Introduction to the TOEFL iBT®️ Writing

Introduction to the TOEFL iBT®️ Writing


In some of the Writing lessons, you will be listening to lecture recordings. You will need your speaker. Test your volume before you begin.

  • Duration: 29 minutes
  • Number of Tasks: 2


 The Writing for an Academic Discussion Task  

The Integrated Writing Task  

For the Integrated Writing Task, you will:

  • read a short passage (3 minutes)
  • listen to a related lecture (2 minutes)
  • take brief notes.

Then, you will write a response (20 minutes, at least 150 words) that will:

  • summarize the listening passage
  • explain how the listening passage relates to the specific ideas in the reading passage
  • include no additional information such as your own opinions or evaluations.

You can think of this task as writing a report on two sources that deal with the same topic. You are writing it for someone who wants to know what is in the sources, and how the sources relate to one another.

For the Writing for an Academic Discussion Task, you will first do the following:

  • Read an online discussion for which a professor has posted a question about a topic.
  • Read two student’s responses to the professor’s post.
  • Take brief notes. 

Then, you will write a response (10 minutes total for the task, with at least 100 words) that will be a relevant and clearly expressed contribution to the online discussion.

You can think of this task as writing a response to an online discussion for a university class. You will contribute to the discussion that has been initiated by a professor’s question, and two classmates have already contributed their posts. 

Strategies for Success in Writing  

  • Take time to read, understand, and think about the writing question.
  • Use the on-screen clock to be aware of the time. Know how much time you have left.
  • For the Integrated Writing Task, take time to plan your response briefly and then write quick notes or a very brief, simple outline. Use paragraphs. Write an introduction, a body, and a conclusion. (For the Integrated Writing Task, the conclusion is optional.)
  • For the Writing for an Academic Discussion Task, decide on one or two ideas you want to develop in your post. The most successful responses are written in one or two paragraphs at most. A single introductory sentence is sufficient. A conclusion is not necessary because the text is short. 
  • Use clear transitions (however, therefore, in contrast, to summarize, etc.) between one idea and another and between paragraphs (Next…,  In addition…, The second idea mentioned in the reading is…).

Use all time allowed for the task.  Do not finish early.  Take any time you have left after completing your response to check spelling, content (ideas), grammar, and punctuation.