transition words for toefl essay

TRANSITION WORDS AND PHRASES
- Reporting on points from the listening passage in the body paragraphs
- When explaining your reasons and developing your examples - Reporting on points from the listening passage in the body paragraphs
- When explaining your reasons and developing your examples - When you are connecting your example to the topic - When transitioning to the point of view of the listening in body paragraphs
- When recognizing the opposing argument -The first sentence of each body paragraph
- When providing more than one reason for your stance on the topic - Located in the conclusion paragraph, which is optional for this essay
- In the last sentence of your response if you include a conclusion

TIP #5: Time Management

For the integrated writing task, you only have 2 0 min utes to write your essay! Therefore, while time management is important throughout the TOEFL, it is especially important on this task.

You should spend approximately two minutes taking notes and outlining your answer, three minutes writing your introduction paragraph, eleven minutes writing the body paragraphs, two minutes for the conclusion, and the last three minutes for editing.

Here is the time breakdown for task one of the TOEFL writing section:

Be sure to download our Complete Practice Test right here so you can practice the entire test.   

…but here is the essay response to the TOEFL integrated question on Turtle Excluder Devices.

The reading and the lecture are about the pros and cons of the Turtle Excluder Device (TED). The writer believes there are many benefits to the use of TED, and that it has decreased the number of sea turtles caught in trawls by shrimpers. The speaker in the listening passage disagrees. He claims there are still many issues with TED, and challenges each of the writer’s points.

First, the article posits that the design of TED includes a metal barrier inside the net that prevents larger animals from getting caught. Additionally, it says, TED also provides a path for the sea turtles to exit. However, the professor points out that small and mid-sized turtles still get caught deeper in the trawls. He states this is because the metal barrier only prevents creatures larger than ten centimeters to pass through it.

Also, the author notes that laws have been passed requiring shrimp boats to have TED and use it properly. The lecturer rebuts this argument. He says that it is impossible for organizations to regulate the fishermen while they are fishing for shrimp and that they can just remove the TED right before putting the nets into the ocean. Furthermore, he argues that they are inclined to do this because sometimes TED can also prevent shrimp from passing into the depths of the trawls, which decreases their profits.

Another reason the writer feels that TED is beneficial is that under import regulations, the shrimp sold in the US can only come from suppliers who are certified TED users. Again, the speaker holds there are flaws in this argument. He suggests that there are many boat owners who claim to be TED-certified, but, in reality, have fake documentation. The lack of consistency in TED certification from country to country allows many to deceive ports and sell their shrimp anyway.

To sum up, both the author and the lecturer hold conflicting views about TED.

Five more to go… 

Still with me? 

Awesome (just like these tips). 

Now, let’s take a look at our last five tips for the TOEFL Writing section. 

TASK 2 (Writing for an Academic Discussion Task)

Tip #6: be sure to add to the discussion.

On July 26, 2023, ETS introduced a new TOEFL Writing question called Writing for an Academic Discussion. It replaced the Independent Writing task.

For writing task #2, you have ten minutes to read the discussion and then write a response of 100 words or more.

In the example above, the professor poses a question about whether or not globalization has a positive or negative effect on society. Bryan believes globalization is positive because it brings people and cultures closer together, while Alex thinks globalization leads to the exploitation of developing countries. When it is time to write, be sure to ADD to the discussion. Do not just repeat the same points made by the other students.

Look at the sample response below. The points highlighted are additional ideas that contribute to the discussion.

In my opinion, globalization is a positive force in the world today.  My personal belief is that when nations interact together, it leads to less suffering. For example, people who suffer from natural catastrophes can import goods and services to help mitigate their losses and recover quickly. Citizens of nations who may be going through war or famine can flee to neighboring countries for shelter . I understand Alex’s concern over cultural homogenization, but I believe she misses another critical point. Much of the food found in grocery stores around the world is imported. Our very diet is due to the international trade partnerships and alliances forged over the last half of the 20th century. International trade and travel are not possible in a world without globalization, which is why I believe it is crucial to maintain our current global policies for a safer world with a higher standard of living .

On test day, it is fine to agree or acknowledge the points made in the discussion; just be sure that the majority of your response to the Writing for an Academic Discussion question further develops the online conversation.

TIP #7: Stick to a few simple verb tenses

Test-takers tend to think they have to use complicated grammar in the TOEFL Writing section to earn a high test score.

This isn’t true.

In fact, for the new Writing for an Academic Discussion task, you only need three verb tenses:

• Simple present
• Simple past
• Present perfect

I have highlighted all of the verb tenses used in my response to the question about globalization, and almost all of them are in the simple present.

In my opinion, globalization is a positive force in the world today.  My personal belief is that when nations interact together, it leads to less suffering. For example, people who suffer from natural catastrophes can import goods and services to help mitigate their losses and recover quickly. Citizens of nations who may be going through war or famine can flee to neighboring countries for shelter. I understand Alex’s concern over cultural homogenization, but I believe she misses another critical point. Much of the food found in grocery stores around the world is imported. Our very diet is due to the international trade partnerships and alliances forged over the last half of the 20th century. International trade and travel are not possible in a world without globalization, which is why I believe it is crucial to maintain our current global policies for a safer world with a higher standard of living.

But hold on a second.

Your grammar in the TOEFL Writing section can’t be too simple, and there is one more tip to keep in mind.

TIP #8: Try to include multiple sentences with more than one clause

According to Michael Goodine at Test Resources , the TOEFL Writing e-rater likes writing samples that include sentences with subordinating and/or coordinating conjunctions.

A subordinating conjunction is a word or phrase that links a dependent clause to an independent clause, and a coordinating conjunction joins two elements of equal importance.

Check out the table below for a handy list of both.

Subordonating Conjuctions

• by the time
• even though
• in order that
• in the event that
• provided that
• whether or not

Coordonating Conjuctions

• nevertheless

It is not required to include these conjunctions in your response, but it will help you craft sentences with two or more clauses, which will have a positive impact on your score.

I have highlighted the sentences from the globalization example response that include multiple clauses.

In my opinion, globalization is a positive force in the world today.  My personal belief is that when nations interact together, it leads to less suffering. For example, people who suffer from natural catastrophes can import goods and services to help mitigate their losses and recover quickly . Citizens of nations who may be going through war or famine can flee to neighboring countries for shelter. I understand Alex’s concern over cultural homogenization, but I believe she misses another critical point . Much of the food found in grocery stores around the world is imported. Our very diet is due to the international trade partnerships and alliances forged over the last half of the 20th century. International trade and travel are not possible in a world without globalization, which is why I believe it is crucial to maintain our current global policies for a safer world with a higher standard of living .

TIP #9: Take the Time to Edit!

One of the best TOEFL Writing tips I could possibly share here is to leave yourself time to edit. Plan on finishing your essay around the 9-minute mark so you have at least a minute to edit your essay.

It’s annoying, I know.

Especially since, at this point, you will have taken the test for almost two hours.

Remember, there is no spellcheck on the exam. That’s right, you will be responsible for finding spelling and grammar mistakes yourself. Also, be sure to pay special attention to spacing and punctuation.

There is no automatic spellcheck on the TOEFL exam. You will be responsible for typing and correcting spelling and grammatical mistakes.

So, always give yourself a minute or more to proofread your essays and practice writing with spellcheck turned off !

Here are some common mistakes that are easy to spot:

• Spelling errors
• Capitalization and spacing mistakes
• Problematic introduction sentence
• Personal areas of weakness (article usage, subject-verb agreement, etc.)
• Proper verb tense

Read your response aloud quietly. Listen to hear if your sentences sound correct. If part of your response sounds strange, you may have some awkward grammar that needs to be fixed.

TIP #10: Get Feedback

While preparing for the TOEFL writing section, it is crucial for you to get your hands on some practice questions.

And to get valuable feedback from a qualified TOEFL instructor who knows exactly what you need to write to earn a high score in the writing section. Relying on yourself or a teacher you know will certainly help, but you will not be able to reach your full potential without advice from an experienced instructor.

Therefore, the last tip while preparing for the TOEFL is to get help from a trained professional at TST Prep.

If you haven’t already, be sure to download TST Prep’s Complete Test #13  where you can see these sample essays and more.

Was there anything we missed?

If you have more TOEFL Writing tips, please don’t hesitate to let us know in the comments section below.

And, as always, we are here to help if you have any questions or concerns, [email protected]

Other articles

Topics and Sample Essays for the Writing Section of the TOEFL Test

100 Reading Questions for the TOEFL Test

Check other articles on TOEFL

69 Comments

Thanks for this invaluable article🙏🏻.

Excellent samples

Hi Josh. Thank you a lot. This post was very useful for me.

Hi Josh, The sample for Task 1 provided on the ETS website is a bit different from the one you wrote. It solely focuses on the lecture while only saying, “That refutes that point from reading.” Could you have a look and recommend me some tips?

