The Writing section is the final part of the TOEFL iBT, lasting around 30 minutes and consisting of two tasks: an Integrated Essay and a Writing for Academic Discussion. Your essays are evaluated by both human raters and automated scoring (ETS e-rater), focusing on content, organization, grammar, and language use.
📝 Task 1 – Integrated Essay
Time: 20 minutes
Prompt: Read a short academic passage (~300 words) and listen to a related lecture (2–3 minutes). The lecture always opposes the reading.
Length: Aim for 280–300 words (ignore the suggested 180 words).
Goal: Summarize the lecture’s key points and explain how they contrast or challenge the reading.
Explanation & Examples This task tests your ability to synthesize written and spoken information and compare perspectives.
Example 1:
Reading: Argues that biofuels reduce carbon emissions.
Lecture: Contradicts by saying farming biofuels cuts down forests, releasing more COâ‚‚.
Example 2:
Reading: Claims that online education improves accessibility.
Lecture: Counters that students struggle without face-to-face mentorship.
💬 Task 2 – Writing for Academic Discussion
Time: 10 minutes total (for reading prompts + writing).
Prompt: Read a professor’s question and two students’ responses. Then add your own perspective, expanding the conversation.
Length: At least 100 words; writing more (e.g., 120–150) is encouraged .
Explanation & Examples This task assesses your ability to evaluate different opinions and contribute meaningfully.
Example 1:
Question: Should universities offer free online courses?
Student A: Says yes, for accessibility.
Student B: Disagrees, citing quality control issues.
Your addition: Propose a hybrid model to ensure quality through peer assessments or periodic live sessions.
Example 2:
Question: Is studying abroad beneficial?
Student A: Believes it broadens worldviews.
Student B: Thinks it’s costly.
Your response: Suggest scholarship programs and virtual cultural exchanges as solutions.
Task
Type
Time
Materials
Word Count
1
Integrated Essay
20 min total
Text + Audio of lecture
minimum 180 words
2
Academic Discussion
10 min total
Text: Question + 2 student replies
minimum 100 words
âś… Scoring Breakdown
Human Raters evaluate content, organization, development, grammar, and vocabulary.
The ETS e-rater adds a second opinion focussed on structure, mechanics, and lexical choice.
Combined raw scores (0–5 per essay) are converted to a scaled score of 0–30 for the Writing section.
đź’ˇ Pro Tips
Plan before writing
For Task 1: Outline reading and lecture key points.
For Task 2: Note each student’s main ideas, then outline your added viewpoint.
Spend 2–3 minutes planning before writing.
Watch word count
Integrated: 280–300 words suggested.
Discussion: At least 100; adding more detail can boost clarity.