30 Handy Phrasal Verbs to Help You Succeed on the

TOEFL Exam
The following list contains 30 phrasal verbs that can be used as either neutral or formal
words, so you can confidently use them in academic contexts like the TOEFL exam.

1. Account for
Meaning: To explain the reason for
Type: Inseparable
Example: Increased pollution may account for climate change.
2. Adhere to
Meaning: Obey
Type: Inseparable
Example: You must adhere to the terms of the contract.
3. Allude to
Meaning: Mention in an indirect way
Type: Inseparable
Example: She kept alluding to our agreement, but she didn’t want to reveal it.
4. Bring on
Meaning: To cause something bad to happen, especially illness
Type: Separable
Example: His heart condition was brought on by his diet.
5. Bring up
Meaning: To start discussing a subject
Type: Separable
Example: She brought the matter up very late so they didn’t have time to discuss it
properly.
6. Come about
Meaning: To happen, especially by chance
Type: Inseparable
Example: Increased unemployment has come about through automated production.
7. Cut back
Meaning: To reduce
Type: Inseparable
Example: They are cutting back expenses.
8. Do without
Meaning: To succeed in living or working without
Type: Inseparable
Example: We can do without help from you.
9. Embark on
Meaning: To start a new project or activity, usually one that will be difficult or take time
Type: Inseparable
Example: After graduating from university, she embarked on a career in banking.
10. Follow through
Meaning: To continue doing something until it has been completed
Type: Inseparable
Example: You will need to follow through with some reading if you want to master the
subject.
11. Frown upon
Meaning: To not approve of something
Type: Inseparable
Example: Failure to attend classes is frowned upon.
12. Get across
Meaning: To make people understand something
Type: Separable
Example: The teacher managed to get across how important it was to attend lectures.
13. Get around
Meaning: To be heard by a lot of people
Type: Inseparable
Example: News of his promotion got around very fast.
14. Get at
Meaning: To try to suggest something without saying it directly
Type: Inseparable
Example: What are you getting at? Was my presentation too long?
15. Get back
Meaning: To start doing something again after not doing it for a period of time.
Type: Inseparable.
Example: Let’s get back to discussing how this happened.
16. Look forward to
Meaning: To feel happy about something that is going to happen
Type: Inseparable
Example: I’m looking forward to meeting you later.
17. Look into
Meaning: To try to discover facts about something
Type: Inseparable
Example: After several customers complained about late deliveries, they decided to look
into the matter.
18. Make of
Meaning: To understand someone or something in a certain way
Type: Inseparable
Example: What do you make of the teacher’s decision to shorten this course?
19. Map out
Meaning: To plan in detail how something will happen
Type: Separable
Example: Her career was mapped out for her when she decided to take that job.
20. Meet up
Meaning: To come together with someone
Type: Inseparable
Example: Let’s meet up and discuss how we are going to go about this project.
21. Narrow down
Meaning: To reduce the number of possibilities
Type: Separable
Example: The detectives narrowed down the list of suspects to just two.
22. Put forward
Meaning: To suggest an idea, opinion so that it can be discussed
Type: Separable
Example: The proposals were put forward last week, but the committee didn’t have time
to discuss them.
23. Put off
Meaning: To delay doing something especially when you don’t want to do it
Type: Separable
Example: Are you putting off writing that essay because you can’t concentrate right now?
24. Resort to
Meaning: To do something unpleasant in order to solve a problem
Type: Inseparable
Example: We must resort to legal action of they don’t offer compensation.
25. Rule out
Meaning: To stop considering something as a possibility
Type: Separable
Example: The CEO said that yearly bonuses can be ruled out in light of the financial crisis.
26. Run by
Meaning: To tell someone your ideas so they can give you their opinion
Type: Separable
Example: I have a few ideas for tomorrow’s meeting. Can I run them by you?
27. Talk out of
Meaning: To persuade someone not to do something
Type: Separable
Example: Her parents talked her out of living in a rented flat.
28. Think over
Meaning: To consider a problem carefully
Type: Separable
Example: You should think it over before handing in your resignation.
29. Turn out
Meaning: To develop in a particular way
Type: Inseparable
Example: The presentation turned out well, considering how little you prepared for it.
30. Verge on
Meaning: To almost be in a particular state
Type: Inseparable
Example: His speech was so good, it was verging on genius.

TOEFL Prep Online Guides and Tips

The Best TOEFL Writing Templates for Any

Prompt

Author Hannah MunizPosted onMay 22, 2017CategoriesTOEFL WritingTagsstudying for

toefl, templates, toefl prompts
Even if English composition isn’t your forte, you can still earn a high score on the
TOEFL Writing section by following a template. But what exactly is a TOEFL Writing
template? Simply put, TOEFL essay templates teach you how to organize your
thoughts, select strong pieces of evidence, and get the Writing score you want.

In this article, we’re providing you with two high-quality TOEFL essay templates for
the Integrated and Independent Writing tasks. Before that, we’ll go over the differences
between the two TOEFL Writing tasks and then discuss how our TOEFL essay
templates can benefit you. After, we’ll teach you how to customize and use our
templates.

What Essays Will You Write on the TOEFL?

The Writing section is the final section you’ll face on the TOEFL, and it consists of two
separate tasks: an Integrated Writing task and an Independent Writing task.
The Integrated task requires you to write a response comparing a lecture and an article,
whereas the Independent task requires you to write an opinionated essay in which you
agree or disagree with an idea.

Below, we examine the two TOEFL Writing tasks in detail.

Integrated Writing Task

For the Integrated task, you must read a passage on an academic topic for three
minutes and then listen to a short lecture on the same topic. This lecture will either
support or challenge what’s written in the passage. Your response must summarize the
main points discussed in the lecture and explain how these points relate to the
reading.

You’ll have a total of 20 minutes to write your response. Your response should be
around 150-225 words. During this time, you may reread the passage; however, you
may not listen to the lecture again.

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The score you receive for this task will be on a scale of 0-5. According to the official
rubric, a level-5 essay (i.e., a perfect essay) selects the most crucial information from
the lecture and presents it in a coherent, accurate, and well-organized manner. A level-
3 essay is satisfactory but overall vague, with fewer key points and several grammatical
errors. Finally, a level-1 essay offers minimal coherency and fails to address any of the
main points in the lecture. ETS (the creators of the TOEFL) offers several samples of
scored Integrated essays online.

Below is an example of an Integrated Writing task borrowed from ETS:

Reading Passage

Critics say that current voting systems used in the United States are inefficient and often
lead to the inaccurate counting of votes. Miscounts can be especially damaging if an
election is closely contested. Those critics would like the traditional systems to be
replaced with far more efficient and trustworthy computerized voting systems.

In traditional voting, one major source of inaccuracy is that people accidentally vote for
the wrong candidate. Voters usually have to find the name of their candidate on a large
sheet of paper containing many names—the ballot—and make a small mark next to that
name. People with poor eyesight can easily mark the wrong name. The computerized
voting machines have an easy-to-use touch-screen technology: to cast a vote, a voter
needs only to touch the candidate’s name on the screen to record a vote for that
candidate; voters can even have the computer magnify the name for easier viewing.

