Agree/Disagree Style TOEFL Essays
Question 1
Do you agree or disagree with the following statement? Overall, the
widespread use of the internet has a mostly positive effect on life in today’s
world.
Question 2
Do you agree or disagree with the following statement? It is better to use
printed materials such as books and articles to do research than it is to use
the internet. Use specific reasons and examples to support your answer.
Question 3
Grades encourage students to work harder at school. Do you agree or
disagree? Use specific reasons and examples to support your opinion.
Question 4
Do you agree or disagree with the following statement? People in today’s
world have become too dependent on automobiles. Use specific reasons
and examples to support your answer.
Question 5
Do you agree or disagree with the following statement? In my country,
young people have a better life today than their parents enjoyed when they
were young. Use reasons and examples to support your answer.
Question 6
Movies and television strongly influence the way people behave. Do you
agree or disagree? Use reasons and specific examples to support your
answer.
Question 7
Do you agree or disagree with the following statement? People
communicate with each other less than in the past because of the popularity
of television. Use specific reasons and examples to support your opinion.
Question 8
Do you agree or disagree with the following statement? When people
succeed, it is entirely because of hard work. Luck has nothing to do with
their success. Use specific reasons and examples to explain your position.
Question 9
Do you agree or disagree with the following statement? It is better for
children to grow up in the countryside than in a large city. Use specific
reasons and examples to develop your essay.
Question 10
Do you agree or disagree with the following statement? Human activity is
making the earth a worse place to live. Use specific reasons and examples
to support your answer.
Question 11
In twenty years there will be fewer cars in use than there are today. Do you
agree or disagree?
Question 12
Do you agree or disagree with the following statement? People today spend
too much time on personal enjoyment, and not enough time on more serious
duties and obligations. Use specific reasons and examples to support your
answer
Question 13
Do you agree or disagree with the following statement? My lifestyle is easier
and more comfortable than the one my grandparents experienced when they
were young. Use specific reasons and examples to support your choice.
Question 14
Do you agree or disagree with the following statement? Sometimes it is
better to be dishonest. Use specific reasons and details to support your
answer.
Question 15
Do you agree or disagree with the following statement? Parents are the best
teachers. Use specific reasons and examples to support your answer.
Question 16
Do you agree or disagree with the following statement? The knowledge we
gain from personal experiences is more valuable than the knowledge we
gain from books. Use specific reasons and examples to support your
answer. Do not use memorized examples.
Multiple Choice Style TOEFL Essays
Question 17
Neighbors are the people who live near us. In your opinion, what type of
neighbor is the best to have?
• someone who is quiet
• someone who we are similar to
• someone who is supportive
Use specific details and examples in your answer.
Question 18
When you face a difficult problem in life, what do you feel is the best way to
solve it?
• asking someone with more experience for advice about the problem
• finding information about the problem using the Internet
• taking a long time to think about the problem
Use specific details and examples in your answer. Do not use memorized
examples.
Question 19
In general, people are living longer now. Which of the following do you think
accounts for this phenomenon?
• Technological improvements
• Changes to education systems
• Improvements to our diets
Use specific details and examples in your answer. You may choose more
than one cause.
Question 20
People have a lot of opinions about the value of advanced education. Which
do you think is the most important reason to attend college or university?
Use reasons and examples to support your answer.
• new experiences
• career preparation
• increased knowledge
Use specific details and examples in your answer.
Question 21
Imagine you could improve the town where you live by changing one
important thing about it. Which of the following would you choose to do?
• Build additional parks
• Construct more libraries
• Improve public transportation
Use specific details and examples in your answer. Do not use memorized
examples.
Question 22
These days, people enjoy a lot of time away from their work and school
obligations. Many people use this time to visit new places and learn about
them. What do you think is the best way to learn about a place you are
visiting for the first time?
• Going to a museum
• Joining a guided tour of popular attractions
• Visiting a popular shopping area
• Talking to a local resident
• Watching a local television station
Use specific reasons and examples to support your answer. Do not use
memorized examples.
Question 23
People in society work in many different settings, and for a variety of
reasons. What do you think is the main reason why people have jobs?
• to feel happier about their lives
• to save money for the future
• to develop new skills
Use specific examples and details to support your answer.
Question 24
Everyone wants to be as healthy as possible. Fortunately, in modern society
there are many things that people can do to improve their physical condition.
What do you think is the best way to stay healthy?
• Get exercise on a regular basis
• Eat healthy food every day
• Visit a doctor for regular examinations
Use specific reasons and examples to support your answer.
Question 25
The people we work with have many different characteristics and all of them
affect the quality of our time at work. Of the following, what do you think is
the most important quality for a boss or supervisor to have?
• a serious attitude about their work
• a lot of related experience
• a tendency to always tell the truth
You may choose more than one. Use specific details and examples in your
answer.
Question 26
All around the world, people are living longer than ever before. Which of the
following do you think are the main causes of this phenomenon? You may
choose more than one option.
