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10 Great Essay Writing Tips
Knowing how to write a college essay is a useful skill for anyone who plans to go to college. Most colleges and universities ask you to submit a writing sample with your application. As a student, you’ll also write essays in your courses. Impress your professors with your knowledge and skill by using these great essay writing tips.
Prepare to Answer the Question
Most college essays ask you to answer a question or synthesize information you learned in class. Review notes you have from lectures, read the recommended texts and make sure you understand the topic. You should refer to these sources in your essay.
Plan Your Essay
Many students see planning as a waste of time, but it actually saves you time. Take a few minutes to think about the topic and what you want to say about it. You can write an outline, draw a chart or use a graphic organizer to arrange your ideas. This gives you a chance to spot problems in your ideas before you spend time writing out the paragraphs.
Choose a Writing Method That Feels Comfortable
You might have to type your essay before turning it in, but that doesn’t mean you have to write it that way. Some people find it easy to write out their ideas by hand. Others prefer typing in a word processor where they can erase and rewrite as needed. Find the one that works best for you and stick with it.
View It as a Conversation
Writing is a form of communication, so think of your essay as a conversation between you and the reader. Think about your response to the source material and the topic. Decide what you want to tell the reader about the topic. Then, stay focused on your response as you write.
Provide the Context in the Introduction
If you look at an example of an essay introduction, you’ll see that the best essays give the reader a context. Think of how you introduce two people to each other. You share the details you think they will find most interesting. Do this in your essay by stating what it’s about and then telling readers what the issue is.
Explain What Needs to be Explained
Sometimes you have to explain concepts or define words to help the reader understand your viewpoint. You also have to explain the reasoning behind your ideas. For example, it’s not enough to write that your greatest achievement is running an ultra marathon. You might need to define ultra marathon and explain why finishing the race is such an accomplishment.
Answer All the Questions
After you finish writing the first draft of your essay, make sure you’ve answered all the questions you were supposed to answer. For example, essays in compare and contrast format should show the similarities and differences between ideas, objects or events. If you’re writing about a significant achievement, describe what you did and how it affected you.
Stay Focused as You Write
Writing requires concentration. Find a place where you have few distractions and give yourself time to write without interruptions. Don’t wait until the night before the essay is due to start working on it.
Read the Essay Aloud to Proofread
When you finish writing your essay, read it aloud. You can do this by yourself or ask someone to listen to you read it. You’ll notice places where the ideas don’t make sense, and your listener can give you feedback about your ideas.
Avoid Filling the Page with Words
A great essay does more than follow an essay layout. It has something to say. Sometimes students panic and write everything they know about a topic or summarize everything in the source material. Your job as a writer is to show why this information is important.
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20 English Essay Questions (Advanced)
Writing advanced essays in English
Our writing correction service is very popular for many reasons. Some students want us to correct their CV or Resume, others an application letters for an important job or interview. Many students need to improve their writing skills to pass their exams, whereas other just want to improve their written English for general purposes. Whatever your reason, if you have an advanced level of English, we recommend you answer a selection of the following essay titles, and send them to us for correction.
We correct your essays, giving you valuable feedback on your mistakes, and advice on how to improve your written expression in English.
Find out more about our writing correction service here...
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Purdue Online Writing Lab College of Liberal Arts
Writing Essays for Exams
Welcome to the Purdue OWL
This page is brought to you by the OWL at Purdue University. When printing this page, you must include the entire legal notice.
Copyright ©1995-2018 by The Writing Lab & The OWL at Purdue and Purdue University. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, reproduced, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed without permission. Use of this site constitutes acceptance of our terms and conditions of fair use.
While most OWL resources recommend a longer writing process (start early, revise often, conduct thorough research, etc.), sometimes you just have to write quickly in test situations. However, these exam essays can be no less important pieces of writing than research papers because they can influence final grades for courses, and/or they can mean the difference between getting into an academic program (GED, SAT, GRE). To that end, this resource will help you prepare and write essays for exams.
What is a well written answer to an essay question?
Well Focused
Be sure to answer the question completely, that is, answer all parts of the question. Avoid "padding." A lot of rambling and ranting is a sure sign that the writer doesn't really know what the right answer is and hopes that somehow, something in that overgrown jungle of words was the correct answer.
Well Organized
Don't write in a haphazard "think-as-you-go" manner. Do some planning and be sure that what you write has a clearly marked introduction which both states the point(s) you are going to make and also, if possible, how you are going to proceed. In addition, the essay should have a clearly indicated conclusion which summarizes the material covered and emphasizes your thesis or main point.