Another major problem with old voting systems is that they rely heavily on people to
count the votes. Officials must often count up the votes one by one, going through every
ballot and recording the vote. Since they have to deal with thousands of ballots, it is
almost inevitable that they will make mistakes. If an error is detected, a long and
expensive recount has to take place. In contrast, computerized systems remove the
possibility of human error, since all the vote counting is done quickly and automatically
by the computers.

Finally some people say it is too risky to implement complicated voting technology
nationwide. But without giving it a thought, governments and individuals alike trust other
complex computer technology every day to be perfectly accurate in banking
transactions as well as in the communication of highly sensitive information.

Lecture Transcript

(Narrator) Now listen to part of a lecture on the topic you just read about.

(Female professor) While traditional voting systems have some problems, it’s doubtful
that computerized voting will make the situation any better. Computerized voting may
seem easy for people who are used to computers. But what about people who aren’t?
People who can’t afford computers, people who don’t use them on a regular basis—
these people will have trouble using computerized voting machines. These voters can
easily cast the wrong vote or be discouraged from voting altogether because of fear of
technology. Furthermore, it’s true that humans make mistakes when they count up
ballots by hand. But are we sure that computers will do a better job? After all, computers
are programmed by humans, so “human error” can show up in mistakes in their
programs. And the errors caused by these defective programs may be far more serious.
The worst a human official can do is miss a few ballots. But an error in a computer
program can result in thousands of votes being miscounted or even permanently
removed from the record. And in many voting systems, there is no physical record of the
votes, so a computer recount in the case of a suspected error is impossible! As for our
trust of computer technology for banking and communications, remember one thing:
these systems are used daily and they are used heavily. They didn’t work flawlessly
when they were first introduced. They had to be improved on and improved on until they
got as reliable as they are today. But voting happens only once every two years
nationally in the United States and not much more than twice a year in many local
areas. This is hardly sufficient for us to develop confidence that computerized voting
can be fully trusted.

Question: Summarize the points made in the lecture, being sure to explain how they
oppose specific points made in the reading passage.
Independent Writing Task

For the Independent task, you will write about your opinion on a certain topic. You
must provide clear reasons and specific examples for why you agree or disagree with
the issue or statement. (This doesn’t have to be your real opinion, though!) You’ll
have 30 minutes to write your response. A typical high-scoring essay is at least 300
words.

You’ll receive a score on a scale of 0-5. According to the official rubric, a level-5 essay
effectively addresses the topic, provides clear and ample details, and contains at most
only minor issues with grammar and word choice. A level-3 essay offers a generally
coherent response with occasional slips in clarity. Finally, a level-1 essay offers little to
no detail and contains multiple technical errors. You can look at samples of Independent
essays on the ETS website.

Here is an example of an Independent Writing task taken from ETS:

Do you agree or disagree with the following statement?

Always telling the truth is the most important consideration in any relationship.

Use specific reasons and examples to support your answer.

Integrated Task vs. Independent Task

So far we’ve covered all of the basic components of the TOEFL Writing tasks. To briefly
recap, here is an overview of the Integrated and Independent Writing tasks:

Integrated Writing Task Independent Writing Task

3 minutes to read a passage, 20 minutes to write a

Time 30 minutes to write a response
response

Length 150-225 words At least 300 words

Score 0-5 0-5

To summarize the main points of a lecture and compare To explain whether you agree or
Purpose
the lecture to a passage disagree with an issue or statement

You must read a passage and listen to a lecture before you You do not have to write about your
Additional
begin writing. You may look at the passage as you write real opinion! You may pretend to agree
Details
your response. or disagree.
What Is a TOEFL Writing Template?

The purpose of a TOEFL Writing template is to help you compose a detailed and
eloquent essay — and of course get you a high Writing score! But what exactly is
a template?

It’s easiest to think of an essay template as a skeleton. While a skeleton is the

framework for a body, a template is the framework for an essay. Thus, a TOEFL
Writing template highlights basic structural patterns and phrases you can integrate into
your own writing. What a template doesn’t do is write your essay for you. Ultimately, it’s
up to you to decide how you’ll add the skin and muscles (i.e., the details and supporting
evidence) to your “skeleton.”

Furthermore, writing templates are typically created to suit different types of

essays. For example, a template for a compare/contrast essay will differ from a
template for an editorial piece. This is why it’s so important you use a writing template
specifically geared toward the TOEFL!

What Are the Benefits of a TOEFL Writing Template?

There are three major benefits to using a TOEFL Writing template.

It Organizes Your Thoughts

Using a TOEFL Writing template ensures you’ll have a focused and well-organized
response. A high-quality template teaches you how to structure your response so that
your introductory, body, and concluding paragraphs are all clearly defined. This way,
even if your grammar and spelling aren’t perfect, your response will still have an overall
strong framework that’s easy to follow.

TOEFL essay templates also show you what kinds of transitions you can use and
where. Transitions are a key component of essays that allow you to connect your
thoughts and progress to new ideas smoothly. Truth be told, you probably won’t score
super highly on the TOEFL Writing section if you don’t use any transitions!

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It Saves You Time

Another big benefit of using a TOEFL Writing template is that it saves you time on the
Writing section. Since you’ll already have a sense of how you’re going to structure your
essay, you’ll spend less time planning it out and coming up with transitions,
openings, and closings. As a result, you’ll get more time to actually write out your
response!

It Gives You Confidence

Lastly, a TOEFL Writing template allows you to feel more prepared on test day. Many
test takers find it difficult to write out responses to English-language prompts in only 20
or 30 minutes. But TOEFL essay templates equip you with the skills you’ll need to feel
more confident in your writing skills — and confidence is the first step toward getting a
great TOEFL score!
 2 TOEFL Essay Templates for You to Use

In this section, we offer you a TOEFL Integrated Writing template and

an Independent Writing TOEFL template. We also provide you with a handy list
of key transitional words and phrases you can incorporate into your essays.

Please note that you do not need to follow these templates directly. In fact, we strongly
encourage you to replace our sample words and phrases with your own. We will
talk more about how to customize our TOEFL essay templates in the following section.
But for now, let’s take a look at the templates!

Template 1: Integrated Writing Task

Before we dive into our TOEFL Integrated Writing template, let’s get a quick reminder of
what the Integrated task entails.

For this task, you’ll read a passage and then listen to a lecture. Your task is to
summarize the lecture and explain whether the lecture challenges or supports what’s
written in the passage. You’ll have 20 minutes to compose a response of around 150-
225 words.

We’ll divide our template into four paragraphs: an introduction and three body
paragraphs. You shouldn’t need a separate concluding paragraph for this task, as you
can still score a 5 without one (plus, you likely won’t have enough time to write one!).
But if you want to write a conclusion, just be sure you keep it short — two to three
sentences at most.

Now, on to the TOEFL Integrated Writing template!

Paragraph 1 (Introduction)

Your first paragraph will introduce the lecture and how it relates to the reading. This
paragraph doesn’t need to be long; a simple two or three sentences should suffice.

