoring essays tend to be longer, but that doesn’t mean that a shorter essay will automatically lower your score. The potential problem with a shorter essay is that you can’t fully develop your ideas. I recommend that you check out the TOEFL essay rubric and assess your essay according to that. Better yet, have someone else grade your essay for you 😀

My integrated essay is around 500 words. Could that be too much? The question asked for something “complete” so I included every detail from the text and the lecture.

Hi Delilah,

Whether or not this is “too much” depends on the quality of your writing! In general, 500 words is a pretty good length for the essay. However, you should make sure that your writing is clear and correct and that you don’t have a lot of errors. Just writing a lot won’t get you a good score on the essays–you also must write well 🙂 I recommend that you review your essays using the official essay rubric and see how you fare 🙂

Hi Lucas, I just gave my Toefl and in writing section, wrote 350 words in Q1 (Integrated) and 558 words in Q2. However, I am feeling nervous whether such long essay would affect my writing score or not. I didn’t write with the intention of just making the essay longer and longer. Both the essays have been neatly written with proper structures (4 para) and nearly perfect Grammer. Though, I have not written those big or tough vocabulary words in the Q2 (independent) part. Can you give me any guidance how this will affect my score? Thanks again for all your help and support throughout all your videos and blogs. I really appreciate you guys!! Sincerely, Luv.

As Eliot mentions in this post, there is no word limit on the essays. If you wrote a strong, grammatically correct and well-structured essay, then there is no reason why the length would negatively affect your score. I know it’s difficult, but you’ll have to wait for your scores to be sure! I’m glad that you have enjoyed our blog and that we helped you out as you prepared for your exam 🙂

Hi there! I was just wondering if there will be an automatic word counter for both writing tasks, or do we need to count how many words we have already used ourselves? Thank you.

Yes, there is a word counter on the screen when you take the test, so you will be able to track how long your essays are as you type them. 🙂 So, you won’t need to predict your word count at all.

With that said, if you want to estimate your word count during practice, you can count the number of words in the first three lines, divide by 3, and then multiply by the total number of lines. 🙂 That will give you a good idea of how many words you have.

This. Possibly the most relevant question in the comments here. And NO mention of it on the official ETS site.

There will be a word count feature on the actual TOEFL exam. So you don’t need to worry about counting words! 🙂

Hi! I just took the TOEFL iBT for the first time and ended up with a 250 word essay, I managed to write an introduction, body and conclusion in 4 paragraphs, but I ran out of time to elaborate the idea a little more, it was too concise Is it really that bad? in my case I needed a total test score equivalent to a 6.5, ideally 7.0 IELTS, I believe this was the lowest point in my test, I left the classroom a little worried. Cheers

Hi Maximiliano.

As we mention in this blog post, quality really does matter more than quantity. Unlike in the IELTS, there is no minimum word count in TOEFL essays. These are just recommendations. Unfortunately, it’s difficult to say with any certainty what your score will be–you will have to wait for the results of your exam and then decide how you will proceed! I know it’s stressful to have to wait for results, but try to relax a bit and enjoy the accomplishment of taking the test 🙂

hi Lucas! I have a question, I usually write the essay without really looking at the word count. I try to always focus on the content. However, sometimes after I finish the 3 points and contrast them, I feel there are still some small details that I need to add as a fourth paragraph. is that bad? will they deduct points? thank you!

Hi Sandra 🙂 You definitely want to reach the recommended minimum word count. Once you’ve done that, focus on organization and development. Without knowing the specifics, I would say that small details don’t matter too much. Just make sure that each paragraph has a clear and specific purpose. Hope that helps!

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Test Resources

TOEFL® Resources by Michael Goodine

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 .

Integrated Essay Template (Writing Question One)

The introduction.

No matter what question style is used, write your introduction using the following template:

• The reading and the lecture are both about _____. 
• While the author of the article argues that ____, the lecturer disputes the claims mentioned in the article.
• His position is that _____.

The Body Paragraphs

Use the following templates for the body paragraphs:

• According to the reading  _____.
• The article mentions that _____.
• This lecturer challenges this argument.
• He claims that _____.
• Additionally, he points out that ______.
• Secondly, the author suggests ______.
• The article notes that _____.
• The lecturer, however, asserts that ______.
• He goes on to say that ______.
• Finally, the author puts forth the idea that _____.
• The author contends that _____.
• In contrast, the lecturer’s stance is  _____.
• He says that _____.

You don’t need a conclusion.

Your TOEFL integrated essay should be about 280 to 300 words. To see this template in use, check out my collection of sample essays .

Writing for Academic Discussion (Writing Question Two)

Here’s a really straightforward template that is easy to use.

• While some people might think [opposite of my opinion], I really believe that [my opinion]
• First of all , [elaborate on the opinion].
• Actually, I have some experience with this .
• [a quick personal example]

Here’s a template that focuses on giving an entirely new answer and ignoring the other student responses.  This is my favorite template.

• While I appreciate the points mentioned by both  STUDENT 1  and  STUDENT 2 , I think that …
• [elaborate on your idea for a few sentences]
• Remember that  [elaborate on your point],  so  [elaborate on your point].
• Some people may feel that  [mention a potential challenge],  but  [respond to this challenge].

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.

• This is a challenging topic, but I think that  [respond directly to the question].
• I strongly agree with  [student]’s  idea that  [mention one point made by the student]. 
• I’d add that  [expand on the point with your own idea].
• While  [other student]  raised the relevant point that  [mention one point made by the other student],  he/she didn’t mention that  [challenge that point].
• For example  [elaborate on your challenge with your own ideas].

Your response should be about 120 words. 

To practice, you can check out my collection of sample questions .

Demonstration Video

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 . 

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