Well Supported
Do not just assert something is true, prove it. What facts, figures, examples, tests, etc. prove your point? In many cases, the difference between an A and a B as a grade is due to the effective use of supporting evidence.
Well Packaged
People who do not use conventions of language are thought of by their readers as less competent and less educated. If you need help with these or other writing skills, come to the Writing Lab
How do you write an effective essay exam?
- Read through all the questions carefully.
- Budget your time and decide which question(s) you will answer first.
- Underline the key word(s) which tell you what to do for each question.
- Choose an organizational pattern appropriate for each key word and plan your answers on scratch paper or in the margins.
- Write your answers as quickly and as legibly as you can; do not take the time to recopy.
- Begin each answer with one or two sentence thesis which summarizes your answer. If possible, phrase the statement so that it rephrases the question's essential terms into a statement (which therefore directly answers the essay question).
- Support your thesis with specific references to the material you have studied.
- Proofread your answer and correct errors in spelling and mechanics.
Specific organizational patterns and "key words"
Most essay questions will have one or more "key words" that indicate which organizational pattern you should use in your answer. The six most common organizational patterns for essay exams are definition, analysis, cause and effect, comparison/contrast, process analysis, and thesis-support.
Typical questions
- "Define X."
- "What is an X?"
- "Choose N terms from the following list and define them."
Q: "What is a fanzine?"
A: A fanzine is a magazine written, mimeographed, and distributed by and for science fiction or comic strip enthusiasts.
Avoid constructions such as "An encounter group is where ..." and "General semantics is when ... ."
- State the term to be defined.
- State the class of objects or concepts to which the term belongs.
- Differentiate the term from other members of the class by listing the term's distinguishing characteristics.
Tools you can use
- Details which describe the term
- Examples and incidents
- Comparisons to familiar terms
- Negation to state what the term is not
- Classification (i.e., break it down into parts)
- Examination of origins or causes
- Examination of results, effects, or uses
Analysis involves breaking something down into its components and discovering the parts that make up the whole.
- "Analyze X."
- "What are the components of X?"
- "What are the five different kinds of X?"
- "Discuss the different types of X."
Q: "Discuss the different services a junior college offers a community."
A: Thesis: A junior college offers the community at least three main types of educational services: vocational education for young people, continuing education for older people, and personal development for all individuals.
Outline for supporting details and examples. For example, if you were answering the example question, an outline might include:
- Vocational education
- Continuing education
- Personal development
Write the essay, describing each part or component and making transitions between each of your descriptions. Some useful transition words include:
- first, second, third, etc.
- in addition
Conclude the essay by emphasizing how each part you have described makes up the whole you have been asked to analyze.
Cause and Effect
Cause and effect involves tracing probable or known effects of a certain cause or examining one or more effects and discussing the reasonable or known cause(s).
Typical questions:
- "What are the causes of X?"
- "What led to X?"
- "Why did X occur?"
- "Why does X happen?"
- "What would be the effects of X?"
Q: "Define recession and discuss the probable effects a recession would have on today's society."
A: Thesis: A recession, which is a nationwide lull in business activity, would be detrimental to society in the following ways: it would .......A......., it would .......B......., and it would .......C....... .
The rest of the answer would explain, in some detail, the three effects: A, B, and C.
Useful transition words:
- consequently
- for this reason
- as a result
Comparison-Contrast
- "How does X differ from Y?"
- "Compare X and Y."
- "What are the advantages and disadvantages of X and Y?"
Q: "Which would you rather own—a compact car or a full-sized car?"
A: Thesis: I would own a compact car rather than a full-sized car for the following reasons: .......A......., .......B......., .......C......., and .......D....... .
Two patterns of development:
- Full-sized car
Disadvantages
- Compact car
Useful transition words
- on the other hand
- unlike A, B ...
- in the same way
- while both A and B are ..., only B ..
- nevertheless
- on the contrary
- while A is ..., B is ...
- "Describe how X is accomplished."
- "List the steps involved in X."
- "Explain what happened in X."
- "What is the procedure involved in X?"
Process (sometimes called process analysis)
This involves giving directions or telling the reader how to do something. It may involve discussing some complex procedure as a series of discrete steps. The organization is almost always chronological.
Q: "According to Richard Bolles' What Color Is Your Parachute?, what is the best procedure for finding a job?"