1. Begin with a topic sentence that summarizes the main point of the lecture.

Examples:

 According to the lecture, …

 Based on the lecture, …
 The lecturer states/believes that …
 The lecturer talks about …
 The lecturer discusses …

2. Next, explain whether the passage refutes or supports the main point of the lecture.

Examples (Contrast):

 By contrast, the author of the passage explains/states/posits that …

 The author of the passage, however, disagrees with this idea/belief. Instead, he/she believes
that …
 The author of the passage, however, doubts this idea/belief and thinks that …
 The author challenges this point, however, by explaining/suggesting/positing that …

Examples (Agreement):

 This line of thinking agrees with that of the author, who states that …
 The author of the passage agrees with this notion/idea/belief, stating that …
 Likewise, the author of the passage explains/states/posits that …
 The author of the passage supports this idea/belief, explaining that …

Paragraph 2 (Body)

In this paragraph, you’ll want to focus on one of the key points in the lecture and
explain whether the passage refutes or supports this idea.

1. Introduce the main point you’ll be discussing.

Examples:

 First, the lecturer asserts/claims/suggests that …

 For one, the lecturer thinks/believes that …
 The first point the lecturer makes is that …

2. Next, describe this particular point in more detail and then discuss how the
passage either refutes or supports it. I suggest using one to two sentences here.

Examples:
 On the other hand, the author asserts/claims/suggests that …
 Likewise, the author thinks/believes that …
 This concept is refuted/supported by the passage, which asserts/claims/suggests that …

3. Finally, conclude your paragraph by explaining what this difference or similarity

means.

Examples:

 This difference/similarity ultimately means/indicates that …

 Basically, the lecturer/author is saying that …
 The lecturer and author are essentially in agreement with each other. Both think/believe
that …
 Clearly, the lecturer and author maintain different views on …

Paragraph 3 (Body)

In this paragraph, you’ll focus on another key point in the lecture and again discuss
how the passage either agrees or disagrees with this idea. The structure here is
essentially identical to that of paragraph 2, so make sure you are using new transitions
and varying your word choice.

1. Start by introducing the second point in the lecture you’ll be discussing. Because
this is your second body paragraph, do not use transitions such as “first” or “first of all.”

Examples:

 Second, the lecturer argues/contends/asserts that …

 Next, the lecturer suggests/proposes that …
 Another key point the lecturer makes is that …

2. Next, explain this key point in more detail and elaborate on how it is either refuted
or supported by the passage. As with paragraph 2, I recommend using one to two
sentences here.

Examples:

 In other words, the lecturer is suggesting/proposing that …

 The author, however, agrees/disagrees with this idea/belief, suggesting/proposing that …
 Similarly, the author argues/contends/asserts that …
 3. Finally, explain what this difference or similarity means.

Examples:

 What this difference/similarity means is that …

 This difference/similarity in thinking tells us that …
 Evidently, the lecturer thinks/believes that … , whereas the author thinks/believes that …

Paragraph 4 (Body + Conclusion)

This final body paragraph will offer your last key point in addition to a brief
conclusion. Once again, try to vary your transitions and words here so that your body
paragraphs do not sound redundant.

1. Introduce and summarize the third point in the lecture. This is your third and final
body paragraph, so do not use transitions such as “first” or “next.” Instead, use
transitions such as “third,” “finally,” “last,” and “lastly.”

Examples:

 Third, the lecturer explains/states that …

 Finally, the lecturer introduces the idea that …
 Lastly, the lecturer goes on to say that …

2. Then, explain this point in more detail and discuss whether the passage matches
or challenges it. Use one or two sentences here.

Examples:

 This point is also made in the passage, which argues/contends/asserts that …

 The passage supports this idea, suggesting/proposing that …
 On the contrary, the author writes that …

3. Finally, conclude your paragraph by explaining the significance of this similarity

or difference. You should also look at this sentence as the conclusion to your entire
response. Remember, you do not need to write a separate concluding paragraph for
this task; it’s perfectly OK to combine it with your last body paragraph!
 Examples:

 In conclusion, the lecturer and author appear to be in agreement/disagreement about …

 All in all, the lecturer argues/contends/asserts that … , whereas the author
argues/contends/asserts that …

Template 2: Independent Writing Task

For this task, you will read a short prompt and then write a response explaining whether
you agree or disagree with the issue or idea. Unlike the Integrated task, here you’ll be
writing an opinionated response (though you do not have to write about your actual
opinion).

You’ll have 30 minutes to write an essay of at least 300 words. Because this essay
should be longer than the Integrated task, it’s best to use the basic five-paragraph
structure, with an introduction, three body paragraphs, and a conclusion.

Note that many of the example sentences below are based on the sample
Independent Writing prompt used above. This means that these sentences
will not apply exactly to other prompts! So don’t simply copy the sentences onto your
test; instead, use them as a general guide to help you develop a better sense of style
and flow in your writing.

Now, let’s take a look at our Independent Writing TOEFL template.

Paragraph 1 (Introduction)

In this paragraph, you’ll introduce the main issue or idea and rephrase the prompt in
your own words. Then, you’ll state whether you agree or disagree with the statement
and why.

1. For your first sentence, you’ll want to come up with a hook that introduces the topic
of your essay in a unique and creative way. Most people start broad and then get
specific. This sentence is also a great opportunity to insert a hypothetical question.

Examples:

 There is great debate about ...

 It is said that ... But is this always true?
 Many people wonder whether telling the truth at all times is necessary in order to maintain
a healthy relationship with someone.
 2. Next, introduce your opinion on the topic. You may list your specific reasons for
your opinion here or in the following sentence(s). Remember, this doesn’t need to be
your real opinion!

Examples:

 In my opinion, …
 I believe that … is important because …
 I agree/disagree with this idea/suggestion because …
 For me, although telling the truth is important, there are many cases in which it’s OK to lie.

3. Here, state how many points (three is ideal) you’ll be discussing in your essay and
then briefly summarize what these reasons for agreeing or disagreeing are. Your
reasons may come from facts, predictions, personal beliefs, experiences, etc.

Examples:

 In this essay, I will address three potential problems with lying in relationships.
 Lying is never a smart idea because it undermines trust in relationships, causes feelings of
betrayal, and often leads to more lying.

Paragraph 2 (Body)

In this paragraph, you’ll introduce your first key point about the issue and offer specific
examples illustrating why you agree or disagree.

1. For the first sentence, introduce the key point you want to talk about.

Example:

 First of all, lying can make it difficult to trust someone in a relationship.

2. Next, provide an example to explain why you believe this is the case. I suggest
using a hypothetical situation somewhere in your essay to help illustrate one of your
points.

Example:
 For example, if a father lied to his daughter by telling her she was good at drawing, the daughter
might begin to wonder whether her father has lied to her about other things, too.

3. Continue your paragraph by elaborating on your example. Explain any effect or

consequence of the example and discuss how this outcome supports your viewpoint.

Example:

 The next time the father praises his daughter for something, she might believe he is lying, even
if he isn’t. In other words, the daughter might find it difficult to trust her father, thereby damaging
their relationship.

Paragraph 3 (Body)

This paragraph will follow a similar structure to that of paragraph 2, only this time you’ll
discuss your second key point. To prevent this paragraph from sounding too similar to
the one before it, vary your word choice and choose a different type of example on
which to focus.

1. In the first sentence, introduce your second key point. Because this is your second
body paragraph (and second point), make sure you employ appropriate transitions,
such as “second,” “secondly,” and “next.”

Example:

 Second, lying can cause feelings of betrayal in relationships.

2. As you did in paragraph 2, use these next few sentences to elaborate on your point
and offer specific examples. Always clarify how your examples support your stance
(agree or disagree) and how they relate back to the issue stated in the prompt.

