TOEFL Writing Practice Test 2026: New-Format Tasks with Model Answers
Key Takeaways
- Since the January 2026 update, the TOEFL iBT Writing section has three task types: Build a Sentence, Write an Email and Write for an Academic Discussion. The Integrated Writing task is gone.
- The section has 12 items and an approximate base time of 23 minutes, and every answer is typed.
- Writing gets a section score on a 1–6 scale. For a two-year transition, ETS also reports a comparable overall score on the 0–120 scale.
- In the email task, answer every bullet in the prompt, in order, in a tone that suits the reader.
- In the academic discussion, state your view in the first sentence, add one new reason with an example, and respond to a named classmate.
Table of Contents
- What is in the TOEFL Writing section in 2026?
- How is TOEFL Writing scored now?
- Practice task 1: Build a Sentence (5 items)
- Practice task 2: Write an Email
- Practice task 3: Write for an Academic Discussion
- How should you practise for TOEFL Writing?
- What mistakes cost the most marks in TOEFL Writing?
- Where can you find more TOEFL writing practice?
The TOEFL iBT Writing section changed with the January 2026 update. The old Integrated Writing task is gone. The section now has three task types, Build a Sentence, Write an Email and Write for an Academic Discussion: 12 items in about 23 minutes, according to ETS’s TOEFL iBT test content page. If your practice material still asks you to read a passage, listen to a lecture and compare the two, it is preparing you for a test that no longer exists.
This page is a practice test in the 2026 format. You get five Build a Sentence items, one email prompt and one academic discussion prompt, each with a model answer and the reason it works. Do each task on a timer before you read the answer.
Every task on this page is original, written by our team in the official format. ETS questions are copyright, so none are reproduced here. When you want full-length timed practice across all four sections, take our free TOEFL practice test.
What is in the TOEFL Writing section in 2026?
ETS describes the three task types on its TOEFL iBT Writing section page. This is what each one asks you to do, as of 9 October 2026:
| Task | What you do | What it measures |
|---|---|---|
| Build a Sentence | Arrange words or phrases to form a complete, grammatical sentence or question | Your control of English sentence structure |
| Write an Email | Write an email in an academic or social situation, such as making a request, giving information or proposing a solution | Writing clearly, staying on topic and following basic writing conventions |
| Write for an Academic Discussion | Contribute to an online class discussion by stating and supporting your opinion | Developing ideas, responding to other people’s views and writing in an academic tone |
The whole section is 12 items with an approximate base time of 23 minutes. You type every answer on a keyboard, and ETS says the topics need no specialised background knowledge. ETS’s overview page does not split the 23 minutes by task, so the timings in the practice tasks below are our suggestions for practice, not official limits.
For a side-by-side look at how the Integrated task was replaced, see our TOEFL writing samples for the 2026 format.
How is TOEFL Writing scored now?
Since January 2026 each section, Writing included, gets a score on a 1–6 scale. Your overall score is the average of the four section scores, rounded to the nearest half band. For a two-year transition period ETS also reports a comparable overall score on the old 0–120 scale. Both rules are on ETS’s test content page.
ETS says Writing scoring looks at how clearly and effectively you communicate, not at a perfect first draft. In practice, that means a short, well-organised answer with a few small errors beats a long one that wanders. To see where a practice score leaves you overall, use our TOEFL score calculator, and read our guide to TOEFL scores to compare it with what your universities ask for.
Practice task 1: Build a Sentence (5 items)
Suggested practice time: 3 minutes for all five. Put the words in order to make one grammatical sentence or question. Every word is used once. Write your five answers down before you scroll to the answers.
- the library / does / close / what time / on Sundays / ?
- submitted / I / my assignment / have / already / .
- whether / she asked / the lab / was open / me / .
- could / the deadline / you / extend / by two days / ?
- the professor / which / recommended / the book / was / sold out / .
Answers:
- What time does the library close on Sundays?
- I have already submitted my assignment.
- She asked me whether the lab was open.
- Could you extend the deadline by two days?
- The book which the professor recommended was sold out.
Why: Item 3 is the trap. It is a reported question, so it keeps statement order: “whether the lab was open”, never “whether was the lab open”. Item 5 tests a relative clause sitting between the subject and its verb: find the main verb (“was sold out”) first, then fit the clause in front of it. In every item, start with the verb, because the verb decides where the subject and the question word go.
Practice task 2: Write an Email
Suggested practice time: 7 minutes.
Prompt: You are taking an online statistics course. The first assignment is due on Friday, but you have been ill this week and missed two lectures. Write an email to your instructor, Dr. Mehta. In your email:
- explain why you are writing
- ask for something that would help you finish the assignment
- suggest what you will do to catch up
Model answer:
Dear Dr. Mehta,
I am writing about the first assignment, which is due this Friday. I was ill from Monday to Wednesday and missed two lectures, so I have not yet covered the material on sampling that the assignment is based on.
Would it be possible to have an extension until Monday? I have a note from the campus clinic if you need it.
To catch up, I will watch both lecture recordings tonight and work through the practice set at the end of chapter three. If anything is still unclear after that, I would like to come to your office hours on Thursday.
Thank you for considering my request.
