How to Prepare for the TOEFL Writing Section

Learn how to prepare for the TOEFL writing section with strategies, examples, and tips to boost your score and write confidently.

The TOEFL test measures your ability to use English in academic settings. Universities and colleges use your score to decide if you can succeed in classes taught in English. Many schools around the world require it for admission, so preparing well is essential. A high score not only increases your chances of admission but also shows that you’re ready for academic challenges in an English-speaking environment.

Before focusing on the writing section, it’s important to understand how the entire test works and how it is scored.

How the TOEFL Test Is Scored

The TOEFL iBT test is scored on a 0–120 scale. It has four sections: Reading, Listening, Speaking, and Writing. Each section is worth 0–30 points, and your total score is the sum of all four.

Section	Time Limit	Score Range	What It Tests
Reading	35 minutes	0–30	Understanding academic texts
Listening	36 minutes	0–30	Understanding lectures and conversations
Speaking	16 minutes	0–30	Expressing ideas clearly in spoken English
Writing	29 minutes	0–30	Writing essays in academic English

Here’s how scores are generally viewed:

90–100+ (Strong Score): Competitive for many universities. Shows solid English ability.
100–110+ (Very Good Score): Suitable for top universities and programs. Reflects strong academic English skills.
110–120 (Excellent Score): Rare and highly competitive. Shows near-native fluency.

Many institutions set their own requirements. For example, some may accept a total score of 80, while others may expect 100 or higher. Always check the exact score your target school or university requires.

Institutions look at both your total score and individual section scores. A strong Writing Section score can make a big difference in your overall result. This section shows how clearly you can organize ideas, use correct grammar, and write in an academic style. Understanding the format and practicing the right strategies will help you succeed.

The writing section has two tasks: the Integrated Writing Task and the Writing for an Academic Discussion Task. Together, they take about 29 minutes. To succeed, you need preparation, strategy, and practice.

This guide explains the format, shows you how to prepare, and gives you examples to practice with.

The Format of the TOEFL Writing Section

The TOEFL writing section challenges more than just grammar. You must read, listen, think, and write quickly. Without preparation, you may run out of time, miss key points, or make grammar mistakes. With preparation, you can write with confidence, structure, and clarity.

Here is what you can expect:

Integrated Writing Task (20 minutes)

In this task, you:

Read a short passage (around 250–300 words).
Listen to a lecture on the same topic.
Write an essay summarizing the lecture and showing how it relates to the reading.

You must explain connections, not your opinion. The lecture often disagrees with the reading, so you must compare both. You have 20 minutes.

Writing for an Academic Discussion Task (9-10 minutes)

This is the second task in the TOEFL writing section. You join an online academic discussion. You see a professor’s question and short answers from two students. You must add your own written contribution.

You have 9-10 minutes. Your answer is usually 100–150 words. It must be clear, logical, and relevant.

How the TOEFL Writing Section Is Scored

Your writing section score is reported on a 0–30 scale. Both tasks are rated by human raters and AI scoring systems.

Integrated Writing Task: Rated on how well you summarize, connect ideas, and use language clearly.
Academic Discussion Task: Rated on how relevant, developed, and organized your response is.

Raters look at:

How well you answer the question.
How clear and organized your ideas are.
How accurate your grammar, vocabulary, and sentence structure are.
How well you connect and support your points.

Scoring is as follows:

24–30: Strong essays with clear organization, accurate grammar, and effective examples.
17–23: Adequate writing but with noticeable grammar or development issues.
0–16: Weak writing with serious errors or poor organization.

High-scoring essays are clear, organized, and developed with strong examples. Low-scoring essays may be off-topic, weakly developed, or filled with language errors.

While every section matters, the writing section plays a special role. It shows admissions teams how well you can express ideas in English. Let’s look more closely at this part of the test.

Step-by-Step Preparation Guide

1. Learn the Test Format

Understand timing, tasks, and expectations. Familiarity reduces stress and boosts your confidence on test day.

2. Build Reading Skills

Read academic articles, essays, and reports. Learn to find main ideas and supporting details quickly.

3. Improve Listening Skills

Listen to lectures, podcasts, and TED Talks. Take notes on main points, examples, and tone.

4. Practice Essay Writing

Write daily. Start with short essays, then practice full-length tasks with a timer. After writing, review your essay for free using online tools that check grammar, style, and clarity. These tools help you spot mistakes and improve your writing before practicing again.

5. Plan Before Writing

Spend one to two minutes outlining. Write your thesis, main points, and examples. Planning saves time later.

6. Focus on Structure

Use an introduction, body paragraphs, and a conclusion. Clear structure makes your essay stronger.

7. Use Strong Examples

Examples make arguments convincing. Use personal experiences, real facts, or logical reasoning. Avoid vague statements.

