Sample TOEFL Independent Essays
Agree/Disagree Style TOEFL Essays
This is the most common essay style.
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.
Bonus: Speaking Samples
Remember that I’ve got a big list of sample speaking answers as well.
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.
Question 17
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 18 (new)
Do you agree or disagree with the following statement? The most serious problems in the world will be solved during my lifetime. Use details and examples to support your answer.
Question 19 (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.
Sample TOEFL Essay – Working Hard for Goals, Test Resources
The Question Do you agree or disagree with the following statement? “People should keep trying to reach their goals, even if they seem impossible...
www.toeflresources.com
Multiple Choice Style TOEFL Essays
Question 20
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 21
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 22
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 23
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 24
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 25
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 26
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 27
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 28
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 29
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 30
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 31 (new)
Which of the following values do you think is most important to teach a young child?
- Being honest
- Being helpful
- Being patient
Question 32 (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 33 (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
Paired Choice Style TOEFL Essays
Question 34
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 35
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 36
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 37
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 38
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 39
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 40
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 41
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.
Question 42 (new)
A 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
“Good Idea” TOEFL Essays
Question 43
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 44
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 45
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 46
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 47
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 we 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 48
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 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 49
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.