In the last part of this mini series about the new TOEFL we’re looking at the writing section. We’ll see what the previous writing section required, the new writing section, my thoughts, and how people can prepare.
What was the old TOEFL writing section like?
The former TOEFL writing section had two questions: Writing Based on Listening and Reading (aka Integrated Writing) and Writing for an Academic Discussion.
The Integrated Writing question required you to read an academic text about a topic and then listen to a professor speaking about the same topic. It was common that the text proposed a theory and provided evidence to support the theory, or it might propose three different theories to explain something. Then the professor would typically explain the reasons why the evidence or theories provided were incorrect or impossible.
You then had 20 minutes to write a text summarizing what the professor said and how it relates to the theories and evidence.
The Writing for an Academic Discussion question showed what looked like a message board. A professor briefly explained a topic and posed a question, usually asking if you agree or disagree with an idea or if you think one idea is better than another one. You see the responses of two students that shared their viewpoints, and you had 10 minutes to write your own original response.
This meant that the writing section was 30 minutes long.
What should I expect on the new TOEFL writing section?
There are three types of writing tasks on the new TOEFL: Build a Sentence, Write an Email, and Write for an Academic Discussion.
The first task, Build a Sentence, is exactly what it sounds like. You are shown a sentence or question, and you need to build a sentence that is a correct response using a set of words that are provided. Sometimes there are more words than needed, so it’s important to know things like subject/verb agreement, when you do and don’t need to use auxiliary verbs. There are 10 questions in this section, and you have 6 minutes to complete them.
Write an Email is the other new task. You’re provided a context and need to compose an email to someone. In the email you typically have to comment on some type of event, elaborate on some aspect of it, and then request some type of information or a solution to a problem. You’re supposed to write as much as you can, and you have 7 minutes for the whole task.
Last but not least, the Write for an Academic Discussion task is the same as on the previous TOEFL, and you have 10 minutes to complete it.
This makes the writing section 23 minutes long.
What are my thoughts?
Just like the changes in other areas, the new writing section is more about being able to write spontaneously. When I took practice tests I was surprised at how quickly the time went by in the Build a Sentence section; the philosophy seems to be that you either know the correct answer or you don’t.
I find the same rings true for the Write an Email task. Given a context, you need to be able to write an email using an appropriate structure as well as create details that show your vocabulary and level of English. There isn’t any time to plan; you are either able to produce an email that meets the requirements, or you can’t.
When the Write for an Academic Discussion task was added in the last update in 2023, we started seeing the move towards writing without much planning time. This task requires you to be able to take a position about a topic and explain it. I feel like it does a nice job of evaluating a person’s writing ability.
How can you prepare?
For the Build a Sentence task, you need to have a clear understanding of word order, particularly with indirect and direct sentences and questions. Being sure that you’re comfortable with clicking and dragging is also something to practice, as the 6-minute time limit doesn’t leave you with much time to think or pause.
As for the Write an Email task, practicing writing emails and learning key phrases that are used for both formal and informal writing are key. If you can get feedback to improve your writing and can create ideas to add to your writing, it will help improve your score. Much like the previous task, there isn’t much time to think, so you need to feel confident and prepared so that you can focus on the content of the email rather than worrying about the structure.
Last but not least, the Write for an Academic Discussion task also requires practice under timed conditions. You need to be able to make a quick decision, express it clearly in writing, and support your position with details and examples.
Closing thoughts
Just like the previous TOEFL, this one requires thoughtful and focused preparation. The time limits don’t allow much room for error, so be sure to practice until you feel completely comfortable with each section of the test.
If you’re interested in getting help to prepare the new TOEFL, check out the TOEFL Preparation page to see current offerings.
