Free Sample TOEFL Essays

Free Sample TOEFL Essays
Learning to write well is a skill, like any other. This skill is important not only on your
TOEFL exam, but also in your academic and professional career. The TOEFL Writing section
consists of two parts:
 Integrated Writing, which includes reading, listening and then writing a summary/
comparison piece of 250 word in 20 minutes
 Independent Writing, which involves writing a four to five-paragraph essay of 300-
350 words in 30 minutes
The following free sample TOEFL essays illustrate how to get a high score on the
independent writing section of the iBT. By reading through the essays, you can learn how
to:
 develop any topic into a well-organized, logical answer
 use synonyms to paraphrase the question
 use a variety of sentence structures & grammatical forms
 begin with a simple, strong introduction
 create body paragraphs that flow logically
 develop unity by linking the body paragraphs
 end with a memorable conclusion
Try to write an essay each day. The added practice will enable you to complete a strong essay, with
ease, confidence, and speed, on the day of your TOEFL exam and throughout your life.
Free Sample TOEFL Essay #1

Do you agree or disagree with the following statement:
People should sometimes do things that they do not enjoy doing.
Use specific reasons and details to support your answer.
Sample TOEFL essay answer:
Life is challenging. In order to be happy and successful, we need to prepare ourselves on

many fronts. Although participating in enjoyable activities is always desirable, in my view it
is also necessary at times to do things we do not enjoy. The bases for my view are
personal, social and financial.
Personally, doing things we don’t care for builds character and helps us mature. For
instance, when parents have their first baby they are forced to give up their freedom in
order to look after the child. There are times when parents barely get enough sleep and
still have to get up and go to work in the morning. Similarly, when students are in school
and university, they need to spend a lot of time studying. In spite of being tempted to go
out with friends and attend parties, those who have self-control and keep their priorities
straight are the ones who get high grades. Through such life experiences people become
stronger, wiser and more responsible.
From a social perspective, we live in an interdependent world which imposes its
obligations on us. Each person belongs to diverse social groups and plays various social
roles. Each of us has to attend birthday parties, weddings and funerals to show we care
about our fellow human beings. Participating in events for the sake of others teaches us to
go beyond our own selfish needs and to share in the joys and sorrows of others.
Financially-speaking, people need to work - and spend - to keep the local, national and
international economy growing. We need to support our own family in particular and our
community in general. In fact, most of us work many more hours than we would like to
work. What propels us to continue working is our financial needs, commitments and
obligations. Only in this way are we able to live comfortable lifestyles and save for our
retirement days.
In conclusion, life places huge demands on us. By participating in a wide variety of
activities, both pleasant and unpleasant, we can discover more about our unique selves
and live fuller lives.
351 words
Free Sample TOEFL Essay #2

Do you agree or disagree with the following statement:
Only people who earn a lot of money are successful.
Use specific reasons and details to support your answer.
Sample TOEFL essay answer:
It is said that money makes the world go round. We spend the majority of our waking
hours at work - earning a living, providing for our families and saving for our retirement.
Although money no doubt plays a critical role in determining the quality and nature of our
lifestyles, in my opinion, the size of one’s paycheque is not a measure of one’s success in
life. The bases of my views are philosophical, social and personal.
Philosophically, success can be defined in myriad ways. For some, success is an
external concept to be measured in terms of high income, huge bank balances, fancy cars,
expensive mansions, luxurious holidays and so on. However, in my view, success is a
reflection of internal human qualities, such as compassion, kindness, honesty,
understanding and more. By this definition, the mere fact of earning a high income does
not determine or define success.
Socially, success depends on how we treat other human beings. Do we regard others
with respect or do we impose our will on them? Are we mindful of their needs and desires
or do we behave selfishly? Do we encourage and support our friends, family and
communities or do we insist they only follow the path we think best? It is clear that a
critical aspect of success lies in the answers to such questions for they reveal the quality of
relationships we share with our fellow human beings.
Personally, success can only be self-defined. My idea of success may not be the same
as another person’s vision. This is as it should be. Each of us is a product of diverse social,
cultural, economic, political, religious and ideological influences. When we add to that mix
the free will that each of us exercises, we can understand clearly how each of us fashions
his / her own aspirations for what we consider to be success in our own lives.
In conclusion, success is a concept which can be interpreted in a million different
ways.Each individual’s version adds to the richness of our world and makes our planet a
more delightful, amazing and colourful place to live.
355 words

Free Sample TOEFL Essays

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Free Sample TOEFL Essays

Free Sample TOEFL Essay #1

Life is challenging. In order to be happy and successful, we need to prepare ourselves on

Free Sample TOEFL Essay #2

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