Hi, thanks for your question. To add length to your essay, we suggest including a bit more from the reading section. It can also help you in making sure each point from the listening matches a point referenced in the reading.

Hi Josh, First, thanks a million for this intelligent and helpful content; you are a great tutor. I found that the time management section has a small mistake with summing the minutes suggested for each step. 2 minutes outline + 3 minutes introduction + 11 minutes body + 2 minutes conclusion + 3 minutes editing = 21 minutes!

Hi Inman, thanks for pointing that out. We will have a look. I would maybe say 2 minutes for an introduction would be better. 🙂

Great! Thanks again.

Hey Josh Thanks a lot for your time and effort. You have got a heart of gold. Lots of love from Afghanistan♥️🇦🇫

Point 7 isn’t true (but perhaps you needed just one more to make 10 tips instead of 9?) I took both sides all the time when I took the TOEFL, and got a 119 (and the reason I missed one point was the speaking, where I forgot to mention two specific examples). Cheers!

Hi Ruth and thank you for taking the time to leave a comment. Congrats on your score, that’s incredible. In regards to your opinion on tip #7 ” HAVE A CLEAR OPINION AND STICK TO IT”, it is not put there arbitrarily to inflate the number of tips. We have found that students who fail to have a concrete opinion tend to have difficulty developing the topic and writing with clarity. This is not always the case and you can write a perfect essay by arguing both sides of the argument, generally speaking, however, it is easier to write a clear and well-developed essay when taking one clear side of an issue.

Hello Josh. What do “int” and “ind” mean? You used these in the TOEFL Writing Transitional Phrases table without explaining them. Thanks.

Hi Rob, and my apologies. I should clarify that. The “int” stands for “integrated writing (task 1),” and the “ind” stands for independent writing (task #2).

Hello, I’m preparing for TOEFL, and I found a weird subject for the independent subject. “The average global life expectancy went from 29 years old in 1800 to 71 years old in 2015. According to you, what is the main cause for such a change?”. Do you know if it is possible to have a question like this? Thank you for your help.

Hi there and thank you for your question. This does indeed sound like a reasonable topic since anyone could have an opinion on it. It is a bit strange but definitely possible. (I’ve seen weirder). This would also be difficult because you would have to use past unreal unconditional forms and sentences like “It could have been” “might have been because”, etc. Hope that helps!

Hello Josh! How are you? Please where can I find the TOEFL Writing 24+ Guide to download?

Here is the link. Hope that helps you find what you are looking for. https://drive.google.com/file/d/1j-fGt9rvjklnU4v-ENUA2cE6d1fp2mt1/view?usp=sharing

Hi Josh, I’m taking my test in a few minutes. Thank you so much for the free material on the website. It has definitely helped me make my own template!

Thanks for leaving a comment Nikitha. How did the test go? I’m always interested to hear if anything was surprising/interesting/etc.

The test was alright! I haven’t received my scores yet, except for Reading (26) and Listening (29). The questions asked were congruent to the examination pattern. I couldn’t really relate to the personal opinion question asked in the speaking section. I found the reading section quite tough compared to everything else. In the end, it wasn’t so bad considering I started prep 24 hours before the exam. If I had put in the effort, I would’ve been able to do well.

Hi Josh. I’m preparing to write the TOEFL exam as a deaf test taker. I have practiced a lot, but the problem is the reading section. I can’t figure out how I answer to the reading section questions.

Have you considered seeing if perhaps you can be allowed extra time? I know in certain situations it is possible, but I’m not sure it would pertain to the Reading section. It might be worth you checking with ETS. Outside of that, have you thought about maybe taking the group reading course? I think it might really help you.

Thanks a lot for sharing the tips and the analysis, I really appreciate it!

Hello Josh, How can I have this post in PDF format? Is it possible to send me the PDF file of this post ??

Hi Erfan and thank you for asking. Unfortunately, we do not have this post in PDF format but we have our TOEFL Writing Guide which includes tips like this, along with a lot of other useful information. I think you will find this document even more helpful. Here is the link – https://drive.google.com/file/d/12JWgyMLAAUM2z4GDDpTDbMXCXelkYS0h/view?usp=sharing

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Moving English Lessons

5 brilliant writing tips for toefl, improving your toefl writing score.

You are in the right place if your TOEFL writing score is lower than 25 and you don’t know why.  If you WANT to score 25 or above on the writing section of the TOEFL IBT exam, these 5 writing tips for TOEFL will help you increase your score. One of my students went from a 21 to a 27 on the writing exam using these easy, clear strategies. Read these brilliant ideas and put these techniques into practice to skyrocket your writing score and help you get into the university of your dreams.

Writing Tip for TOEFL #1: Vary Your Sentences

Avoid boring the reader by following the same, monotonous sentence pattern every time.  Study different ways to structure your sentences and practice varying your sentences in your introduction and body paragraphs. 

There are four different types of sentences in English: simple, complex, compound, and complex-compound.  

• simple sentences (one subject and one verb): ➡️People ride bikes to work.
• compound sentences (a compound sentence has two or more simple sentences that are connected by one of the following conjunctions: and, or, or but) ➡️In Copenhagen, employees commute to work by bike, and cars are slowly disappearing from the roads.
• complex sentences (A simple sentence with an independent clause and a subordinate clause. A subordinate clause is indicated by “when, because, since, if…” and can’t stand alone in the sentence.  ➡️ Many citizens take the bus because they get to work faster.
• compound-complex sentences (a compound-complex sentence has two or more simple sentences (independent clauses) and one or more subordinate clauses. ➡️Although the majority of people ride their bikes to work, some people take the bus, and other people go to work on foot.  

Test takers often think that in order to get a high score, they should use more compound-complex sentences because they perceive them as more impressive.  Why do they think this? One reason is that many people translate the sentence structure from their own language.  For example, in Spanish and Russian, longer sentences with multiple commas are standard.  However, when translated, those sentences are too long in English and need to be broken into multiple sentences.  

In English, it recommended to use sentence variety and vary between simple, complex, and compound, and keep the number of compound-complex sentences to a limit.

Sentence Variation within Paragraphs

Don’t write sentences in a  paragraph like this: ⛔️ .

Cars, long considered valuable by the human population, although expensive, are valuable assets to citizens, not only as great transportation methods but also because they are comfortable and luxurious (compound-complex). Firstly, cars help people, young and old, get safely from one place to another, and additionally are safer than bikes, especially for the elderly population (compound-complex) Vacations, on the other hand, require a lot of planning, by both family members and teenagers, making it difficult to make an action plan and foresee all of the unexpected risks, which can sometimes make traveling an exhausting endeavor for everyone involved (compound-complex). In this essay, I will defend these key arguments about cars (simple).

What is wrong with this essay? The sentences are too LONG, full of commas, and the ideas become convoluted and unclear when there are too many compound-complex sentences. 

Now, consider writing a paragraph following a pattern like this: ✅

If I had to choose between spending money on a car and spending money on a vacation, I would invest in a vacation (complex).  Firstly, vacations create lasting memories (simple). Although vacations are sometimes expensive, they are transformative, and they help people unplug (compound). Cars, on the other hand, need constant maintenance (simple). In this essay, I will explore both sides and give reasons to support my opinion that vacations are the most worthwhile investment (complex). 

What did you notice about the sentence variety? How could you improve your sentence structure in the next essay you write? 

Exercise: Write a paragraph about the following essay topic and vary your sentence structure as much as possible. You could try writing 5 sentences using this structure: simple, complex, simple, compound, complex.

(suggested answer at the end of this post)

Writing Tip for TOEFL #2: Use Transition Words in your TOEFL Essay

A well-crafted essay that is coherent uses transition words to help guide the reader.  These words help the reader stay interested in the essay and understand what arguments are coming next.  

Here are some transition words to use: 

Explanation: 

• An example that illustrates this point is
• Specifically
• For instance
• In other words

To Compare: 

• In a similar fashion

To Contrast: 

• Nevertheless
• In contrast
• On the other hand

Cause and Effect 

• Consequently
• As a consequence
• For this reason

Adding more Information

• In addition
• Furthermore
• What’s more

Practice Using Transition Words in a Paragraph

Let’s practice! Add some transition words to the following paragraph to make it sound more natural and have better flow: 

People often say that loyalty is the most important quality for a good friend to have. (1) _______________, in my opinion, a good sense of humor is more important than loyalty.  I say this because sometimes loyal friends are too serious. (2) ______________ loyal friends are too clingy and call too often.  (3)________________ friends with a good sense of humor can turn a bad day into a joyful, silly day. (4) _____________ I would rather have a friend with a good sense of humor than a loyal friend.  

Exercise: Go through one of the practice TOEFL essays you have written in the past and add some transition words from the above list to the essay. Are you always using the same transitional language? Try to use a variety of transitional words in your word bank so that on exam day, you will easily remember them and won’t draw a blank.