Example:

 When I was young, I lied to my best friend about being able to attend her birthday party. She
later told me I’d betrayed her and that we couldn’t be friends anymore. Essentially, because I’d
lied to her, I destroyed our relationship.
 Paragraph 4 (Body)

This is the last body paragraph in which you will introduce and explain your third and
final key point.

1. First, introduce your third point. As this is your final body paragraph, make sure
you’re using appropriate transitions, such as “finally,” “last,” “lastly,” and “third,” to
introduce your point.

Example:

 Lastly, lying often begets more lying. This means that once you tell a lie, you will become more
likely to tell other lies.

2. As you did in paragraphs 2 and 3, elaborate on this point by providing new

evidence, details, and/or examples. Explain why this point is important and how it
supports your stance on the issue.

Example:

 If you lie but nobody knows you’ve lied, you might begin to believe it’s OK to lie. As a result, you
start to lie more and more. However, once people realize how often you lie, they’ll likely lose all
trust in you and might even decide to end their relationships with you.

Paragraph 5 (Conclusion)

Like the Integrated Writing task, a separate concluding paragraph isn’t always
necessary here. That said, if you have time, I recommend quickly wrapping up your
points in a concise yet effective conclusion. One to three sentences should suffice.

1. In the first sentence or two, summarize your stance and explain why you feel this
way. You may re-introduce your three main points here. You may also paraphrase the
prompt and explain once more whether you agree or disagree with the issue and why.

Examples:

 In the end, I believe telling the truth is the most important consideration in a relationship.
 Ultimately, lying can easily destroy relationships because it weakens trust, results in feelings of
betrayal, and often causes more lying.
 2. Finally, if you have time, bring together your concluding paragraph with a single
general statement about your viewpoint.

Examples:

 This is why it is imperative we always refrain from lying.

 Thus, the only way to ensure your relationships with others are healthy is to always tell the truth.

54 Key Transitions & Phrases

In addition to TOEFL essay templates, we offer you an assortment

of common transitions and phrases you can use in your TOEFL responses. These
words will allow your writing to flow more smoothly and connect your thoughts in a
clearer, more logical manner.

To add information to a point, or to introduce a new (related) point:

 In addition, …
 Additionally, …
 Furthermore, …
 Moreover, …
 Besides, …
 Also, …

To introduce an example:

 For example, …
 For instance, …

To introduce an opinion:

 In my opinion, …
 I believe that …
 I think that …

To start a new body paragraph:

 First, …
 First off, …
 First of all, …
 To begin/start, …
 Second, …
 Secondly, …
 Next, …
 Third, …
 Finally, …
 Last, …
 Lastly, …

To add similar or related information:

 Likewise, …
 Similarly, …
 On a related note, …

To restate information in a shorter or clearer way:

 In other words, …
 In short, …
 Simply put, …
 Essentially, …
 In essence, …
 Basically, …

To contrast information:

 However, …
 That (being) said, …
 Nevertheless, …
 Nonetheless, …
 By/in contrast, …
 On the contrary, …
 On the other hand, …

To show cause and effect:

 As a result, …
 Because of this, …
 As such, …
 Consequently, …
 Therefore, …
 Thus, …
 Hence, …

To emphasize information:

 Indeed, …
 Evidently, …
 Clearly, …
 Certainly, …

To conclude information, a paragraph, or your overall response:

 In conclusion, …
 All in all, …
 As you can see, …
 In the end, …
 Ultimately, …

TOEFL Prep Online Guides and Tips

The Best TOEFL Writing Templates for Any

Prompt

Author Hannah MunizPosted onMay 22, 2017CategoriesTOEFL WritingTagsstudying for

toefl, templates, toefl prompts
Even if English composition isn’t your forte, you can still earn a high score on the
TOEFL Writing section by following a template. But what exactly is a TOEFL Writing
template? Simply put, TOEFL essay templates teach you how to organize your
thoughts, select strong pieces of evidence, and get the Writing score you want.

In this article, we’re providing you with two high-quality TOEFL essay templates for
the Integrated and Independent Writing tasks. Before that, we’ll go over the differences
between the two TOEFL Writing tasks and then discuss how our TOEFL essay
templates can benefit you. After, we’ll teach you how to customize and use our
templates.

What Essays Will You Write on the TOEFL?

The Writing section is the final section you’ll face on the TOEFL, and it consists of two
separate tasks: an Integrated Writing task and an Independent Writing task.
The Integrated task requires you to write a response comparing a lecture and an article,
whereas the Independent task requires you to write an opinionated essay in which you
agree or disagree with an idea.

Below, we examine the two TOEFL Writing tasks in detail.

Integrated Writing Task

For the Integrated task, you must read a passage on an academic topic for three
minutes and then listen to a short lecture on the same topic. This lecture will either
support or challenge what’s written in the passage. Your response must summarize the
main points discussed in the lecture and explain how these points relate to the
reading.

You’ll have a total of 20 minutes to write your response. Your response should be
around 150-225 words. During this time, you may reread the passage; however, you
may not listen to the lecture again.

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The score you receive for this task will be on a scale of 0-5. According to the official
rubric, a level-5 essay (i.e., a perfect essay) selects the most crucial information from
the lecture and presents it in a coherent, accurate, and well-organized manner. A level-
3 essay is satisfactory but overall vague, with fewer key points and several grammatical
errors. Finally, a level-1 essay offers minimal coherency and fails to address any of the
main points in the lecture. ETS (the creators of the TOEFL) offers several samples of
scored Integrated essays online.

Below is an example of an Integrated Writing task borrowed from ETS:

Reading Passage

Critics say that current voting systems used in the United States are inefficient and often
lead to the inaccurate counting of votes. Miscounts can be especially damaging if an
election is closely contested. Those critics would like the traditional systems to be
replaced with far more efficient and trustworthy computerized voting systems.

In traditional voting, one major source of inaccuracy is that people accidentally vote for
the wrong candidate. Voters usually have to find the name of their candidate on a large
sheet of paper containing many names—the ballot—and make a small mark next to that
name. People with poor eyesight can easily mark the wrong name. The computerized
voting machines have an easy-to-use touch-screen technology: to cast a vote, a voter
needs only to touch the candidate’s name on the screen to record a vote for that
candidate; voters can even have the computer magnify the name for easier viewing.

Another major problem with old voting systems is that they rely heavily on people to
count the votes. Officials must often count up the votes one by one, going through every
ballot and recording the vote. Since they have to deal with thousands of ballots, it is
almost inevitable that they will make mistakes. If an error is detected, a long and
expensive recount has to take place. In contrast, computerized systems remove the
possibility of human error, since all the vote counting is done quickly and automatically
by the computers.

Finally some people say it is too risky to implement complicated voting technology
nationwide. But without giving it a thought, governments and individuals alike trust other
complex computer technology every day to be perfectly accurate in banking
transactions as well as in the communication of highly sensitive information.

Lecture Transcript

(Narrator) Now listen to part of a lecture on the topic you just read about.