A: In What Color Is Your Parachute?, Richard Bolles lists seven steps that all job-hunters should follow: .....A....., .....B....., .....C....., .....D....., .....E....., .....F....., and .....G..... .
The remainder of the answer should discuss each of these seven steps in some detail.
- following this
- after, afterwards, after this
- subsequently
- simultaneously, concurrently
Thesis and Support
- "Discuss X."
- "A noted authority has said X. Do you agree or disagree?"
- "Defend or refute X."
- "Do you think that X is valid? Defend your position."
Thesis and support involves stating a clearly worded opinion or interpretation and then defending it with all the data, examples, facts, and so on that you can draw from the material you have studied.
Q: "Despite criticism, television is useful because it aids in the socializing process of our children."
A: Television hinders rather than helps in the socializing process of our children because .......A......., .......B......., and .......C....... .
The rest of the answer is devoted to developing arguments A, B, and C.
- it follows that
A. Which of the following two answers is the better one? Why?
Question: Discuss the contribution of William Morris to book design, using as an example his edition of the works of Chaucer.
a. William Morris's Chaucer was his masterpiece. It shows his interest in the Middle Ages. The type is based on medieval manuscript writing, and the decoration around the edges of the pages is like that used in medieval books. The large initial letters are typical of medieval design. Those letters were printed from woodcuts, which was the medieval way of printing. The illustrations were by Burn-Jones, one of the best artists in England at the time. Morris was able to get the most competent people to help him because he was so famous as a poet and a designer (the Morris chair) and wallpaper and other decorative items for the home. He designed the furnishings for his own home, which was widely admired among the sort of people he associated with. In this way he started the arts and crafts movement.
b. Morris's contribution to book design was to approach the problem as an artist or fine craftsman, rather than a mere printer who reproduced texts. He wanted to raise the standards of printing, which had fallen to a low point, by showing that truly beautiful books could be produced. His Chaucer was designed as a unified work of art or high craft. Since Chaucer lived in the Middle Ages, Morris decided to design a new type based on medieval script and to imitate the format of a medieval manuscript. This involved elaborate letters and large initials at the beginnings of verses, as well as wide borders of intertwined vines with leaves, fruit, and flowers in strong colors. The effect was so unusual that the book caused great excitement and inspired other printers to design beautiful rather than purely utilitarian books.
From James M. McCrimmon, Writing with a Purpose , 7th ed. (Boston: Houghton Mifflin Company, 1980), pp. 261-263.
B. How would you plan the structure of the answers to these essay exam questions?
1. Was the X Act a continuation of earlier government policies or did it represent a departure from prior philosophies?
2. What seems to be the source of aggression in human beings? What can be done to lower the level of aggression in our society?
3. Choose one character from Novel X and, with specific references to the work, show how he or she functions as an "existential hero."
4. Define briefly the systems approach to business management. Illustrate how this differs from the traditional approach.
5. What is the cosmological argument? Does it prove that God exists?
6. Civil War historian Andy Bellum once wrote, "Blahblahblah blahed a blahblah, but of course if blahblah blahblahblahed the blah, then blahblahs are not blah but blahblah." To what extent and in what ways is the statement true? How is it false?
For more information on writing exam essays for the GED, please visit our Engagement area and go to the Community Writing and Education Station (CWEST) resources.
150+ WAEC English Essay Past Questions (PDF)
Discover both the oldest and the latest WAEC English essay past questions in this mega list.
Are you a teacher or student of High School English Language? This collection of past questions on WAEC English composition will be of great help to you.
Past questions are past questions. Trust WAEC to, at any time, repeat word for word some of their past questions from either distant years in the past or from a relatively recent year.
What Smart Students/Teachers Do With Past Questions
Because the ideas have always been the same. The aspects of life on which the examiners base their WAEC English essay past questions remain almost unchanged.
The results have always proven this strategy to be very effective. So this approach can work the magic for you too.
PDF Download – Premium
Waec/neco ssce/ wassce/ gce english language composition past questions.
Please note that this post is a living document. Expect me to add more English essay past questions that matter to you most as time goes on. Thank you!
Best SHS Literature PDFs & More – Free
November 1997.
3. As the out-going sports prefect write a report for publication in your school magazine on sporting activities during your term of office.