Writing Tip for TOEFL #3: Use an Active Voice More Than a Passive Voice

Generally speaking, an active voice is used when the agent does the action and a passive voice is used when you don’t know who did the action or when the agent isn’t important.

🔥Active: Children learn manners from their parents.

🏬Passive: The building was constructed in 1899.

In your essay, you can vary your sentences by adding a passive sentence to your paragraph. In the social sciences, writing with an active voice is recommended more than writing with a passive voice because the writing is more dynamic. Sometimes in articles that describe science experiments, the passive voice is used more to describe how the research study was carried out.

An Example of Active Voice

Here is an example of a series of sentences you could write in the TOEFL essay: Foreign movies depict the life of a country and they show us a little bit about the culture, the language, and the lifestyle. Movies that are made in Spain, for example, are interesting to watch because they show how people give two kisses when they greet each other. In addition, when I watch Spanish movies, I learn how people celebrate festivals in Spain.

Notice that all the sentences in the paragraph are active and the verbs “depict,” “watch,” and “learn” show a clear agent who carries out the action.

One Passive Sentence is Fine *However, there is one passive sentence, “Movies that are made in Spain…” In that sentence, the director who made the movie isn’t important, hence, the passive voice is used. So, you could have one passive sentence in the paragraph to vary the structure to make a general claim. Practice: Use the following prompt to craft your introductory paragraph. Use the active voice and experiment with one sentence with a passive construction.

TOEFL Writing Tip #4: Use Adverb Phrases in your Independent Essay

The TOEFL is testing your ability to use varied, rich vocabulary and academic language. Therefore, it is a good idea to have a notebook with synonyms and adverb phrases for your essays that you can easily reference and use in your practice essays. The more you use them, the more natural it will become to use them on the day of the exam and in your future academic writing assignments at the university of your dreams. Think about these phrases like frosting on a cake. The frosting makes the cake taste more delicious. These phrases make the sentences more pleasing to read.

Adverb Phrases in Use Here are a few example sentences with adverb phrases that you could use in your TOEFL independent essay:

• Perhaps some students prefer to live on their own in college, while others conceivably prefer having roommates. (expresses an opinion that isn’t very strong). ➡️ Notice there is no comma after perhaps.
• Presumably, other students prefer to live with a roommate so that they can have someone to talk to at the end of the day. (indicates a somewhat strong opinion)
• The best experiences from college are definitely celebrated with other people rather than by yourself. (communicates a very strong opinion)
• Undoubtedly, technology is changing the way the human brain works. (communicates a very strong opinion)

Tip #5: Paraphrase on the TOEFL IBT Writing Section

It is crucial to learn how to paraphrase effectively on the TOEFL IBT writing and speaking exams for two main reasons:

• Putting sentences in your own words shows your advanced language skills.
• Paraphrasing is an essential skill to have for communication at the university level.

What you learn in this section will not only help you raise your score on the exam, but it will also help you excel in your academic program. Some people rely on apps like Quilbot to paraphrase in their day-to-day academic writing, but you can’t use your phone on the TOEFL exam, unfortunately.

If you say word for word and copy exactly what the lecturer said or if you repeat the words that are in the reading passage, you will lose points and your score on the TOEFL IBT will suffer. You could also get a zero on the exam. Check out UW Madison’s Writing Center’s great tips on paraphrasing! Also, you might find P urdue’s Online Writing Center’s example of paraphrasing useful as well.

Paraphrasing Means Putting Things in Your Own Words

If you can restate the text or the lecture in a slightly different way and use a variety of language and grammatical structures, you will get a higher score on the TOEFL. Paraphrasing requires practice and if you follow a clear, simple structure for paraphrasing, it will become so much easier and you will be ready to implement your paraphrasing skills on exam day.

To paraphrase, you can substitute the key words with synonyms by focusing on the most important information expressed in the sentence. It might help you to identify the subject and verb of the independent clause to get started. You can change the word order, change the voice from active to passive, and even eliminate some words if they aren’t essential to the meaning of the sentence. DO NOT COPY THE WRITING PROMPT! DO NOT DESCRIBE THE LECTURE WITH THE EXACT WORDING THE PROFESSOR USED!

Paraphrasing Practice Exercise 1a:

The first step in paraphrasing is to underline the key words in the sentence. Then, you can substitute the key words with synonyms. For this reason, it is helpful to generate some lists of synonyms as you write and prepare for the exam.

Practice with Paraphrasing for TOEFL: YOUR TURN

Practice paraphrasing the following sentence: 1b. Underline the key words in the sentence and paraphrase them: “Parents take their children to museums in order to teach them about humanity and the history of our world.”

👀✏️An Important Tip: Some words can’t be paraphrased!!! Some words are absolutely essential to the meaning of the sentence and can’t be paraphrased. Words like “literature, math, the moon, keystone species…etc.” Also, proper nouns can’t be paraphrased. These words have a very specific meaning and there are few if any synonyms to replace them. For that reason, it is important to focus on finding synonyms for some, but not all of the words in the sentence.

Step 1: Change the structure of the sentence In this case, you can move the second clause to the beginning of the sentence and perhaps start with a transition word or start with the “ing” form of the verb. Here is an example paraphrasing exercise using this method:

2a. Public transportation is an effective and cheap form of transportation because the costs are lower than owning your own vehicle. Use transitional language to start the sentence such as: As a result of…. Due to the fact that… Since…. Because…

Start with the second idea first: “ Due to the fact that many drivers have additional expenses that come with owning cars, public transportation is a viable and less expensive option.”

Paraphrasing Exercise with Answers 2b Now, try to paraphrase the following sentence by changing the order of information in the sentence:

“Nowadays, people ride their bikes to work more than ever because bikes are a healthy option and an efficient form of transportation.” (answer key at the end of the blog)

Why is this Rich Vocabulary Important for the TOEFL?

Knowing different parts of speech can help you describe a concept in a similar way by making small changes to the sentence. Let’s practice: Paraphrasing Practice Sentence 3a “There is little scientific evidence that there are life forms on other planets.” Let’s refer to the table above to help us use the adverb “scientifically” and substitute it for scientific. For example, “Life on other planets can’t be scientifically proven. ”

Paraphrasing Exercise 3b Try using a different part of speech from the table above to paraphrase the following sentence: “For women, the biological clock indicates when to have children.” (answer key at the end of the blog)

✅EXPERT TIP: YOU STILL NEED TO CHANGE THE KEY WORDS AND SUBSTITUTE THEM WITH SYNONYMS EVEN IF YOU CHANGE THE PART OF SPEECH OF ONE WORD IN THE SENTENCE!📚

Use these clear writing templates:.

Many TOEFL coaches recommend using a template to help you organize your answer. It is a great idea to follow a clear structure so that your essay is easy to follow and has a well-supported argument.  For the independent essay, create a thesis sentence that clarifies what you are going to argue in the essay. Then, create an outline sentence that describes what you are going to discuss in the body paragraphs.  The independent essay needs to be at least 300 words and you have 30 minutes to write it.

Introduction: General overview sentence+ thesis statement + outline sentence:

➡️ Living alone or living with roommates is an important decision college students have to make. Some people think that it is best to have the support and companionship of roommates, while others believe people are more productive when they live alone. In my opinion, living with roommates helps students develop social skills, adjust to the university lifestyle, and prepare for life after graduation. (In the outline sentence, list the 3 main ideas you will discuss in your body paragraphs)

⭐️Each body paragraph should address 1 main idea with supporting details about that 1 main topic.  If you digress from the main topic or if your examples don’t match the topic of your paragraph, you will get a lower score.

Body Paragraph 1: (Living with roommates helps students develop social skills) + details and evidence

• students learn to share chores
• living with others pushes students to communicate with roommates about doing chores

Body Paragraph 2: (Adjusting to the university lifestyle) + details and personal example

• roommates help each other adapt to the changes of going to school
• friendly support to carry out tasks didn’t overwhelm me when I had roommates’ help

Body Paragraph 3: (Preparing for life after graduation) + details and explanation

• entering the job force requires good social skills
• working with others is a skill people strengthen by living with others

Conclusion : (Transition language … To summarize, to conclude, in summary….restate the thesis statement and the outline sentence by paraphrasing the key ideas you argued in the essay.

Transition words for the conclusion : To conclude, In conclusion, In summary, In closing, To sum up…

THE TOEFL Integrated Essay Template

The introduction.

• The reading and the lecture both address _____.
• The author of the article holds the opinion that ______.
• The lecturer refutes the claims made in the article.
• The lecturer upholds the argument that_____.