(Female professor) While traditional voting systems have some problems, it’s doubtful
that computerized voting will make the situation any better. Computerized voting may
seem easy for people who are used to computers. But what about people who aren’t?
People who can’t afford computers, people who don’t use them on a regular basis—
these people will have trouble using computerized voting machines. These voters can
easily cast the wrong vote or be discouraged from voting altogether because of fear of
technology. Furthermore, it’s true that humans make mistakes when they count up
ballots by hand. But are we sure that computers will do a better job? After all, computers
are programmed by humans, so “human error” can show up in mistakes in their
programs. And the errors caused by these defective programs may be far more serious.
The worst a human official can do is miss a few ballots. But an error in a computer
program can result in thousands of votes being miscounted or even permanently
removed from the record. And in many voting systems, there is no physical record of the
votes, so a computer recount in the case of a suspected error is impossible! As for our
trust of computer technology for banking and communications, remember one thing:
these systems are used daily and they are used heavily. They didn’t work flawlessly
when they were first introduced. They had to be improved on and improved on until they
got as reliable as they are today. But voting happens only once every two years
nationally in the United States and not much more than twice a year in many local
areas. This is hardly sufficient for us to develop confidence that computerized voting
can be fully trusted.

Question: Summarize the points made in the lecture, being sure to explain how they
oppose specific points made in the reading passage.
Independent Writing Task

For the Independent task, you will write about your opinion on a certain topic. You
must provide clear reasons and specific examples for why you agree or disagree with
the issue or statement. (This doesn’t have to be your real opinion, though!) You’ll
have 30 minutes to write your response. A typical high-scoring essay is at least 300
words.

You’ll receive a score on a scale of 0-5. According to the official rubric, a level-5 essay
effectively addresses the topic, provides clear and ample details, and contains at most
only minor issues with grammar and word choice. A level-3 essay offers a generally
coherent response with occasional slips in clarity. Finally, a level-1 essay offers little to
no detail and contains multiple technical errors. You can look at samples of Independent
essays on the ETS website.

Here is an example of an Independent Writing task taken from ETS:

Do you agree or disagree with the following statement?

Always telling the truth is the most important consideration in any relationship.

Use specific reasons and examples to support your answer.

Integrated Task vs. Independent Task

So far we’ve covered all of the basic components of the TOEFL Writing tasks. To briefly
recap, here is an overview of the Integrated and Independent Writing tasks:

Integrated Writing Task Independent Writing Task

3 minutes to read a passage, 20 minutes to write a

Time 30 minutes to write a response
response

Length 150-225 words At least 300 words

Score 0-5 0-5

To summarize the main points of a lecture and compare To explain whether you agree or
Purpose
the lecture to a passage disagree with an issue or statement

You must read a passage and listen to a lecture before you You do not have to write about your
Additional
begin writing. You may look at the passage as you write real opinion! You may pretend to agree
Details
your response. or disagree.
What Is a TOEFL Writing Template?

The purpose of a TOEFL Writing template is to help you compose a detailed and
eloquent essay — and of course get you a high Writing score! But what exactly is
a template?

It’s easiest to think of an essay template as a skeleton. While a skeleton is the

framework for a body, a template is the framework for an essay. Thus, a TOEFL
Writing template highlights basic structural patterns and phrases you can integrate into
your own writing. What a template doesn’t do is write your essay for you. Ultimately, it’s
up to you to decide how you’ll add the skin and muscles (i.e., the details and supporting
evidence) to your “skeleton.”

Furthermore, writing templates are typically created to suit different types of

essays. For example, a template for a compare/contrast essay will differ from a
template for an editorial piece. This is why it’s so important you use a writing template
specifically geared toward the TOEFL!

What Are the Benefits of a TOEFL Writing Template?

There are three major benefits to using a TOEFL Writing template.

It Organizes Your Thoughts

Using a TOEFL Writing template ensures you’ll have a focused and well-organized
response. A high-quality template teaches you how to structure your response so that
your introductory, body, and concluding paragraphs are all clearly defined. This way,
even if your grammar and spelling aren’t perfect, your response will still have an overall
strong framework that’s easy to follow.

TOEFL essay templates also show you what kinds of transitions you can use and
where. Transitions are a key component of essays that allow you to connect your
thoughts and progress to new ideas smoothly. Truth be told, you probably won’t score
super highly on the TOEFL Writing section if you don’t use any transitions!

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It Saves You Time

Another big benefit of using a TOEFL Writing template is that it saves you time on the
Writing section. Since you’ll already have a sense of how you’re going to structure your
essay, you’ll spend less time planning it out and coming up with transitions,
openings, and closings. As a result, you’ll get more time to actually write out your
response!

It Gives You Confidence

Lastly, a TOEFL Writing template allows you to feel more prepared on test day. Many
test takers find it difficult to write out responses to English-language prompts in only 20
or 30 minutes. But TOEFL essay templates equip you with the skills you’ll need to feel
more confident in your writing skills — and confidence is the first step toward getting a
great TOEFL score!
 2 TOEFL Essay Templates for You to Use

In this section, we offer you a TOEFL Integrated Writing template and

an Independent Writing TOEFL template. We also provide you with a handy list
of key transitional words and phrases you can incorporate into your essays.

Please note that you do not need to follow these templates directly. In fact, we strongly
encourage you to replace our sample words and phrases with your own. We will
talk more about how to customize our TOEFL essay templates in the following section.
But for now, let’s take a look at the templates!

Template 1: Integrated Writing Task

Before we dive into our TOEFL Integrated Writing template, let’s get a quick reminder of
what the Integrated task entails.

For this task, you’ll read a passage and then listen to a lecture. Your task is to
summarize the lecture and explain whether the lecture challenges or supports what’s
written in the passage. You’ll have 20 minutes to compose a response of around 150-
225 words.

We’ll divide our template into four paragraphs: an introduction and three body
paragraphs. You shouldn’t need a separate concluding paragraph for this task, as you
can still score a 5 without one (plus, you likely won’t have enough time to write one!).
But if you want to write a conclusion, just be sure you keep it short — two to three
sentences at most.

Now, on to the TOEFL Integrated Writing template!

Paragraph 1 (Introduction)

Your first paragraph will introduce the lecture and how it relates to the reading. This
paragraph doesn’t need to be long; a simple two or three sentences should suffice.

1. Begin with a topic sentence that summarizes the main point of the lecture.

Examples:

 According to the lecture, …

 Based on the lecture, …
 The lecturer states/believes that …
 The lecturer talks about …
 The lecturer discusses …

2. Next, explain whether the passage refutes or supports the main point of the lecture.

Examples (Contrast):

 By contrast, the author of the passage explains/states/posits that …

 The author of the passage, however, disagrees with this idea/belief. Instead, he/she believes
that …
 The author of the passage, however, doubts this idea/belief and thinks that …
 The author challenges this point, however, by explaining/suggesting/positing that …

Examples (Agreement):

 This line of thinking agrees with that of the author, who states that …
 The author of the passage agrees with this notion/idea/belief, stating that …
 Likewise, the author of the passage explains/states/posits that …
 The author of the passage supports this idea/belief, explaining that …

Paragraph 2 (Body)

In this paragraph, you’ll want to focus on one of the key points in the lecture and
explain whether the passage refutes or supports this idea.

1. Introduce the main point you’ll be discussing.

Examples:

 First, the lecturer asserts/claims/suggests that …

 For one, the lecturer thinks/believes that …
 The first point the lecturer makes is that …

2. Next, describe this particular point in more detail and then discuss how the
passage either refutes or supports it. I suggest using one to two sentences here.