8. Expand Vocabulary

Learn synonyms and academic words. Use them naturally. Do not force complex words into your essay.

9. Strengthen Grammar

Review verb tenses, transitions, and sentence structures. Accuracy matters more than long or complicated sentences.

10. Practice With a Timer

Always use a timer. Train yourself to finish within 20 or 9-10 minutes.

11. Review and Edit

Leave one or two minutes for checking. Correct grammar, spelling, and unclear phrases.

Strategies for the Integrated Writing Task

In this task, you read a short passage and listen to a lecture. Then you write an essay explaining how the lecture relates to the reading. You have 20 minutes to complete the task.

Read for Main Ideas: Do not focus on details. Note the main arguments.
Listen Carefully: The lecture usually disagrees with the passage. Write down key counterpoints.
Compare and Contrast: Structure your essay around how the lecture challenges or supports the reading.
Paraphrase: Use your own words. Copying sentences lowers your score.
Stay Organized: Write a short introduction, two or three comparison paragraphs, and a conclusion.

Sample Integrated Writing Task

This example shows you how to connect ideas from a reading passage and a lecture in your essay.

Reading Passage (Summary)

The reading argues that elephants can use tools. It explains that elephants break branches to swat flies, cover themselves with dirt, and dig holes with sticks.

Lecture (Summary)

The lecture challenges these points. It argues that elephants only act from instinct, not true tool use. For example, swatting flies is just a reaction, not planned behavior. Covering with dirt may cool their skin, not protect it. Digging holes could be survival instinct, not tool use.

Sample Essay

The lecture challenges the claims in the reading about elephant tool use. While the reading suggests that elephants use branches and sticks as tools, the lecture argues these actions are instinctive, not deliberate.

One of the claims made by the reading is that elephants use branches to swat flies. The lecture disagrees, explaining that this behavior is simply a reaction to irritation, not true tool use.

The reading also mentions elephants covering themselves with dirt to protect their skin. However, the lecture argues this may only be for cooling, which is a basic survival instinct.

Finally, the reading states elephants dig with sticks. The lecture rejects this idea, saying the behavior is not evidence of tool use but rather a response to thirst.

Overall, the lecture suggests elephants do not consciously use tools, directly opposing the claims in the reading.

Strategies for the Academic Discussion Task

In this task, you join an online discussion. You respond to a professor’s question and add your own contribution to the conversation. You have 9-10 minutes to complete the task.

Read the Prompt Carefully: Understand the professor’s question.
Notice Student Responses: They give you context and ideas.
Add Value: Do not repeat. Add new examples, reasons, or perspectives.
Be Clear and Concise: Write about 100–150 words.
Stay Academic: Use formal tone, logical reasoning, and relevant examples.

Sample Academic Discussion Task

This example shows you how to join a class discussion by adding your own clear, focused response.

Prompt

Professor: Some people say university students should join extracurricular clubs. Others say they should focus only on studies. What do you think?

Student A: Clubs help students make friends and build soft skills.
Student B: Focusing only on studies allows students to achieve higher academic results.

Sample Response

I agree with Student A that extracurricular clubs are valuable for university students. While strong academic results are important, students also need skills beyond the classroom.

Clubs provide opportunities to develop teamwork, leadership, and communication. For example, when I joined a debate club, I improved my ability to organize arguments and speak confidently in front of an audience. These skills later helped me in academic presentations.

In addition, clubs reduce stress and create balance in student life. Academic work can feel overwhelming, and having a supportive group helps maintain mental health.

Therefore, extracurricular clubs play an essential role in preparing students for future careers and personal growth.

Common Mistakes to Avoid

Ignoring time limits.
Copying text instead of paraphrasing.
Writing without planning.
Using complex words incorrectly.
Forgetting to review your essay.

Four-Week Study Plan

Week 1

Learn the format.
Read and listen to academic materials daily.
Write short responses to prompts.

Week 2

Focus on Integrated Writing tasks.
Practice reading and listening with notes.
Write at least three essays with a timer.

Week 3

Focus on Academic Discussion tasks.
Practice adding new points to discussions.
Aim for 100–150 words per response.

Week 4

Take full practice tests under timed conditions.
Review errors and improve weak areas.
Focus on grammar, vocabulary, and editing.

Final Tips for Success

Practice daily.
Write with structure and clarity.
Always plan before writing.
Use examples to strengthen arguments.
Manage your time carefully.
Stay calm and focused on test day.

Conclusion

The TOEFL writing section measures your ability to write in academic English under time pressure. With the new format, you must complete one integrated essay and one short discussion response.

Preparation is the key to success. By practicing daily, learning strategies, and improving your writing step by step, you can achieve a strong score. Your efforts will not only help you pass the TOEFL but also build valuable skills for university and beyond.