The Body Paragraphs

Use the following templates for the body paragraphs:

• As stated by the author of the reading passage,   _____.
• The article supports this with an example of____.
• The lecturer opposes this specific argument and claims that ____.
• Furthermore, the lecturer explains that ______.
• Additionally, the author mentions ______.
• In the article, the author posits that _____.
• The lecturer, on the other hand, contends that ______.
• He/she delves into this point by asserting ______.
• Finally, the author claims that _____.
• To support this point, the author explains that ____.
• Nonetheless, the lecturer’s point of view is  _____.
• He/she mentions that _____.

You don’t need a conclusion.

Your TOEFL integrated essay should be about 280-300 words in length and you have 20 minutes to write it.

• Summarize the reading passage, then transition by explaining if the lecturer supports or disagrees with each point in the reading passage.

VIDEOS ABOUT TOEFL WRITING

Watch An Instagram Live on the Independent Essay with Marina @wikimarina and I @movingenglish.

THREE KEY TOEFL WRITING TEMPLATES FOR 2021 The Best TOEFL Writing Template for Any Prompt TOEFL Writing Integrated Task Youtube Tutorial

It is essential to learn how to paraphrase effectively to succeed in the TOEFL writing and reading sections. If you follow some of the tips on this blog post, you are sure to get a higher score and avoid repetition. The truth is that nobody wants to read a boring essay. Remember you can: 1) Substitute the key words with synonyms. 2) Change the structure of the sentence and bring the second idea to the front of the sentence. 3) Use a different part of speech of the same word to creatively paraphrase the sentence.

Overall, if you take these five tips into account and start using these strategies to write a clear essay, it will help you tremendously to achieve your goals. Here are some more tips from the official ETS website about improving your writing skills .  Do you have my freebie yet? Download the 2021 TOEFL speaking exam guide:

Sentence Structure Some people regularly cook at home (simple). Others prefer enjoying the culinary options around town because they believe it is more adventurous (complex). I prefer making my own food at home (simple). Going to the local market with friends and looking up inspiring recipes motivates me to take care of my health (compound). Therefore, I will explain why it is more convenient and healthy to eat at home and why I use food preparation as an excuse to take care of my friends and family with the added benefit of socializing around the dinner table (compound-complex).

Transition words: People often say that loyalty is the most important quality for a good friend to have. (1) However , in my opinion, a good sense of humor is more important than loyalty. I say this because sometimes loyal friends are too serious. (2) In addition, loyal friends are too clingy and call too often. (3) On the contrary, friends with a good sense of humor can turn a bad day into a joyful, silly day. (4) For this reason, I would rather have a friend with a good sense of humor than a loyal friend.

PARAPHRASING Practice question 1b) “Parents take their children to museums in order to teach them about humanity and the history of our world.” Here is a sample paraphrased sentence, although it isn’t the only option: “Parents accompany their children to museums for the purpose of educating them about human society and global history.” : Practice question 2b) “Nowadays, people ride their bikes to work more than ever because bikes are a healthy option and an efficient form of transportation.” Despite the fact that this isn’t the only option, is a sample paraphrased sentence: “Due to the fact that bikes are fast and help riders stay physically fit, people are currently commuting to work in greater numbers.” Practice Question 3b. “For women, the biological clock indicates when to have children.” Considering the fact that there are millions of ways to reword this sentence, this is one potential option: “Biologically speaking, women often feel a sense of timing for having children.”

Check out these great links below related to ESL and education:

How to Develop Amazing Personal Connections

How to make Grammar Practice Fun in English

Ways to Make English Language Learners Feel Comfortable in your Classroom

Interested in blogging? Here are 7 Helpful Tips on How to Blog Like a Boss  

IELTS > IELTS Grammar > Linking Words In English: Examples And Explanations

Linking Words In English: Examples And Explanations

When writing and speaking, it is useful to use connecting words which link one idea to another to help the reader or listener follow along. There are different categories of linking words and phrases which serve specific purposes. Therefore, it is important to understand the usage of the word (contrasting, adding new information, expressing cause and effect…), and whether or not a word fits into the structure of the sentence.

Read on and start learning English online the right way !

Dedicated grammar sheets for revising every aspect of English grammar   specific to any English exams such as the  IELTS ,  TOEIC ,  TOEFL ,  CAE ,  FCE ,  BRIDGE ,  BULATS (Linguaskill)  or even  BRIGHT ENGLISH . Indeed, we have gathered a complete list of grammar worksheets on numerous topics:

• Comparatives & superlatives
• Conditionals
• Gerunds vs infinitives
• Modal verbs
• Passive vs active + causative verbs
• Phrasal verbs
• Present perfect
• Standard expressions & confusing words
• Present tenses
• Prepositions
• Conjunctions
• Perfect tenses
• Simple or progressive aspects

What Are Linking Words in English and Why Are They Important?

In English, linking words are used to connect ideas together and show the relationship between them.. They can be used to join two or more clauses or sentences together. In other words, linking words will piece in your ideas beautifully and smoothly in your writing. Linking words can be located anywhere in the sentence (beginning, middle, end) as long as they make sense.

The importance of transition words and phrases relies on their ability to help you connect one sentence to another and switch from one paragraph to another in a simple, interesting way . It is how you can help the reader understand your ideas easier, and even allow him to enjoy it. So basically, if you don’t use linking words, your piece of writing will not have a meaning.

Linking Words: Expressing Order

First(ly), second(ly), third(ly), before, previously, earlier, then, next, finally, lastly, the former/the latter.

Firstly, I’d like to present the current production method at our factory. Secondly, I will show how this new method can increase productivity. Of the two types of production methods mentioned, only the latter gives operators greater decision-making powers.

Linking Words: Emphasis

Undoubtedly, Indeed, Obviously, Generally, Admittedly, In fact, Particularly / in particular, Especially, Clearly, Extremely, Surprisingly, Undeniably, Importantly.

I ordered too much food for lunch today, and surprisingly , I was able to finish everything by myself. Clearly , you didn’t follow my suggestions in our new project. Indeed , a mistake has occurred and we will work on making it up for you soon.

Linking Words: Illustration

For example, For instance, That is (ie), Such as, Including, Namely, In this case, On this occasion, to demonstrate, take the case of, to illustrate.

Take the case of my brother, he never finished his studies and now he is struggling to find a decent job. We will need to buy extra stuff for the kids, including their school supplies. Our restaurant promotes healthy eating habits. For example , we have over ten vegan options on our menus.

Linking Words: Comparison

Similarly, Likewise, Also, Like, Just as, Just like, Similar to, Same as, Compare, compare(d) to / with, Not only…but also.

Not only was I able to breathe better, but also I became able to see clearer with this medicine. Similar to your story, I have also been through the same experience. You were sleeping peacefully. Meanwhile , I was studying for my finals all night.

Linking Words: Summary

So, As a result, As a consequence (of), Therefore, Thus, Consequently, Hence, Due to, In brief, On the whole, In conclusion, As I have shown.

Due to the rain, we had to cancel our picnic. As a result of my overthinking, I now suffer from insomnia. David’s office went through a major issue. Therefore, they had to fire so many people.

Linking Words: Concession

However, On the other hand, Meanwhile, Nevertheless, Nonetheless, Still, Although / even though, Though, But, Yet, Despite / in spite of, In contrast (to) / in comparison, While, Whereas, On the contrary

I like to swim, but on the other hand , I don’t trust the ocean. Even though our study system is not the greatest, the country managed to provide the students the education they needed. I would love to go out with you tonight. But , I need to sleep early for my important presentation tomorrow. In comparison to other countries, Spain can still be considered as one of the prettiest.

Linking Words: Generalisation

As a rule, For the most part, Generally/ In general, Overall, On the whole, In most cases.

In general, no one will be able to afford this piece of furniture you are offering. Overall , the main reason is to become fit for the marathon next month. In most cases, women end up dealing with the immaturity of men in the streets without anyone’s help.

Linking Words: Addition

Also, too, as well, in addition (to), additionally, furthermore, moreover, on top of this, what’s more.

Besides telephones, the company produces transmitters, as well. The company produces transmitters in addition to telephones. Furthermore, we have recently added a transmitter production facility to our site.

Linking Words: Contrast

Even though, (al)though, despite, in spite of, but, however, nevertheless, whereas, on the one hand…on the other hand.

Even though Amanda had signed the contract, she wanted them to change some of the terms. Despite Amanda’s signing of the contract, she wanted them to change some of the terms. The company thought everything was clear, whereas Amanda didn’t.

Linking Words: Consequences/Result

Because (of), since, so, so that, therefore, consequently, thus, as a result, owing to, due to, given (that).

Since you didn’t call back, I had to make the decision on my own. You didn’t call back; therefore, I made the decision on my own. You didn’t call back so I made the decision on my own.

Linking Words: Condition

Except, unless, insofar as.

Except English, I’m excellent at all the other subjects. Unless you help me, I won’t succeed. He will graduate in so far as he studies hard every single day.

Linking Words: Reason

In fact, as a matter of fact, actually, in reality.