Examples:
 On the other hand, the author asserts/claims/suggests that …
 Likewise, the author thinks/believes that …
 This concept is refuted/supported by the passage, which asserts/claims/suggests that …

3. Finally, conclude your paragraph by explaining what this difference or similarity

means.

Examples:

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 This difference/similarity ultimately means/indicates that …

 Basically, the lecturer/author is saying that …
 The lecturer and author are essentially in agreement with each other. Both think/believe that …
 Clearly, the lecturer and author maintain different views on …
 Don’t forget the details in
your essays. (Matthew Fang/Flickr)

Paragraph 3 (Body)

In this paragraph, you’ll focus on another key point in the lecture and again discuss
how the passage either agrees or disagrees with this idea. The structure here is
essentially identical to that of paragraph 2, so make sure you are using new transitions
and varying your word choice.

1. Start by introducing the second point in the lecture you’ll be discussing. Because
this is your second body paragraph, do not use transitions such as “first” or “first of all.”

Examples:

 Second, the lecturer argues/contends/asserts that …

 Next, the lecturer suggests/proposes that …
 Another key point the lecturer makes is that …

2. Next, explain this key point in more detail and elaborate on how it is either refuted
or supported by the passage. As with paragraph 2, I recommend using one to two
sentences here.

Examples:
 In other words, the lecturer is suggesting/proposing that …
 The author, however, agrees/disagrees with this idea/belief, suggesting/proposing that …
 Similarly, the author argues/contends/asserts that …

3. Finally, explain what this difference or similarity means.

Examples:

 What this difference/similarity means is that …

 This difference/similarity in thinking tells us that …
 Evidently, the lecturer thinks/believes that … , whereas the author thinks/believes that …

Paragraph 4 (Body + Conclusion)

This final body paragraph will offer your last key point in addition to a brief
conclusion. Once again, try to vary your transitions and words here so that your body
paragraphs do not sound redundant.

1. Introduce and summarize the third point in the lecture. This is your third and final
body paragraph, so do not use transitions such as “first” or “next.” Instead, use
transitions such as “third,” “finally,” “last,” and “lastly.”

Examples:

 Third, the lecturer explains/states that …

 Finally, the lecturer introduces the idea that …
 Lastly, the lecturer goes on to say that …

2. Then, explain this point in more detail and discuss whether the passage matches
or challenges it. Use one or two sentences here.

Examples:

 This point is also made in the passage, which argues/contends/asserts that …

 The passage supports this idea, suggesting/proposing that …
 On the contrary, the author writes that …
 3. Finally, conclude your paragraph by explaining the significance of this similarity
or difference. You should also look at this sentence as the conclusion to your entire
response. Remember, you do not need to write a separate concluding paragraph for
this task; it’s perfectly OK to combine it with your last body paragraph!

Examples:

 In conclusion, the lecturer and author appear to be in agreement/disagreement about …

 All in all, the lecturer argues/contends/asserts that … , whereas the author
argues/contends/asserts that …

Get ready to voice

your opinion!

Template 2: Independent Writing Task

For this task, you will read a short prompt and then write a response explaining whether
you agree or disagree with the issue or idea. Unlike the Integrated task, here you’ll be
writing an opinionated response (though you do not have to write about your actual
opinion).
 You’ll have 30 minutes to write an essay of at least 300 words. Because this essay
should be longer than the Integrated task, it’s best to use the basic five-paragraph
structure, with an introduction, three body paragraphs, and a conclusion.

Note that many of the example sentences below are based on the sample
Independent Writing prompt used above. This means that these sentences
will not apply exactly to other prompts! So don’t simply copy the sentences onto your
test; instead, use them as a general guide to help you develop a better sense of style
and flow in your writing.

Now, let’s take a look at our Independent Writing TOEFL template.

Paragraph 1 (Introduction)

In this paragraph, you’ll introduce the main issue or idea and rephrase the prompt in
your own words. Then, you’ll state whether you agree or disagree with the statement
and why.

1. For your first sentence, you’ll want to come up with a hook that introduces the topic
of your essay in a unique and creative way. Most people start broad and then get
specific. This sentence is also a great opportunity to insert a hypothetical question.

Examples:

 There is great debate about ...

 It is said that ... But is this always true?
 Many people wonder whether telling the truth at all times is necessary in order to maintain
a healthy relationship with someone.

2. Next, introduce your opinion on the topic. You may list your specific reasons for
your opinion here or in the following sentence(s). Remember, this doesn’t need to be
your real opinion!

Examples:

 In my opinion, …
 I believe that … is important because …
 I agree/disagree with this idea/suggestion because …
 For me, although telling the truth is important, there are many cases in which it’s OK to lie.
 3. Here, state how many points (three is ideal) you’ll be discussing in your essay and
then briefly summarize what these reasons for agreeing or disagreeing are. Your
reasons may come from facts, predictions, personal beliefs, experiences, etc.

Examples:

 In this essay, I will address three potential problems with lying in relationships.
 Lying is never a smart idea because it undermines trust in relationships, causes feelings of
betrayal, and often leads to more lying.

Body paragraphs are the

heart of the essay.

Paragraph 2 (Body)

In this paragraph, you’ll introduce your first key point about the issue and offer specific
examples illustrating why you agree or disagree.

1. For the first sentence, introduce the key point you want to talk about.

Example:

 First of all, lying can make it difficult to trust someone in a relationship.

 2. Next, provide an example to explain why you believe this is the case. I suggest
using a hypothetical situation somewhere in your essay to help illustrate one of your
points.

Example:

 For example, if a father lied to his daughter by telling her she was good at drawing, the daughter
might begin to wonder whether her father has lied to her about other things, too.

3. Continue your paragraph by elaborating on your example. Explain any effect or

consequence of the example and discuss how this outcome supports your viewpoint.

Example:

 The next time the father praises his daughter for something, she might believe he is lying, even
if he isn’t. In other words, the daughter might find it difficult to trust her father, thereby damaging
their relationship.

Paragraph 3 (Body)

This paragraph will follow a similar structure to that of paragraph 2, only this time you’ll
discuss your second key point. To prevent this paragraph from sounding too similar to
the one before it, vary your word choice and choose a different type of example on
which to focus.

1. In the first sentence, introduce your second key point. Because this is your second
body paragraph (and second point), make sure you employ appropriate transitions,
such as “second,” “secondly,” and “next.”

Example:

 Second, lying can cause feelings of betrayal in relationships.

2. As you did in paragraph 2, use these next few sentences to elaborate on your point
and offer specific examples. Always clarify how your examples support your stance
(agree or disagree) and how they relate back to the issue stated in the prompt.

Example:
 When I was young, I lied to my best friend about being able to attend her birthday party. She
later told me I’d betrayed her and that we couldn’t be friends anymore. Essentially, because I’d
lied to her, I destroyed our relationship.

Next up is paragraph 4,
which means you’re almost done!

Paragraph 4 (Body)

This is the last body paragraph in which you will introduce and explain your third and
final key point.

1. First, introduce your third point. As this is your final body paragraph, make sure
you’re using appropriate transitions, such as “finally,” “last,” “lastly,” and “third,” to
introduce your point.

Example:

 Lastly, lying often begets more lying. This means that once you tell a lie, you will become more
likely to tell other lies.

