TOEFL Writing & Composition 3 — Questions and Answers
Question 1: In a TOEFL Independent Writing essay, a student writes: "There are many reasons why remote work is beneficial. First, it saves time. Second, it is more comfortable. Third, it is good for the environment." What is the primary weakness of this body section?
- The essay uses too many transition words.
- The points are listed without development, evidence, or explanation—they are assertions rather than supported arguments. (Correct answer)
- The three reasons are not logically connected to each other.
- The student should have argued against remote work instead.
Correct answer: The points are listed without development, evidence, or explanation—they are assertions rather than supported arguments.
TOEFL Writing scores require developed, supported points—not bare lists. Saying "it saves time" without explaining how, for whom, or with what evidence is an undeveloped assertion. Raters look for specific examples, data, or explanations that elaborate each claim into a substantive argument.
Question 2: Which revision of this sentence demonstrates improved academic style: "People in cities have a hard time because everything is too crowded and noisy."
- City people have it hard because of noise and crowd problems.
- Urban residents often experience significant challenges related to population density and noise pollution. (Correct answer)
- In cities, things can be hard sometimes.
- The problem with cities is that there are too many people and sounds.
Correct answer: Urban residents often experience significant challenges related to population density and noise pollution.
Option B replaces informal language ("have a hard time," "too crowded and noisy") with formal academic vocabulary: "urban residents," "significant challenges," "population density," "noise pollution." This revision maintains meaning while elevating register to academic level appropriate for university writing.
Question 3: In a TOEFL essay arguing that public transportation should be subsidized, which sentence provides the strongest support?
- Public transportation is used by many people every day.
- Some people prefer driving to taking the bus or train.
- Studies in cities with subsidized transit systems, including Seoul and Singapore, show 30–40% reductions in private vehicle use and corresponding decreases in carbon emissions. (Correct answer)
- Public transportation is a good idea and should receive more money from the government.
Correct answer: Studies in cities with subsidized transit systems, including Seoul and Singapore, show 30–40% reductions in private vehicle use and corresponding decreases in carbon emissions.
Strong academic support uses specific, concrete evidence: named cities, quantified outcomes (30–40% reductions), and causal connections (reduced private vehicle use → lower emissions). Vague statements ("many people," "is a good idea") provide no specific evidence and do not substantiate the argument.
Question 4: Which of the following demonstrates the best use of hedging language appropriate for an academic essay?
- Social media definitely causes depression in all teenagers who use it.
- Research suggests that heavy social media use may be associated with increased depressive symptoms in some adolescent populations. (Correct answer)
- Social media might possibly probably cause depression for some people sometimes.
- No one can know whether social media affects mental health.
Correct answer: Research suggests that heavy social media use may be associated with increased depressive symptoms in some adolescent populations.
Academic hedging uses language like "suggests," "may be," and "associated with" to express conclusions appropriately, acknowledging the limits of evidence. Option A overclaims ("definitely," "all"); Option C over-hedges with multiple uncertainty markers; Option D refuses all conclusion. Option B calibrates confidence to the evidence appropriately.
Question 5: A student uses the word "however" to connect two sentences in a body paragraph. When is this transition appropriate?
- When the second sentence adds more evidence supporting the same point as the first
- When the second sentence introduces a contrasting idea or qualification to the first (Correct answer)
- When the second sentence provides a definition of a term used in the first
- When the second sentence is the topic sentence of a new paragraph
Correct answer: When the second sentence introduces a contrasting idea or qualification to the first
"However" is a contrast transition—it signals that what follows contrasts with, qualifies, or modifies the preceding statement. Using "however" to connect two supporting sentences that agree with each other is a misapplication. "Furthermore" or "In addition" should be used when adding aligned supporting points.
Question 6: A TOEFL essay prompt asks students to discuss the advantages and disadvantages of social media. A student writes only about advantages. How does this affect the score?
- The score is not affected because TOEFL essays can be one-sided.
- The score improves because focused essays are better than balanced ones.
- The score may be reduced because the essay failed to address both aspects of the task as specified by the prompt, indicating incomplete task completion. (Correct answer)
- Task completion is irrelevant to TOEFL Writing scores.
Correct answer: The score may be reduced because the essay failed to address both aspects of the task as specified by the prompt, indicating incomplete task completion.
TOEFL Writing raters evaluate task completion as a core criterion. A prompt specifying "advantages and disadvantages" requires both aspects to be addressed. Responding to only half the prompt signals task incompleteness, which reduces the score even if the written content is otherwise of high quality.
TOEFL Writing & Composition 3
In a TOEFL Independent Writing essay, a student writes: "There are many reasons why remote work is beneficial.
First, it saves time.
Second, it is more comfortable.
Third, it is good for the environment." What is the primary weakness of this body section?