In fact, we don’t really offer 1000 free tablets to first-time customers.

Complete Chart of Linking Words by Types in English

Important Rules and Exceptions to Take Into Account

Parallel construction with expressing alternatives (and in other sentence structures, as well):

The research project will need both time and money. (‘Both’ + noun…‘and’ + noun). For some people, learning English is either too difficult or too time-consuming. (‘Either’ + adjective…’or’ + adjective).

‘Also’ is generally at the beginning or in the middle of a sentence, whereas, ‘too’ and ‘as well’ are usually at the end.

Customers are also provided with free parking. Customers are provided with free parking, too.

‘In addition’ can stand alone (followed by a comma) or be followed by ‘to’ if there is a noun after.

We have already requested a full refund. In addition, we will ask the company for an apology. In addition to the refund we requested, we will also ask the company for an apology.

Some More Tips

‘Even though’, ‘although’ and ‘though’ are followed by a subject and a verb.

Even though he had negotiated a good deal, he still wasn’t satisfied.

‘Despite’ and ‘in spite of’ are followed by nouns or verbs with an -ING ending:.

Despite his well-negotiated deal , he still wasn’t satisfied.

‘Because’ is followed by a subject and a verb whereas ‘because of’ is followed by a noun.

He missed his connection because of the train strike . Because the trains were on strike, he missed his connection.

‘Actually’ is a false cognate which means ‘in fact’. It does NOT mean ‘presently’ or ‘now’.

Contrary to what some people say, we are actually one of the highest paying employers in this sector and don’t have any trouble finding new recruits.

‘Currently’, ‘presently’, ‘nowadays’ and ‘now’ describe a present situation.

She is currently looking for a sandwich course.

When the words ‘and’ , ‘also’ , and ‘so’ can be used in academic writing, they can be considered too informal when used at the beginning of a sentence. Instead, you can either use a more formal alternative or move the transition word to a different place in the sentence.

Also, the documents were sent by mail to you. Additionally , the documents were sent by mail to you. The documents were also sent by mail to you.

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Moreover, if you are planning to pass a universal language test, like TOEFL or the IELTS, we can help you! GlobalExam offers tons of lessons, exercises, mock exams, and even statistics to help you watch your progress every day. It is guaranteed to get the score you need for the great future you are building!

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Conjunction Words In English: Detailed Guide And Examples

TOEFL Teaching Material – Transition Words Worksheet

There’s a ton of EFL/ESOL teaching material littered across the Internet, I know, and not all of it is fantastic. There are some diamonds in the rough, of course, but if you’re teaching the TOEFL , I’m well aware of how frustrating it can be to find material that’s both appropriate for TOEFL students and relatively well written. Well, I’m giving it my best shot to help correct that.

To that end, here’s the first of what I hope to be several TOEFL worksheets: an activity for pairs, group work, tutoring or  studying alone. The worksheet gives students the opportunity to use words and phrases such as “nevertheless” and “what’s more” in speech and in writing. Bear in mind that this is meant to supplement a lesson, not  be the lesson.

Download This Worksheet

This worksheet is available for download in both US letter and A4 formats. Pick the version that’s easier for you to print!

The instructions below are included as the first page of the pdf.

Complete TOEFL Prep Advice

If you’d like more comprehensive help teaching the TOEFL—and not just handouts for classroom use— online material is the best way to assign out-of-class work and monitor student’s progress. And if you have a connected classroom, it gives much better simulation of the real test during classroom time than you’d be able to get out of a book.

Still, if you’re working with a full class without computers, you’ll probably want a book. Check out our book reviews for thorough breakdowns of strengths and weaknesses.

Instructions

There are a number of different ways to use the following worksheet, but the basic idea is that each sentence can be followed up on with a student-generated sentence that uses one of the given transition adverbs.

For example, the first sentence, “ I can’t swim very well ,” can be followed by “ Regardless, I love to spend time on the beach” or “ That is, I never really learned.”

Here are a few suggestions for logistics:

As a spoken, pair exercise:

• The first student chooses any one adverb from the list. Their partner then chooses a sentence to build off and gives one sentence that follows logically. Each sentence on the sheet may be used only twice. They take turns choosing adverbs and creating sentences until all the adverbs have been used.
• Using the first sentence on the sheet, the first student selects an adverb from the set and follows the given sentence with their own sentence, using their chosen adverb.  Their partner then continues on the same topic with one more sentence using another adverb. Each time a sentence is spoken, the adverb used may not be repeated in a future sentence on the same topic. This continues, alternating, until neither partner can think of logical ways to continue with the adverbs left available.  They then move on to the next sentence on the paper to start a new round.  At that point, all adverbs are once again free to be used.

As a solo, writing exercise:

• After each sentence, write two sentences that might logically follow, using one of the listed adverbs in each new sentence.
• Before starting the exercise, elicit which adverbs are more strictly for written or spoken English (formal or informal) and which sentences are more likely to be from spoken English.
• Continuation
• Explanation
• Consequence
• Generalization

Did you find this worksheet useful? Let us know in the comments!

Lucas is the teacher behind Magoosh TOEFL. He’s been teaching TOEFL preparation and more general English since 2009, and the SAT since 2008. Between his time at Bard College and teaching abroad, he has studied Japanese, Czech, and Korean. None of them come in handy, nowadays.

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Free High-Quality TOEFL Lessons

TOEFL Independent Writing Strategies

These TOEFL independent writing strategies will give you the tools you need to score higher than 24 points. Be patient as you study this lesson. Every single word you read will help you to improve your independent writing score. In addition, it may take you a few days to learn everything that I teach here. However, if you master these TOEFL independent writing strategies, you will have a great chance of reaching 30/30 points. Learn more about how to score 30 here . Several important strategies will help you succeed where so many others have failed:

• Decoding the writing task
• Taking 2-3 minutes to make an informal outline
• Writing a 100 word introduction with a sharply focused three-point thesis
• Writing each 100 word body paragraph with clearly marked arguable topic sentences by restating a key point from the thesis
• Using 1-2 details in each paragraph with clear and precise word choice
• Making sure to use a combination of simple and basic grammar, including using short and long sentences
• Using a variety of cohesive techniques to connect ideas within paragraphs and to create a sense of overall coherence
• Having a conclusion that restates the most important points 

Table of Contents

TOEFL Independent Writing Strategies: Decode the writing task.

The most important TOEFL independent writing strategies involve your ability to break the writing task into parts so that you can understand how to organize your essay.  You MUST understand what you are being asked to do before you do it.

To illustrate, I just had one of my STEALTH students send me a response to the following writing prompt:

It is generally agreed that society benefits from the work of its members. Compare the contributions of artists to society with the contributions of scientists to society. Which type of contribution do you think is valued more by society? Give specific reasons to support your answer.

Notice in the above response how the student focuses on why scientists are more valued in society. He should have compared the contributions of artists to scientists in paragraphs 2-3. Finally, the last paragraph is where he should have framed his argument.

On the other hand, notice how the below essay is more closely framed around the writing prompt by 1) explaining the contributions of artists, 2) mentioning the contributions of scientists, and 3) arguing that both contribute positively to society.

In all likelihood, you will see three different kinds of writing prompts: agree or disagree, explain both sides, or make an argument from multiple sides. To see 100 writing prompts in these categories, go here. To  apply effective TOEFL independent writing strategies, you need to understand how to organize each type of writing task.  Be warned! Do not copy or memorize the templates that I post here. You need to create you own .

“Agree or disagree” TOEFL writing prompt

One popular type of writing prompt  asks you to agree or disagree with a statement. This question will look like this:

Do you agree or disagree with the following statement? “Nuclear power is a useful source of energy for the future.” Use specific reasons and examples to support your opinion.

Below is how you should organize your response…

• Introduction: Agree or disagree with statement. State three reasons why you agree or disagree.
• Body paragraph 1: Reason 1; Use 1-2 details
• Body paragraph 2: Reason 2; Use 1-2 details
• Body paragraph 3: Reason 3; Use 1-2 details
• Conclusion: Restate important points

Model Response for “Agree or Disagree” TOEFL Writing Prompt

Countries are always looking for renewable sources of energy.  Presently, most societies heavily depend on fossil fuels such as coal, oil, and natural gas. However, these types of fuels are limited, so eventually these resources will be depleted. In addition, fossil fuels, after they are consumed, release harmful pollution into the atmosphere. In fact, overwhelming evidence suggests that these energy sources are a principal cause of global warming. As a result, countries are searching for cleaner burning, more sustainable forms of energy. Some believe, in fact, that nuclear power will be a better choice of energy in our future. Nevertheless, I strongly disagree with any uses for nuclear power as a future energy source. This form of energy is vulnerable to natural disasters, human error accidents can happen in the nuclear reactors, and some countries can weaponize the uranium used for the energy to build harmful nuclear bombs. Therefore, this form of energy is harmful to our civilization.