6. Write a story, which ends with, “One gets such an opportunity once in a lifetime.”
NOVEMBER 1998
3. As part of the activities of the 40 th Independence Anniversary Celebration of Ghana, the Ministry of Education is organizing an essay competition on the topic Ghana’s Independence: a blessing or a curse? Write your entry.
6. Write an article for publication in a national newspaper on the topic “The problems of street children and how to solve them.
NOVEMBER 1999
3. You were standing at a bus stop when two taxis collided. The drivers got out of their cars and after a heated argument, a fight ensued. Write a description of the incident.
NOVEMBER 2000
1. Write a letter to a friend in another school giving at least three reasons why you support the establishment of private Universities in the Country
4. Write a story entitled “The Haunted House”.
NOVEMBER 2001
November 2002, november 2003, november 2004.
1. Write an article suitable for publication in a national newspaper advocating the use of a Ghanaian Language as the lingua franca of your country.
4. You are the main speaker in an inter-school debate on the topic: Science is the greatest threat to life in the world. Write out your contribution for or against the motion.
NOVEMBER 2005
2. The Ghana Tourist Board is organizing an essay competition on: The need to improve tourism in the country. Write your entry.
4. There has been an increase in motor accidents recently. Write to the Chairman of the National Road Safety Committee stating the causes and suggesting measures to prevent these accidents.
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5. You are unhappy about the unsanitary conditions in your area. Write an article suitable for publication in a national newspaper, in which you explain the causes and suggest ways of improving sanitation.
NOVEMBER 2007
3. Your year group has been on an educational tour of one of the regions of the country. Describe to your friends your impressions of the tour.
1. Write an article suitable for publication in an international magazine on the topic: The problems associated with environmental pollution and suggested solutions.
4. Write a story ending with the statement: As you can see circumstances beyond my control compelled me to do such a thing.
NOVEMBER 2009(A)
3. Write a story ending with the statement: We forgot the past and became friends once more.
NOVEMBER 2009(B)
1. You are the principal speaker in a debate on the motion: living overseas has more advantages than living in your own country. Write your arguments for or against the motion.
4. The national commission for civic education hopes to make people aware of their responsibilities as good citizens of the country. Write a letter to the chairman expressing your views on what should be done to achieve this noble objective.
NOVEMBER 2010
2. Your friend intends to transfer to your school. Write a letter to him/her telling him/her about the facilities in your school which help students to achieve their goals.
5. Write a story ending with the expression:
NOVEMBER 2011
May/june 2012.
2. Writ e a letter to the minister of education, suggesting three waysofmakingpublic secondary schools in deprive communities more attractive to students.
That experience was one of the best things that ever happened to me.
NOVEMBER 2012
1 . Your uncle who has been living abroad for the past twenty years suddenly arrived home for Christmas. Write a letter to your friend, telling him/her how much your uncle’s visit made your Christmas enjoyable.
4. You are the principal speaker in a debate on the motion: Tribal associations should not be allowed in public secondary schools . Write your speech for or against the motion.
May/June 2013
2. As a senior prefect of your school, write the speech you would deliver to first-year students on how to manage their time.
5. The Society for the Improvement of Living Conditions is organizing a debate on the motion: The rapid development of a country depends solely on politicians. Write your argument for or against the motion.
S.C./G.C.E. JUNE 1993
S.c./g.c.e. june 1994, s.c./g.c.e. november 1995, s.c./g.c.e. november 1996, s.c./g.c.e. june 1997, s.c./g.c.e. june 1998, bonus: cegast academy wassce mock exam questions, do not forget to share this:, recommended, july 2002 waec economics questions and answers, 2001 waec economics questions and answers (nov-dec), wassce 2000 economics questions and answers, wassce 2002 economics past questions and answers, is it you and me or you and i (with examples), 40+ examples of parallel structure in sentences (with definition), 15 examples of grammatical forms (with definition), 65 examples of appositive phrases (with definition), how the israelites showed a lack of faith during the exodus, waec 1999 economics questions and answers, waec 1998 economics questions and answers, waec 1997 economics questions and answers, about the author.
Ralph Nyadzi
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The Writing Guide
- The First Thing
- Step 1: Understanding the essay question
- Step 2: Critical note-taking
- Step 3: Planning your assignment
- Step 4a: Effective writing
- Step 4b: Summarizing & paraphrasing
- Step 4c: Academic language
- Step 5: Editing and reviewing
- Getting started with research
- Working with keywords
- Evaluating sources
- Research file
- Reading Smarter
- Sample Essay
- What, why, where, when, who?
