Free TOEFL Writing practice tests
Every test includes Build a Sentence, Email, and Academic Discussion sections with model answers. Pick a difficulty level and start practicing.
TOEFL Writing rewards clarity, not complexity. Simple, correct sentences that answer the prompt beat fancy vocabulary that loses the thread, every time.
Here's what that looks like in the three sections above.
In the Academic Discussion task, don't just give your opinion on the topic. Respond to what the two students already said. The best answers agree or disagree with one specific point someone made.
Ben: "...public schools provide social interaction that's hard to replicate at home."
"I think homeschooling has some good points and some bad points. It depends on the family."
never actually answers Ben.
"While Ben is right that schools aid social development, homeschooled students can build those skills through community programs instead."
names his claim, then answers it.
A clear three-part email (state the problem, give the context, ask for a next step) scores higher than a wordier one that buries the request. Check the Logic notes under each model answer here. They spell out exactly what the graders were rewarding.
"Hi, I've been having some issues with my heater and it's pretty cold in my room. Thanks for your help."
no request. what should the manager actually do?
The heater in my room has stopped working. With winter temperatures, this is affecting my ability to study. Could you let me know the repair timeline?
problem, then context, then a clear ask.
Good sentences aren't built from good vocabulary. They're built from a good reason. Before you write, ask "why" about your own example five times in a row. By the third or fourth why, you usually hit the real, specific detail, and once you have that, the sentence writes itself.
"I prefer studying at the library because it's quiet."
stops at the first reason. anyone could write this.
"I prefer the library because at home my younger brother plays video games loudly next door, and my reading speed drops by half whenever I'm distracted like that."
five whys deep. this is a detail only you could give.
Read our full walkthrough: TOEFL Academic Discussion, where a 5 and a 3 split
Templates for Academic Discussion: the two frames worth memorizing before the test
TOEFL Write an Email: you covered all three bullets, so why only a 4?
TOEFL Build a Sentence: we sorted 120 trap tiles
189 TOEFL writing transition words, with examples and a free PDF