First of all, the nuclear reactors used to create nuclear power are vulnerable to natural disasters. For instance, a few years ago, Japan had a large earthquake near one of its nuclear facilities. Consequently, part of the nuclear reactor sustained cracks from the violent shaking. To complicate matters more, a gigantic tsunami hit the facility causing even more damage. As a result, the nuclear power plant suffered an explosive meltdown.  Many radioactive elements were released into the air, the water, and the soil. In the aftermath of the disaster, a lot of land surrounding the facility is now contaminated with radioactivity. In addition, the ocean was also contaminated with radioactivity causing tremendous harm to the environment.  The effects of this disaster were felt as far as California when radioactive water was detected near the beaches along the coastline.

Second of all, nuclear power plants can have human-error accidents which have catastrophic effects. For instance, in 1986, a power plant in the former Soviet Union suffered a nuclear meltdown followed by a huge explosion. Many people working within and near the facility died.  In addition, those who were exposed to the radiation in nearby communities developed cancer years later. In the city of Chernobyl, where the accident occurred, radiation continues to contaminate the water and soil thirty years after the incident. Most likely, no one will be allowed to live there for at least another 100 years.

Lastly, operators of nuclear power plants can secretly weaponize their facilities by making nuclear bombs.  Uranium and plutonium, both of which are naturally occurring radioactive elements found in the Earth’s crust, are needed in order to produce nuclear energy. However, the radioactive elements can also be used to build atomic bombs. The last thing our world needs right now is more nuclear bombs.  Between Russia and the United States alone, more than 2,000 bombs exist. Currently, Iran claims to be using its uranium for peaceful purposes by producing nuclear power to generate electricity for its residents. However, many believe that Iran is actually weaponizing its uranium to build weapons of mass destruction.

In conclusion,  there are simply too many disadvantages of nuclear power. Natural disasters and human errors can compromise these energy-producing facilities. Countries can disguise their bombing making facilities as peaceful nuclear energy buildings so no one will know what they are up to.  As a result, I strongly disagree that nuclear power is a viable future energy source.

  “Explain both sides” TOEFL writing prompt

Another common type of TOEFL writing independent task asks you to explain the advantages and disadvantages of something. It looks like this:

You are a boss working at a large company, and you need to hire a new worker. What are the advantages and disadvantages of hiring an older (40 years old+) or a younger worker (25 years+)? Use specific reaso ns and examples to support your answer.

Follow these TOEFL Independent Writing Strategies as you organize this response:

• Introduction: State that working with older and younger workers have advantages and disadvantages
• Body paragraph: State 1 advantage + detail and 1 disadvantage + detail of working with older workers
• Body paragraph: State 1 advantage + detail and 1 disadvantage + detail of working with younger workers
• Conclusion: Restate key points of essay

Model Response for “Explain both sides” TOEFL Writing Prompt

For any economy to thrive, jobs must be available for people.  As a result, business executives form companies in order to manufacture goods to sell some type of service.  People currently employed sometimes look for other job opportunities in order to advance their positions and salary. In other cases, students complete their undergraduate and graduate studies, after which they eagerly enter the job market.  If I am a boss at a large company, of course, I will need to make many important decisions about hiring. Hiring and retaining employees is the single most valuable asset to any corporation. There are advantages and disadvantages if I choose to hire older or younger workers.

In the first place, hiring older workers may benefit my company because these employees have 10-20 years of experience.  Moreover, I will not need to spend money training them. For instance,  if I hire an older worker as a sales associate, he/she will have already had a decade or more of sales experience. Most likely,  this worker will begin to generate sales for our company immediately without a lot of necessary training.  However, because many older workers have a lot of experience, I will have to pay them more than their younger counterparts. To illustrate, an older worker who already has 10-20 years of a sales experience is going to ask for a higher salary than a younger worker who is coming out of college with little or no sales experience.

In the second place, younger workers may prove a boon to my company because they are clever with new technology. Many younger workers are familiar with social media platforms and are up-to-date with the latest computer and Internet technology. Therefore, for example, if I hire a younger computer programmer, I will most likely find that this worker can easily adapt to any new technology that s/he needs to learn. Conversely, younger workers are sometimes less loyal.  They take a job with the intentions of using that job as a stepping stone for a higher paying job in the near future. For instance, my nephew, who is a 27 year old accountant, has already changed jobs three times in as many years, each time accepting a higher-paying job with more responsibility.

In the final analysis, based on experience, pay, technological saviness, and loyalty, older and younger workers have advantages and disadvantages, which is why many companies end up hiring both types.

“Make an argument from multiple sides” TOEFL writing prompt

The last common type of TOEFL independent writing prompt asks you make an argument and present several reasons why you believe the way you do. This prompt is less focused and more opened ended than the other two. However, it does NOT mean your response should be unfocused. You will need to make a choice and then explain the reasons for your choice.

The “Explain both sides” writing prompt looks this:

If you could choose any place to visit in the world, which location would you want to visit. Use specific reasons and examples to support your choice.

The TOEFL Independent Writing Strategies are similar to what you already learned with the “Agree of disagree” type of writing prompt.

• Introduction: Make a choice. State three reasons for your choice.

Model Response for “Make an argument from multiple sides”

The world is full of many exciting destinations for tourists. Paris has its amazing Eiffel Tower, which brilliantly lights up the night sky. Cairo has the monumental ancient prymids, whose history go back 1000’s of years. New York City, or the Big Apple as it is so affectionately called, offers Times Square, a place that many like to visit to kick off the  New Year. Undoubtedly, many exciting places exist worldwide that I would love to visit. If I had to pick one place to visit, I would visit San Diego, California. My friend Tomas who visited said that  San Diego allures tourists through Old Town, pristine La Jolla Beach, and a year-round temperate climate.

First, San Diego is a great place to visit because of a tourist attraction called Old Town San Diego, where the first Spanish settlement on the US West Coast is located. During Tomas’ visits at the old mission, he was richly educated on Old Town’s colorful past. In addition, part of the reason Tomas enjoyed his visit was the Mexican heritage atmosphere. For example, next to the mission, he ate at an authentic Mexican restaurant where the cooks made the tortillas by hand. The food was absolutely delicious, according to Tomas. I definitely to eat the food and to see the old mission.

Second, in addition to Old Town, San Diego is famous for its pristine La Jolla Beach.  One of the days Tomas was in San Diego he spent seven hours at the beach. His son and he went snorkeling in the clear blue water with towering sandstone cliffs all around. While they were in the water, they saw lobsters, blue snails, and several starfish. In addition, when they were not swimming, they built a giant sandcastle on the beach. Furthermore, they took an hour nap on the soft sand under the warmth of a bright sun. They still have fond memories of the time they spent at La Jolla. When I go to San Diego, I will also spend some time at the beach.

Finally, I definitely want to visit San Diego because of its temperate climate. During the middle of the summer, the temperature rarely goes above 80 F.  In addition, the nighttime temperature cools to 65F.  To further make it easy on those who visit, the humidity level hovers between 15%-30%. Therefore, with a cool breeze that regularly blows in from the ocean, the air feels pleasant. In addition, during the winter, San Diego rarely has night time temperatures close to freezing. In fact, during the day the temperature rises to an average 65F, with night time temperatures dropping down to 45F. Although San Diego has a rainy season from November to April, rainfall amounts typically total less than 15 inches.  As a result, San Diego sees almost 320 sunny days during the year. Therefore, no matter when I choose to visit San Diego, I will most be greeted with sunny skies and comfortable temperatures

To sum up, based on what my friend Tomas has told me about San Diego and based on what I read about the climate, this beautiful California beach city is one destination that I have added to my bucket list.

TOEFL independent writing strategies: Engage briefly in pre-writing activities.

In addition to identifying the writing prompt, you should jot down some key points that you would like to write about. To get some general tips to master the TOEFL iBT, go here . 

Example writing prompt: Do you agree or disagree with this idea? Give some examples and reasons to support your point of view. “Building a university in your hometown would have a positive effect.”

Therefore, as you read the above writing prompt, you could write down a brief outline:

Agree with idea….

• University = better higher education access for locals
• University =  more thriving economy + more jobs
• University =  safer community

You should not use more than 2-3 minutes to write down these key points.  The key points you write down during you pre-writing will become topics for each of your body paragraphs. For example, based on the notes see you here, the writer focuses around easier access to higher education for locals, a more vibrant economy, and a safer community. This is why the writer believes that building a university in his hometown is a good idea.

TOEFL independent writing strategies: Write a specific three-point thesis.

You just learned some important pre-writing TOEFL independent writing strategies. Your next step is to integrate these key ideas into a thesis.

General guidelines for framing your TOEFL independent writing thesis:

• State whether you agree or disagree .
• Include specific reasons to support your argument .
• Restate the writing prompt but do NOT copy word for word. Instead use synonyms of the key words from the writing prompt.