2. As you did in paragraphs 2 and 3, elaborate on this point by providing new

evidence, details, and/or examples. Explain why this point is important and how it
supports your stance on the issue.
 Example:

 If you lie but nobody knows you’ve lied, you might begin to believe it’s OK to lie. As a result, you
start to lie more and more. However, once people realize how often you lie, they’ll likely lose all
trust in you and might even decide to end their relationships with you.

Paragraph 5 (Conclusion)

Like the Integrated Writing task, a separate concluding paragraph isn’t always
necessary here. That said, if you have time, I recommend quickly wrapping up your
points in a concise yet effective conclusion. One to three sentences should suffice.

1. In the first sentence or two, summarize your stance and explain why you feel this
way. You may re-introduce your three main points here. You may also paraphrase the
prompt and explain once more whether you agree or disagree with the issue and why.

Examples:

 In the end, I believe telling the truth is the most important consideration in a relationship.
 Ultimately, lying can easily destroy relationships because it weakens trust, results in feelings of
betrayal, and often causes more lying.

2. Finally, if you have time, bring together your concluding paragraph with a single
general statement about your viewpoint.

Examples:

 This is why it is imperative we always refrain from lying.

 Thus, the only way to ensure your relationships with others are healthy is to always tell the truth.
 54 Key Transitions & Phrases

In addition to TOEFL essay templates, we offer you an assortment

of common transitions and phrases you can use in your TOEFL responses. These
words will allow your writing to flow more smoothly and connect your thoughts in a
clearer, more logical manner.

To add information to a point, or to introduce a new (related) point:

 In addition, …
 Additionally, …
 Furthermore, …
 Moreover, …
 Besides, …
 Also, …

To introduce an example:

 For example, …
 For instance, …

To introduce an opinion:
 In my opinion, …
 I believe that …
 I think that …

To start a new body paragraph:

 First, …
 First off, …
 First of all, …
 To begin/start, …
 Second, …
 Secondly, …
 Next, …
 Third, …
 Finally, …
 Last, …
 Lastly, …

To add similar or related information:

 Likewise, …
 Similarly, …
 On a related note, …

To restate information in a shorter or clearer way:

 In other words, …
 In short, …
 Simply put, …
 Essentially, …
 In essence, …
 Basically, …

To contrast information:

 However, …
 That (being) said, …
 Nevertheless, …
 Nonetheless, …
 By/in contrast, …
 On the contrary, …
 On the other hand, …

To show cause and effect:

 As a result, …
 Because of this, …
 As such, …
 Consequently, …
 Therefore, …
 Thus, …
 Hence, …

To emphasize information:

 Indeed, …
 Evidently, …
 Clearly, …
 Certainly, …

To conclude information, a paragraph, or your overall response:

 In conclusion, …
 All in all, …
 As you can see, …
 In the end, …
 Ultimately, …

How to Customize a TOEFL Writing Template

Integrated Writing Template

Here are two ways to customize our TOEFL Integrated Writing template.
 #1: Tweak Sample Sentences & Openers

The sample sentence and openers we’ve provided above don’t contain any specific
information, so you are welcome to incorporate these examples into your own
Integrated Writing response however you like.

That said, you don’t need to use these examples exactly as they are. If you’d like to
tweak them, try replacing the verbs and transitions with other (synonymous) words.
I also suggest adding adverbs to emphasize certain words. So for example, instead of
writing, “The author, however, disagrees with this belief,” you could write, “The author,
on the other hand, strongly challenges this concept.”

Just be sure that the examples you’re using in your essay fit with the type of lecture-
passage relationship you’re given. Remember, this relationship can be
either supportive (in which the lecture agrees with the passage) or contrastive (in
which the lecture disagrees with the passage).

#2: Use Different Words to Emphasize Contrast

Most Integrated Writing tasks will give you a lecture that challenges what’s written in
the passage. In these cases, it’s important you use a variety of transitions, conjunctions,
and prepositions to emphasize this important contrast throughout your essay.

There is one caveat, though: do not use a single transition more than once in your
response. For instance, if you were to consistently start your supporting sentences with
“however,” your essay would lack balance and begin to sound redundant. So be sure to
vary your word choice!

Here is a list of strong contrastive words you can use in your Integrated Writing
response:

 However, …
 That (being) said, …
 Nevertheless, …
 Nonetheless …
 By/in contrast, …
 On the contrary, …
 On the other hand, …
 Although
 Though
 Even though
 Even if
 Despite
 In spite of
 While
 Whereas
 But
 Yet

Independent Writing Template

Here are three ways you can customize our Independent Writing TOEFL template.

#1: Choose the Side That’s Easier to Support

Although the Independent Writing task asks specifically whether you agree or disagree
with an idea, you do not need to write about your real opinion. What you should
really do is choose the side that’s easier to argue — regardless of whether you actually
agree or disagree with it!

In other words, it’s perfectly OK to make things up for this response and pretend you
support something you don’t actually believe. Remember, you are not being judged on
which stance you choose but on how effectively you support your stance.

#2: Do Not Copy Sample Sentences Word for Word

For this task’s examples, I’ve primarily supplied you with whole sentences, all of which
were based on the sample Independent Writing prompt used above. Because our
examples refer to a specific prompt, you cannot copy these sample sentences word
for word and use them in your own essay. Failing to change these sentences means
your essay won’t make a whole lot of sense, if any at all!

Therefore, what you should actually be doing is using these example sentences to learn
what types of details to include in your Independent Writing response. You may also
use our examples to get a feel for how you can change up your sentences and word
choice.

#3: Vary Your Supporting Details

For your response, you must come up with specific details and examples to support
your viewpoint. These examples can range from facts and statistics to experiences and
hypothetical situations.

In order to produce a truly compelling response (and get a high essay score), you must
incorporate a variety of effective examples into your essay. This means you’ll want
to avoid using the same types of examples for each point you make. So if you were
to discuss a personal experience for your first body paragraph, focus on a different type
of detail, such as a universally accepted fact or a hypothetical scenario, for your second
body paragraph.

How to Use a TOEFL Writing Template: 4 Tips

Finally, here are four general tips for using a TOEFL Writing template effectively.

#1: Employ a Variety of Transitions

The sample sentences and openers we’ve given you for each template above contain
different transitions to help link ideas together; thus, we encourage you to use a
variety of transitions in your own essays. For ideas, refer to our transition list above.
This list can help you swap out some of our sample transitions for other ones you
believe fit better with your writing.

Ultimately, varying your word choice is critical to ensuring your essay is well
written. This means that a high-scoring TOEFL essay will not simply use transitions but
use them well. So if you’ve already inserted “therefore” in one area, try using “as a
result” or “thus” in another area. You’ll still get the same meaning but with a stronger,
more versatile effect.

#2: Add Details Without Rambling

Don’t feel limited by the number of sentences we’ve included in each body paragraph in
our templates. If you need to use two or three sentences to explain a point, that’s
OK! You should always give a lot of detail for your points — so long as you are
staying concise and focused.

For example, if you spend a paragraph discussing a hypothetical scenario but fail to
offer any analysis, you probably won’t receive a high TOEFL score. Likewise, if you
write a verbose introduction or conclusion, your score may end up being lower than you
wanted it to be.