• The development of new technology
• Changes to our eating habits
• Improvements to our working conditions
Use specific reasons and details to develop your essay. Do not use
memorized examples. (version 2)
Question 27
During our careers, we work with many different kinds of people. All of them
have unique characteristics and personality traits. In your opinion, which of
the following is the most important characteristic of a coworker?
• a serious attitude regarding their work obligations
• a willingness to learn new things
• the ability to make other people laugh
You may choose more than one of these options. Use reasons and specific
examples to explain your answer. Do not use memorized examples.
Paired Choice Style TOEFL Essays
Question 28
Some students prefer classes with frequent discussions between the
professor and the students with almost no lectures. Other students prefer
classes with many lectures and almost no discussions. Which do you prefer?
Use specific reasons and examples to support your answer.
Question 29
Some people like to travel with a companion. Other people prefer to travel
alone. Which do you prefer? Use specific reasons and examples to support
your choice.
Question 30
Some people think that the government should use extra money to fund
programs to improve the environment. Others think that it is better for the
government to spend money to support artistic programs. Which option do
you prefer? Use specific reasons and examples to support your answer.
Question 31
Some people like to spend their money as soon as they earn it, while others
think it is better to save their money for some time in the future. Which do
you prefer? Use specific reasons and examples to support your opinion. Do
not use memorized examples.
Question 32
Some people prefer to live in a small town. Others prefer to live in a big city.
Which place would you prefer to live in? Use specific reasons and details to
support your answer.
Question 33
Some students prefer to study and do homework alone. Others prefer to
study and work on class assignments with a group of fellow students. Which
do you prefer? Use specific reasons and examples to support your answer.
Question 34
Some people prefer to eat meals at restaurants, while others prefer to
prepare and eat food in their own home. Which do you prefer? Use specific
reasons and examples to support your answer.
Question 35
Some people think that they can learn much more by themselves than if they
work with a teacher. Others think that it is always better to get help from a
skilled teacher. Which do you prefer? Use specific reasons to support your
choice.
Preference Style TOEFL Writing
Question 36
The administrators of a university are revising their budget and have decided
to change their funding priorities. As a result, the university will now spend
more money on sports and athletic facilities than they do on the campus
libraries. Do you think this is a good idea? Why or why not? Use specific
reasons and examples to explain your position.
Question 37
Many people welcome the opening of shopping areas near their homes. On
the other hand, some people are strongly opposed to the construction of
such facilities. If the opening of a large shopping center in your
neighborhood were announced, would you support or oppose its
construction? Use specific reasons and details to support your answer.
Question 38
It is very important for students to learn as much as possible before their
graduation from university. For this reason, many schools require students
to attend all of their classes in person in order to achieve a passing
score. Do you agree or disagree with this kind of policy? Use specific
reasons and examples to support your argument.
Question 39
It is important to improve our skills and knowledge as much as possible.
Some people prefer to learn from individuals who have more experience
than they do – like teachers and supervisors – instead of learning
from peers, like their colleagues and classmates. Do you think this is a good
idea? Why or why not?
Question 40
Nowadays, the world is developing at a very rapid pace and we are
constantly forced to make a lot of choices that can affect the rest of our lives.
Do you agree or disagree with the idea that should always ask someone
else for help when we need to make an important decision? Why or why
not? Use specific reasons and examples to support your choice.
Question 41
Consider a situation where you are asked by your supervisor to work with
one of your co-workers on a project. This co-worker has opinions that are
very different than yours and they feel very strongly about these opinions.
Do you think this is a good idea? Use reasons and examples to support your
answer.
Question 42
Imagine that your city government has given permission for a major
company to build a large factory near your neighborhood. Do you think this
is a good idea? Why or why not? Explain your position using specific
reasons and examples.
Sample TOEFL Integrated Essays
I can’t give you the reading and listening for these essays, but you might like
looking at their structure and organization. Reading some of them will help
you to understand the integrated question in the TOEFL writing section.
• Television Appearances by University Professors (casting doubt)
• Portrait of an Elderly Woman in a White Bonnet (casting doubt)
• Incan Fortress of Sacsayhuaman (casting doubt)
• Iron Fertilization (solution and problem)
• Moai of Easter Island (includes a full lecture and reading)
• The Usefulness of Coal (casting doubt)
• Monarch Butterflies (casting doubt)
• Large Animals (casting doubt)
• Wheat and Beer (from “Cracking the TOEFL 2016”)
• Forest Fires (from “Cracking the TOEFL 2016”)
• Endotherms (from “Official Collection”)
• Online Encyclopedias (from “Official Collection”)
• Buying a Franchise (from “Official Collection”)
• Great Houses (from “Official Collection”)
• Smart Cars (from “Official Collection”)
• Eco-Friendly Wood (from “TOEFL Quick Prep”)
• The Chevalier (from “TOEFL Quick Prep”)
• Wave Farms (from “Hackers Actual Test”)
• The Anasazi (from “Hackers Actual Test”)
• Trans Lunar Phenomena (from “Hackers Actual Test”)