- Referencing styles
- Writing Resources
Exams and Essay Questions
Exam points, essay questions under exam conditions, revision for exams, finding past exams, exam study tips, exam preparation books, exams and essay questions .
Before the exam :
- Write a " cheat sheet " - if you were going to cheat on this exam and "sneak in" a single page of notes, what would be on that page?
- You'll want to fit as much information as you can on the smallest sheet of paper possible, so try to reduce your notes to memory joggers.
- Then burn that sheet of paper, and write another one.
- Then burn that one, too, and write one more.
- By the time you've prepared to cheat on your exam three times, you probably won't need to.
- Talk about your notes and the major topics from over the course of the semester.
- Talk about them to your classmates, but also talk to people who don't know anything about the subject - introduce them to the concepts and ideas.
- Write a reflective piece complaining about the ideas you struggle with - a blog post or a diary entry, or a letter to a friend.
- Find resources that talk about different types of exam questions and what strategies can be used for each.
- Look at Past Exams and make sure you can find something in your notes to help you answer every question. If there's a question you can't answer, you'll know where to focus your revision/study/research.
During the exam:
- Breathe . It's not life or death, and the worst thing that can happen is you'll get it wrong. If you start catastrophising the exam questions just ask yourself: "If I can't answer this question correctly, will someone blow up a bus full of nuns and puppies in a prep-school playground?" If the answer is "No", then just answer the question to the best of your ability and hope for the best.
- An exam exists to see how well you can pull on what you have learnt to work without notes.
- Use the questions as an excuse to show off your knowledge and your ability to make connections between ideas.
- Use the strategies you've read about - answer the exam questions on purpose.
After the exam:
- Celebrate. Even if you have another exam to sit that day, take a moment to mark the passing of a milestone.
- File your notes - don't destroy them or throw them away. You may want to use them in the next subject. (If you haven't used them after a few years, feel free to burn them).
- Write one last reflective piece touching on three points:
- What did you hope to learn in that subject (and did you learn it?)
- What new and exciting things did you discover as a result of doing the course?
- What connects with things you've learnt in other subjects?
It's all about thinking on your feet, and this is where a solid understanding of the essay structure can really help.
Start with:
- A plan. Show them what your essay will look like, and you may still get marks for it even if you don't finish.
- your thesis (your answer to the question in one sentence)
- The three points you will argue to prove your theses (these will be your paragraphs)
- The break down of your three paragraphs - what three things will you say about each point?
- What will you "conclude" in your conclusion? ("Thus it can be seen that A and B are directly responsible for the demise of C ...")
First priority:
- After you've written your plan, you should be able to write a paragraph that can adequately summarise your whole argument. A good introduction will be your essay in miniature, and can be the most important part of an exam essay.
- An introductory sentence to set the context for the essay
- A summary of the points you will discuss in the body
- A thesis statement (your answer to the question in one sentence).
- You should have three things to say about each major point, which will form the sentences in your paragraphs.
- Try to aim for one paragraph per major point, but also remember that a paragraph should deal with a single concept. If your major point logically leads to more than one concept, write more than one paragraph.
- Make sure you follow the proper paragraph structer of Topic Sentence (introduce the idea) -- Body (consisting of your argument) -- Clincher Sentence (why is this information relevant to your answer?).
- Paragraphs should follow on from each other in a logical order.
- Your plan, introduction and first few paragraphs will show that you can right in the essay style
- It is more important to show what you know and how you can think of coherent, logical arguments than to write perfect paragraphs and conclusions.
- BUT - don't forget the conclusion. Plan for it, and make sure you have at least one final sentence that shows how your argument proves your thesis. Make sure you only summarise arguments you've already made - don't add new information in a conclusion
To prepare:
- If you can mention actual theories and the names attached to them, it can help you.
- In your exam prep, make sure you remember three major ideas and the people who thought of them. You will probably be able to use at lease one in your essay.
- Practise saying things like: "According to Smith and Wesson the meaning of life is..."
- Have a look at Past Exam papers and practise answering the essay questions.
- If there aren't any Past Exam papers for your subject, look at some of the study questions raised in the lectures or readings and use them instead.
- Essay exams
Five minute revision guide
- Revise the day after learning something
- Revise it again a week later
- One month after that second revision, revise it for a third time
- Do a forth and final revision at the end of the term to ensure the knowledge is permanently embedded in your mind.
Each revision takes about 5 minutes.
