TOEFL 2026 Writing Free Sample test (for score +70) #3
Build a Sentence · Email · Academic Discussion — full mock test with model answers.
Video explanation
Watch the explanation video before attempting the test.
Part A: Build a Sentence
Answer all 10 questions. You have about 6 minutes for all 10 questions (around 36 seconds each).
Question 1
What time is it now?
It.
Show answer
It is almost half past three.
Question 2
Who made this cake?
My.
Show answer
My dad baked it for my birthday.
Question 3
Which color do you like best?
I.
Show answer
I like dark green the most.
Question 4
Why didn't you answer my call?
My.
Show answer
My phone was in my bag.
Question 5
How long have you lived here?
I.
Show answer
I have lived here for three years.
Question 6
What do you want to do after you graduate?
I.
Show answer
I want to become a nurse.
Question 7
Where can I buy stamps?
You.
Show answer
You can buy them at the post office.
Question 8
Is your new phone expensive?
It.
Show answer
It cost less than my old one.
Question 9
Which bag is heavier?
The.
Show answer
The red one is heavier than the blue one.
Why "more" is wrong here: Short adjectives like "heavy" make the comparative with -er ("heavier"). Using "more" together with "heavier" would say the same thing twice.
Question 10
How did you hear about the sale?
A.
Show answer
A friend told me about it yesterday.
Why "tell" is wrong here: "Yesterday" shows the action is finished, so the verb must be in the past tense: "told." "Tell" is the present form.
Part B: Write an Email
Read the information and write an email in response. You have 7 minutes.
Email Writing Task
To: Coach Rivera
Subject: Injured Ankle Before Saturday's Game
You are on your school's basketball team. Yesterday, you hurt your ankle while running in the park, and the doctor told you not to play for two weeks. Your team has an important game this Saturday, and you want to tell your coach as soon as possible.
Write an email to Coach Rivera.
- Explain what happened to your ankle.
- Tell the coach that you cannot play on Saturday.
- Ask how you can still help the team.
Perfect Score Answer30/30
SubjectInjured Ankle Before Saturday's Game
Dear Coach Rivera,
I am writing to let you know that I hurt my ankle yesterday. I was running in the park when I stepped on a rock and fell. My ankle became very swollen, so my parents took me to the doctor. She said it is a bad sprain and that I should not play basketball for two weeks.
Because of this, I will not be able to play in Saturday's game. I am really sorry, because I know how important this game is for the team.
However, I still want to help. I could keep score, bring water for the players, or film the game so we can watch it later and learn from it. Please let me know what would be most useful.
Thank you for understanding.
Best regards,
[Your Name]
Score30 / 30
Logic
The email tells the coach the key facts right away: what happened, what the doctor said, and how long the player will be out. The apology shows the writer cares about the team, and the offer to help is concrete, with three real jobs the coach can choose from. It ends by asking the coach to decide, which makes a reply easy.
Golden Vocabulary
SwollenA bad sprainBecause of thisHoweverKeep score
High Score Answer25/30
SubjectMy Ankle
Dear Coach Rivera,
I hurt my ankle yesterday when I was running. The doctor said I can't play for two weeks.
So I can't play in the game on Saturday. I'm sorry.
Can I help the team in another way? Please tell me.
Thank you,
[Your Name]
Score25 / 30
Logic
The three points are all covered in clear, correct sentences. It scores lower because each point is very short: we do not know how the injury happened or how serious it is, and the writer does not suggest any way to help. The coach has to come up with the ideas.
Golden Vocabulary
HurtAnother waySorry
Part C: Academic Discussion
Write a response to the academic discussion. You have 10 minutes.
Academic Discussion Topic
Your professor is teaching a class in Psychology. During the lecture, the professor asks the following question.
Professor
“Today, we are talking about friendship. Some people like to have a large group of friends, while others prefer to have just a few close friends. Which do you think is better: having many friends or having a few close friends? Why?”
Sara
I prefer having many friends. When you know a lot of people, you always have someone to do things with, and you learn about different hobbies and ideas. It can also help you later when you look for a job.
Leo
I think a few close friends are better. Close friends really know you, and they will help you when you have a problem. With many friends, the relationships are often not very deep.
Perfect Score Answer30/30
I agree with Leo that a few close friends are better than many friends. Close friends are the people who stay with you when life is hard. Last year, my grandfather was in the hospital for a month, and I felt very worried. Many classmates said "I'm sorry," but only my two best friends visited me, brought me food, and helped me catch up on homework. That is something you cannot expect from people you only know a little. Sara makes a good point that knowing many people is useful for hobbies and jobs. However, you can still meet new people at school or in clubs without calling all of them friends. For me, trust is more important than numbers.
Score30 / 30
Logic
The opinion is clear from the first sentence. The grandfather story is personal and specific, and it shows the difference between close friends and other people, so it proves the point instead of only repeating it. The response then accepts part of Sara's idea and shows why it does not change the answer. The last line sums up the whole argument in a few words.
Golden Vocabulary
Catch up onYou cannot expectMakes a good pointHoweverTrust
High Score Answer25/30
I think Leo is right. Having a few close friends is better than having many friends. Close friends understand you well, and they help you when you have problems. If you have many friends, you can't spend a lot of time with each one, so the friendship is not strong. Sara says many friends are good for jobs, but I think close friends are more important in life.
Score25 / 30
Logic
The response takes a side and gives a reason, and it mentions both classmates. It scores lower because the main reason is almost the same as Leo's post, and there is no example from real life. The reply to Sara only disagrees without explaining why.
Golden Vocabulary
UnderstandStrongImportant
Every answer graded, for less than one tutoring lesson.
You read the model answers. Write both tasks in a full TOEFL test and each essay gets a band from 1 to 6 and a line by line note, like this sample.
Online classes are convenient, but I believe students learnslearn more in a classroom, because they can discuss aboutdiscuss ideas with theretheir classmates right away.
That was one essay. Your full test has two. Both get this.