Example thesis statement: I agree that the construction of an educational institution would benefit my city . Having a university would make it easier for local residents to attend college , it would uplift our economy , and it would create a safer community .

Avoid these overused, generic, and grade-killing thesis statements:

• I have several reasons to support my point of view.
• There are several reasons to support my ideas.
• I will support  this argument in the following paragraphs.
• In this essay, I will explain my point of view by using some personal examples.
• I will explain my opinion to support this point of view.
• I feel this way for two main reasons which I will explore in the following essay.

Do not write a thesis that in any way resembles the examples that you just read. For other tips on writing focused thesis statements, read this post I wrote .

Example thesis statements for the agree/disagree TOEFL independent writing task.

Do NOT memorize any of the thesis statements I provide here. Rather, use them as guidelines as you practice framing your unique thesis statements.

•  I agree that the construction of an educational institution would benefit my city. Having a university would make it easier for local residents to attend college, it would uplift our economy, and it would create a safer community.
• Building a university in my city has several important advantages: easier access to college, more thriving economy, and safer community. Therefore,  I wholeheartedly agree with this statement.
• If city officials allow a university to be built in my hometown, more local residents will attend college, the economy will strengthen, and the city will have less crime. As a result, I agree with this statement.
• Having a university built in my city is something I can live with. Easier access for locals to attend college, a stronger economy, and a safer community will be direct benefits of this project.
• Building a university in my hometown will make it much easier for locals to attend college. In addition, the economy will benefit because of the new jobs. Finally, crime rates will decrease. Hence, I agree with this statement.

All five thesis statements that you see here explain exactly the same idea. However,  I use different grammatical sentences in each case. Notice how in the last example I used three separate sentences to express the key point of the thesis.

As you can see, there are many different ways to construct thesis statements. Make sure your thesis is grammatically correct. Your thesis should also forecast the specific points of your body paragraphs.

TOEFL independent writing strategies: Write 100 word introductory paragraph.

One way to introduce the topic is to include some general statements about the topic.  Then include a hook such as a question to engage readers’ interest. Then you can explain why some people do not want a university in their hometown.  After that, you can explain why others believe it is a good idea . Then you can include your thesis :

Example introduction: Residents of any town want a city of which they can be proud. In many cases, these city dwellers will welcome the construction of any new facilities so long as these structures positively affect most members of their communities . What if a new university is proposed in my community?   Some may object to the new facility because of increased traffic issues , whereas others are more than happy to have this new facility in their town. If city officials allow a university to be built in my hometown, more local residents will attend college, the economy will strengthen, and the city will have less crime. As a result, I agree with this statement .

TOEFL independent writing strategies: Make sure that you write arguable topic sentences in each body paragraph

Example thesis statement: B uilding a university in my city has several important advantages: easier access to college , more thriving economy , and safer community . Therefore,  I wholeheartedly agree with this statement.

Example topic sentences:

• I support the idea of a university in my town because local residents will find it easier to attend school .
• Moreover, having a university in my town will have boosting effect on our local businesses .
• Finally, building a university in my hometown will lower our crime levels .

Notice how each topic sentence restates one of the key points from the thesis.  Did you notice that I did not use exactly the same words? You want to show the TOEFL iBT human raters that you have a wide range of vocabulary. Use this resource page to help you expand your vocabulary . As a result, do not be too repetitive. Use synonyms instead. Learn one simple trick right now for improving your topic sentences .

TOEFL independent writing strategies: Use 1-2 specific details containing precise and clear words in each body paragraph

If you include too many details in a 100 word paragraph, you will not have depth and progression of ideas.  A writer who tries to say everything says nothing. Have you ever heard that quote before?

Paragraph with one detail:

Moreover, having a university in my town will have boosting effect on our local businesses.  To illustrate, my friend who lives in Tupelo, Mississippi just had a university built in his hometown.  After its completion,  the university boasts a student enrollment of 15,000 students. In addition, more than 2,500 faculty and staff are employed at the new institution.  As a result, a combined total of almost 20,000 new consumers buy food and other items in the town whenever a need arises. My friend told me that sales at his “Mr. Taco” Mexican restaurant have tripled since the university was built. In fact, my friend had to double his workforce and even expand the capacity of his restaurant due to all the additional business. Based on my friend’s example, I have to believe that similar things would happen if a university were built in my hometown.

Did you notice after “to illustrate” that I spent about 105 words on one example. And guess what? Not a single part of that example was true. I made it up just so I could show you this paragraph. That is exactly what you want to do when you cannot think of any real life experiences.

1) Make them up.

2) Be as specific as possible.

3) Learn to be creative.

TOEFL independent writing strategies: Use advanced and simple grammar, especially showing syntactic variety

Obviously, you want to minimize the number of grammar errors you make during the exam. However, even if you have no errors anywhere in your essay, you could score lower if you only use basic grammar.  Put another way, if you only use short, simple sentences, you will score lower. Several important TOEFL independent writing strategies will help you to improve your grammar competence for the writing section:

• Use longer sentences played against shorter sentences every now and then.
• Use a variety of simple, compound, complex, and compound/complex sentences.
• Use subject-verb inversion sentences everyone in a while.
• Use fronted past and present participles; use appositives in front of the subject.
• Use different kinds of subjects such as nouns, pronouns, noun clauses, gerunds, gerund phrases, infinitives, infinitive phrases, and adjectives.

Use both long and short sentences.

You should use a combination of long (20+ words), medium (15+ words) and short sentences (10+ words). Generally, use more longer sentences since readers can move through those quickly. Use a short sentence every one in while when you want to slow down readers to emphasize an important point.

Example paragraph with mostly longer sentences: I support the idea of a university in my town because local residents will find it easier to attend school . Many of the residents in my town are poor. Therefore, they do not have enough money to study abroad in some area far from where they live . For example, my friend Tomas wants to attend college to become an electrical engineer, but he cannot afford to travel long distances to attend college. Tomas told me that he wants a university in his hometown . He has enough money to pay for tuition and books if he attends college, but he does not have enough money to travel to another college where he will have to pay for his room and board.

Avoid overusing any one of the four sentence types.

In addition to using mostly longer sentences, you should not overuse any one of the four sentence types. The four sentence types are:

• Simple ( Subject + verb ): John went to the store to buy some bread.
• Compound ( Subject + verb , conjunction + subject + verb ): John went to the store to buy some bread, but he ended up purchasing milk, cheese, and cereal instead.
• Complex ( Subject + verb + subordinating conjunction + subject + verb ): John went to the store to buy some bread because he wanted to make some peanut butter and jelly (PB & J) sandwiches.
• Compound/complex ( Subject + verb , conjunction , subordinating conjunction + subject + verb , subject + verb ): John went to the store to buy some bread, but , when he arrived , he ended   up purchasing milk, cheese, and cereal instead.

There is no easy way to learn this. As you practice, you will develop a writing style that works for you. As you practice, try not to use use too many simple sentences. Using only simple sentences during the independent writing task will surely cause you to score lower.

Example of paragraph with only simple sentences: Finally, building a university in my hometown will lower our crime levels. My town has a population of about 230,000 residents. It would have more revenue after the construction of a new university . There is a limited budget for security.  Therefore , my town does not conduct enough police patrols at nights and on the weekends . These city officials are in charge of spending the taxes on services.  We could use some of that new revenue from the new university to hire more police officers for our community. These new officers could become  a larger presence in the especially troublesome neighborhoods.  Therefore, crime could be significantly reduced in our city .  

Lacking syntactic variety, the above paragraph will score lower since it relies only on the simple sentence.

Example of paragraph with sentence variety ( simple , complex , and compound complex ): Finally, building a university in my hometown will lower our crime levels . My town, which has a population of about 230,000 residents, would have more revenue after the construction of a new university . Currently, my town does not conduct enough police patrols at nights and on the weekends because there is a limited budget for security .   City officials who are in charge of spending the taxes on services could use some of that new revenue from the new university to hire more police officers for our community, and these new officers could become  a larger presence in the especially troublesome neighborhoods .  Therefore, crime could be significantly reduced in our city .  

Unlike the paragraph with only simple sentences, the above paragraph uses simple, compound, and compound/complex sentences. As a result, the paragraph displays syntactic variety, so it will score higher.