Active methods of Revision
- Summarising material on index cards means saying it all over again with less words.
- Annotating your texts with notes and summaries helps you digest their meaning
- Mind Mapping: a visual and creative way of remembering
- Repeating out aloud, simply explaining it to others (family members, study groups) it will help you gain a better understanding of the material
- Working through past exam papers. See if yours are available on our Past Exams page (please note, exams will only be available if the lecturer for the subject has released them to the library).
"I like work: I think it's fascinating. I can sit and stare at it for hours ." Jerome K. Jerome
- Organise your time . This means setting time limits. For instance, set a finish time rather than a whole evening with no start or finish time.
- Time-tabling is essential . Work out a comprehensive list of what you have to do and what time you have to do it.
- Organise your work . You can save a lot of time by being systematic about where you keep your papers. Pick a drawer or a tray, don't spread them around so that you waste time having to look for them.
- Keep TO DO lists , keep them in the same place and add items as soon as you think of them. Make sure you prioritise.
Aim to work well, NOT hard
- I will work well , rather than work hard
- I will learn what's worth learning , rather than learn every detail
- I will set myself deadlines , rather than sit at my desk until the work's all done
- I will take regular breaks , rather than not have free time unless I've earned it.
Adapted from Eileen Tracy, Student's Guide To Exam Success (McGraw Hill Education).
- The information above is from The Student's Guide to Exam Success
- << Previous: Writing Resources
- Last Updated: Feb 21, 2023 5:43 PM
- URL: https://libguides.jcu.edu.au/writing
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Writing Sample Essays
Write a unified, coherent essay about the increasing presence of intelligent machines. In your essay, be sure to:
- clearly state your own perspective on the issue and analyze the relationship between your perspective and at least one other perspective
- develop and support your ideas with reasoning and examples
- organize your ideas clearly and logically
- communicate your ideas effectively in standard written English
Your essay perspective may be in full agreement with any of those given, in partial agreement, or completely different.
Get more information about preparing for the writing test .
Sample Test Questions
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IELTS Preparation with Liz: Free IELTS Tips and Lessons, 2023
- Test Information FAQ
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- Writing Task 1
- Writing Task 2
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100 IELTS Essay Questions
Below are practice IELTS essay questions and topics for writing task 2. The 100 essay questions have been used many times over the years. The questions are organised under common topics and essay types. IELTS often use the similar topics for their essays but change the wording of the essay question.
In order to prepare well for writing task 2, you should prepare ideas for common topics and then practise applying them to the tasks given (to the essay questions). Also see model essays and tips for writing task 2.
Below you will find:
- Essay Questions By Topic
- Essay Questions by Essay Type
Please also note that my new Grammar E-book is now available in my store along with my Ideas for Essay Topics E-book and Advanced Writing Lessons. To visit store, click here: Liz’s Store
1) Common IELTS Essay Questions
IELTS practice essay questions divided by topic. These topics have been reported by IELTS students in their tests. Essay questions have been recreated as accurately as possible.
- Art (5 essay questions)
- Business & Money (17 essay questions)
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- Crime & Punishment (12 essay questions)
- Education (17 essay questions)
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- Space Exploration (3 questions)
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- Transport (7 essay questions)
- Work (16 essay questions)
2) IELTS Essay Questions by Essay Type
There are 5 main types of essay questions in IELTS writing task 2 (opinion essays, discussion essay, advantage/disadvantage essays, solution essay and direct question essays). Click on the links below to see some sample essay questions for each type.
- Opinion Essay Questions
- Discussion Essay Questions
- Solution Essay Questions
- Direct Questions Essay Titles
- Advantage / Disadvantage Essay Questions
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Test Resources
TOEFL® Resources by Michael Goodine
Toefl writing questions (2023 edition) – sample essays and questions, about these toefl ® writing samples.
On the TOEFL test, you’ll get an independent writing question based on one of the following essay styles:
- Agree/Disagree
- Multiple Choice
- Paired Choice
- Imaginary Situation
Below are some samples of each type.
At the bottom of this page are some sample TOEFL integrated essays . The newest ones include a reading and lecture.
Be sure to check out our main page for detailed guides about how to write good essays.
If you like these samples, note that we also have a huge collection of speaking samples .
Help Writing Your Essays
If you want one on one help, you can sign up for our essay evaluation service .
Sample TOEFL Independent Essays
Agree/disagree style toefl essays.
This is the most common essay style.
