Writing Section at a Glance
The final section of the TOEFL iBT, this part measures your ability to write clear, organized, and well-supported academic English. It consists of two distinct tasks with a total time of about 29 minutes.
Task 1: Integrated Writing
Read a passage, listen to a lecture, and write about how the lecture relates to the reading.
20
minutes
Recommended length: 280-300 words
Task 2: Academic Discussion
Read a professor's question and two student responses, then write your own contribution to the discussion.
10
minutes
Required length: at least 100 words
Key Skills Assessed
Success requires more than just grammar. The test evaluates specific academic skills for each task.
Integrated Task Skills:
- Effective note-taking from two sources
- Synthesizing and comparing information
- Paraphrasing and summarizing accurately
Academic Discussion Skills:
- Formulating a clear opinion
- Supporting claims with reasons/examples
- Making a relevant contribution to a conversation
Interactive Task Walkthroughs
Select a task below to begin a step-by-step interactive guide. You'll see the prompt, learn the strategy, and analyze a high-scoring sample response for each stage of the writing process.
Scoring & Advanced Strategy
Understanding how your essays are scored is key to maximizing your points. Explore the official scoring criteria and learn advanced strategies to avoid common pitfalls.
How Your Essays Are Graded
Your responses are scored from 0-5 by both AI and human raters. A high score (5) demonstrates strong development, organization, and language use. A low score (1-2) shows significant issues in one or more of these areas.
Common Pitfalls to Avoid
- ✗Giving Your Opinion (Integrated Task): A critical error. Your job is to report, not to opine. Stick to summarizing the lecture's points and how they challenge the reading.
- ✗Ineffective Note-Taking: Failing to capture the specific counter-arguments and details from the lecture is the fastest way to a low score. Practice the T-Chart method until it is second nature.
- ✗Ignoring Other Students (Discussion Task): Your post must be a *contribution* to a discussion. Acknowledge the other students' points to show engagement. A standalone essay will score lower.
- ✗Vague Development: Simply stating an opinion isn't enough. You MUST support it with specific reasons or examples. "Technology is good because it helps us learn" is weak. "Technology like interactive simulations helps visual learners grasp complex physics concepts" is strong.