Basically, you must find the perfect balance between detail and analysis. A good way to
monitor this balance is to always try to hit the word minimum for each task. Doing
this means you’ll likely have an essay that’s sufficiently detailed. Just try not to exceed
the maximum or you’ll risk rambling!

#3: 2 Strong Points Is Better Than 3 Weak Ones

Each of our TOEFL essay templates above has three body paragraphs and three main
points. Although three points is a solid number of points, if you can only think of two
points, just stick with those and try to support them as clearly and effectively as
possible.

As you can see in the sample TOEFL essays here, many essays with scores of 2 and 3
actually address three points — but their points are altogether weak, with few
supporting details and insufficient analysis. What this means is that just having three
points in your essay isn’t enough to guarantee you a high essay score. Thus, it’s
far better to write an essay with two strong points than three weak ones.

#4: Do Not Copy Entire Sentences From the Prompt

If you struggle with English, you might be tempted to borrow some sentences and
phrases from the prompt. While it’s OK to paraphrase sentences, you should never
copy exact sentences from your prompt.

Copying the prompt shows evaluators that you lack the English level necessary for
writing creatively and analytically. On top of this, copying is also a form of plagiarism,
which means you are essentially “stealing” another’s work.

So what does this mean for your score? If you copy entire sentences and phrases from
the reading or topic, you will receive a score of 0.
 https://magoosh.com/toefl/2015/toefl-writing-template/

https://www.toeflresources.com/writing-section/

https://www.toeflresources.com/sample-toefl-essays/

https://www.toeflresources.com/writing-section/toefl-writing-templates/

Integrated Essay Template (Writing Question One)

The Introduction
 The reading and the lecture are both about _____.
 The author of the reading feels that ______.
 The lecturer challenges the claims made by the author.
 He is of the opinion that _____.

The Body Paragraphs

 To begin with, the author argues that _____.
 The article mentions that ____.
 This specific argument is challenged by the lecturer.
 He claims ____.
 Additionally, he says ______.
–

 Secondly, the writer suggests ______.

 In the article, it is said that _____.
 The lecturer, however, rebuts this by mentioning ______.
 He elaborates on this by bringing up the point that ______.
–

 Finally, the author posits that _____.

 Moreover, it is stated in the article that ____.
 In contrast, the lecturer’s position is _____.
 He notes that _____.
You don’t need a conclusion.
Your TOEFL integrated essay should be about 280-300 words in length. Do not
include a conclusion. To see this template in use, check out my collection of
sample essays.

Independent Essay Template (Writing Question Two)

Paragraph 1 (Introduction)
 Sentence One: The “Hook”
This is an interesting sentence that introduces the general theme or topic of the
essay.
 Sentence Two: The Main Point
This is your main argument and direct answer to the question. Start with
“Personally, I believe ______.“
 Sentence Three: The Transition
Just use: “I feel this way for two reasons, which I will explore in the
following essay.”

Paragraph Two (Body 1)

 Sentence One: A Topic Sentence
This summarizes your first supporting reason. Begin with “First of all ____“.
 Sentences Two to Four: The Explanation
Explain what you mean, without talking directly about a personal experience.
Shorten if necessary.
 Sentence Five: The Transition
Just use: “My personal experience is a compelling example of this.“
 Sentence Six to End: The Personal Example
An example from your life that illustrates this argument. Make it longer than the
explanation part.

Paragraph Three (Body 2)

 Sentence One: A Topic Sentence
This summarizes your second supporting reason. Begin with “Secondly ___“.
 Sentence Two to Four: The Explanation
Explain what you mean, without talking directly about personal experience.
Shorten if necessary.
 Sentence Five: The Transition
Just use: “For instance, ____“
 Sentence Five to End: The Personal Example
An example from your life (or someone else’s life) that illustrates this argument.
Make it longer that the explanation part.

Paragraph Four (conclusion)

 Sentence One: Restate the Thesis
Paraphrase your thesis. Begin with “In conclusion, I am of the opinion that…“.
 Sentence Two: Restate the Two Reasons
Just use: “This is because ______, and _______.“
Your whole essay should be between 380 and 400 words. See this template in
action by visiting our collection of sample essays.
https://www.toeflresources.com/writing-section/integrated-writing/

https://www.toeflresources.com/writing-section/toefl-independent-writing-section/

https://www.prepscholar.com/toefl/blog/toefl-writing-practice-topics/

https://www.prepscholar.com/toefl/blog/toefl-writing-topics/

You need to remember these 79 phrases!!!

1. with the booming of the economy

2. with the remarkable improvement of people’s living standard
3. advanced science and technology
4. add much spice / flavor to our daily life
5. It is commonly believed that…
6. I give my vote to the former / latter opinion.
7. Sth. has aroused wide public concern. / Sth has drawn great public
attention.
8. It is undeniable that…
9. a heated discussion / debate
10. a controversial issue
11. As far as I am concerned, / Personally,
12. be supported by sound reasons
13. argument on both sides
14. play an increasingly important role in…
15. be indispensable to …
16. As the proverb goes:
17. exert positive / negative effects on…
18. The advantages far outweigh the disadvantages.
19. lead to / give rise to / contribute to / result in
20. a complicated social phenomenon
21. sense of responsibility / achievement
22. sense of competition and cooperation
23. widen one’s horizon / broaden one’s vision
24. acquire knowledge and skills
25. financial burden / psychological burden
26. take many factors into consideration
27. from another perspective
28. make joint efforts
29. be beneficial to / be conducive to…
30. make contributions to the society
31. lay a solid foundation for…
32. comprehensive quality
33. be committed / devoted to…
34. Admittedly,
35. unshakable duty
36. satisfy / meet the needs of…
37. a reliable source of information
38. valuable natural resources
39. The main / leading reasons are listed as follows:
40. convenient and efficient
41. in all aspects of human life
42. environmentally friendly materials
43. a symbol of society progress
44. Sth has greatly facilitated people’s lives.
45. hold different attitudes towards this issue
46. to some extent
47. integrate theory with practice
48. an irresistible trend of…
49. the increasingly keen social competition
50. immediate interest/ short-term interest
51. long-tem interest
52. … has its own merits and demerits / pros and cons
53. do harm to / be harmful to / be detrimental to
54. exchange ideas / emotions / information
55. keep pace with / keep abreast with the latest development of…
56. the healthy development of…
57. attach great importance to…
58. social status
59. focus one’s time and energy on…
60. expand one’s scope of knowledge
61. both physically and mentally
62. be directly / indirectly related to…
63. give rise to / lead to / spell various problems
64. believe, claim, maintain, argue, insist, hold the opinion / belief / view
that
65. relieve stress / burden
66. give (top) priority to sth.
67. compared with…/ in comparison with
68. degradable / decomposable material
69. replace / substitute / take the place of
70. offer job opportunities
71. mirror the social progress/advance
72. enhance / promote mutual understanding
73. make full use of / take advantage of
74. suffer from heavier work pressure
75. guarantee the stability and prosperity of our society
76. put more emphasis on…
77. adapt oneself to the social development
78. realize one’s dream
79. We still have a long way to go.

https://toeflibtee.com/category/toefl-words/
https://www.toeflresources.com/changes-to-the-toefl-in-2018-and-2019/
https://www.spokenenglishpractice.com/idioms-in-english-toefl-ielts/

https://www.ets.org/Media/Tests/TOEFL/pdf/Writing_Rubrics.pdf