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.
Do you agree or disagree with the following statement? When doing research, it is better to use printed materials such as books and articles than it is to use the Internet. Use specific reasons and examples to support your answer.
Students who are given grades work harder than those who are not. Do you agree or disagree? Use specific reasons and examples to support your opinion.
Do you agree or disagree with the following statement? In my country, young people have better lives than their parents had when they were young. Use reasons and examples to support your answer.
Bonus: Speaking Samples
Remember that I’ve got a big list of sample speaking answers as well.
Movies and television strongly influence the way people behave. Do you agree or disagree? Use reasons and specific examples to support your answer.
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 .
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.
Do you agree or disagree with the following statement? Nowadays, 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.
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 10
In twenty years there will be fewer cars in use than there are today. Do you agree or disagree?
Question 11
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 12
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. Be sure to use your own words. Do not use memorized examples.
Question 13
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 14
Do you agree or disagree with the following statement? Parents are the best teachers. Use specific reasons and examples to support your answer.
Question 15
Do you agree or disagree with the following statement? The knowledge we gain from our 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.
Question 16
Do you agree or disagree with the following statement? Students do not respect their teachers as much as they did in the past. Use specific reasons and examples to support your answer.
Question 17
Do you agree or disagree with the following statement? Most of the biggest problems in the world will be solved in the next few decades. Use details and examples to support your answer.
Question 18 (new)
Do you agree or disagree with the following statement? “People should keep trying to reach their goals, even if they seem impossible to achieve.” Use specific reasons and examples to explain your position.
Question 19 (new)
It is beneficial for people to spend some time living in a country where they must speak a foreign language. Do you agree or disagree? Use specific reasons and examples to support your opinion.
Question 20 (new)
Friends have more impact on the academic performance of students than their teachers do. Do you agree or disagree? Use details and examples to support your opinion.
Multiple Choice Style TOEFL Essays
This style is also very common.
Question 21
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 22
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 23
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 24
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 25
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
Question 26
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 27
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 28
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 29
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 30
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 31
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.
Question 32
If parents want their children to succeed in the future, which of the following things should they teach them?
- How to be honest
- How to be helpful
- How to be patient
Question 33 (new)
When employees feel that the management of their company is doing something wrong, what do you think is the best way for them to respond?
- Talking to the media
- Speaking to the management directly
- Discussing the problem with each other
Question 34 (new)
What do you think is the best way for the government of your country to improve the environment?
- Increase public transportation
- Reduce the construction of new factories
- Build more parks
Preference Style TOEFL Essays
Question 35
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 36
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 37
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 38
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 39
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 40
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 41
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 42
Some people think the best way to learn new things is to study them alone. 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.
Question 43
A large company wants to train its employees to use new techniques. Which is the best way to train the workers?
- Have all of them attend a training program together
- Have some of the employees attend the program and later show their coworkers what they learned
Question 44 (new)
Some people prefer to travel in their own country when they have some time off. Others think that it is better to take a trip to a foreign country. Which do you prefer? Use specific reasons to support your choice.
Imaginary Situation TOEFL Essays
This style is less common.
Question 45
Imagine that 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 46
Imagine that it has been announced that a large shopping center will open in your neighborhood and you are being asked your opinion. Would you support or oppose its construction? Use specific reasons and details to support your answer.
Question 47
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 grade. Do you agree or disagree with this kind of policy? Use specific reasons and examples to support your argument.
Question 48
Consider a situation where you are required to learn a challenging new skill. You could learn this skills from someone above you, like a boss or supervisor. Or you could be taught the skills by someone at your own level, like a classmate or colleague. Which would you prefer?
Question 49
Imagine that you must make an important decision that will have a major impact on the rest of your life. You could make the decision entirely on your own, or ask someone to help you make it. Which would you choose? Use specific reasons and examples to support your choice.
Question 50
Consider a situation where you are asked by your supervisor to work with one of your coworkers on a project. This coworker has opinions that are very different from 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 51
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.
Consider a situation where you are working in a company and are unable to finish an important assignment before a deadline. What do you think is the best thing to do in this case – submit the assignment before it is completed, or wait until it is finished and submit it after the deadline?
Imagine that you are graduating from high school and have been offered a complete scholarship at a university that is located in another country, far from your friends and family. Would you accept this offer, or would you try to attend a university closer to home?
Sample TOEFL Integrated Essays
Essays with the reading and lecture.