Best regards,
Riya Nair
Why it works: Each of the three bullets gets its own short paragraph, in the order the prompt gives them, so the reader can tick them off. The request is specific (Monday, not “some more time”) and polite (“Would it be possible”). The register suits a student writing to an instructor: no slang, no exclamation marks, and a proper greeting and sign-off. It is about 115 words. In an email task, covering every point clearly matters more than length.
Practice task 3: Write for an Academic Discussion
Suggested practice time: 10 minutes.
The professor’s post: “Many universities now record every lecture and put it online. Some people say this helps students learn. Others say it makes students stop coming to class. What do you think: should universities record all lectures? Why?”
Ananya: “Yes. Recordings let students review difficult parts at their own pace, and they help anyone who is ill or has to work.”
Kenji: “I disagree. If everything is recorded, students put off watching the lectures and fall behind. Being in the room is what keeps people on track.”
Model answer:
I agree with Ananya that lectures should be recorded, but I think Kenji has identified a real risk, so universities should record lectures and also give students a reason to attend. A recording is most useful as a second look. In my own maths course, I often understood a proof only on the second viewing, when I could pause and work through each step. However, Kenji is right that a recording can become an excuse to postpone. One simple solution is to make the live session do something the recording cannot, such as a short in-class problem that counts towards the final grade. That way, students who attend get practice and feedback, and students who are ill can still catch up afterwards. Recording lectures should support attendance, not replace it.
Why it works: It takes a clear position in the first sentence and names both classmates, which shows it is responding to the discussion rather than writing a separate essay. It adds a new idea (an in-class task that counts) instead of repeating what Ananya and Kenji already said. The personal example is short and supports the point. It is about 130 words. Aim for one clear opinion, one reason with an example, and one sentence that answers a classmate.
How should you practise for TOEFL Writing?
- Drill Build a Sentence in short sets. Ten items a day, on a timer. Each time, find the main verb first. Keep a list of the patterns that catch you out, such as reported questions, relative clauses and adverb placement.
- Write one email a day to a different reader. A professor, a classmate, a landlord, a club secretary. Change the purpose each time: a request, a complaint, an apology, a suggestion. The tone shifts with the reader, and that shift is part of what is being measured.
- Answer one discussion prompt a day. Use the same shape every time: your position, one reason, a short example, then one sentence that agrees or disagrees with a named classmate.
- Type, don’t handwrite. The test is typed, and typing speed limits how much you can write in 10 minutes. Practise on a plain text editor with spellcheck turned off, because the test has no spellcheck.
- Review against the task, not a word count. After each practice answer, check three things: did you answer every part of the prompt, is each paragraph about one thing, and could a reader follow it without re-reading.
- Take a full test before your exam date. Writing comes after other sections in the real test, so practise it when you are already tired. Our free TOEFL practice test runs all four sections.
What mistakes cost the most marks in TOEFL Writing?
- Missing a bullet in the email prompt. If the prompt asks for three things and you cover two, the email is incomplete, however well written it is.
- Writing an essay in the discussion task. An answer that ignores the professor and classmates reads as off task. Name at least one of them.
- Wrong register. “Hey, can u give me more time?” to an instructor, or an over-formal letter to a friend. Match the tone to the reader.
- Memorised templates. A long, generic opening that could fit any topic wastes time and adds nothing. Start with your point.
- Still preparing for the Integrated task. Many older guides, apps and books still teach the reading-plus-lecture essay. If a resource does, it predates the January 2026 update.
Where can you find more TOEFL writing practice?
- Official material: ETS publishes the task descriptions on its Writing section page. Check that any other practice material matches those three task types.
- Worked samples: our TOEFL writing samples go through more model answers for each task.
- Full tests and free resources: our free TOEFL resources collect practice tests and study material in one place.
- A study plan: our guide on how to prepare for the TOEFL exam covers all four sections.
Booking your test? Check our TOEFL voucher code page before you pay the registration fee.
Frequently Asked Questions
What are the TOEFL Writing tasks in 2026?
Build a Sentence, Write an Email and Write for an Academic Discussion. ETS lists these three task types for the TOEFL iBT Writing section.
Is the Integrated Writing task still on the TOEFL?
No. It was removed in the January 2026 update of the TOEFL iBT. Practice material that asks you to compare a reading passage with a lecture predates the change.
How long is the TOEFL Writing section?
ETS gives the Writing section 12 items and an approximate base time of 23 minutes.
How is TOEFL Writing scored now?
Writing receives a section score on a 1–6 scale. The overall score is the average of the four section scores, rounded to the nearest half band, and a comparable 0–120 score is also reported during a two-year transition.
What is the Build a Sentence task?
You arrange words or phrases into a complete, grammatical sentence or question. It tests your control of English sentence structure.
How long should my TOEFL email be?
Long enough to cover every point in the prompt clearly. A well-organised email of around 100 to 150 words usually does this; covering all the points matters more than length.
How do I write a good academic discussion response?
Give your position in the first sentence, support it with one reason and a short example, and agree or disagree with at least one classmate by name. Add an idea they have not already made.
Can I use templates for TOEFL Writing?
A simple structure helps, but long memorised openings waste time and add nothing to your answer. Start with your point and keep the structure light.
Is there a spellcheck in the TOEFL Writing section?
No. Practise typing with spellcheck turned off so that your practice matches the test.
Where can I take a free TOEFL practice test?
Galvanize offers a free full-length TOEFL practice test that covers all four sections, and ETS publishes the official task descriptions on its website.