- Colonizing Asteroids (new)
- Protecting Peregrine Falcons (new)
- Paradox of Choice (new)
- Moai of Easter Island
More Integrated Essays
These essays are all based on questions from famous books. I can’t give you the reading and listening, but you might like looking at their structure and organization.
- 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)
- The Usefulness of Coal (casting doubt)
- Monarch Butterflies (casting doubt)
- Large Animals (casting doubt)
- Wheat and Beer (from “Cracking the TOEFL”)
- Forest Fires (from “Cracking the TOEFL”)
- 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 Sample Test”)
- Wave Farms (from “Hackers Actual Test”)
- The Anasazi (from “Hackers Actual Test”)
- Trans Lunar Phenomena (from “Hackers Actual Test”)
- Four-day Workweek
TOEFL Writing Guides and Templates
- Complete templates for each essay task .
- A detailed master guide to the integrated essay task .
- A detailed master guide to the independent essay task .
O-LEVEL PAST YEARS COMPOSITION QUESTIONS
In our ‘O’ Level English Enrichment Programme, we ensure that our graduating students are ready to ace the English Language examination. It is a race against time to prepare for the ‘O’ Levels, hence our programme focuses on teaching and reinforcing our students’ essay writing skills, comprehension answer precision, summary writing and oral examination techniques. All [email protected] secondary teachers spare no effort in coaching our students how to tackle popular examination essay topics.
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Janice glanced worriedly at her wrist watch. The time was already ten past seven. She had twenty minutes to make it to school on time. The sky was overcast. A slight drizzle rained down like a mist. It started raining cats and dogs as Janice reached the bus stop. She had ignored her mother’s advice to take an umbrella with her. She wondered how she was going to make itto school in the rain.
Jovan Ang, Primary 2
Rulang Primary School
It was an idyllic Saturday morning. Fluffy white clouds hung in the clear cerulean sky. Granny Lucy was tottering to the market. Her heart was filled with light-hearted cheer and her mouth curled into a smile. She was looking forward to preparing a feast for her grandchildren, who were coming for dinner that night.
Kew Ling Wei, Primary 3
Raffles Girls’ Primary School
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Back to Helpful Handouts o Writing Center Home Page
- Organize your ideas. Knowledge of the subject matter is only part of the preparation process. You need to spend some time thinking about how to organize your ideas. Let's say the question asks you to compare and contrast what regime theory and hegemonic stability theory would predict about post-cold war nuclear proliferation. The key components of an answer to this question must include:
- A definition of the theories
- A brief description of the issue
- A comparison of the two theories' predictions
- A clear and logical contrasting of the theories (noting how and why they are different)
- Make a persuasive argument. Most essays in political science ask you to make some kind of argument. While there are no right answers, there are more and less persuasive answers. What makes an argument persuasive?
- A clear point that is being argued (a thesis)
- Sufficient evidenct to support that thesis
- Logical progression of ideas throughout the essay
- Review your essay. Take a few minutes to re-read your essay. Correct grammatical mistakes, check to see that you have answered all parts of the question.
- Avoid excuses. Don't write at the end that you ran out of time, or did not have time to study because you were sick. Make an appointment with your TA to discuss these things after the exam.
- Don't "pad" your answer. Instructors are usually quite adept at detecting student bluffing. They give no credit for elaboration of the obvious. If you are stuck, you can elaborate on what you do know, as long as it relates to the question.
- Avoid the "kitchen sink" approach. Many students simply write down everything they know about a particular topic, without relating the information to the question. Everything you include in your answer should help to answer the question and support your thesis. You need to show how/why the information is relevant -- don't leave it up to your instructor to figure this out!
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Knowing how to write a college essay is a useful skill for anyone who plans to go to college. Most colleges and universities ask you to submit a writing sample with your application. As a student, you’ll also write essays in your courses.
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Below are practice IELTS essay questions and topics for writing task 2. The 100 essay questions have been used many times over the years.
About these TOEFL® Writing Samples On the TOEFL test, you'll get an independent writing question based on one of the following essay styles:...
Assess a limited sample of the range of content. 2. Are difficult and time consuming to grade. 3. Provide practice in poor or unpolished writing. 4. Provide
O-LEVEL PAST YEARS COMPOSITION QUESTIONS. In our 'O' Level English Enrichment Programme, we ensure
Perform a "memory dump." Write down all the information you have had to memorize for the exam in note form. · Read the questions and instructions carefully. Read