Change the word order 1-2 times in TOEFL Task 1 or 2

In addition to using a variety of the four sentence types , you can change the word order by sometimes choosing not to place the subject first in the sentence. The following TOEFL independent writing strategies will show you different ways of changing the word order in sentences that you write. Note that the subjects and verbs in all these examples do not occur in the beginning of these sentences:

• Almost negative adverbs:  Hardly ever has the US economy suffered worse than during the Great Depression in the 1920’s. (Most other periods of the US economy have been better than that of the Great Depression. A few have been worse.)
• Negative adverbs: Never have I eaten more delicious meat than today at your house. (This is the most delicious meat I have ever eaten.)
• Appositives: A man of integrity and honor, Abraham Lincoln proved to be one of America’s greatest presidents.
• Comparison:  Alex agrees that taxes should be lowered for business, so does Mary . (Both Alex and Mary believe that businesses should be taxed less.)
• Fronted present participle: Having more money to invest on hiring new workers, businesses could be more productive.
• Fronted past participles: Located next to city hall, our town library has more than 3 million printed online texts in its facility.
• Omitting “if” in a conditional clause: Were businesses to lower taxes, they would have more money to hire new workers. (If businesses were to lower taxes…)
• Prepositional phrases of location: Next to the San Bernardino lies the CSUSB campus .
• Question:  Do you know how many people live in the world?

As a general rule, you should place the subject in the beginning of your sentences. However, consider changing the word order in 1-2 sentences within each of your independent or integrated writing tasks. Do not overuse the grammar that you see here!

Use different types of subjects.

In addition to changing the word order of your subjects and verbs, you should also use a variety of subjects in the sentences that you write:

• Adjective:  The poor need assistance from the government.
• Noun: The clover smells sweet.
• Pronoun: It is a new bookcase.
• Noun clause: What they found surprised me.
• Gerund: Swimming is good exercise.
• Gerund phrase: Working ten years in the mine was enough.
• Infinitive: To sleep in is a luxury.
• infinitive phrase: To be able to read is very important.

The important point is to NOT overuse any one of these types of subjects. If you feel that you need to improve your knowledge of English grammar, use this resource web page to help you improve .

Use cohesive techniques to create paragraph and essay unity

Making sure that you have clear connections of ideas within each paragraph will also help you to score high.  Paragraph unity and cohesion will help you accomplish this.

Paragraph Unity

Other TOEFL independent writing strategies require to make sure that ALL sentences below the topic sentence illustrate that idea:

• Each sentence must give more details relating to the topic.
• The ideas in your sentences must have the same focus as what you stated in the topic sentence.

Without paragraph unity you have chaotic writing.  Each sentence goes in whatever direction it likes.

Example paragraph without unity: My friend Jacob attends a university in Oxford, Mississippi. His educational facility has about 12,000 students. I think the United States has about 3,000 universities nationwide.  Some schools have older style buildings.  Jacob told me that he liked studying in Oxford because of the quiet atmosphere.  Universities have traffic from the students, and they drive all over town.  I went to Cal State, San Benardino, which is located next to the beautiful San Bernardino mountains in Southern California. Other universities have new style structures and are pleasing to the eye. As result, many universities benefit the towns in which they are located.

Example with paragraph unity:  Having a university in my hometown will increase employment opportunities for local citizens. A university with an enrollment of 15,000 will require at least 2000-3000 professors and staff to teach the student body and to conduct daily operations.  Staff such as groundskeepers and janitors, for example, will come from the local population. In addition, the student body, faculty, and staff will need places to live, eat, and shop.  These needs will force my town to build new apartment complexes, restaurants, and shopping centers. As a result, my town will  need construction workers, architects, managers, servers, and sales associates.  All of these needs will create 100’s and maybe even 1000’s of new jobs, which will positively affect the economy, all resulting from having this new university built.

Cohesion helps to have sentence-to-sentence level connectedness.  Thus, in addition to paragraph unity, you want to keep all sentences and paragraphs connected. You can do this by using several different types of cohesive devices.

Cohesive devices: Using transition words

Transition words, many of which you can see here , help the reader understand the relationship of ideas within a text.  Generally speaking, you should use approximately 4-5 transition words within each of your body paragraphs.

See an example essay with numerous transition words. Read more .

Cohesive devices: “Before” references

A good roommate will be respectful to me when we spend time together after school.  Having this positive demeanor will help us to get along much better.

In this sentence, “this positive demeanor” refers back to “respectful.” As a result, referring back to something previously mentioned can tie the sentences together more closely.

Cohesive devices: “After” references

When he shows respect, I will certainly treat my roommate with kindness in return.

In this case, “he” refers to “roommate” which is mentioned later in the sentence. Consequently, using a pronoun to tie to something later in that sentence creates cohesion.

Cohesive devices: “Outside the text” references

The President indeed has the power to create executive orders or decrees without having to consent with Congress.

The writer expects the audience to understand that “The President” refers to the President of the United States.  In addition, the audience is expected to know that “Congress” refers to the legislative body of the House of Representatives and the Senate of the United States.

Cohesive devices: Tense agreement

Creating uniformity with verb tenses also helps to tie your sentences together.

A favorite place I visited as a child was my grandmother’s house.  Outside her cottage in the backyard, she used to have this swing in the middle of her grassy lawn that was surrounded by 10 tall Sycamore trees. One time, I remember being on the wooden swing when my father was pushing me.  After about 10 pushes and when I was high in the air, I jumped from the swing and flew midair about 3 meters until I ended head first in the pool. Since it was a hot day,  I refreshed myself in the cold water.

Since the writer discusses a personal experience that happened in the past, readers expect to see past tense verbs which help the writer to tell this story.  In addition, because the writer accurately and consistently uses past tense verbs, the paragraph ties together well.

Cohesive devices: Point of view consistency

Being consistent with point of view also coheres sentences together within a paragraph.

One important quality of a good roommate is cleanliness.  Last year, when I attended California State University, San Bernardino I was lucky enough to have a roommate who always picked up after himself . For instance, after he took a shower every morning, he always put his toiletries under the sink when he was done. In addition, he made a  point of cleaning the bathroom shower with sanitizing cleanser. He swept and mopped the floor with another cleaning agent. He even took time to clean the mirror and the sink.  He kept our bathroom immaculate for six months.  Similarly, not only did he always put his dirty dishes into the dishwasher, but he also deep cleaned the kitchen. Due to his cleanliness and neatness, my roommate and I got along great.

The writer is consistent in the third person point of view, which you can learn more about here , (roommate, himself, he, his) and in the first person point of view (I). Had the writer first used the second person point of view (you), it would have eroded the consistency that you read in the paragraph.

Cohesive devices: Substitution

Substitution means replacing words or leaving words out for conciseness purposes.

At that point, my roommate was completing his research paper.  However, he wanted to go out to a dance club with this friends.  But before he did that,  he needed to finish.

“Did that” replaces having to say “went to the dance club.”  In addition, the writer uses “finish” instead of saying “finish his research paper.”  Substituting or leaving out words is also helpful in connecting parts of a sentence(s).

Cohesive devices: Parallelism

Parallelism refers to using several grammatically similar phrases within a sentence. In addition, parallelism involves several grammatically similar sentences within a paragraph. In either case, since the grammar is similar, readers will infer that the ideas are also similar within these phrases or sentences. Therefore, using parallel structures can effectively connect ideas together.

Example paragraph with parallelism : Having a roommate who is quiet will make a much more compatible living space. These questions will illustrate why a quiet roommate is beneficial: Will I need to worry that my roommate will be watching the TV loudly all night long?  Will I need to worry that my roommate will he loud and obnoxious late at night? Will I need to worry that my roommate will be talking loudly on his cell phone when I am trying to study?  Finally, will I need to worry that my roommate will be loudly moving around the apartment late at night when I am trying to sleep? If my roommate is quiet, I will not need to worry about having any of these types of problems. As a result, having a quiet roommate is an important quality.

In this paragraph, the writer uses several similar sounding interrogative sentences to emphasize why a quiet roommate is important.

Cohesive devices: Repeating/rephrasing key words

Somewhat similar to using “before” or “after” references to other words, repeating key words helps to unify ideas. Some effective TOEFL independent writing strategies involve repeating/rephrasing key terms from the writing prompt. These repeated or rephrased key terms can be placed into the thesis and topic sentences of your body paragraphs.

Example writing prompt:  The automobile was invented more than 100 years ago . Shortly thereafter, the airplane was invented . Compare these two modes of transportation . Then explain which one has contributed more to the development of our civilization . Use specific reasons and examples to support your answer.

Thesis which repeats key words from writing prompt:  Though invented more than a century ago , automobiles and airplanes have innovatively changed local and more distant transportation patterns.

Topic sentence which repeats/rephrases key points from the thesis: First of all, the automobile is a significant advancement to our society in that it has changed how we move around within cities and from cities to other cities.

Topic sentence which repeats/rephrases key points from the thesis: Second of all, the airplane has developed our civilization by helping us travel far distances in a short period of time.

Topic sentence which repeats/rephrases key points from the writing prompt:  Personally, choosing between the two, I think the automobile has had a much greater impact on the development or our civilization .

As you can see in the example thesis and topic sentences, “automobile,” “invented,” “100 years ago,” “airplane,” “transportation,” “development,” and “civilization” are either repeated or rephrased.  The effect is that the introduction and body paragraphs are unified around the purposes of the writing prompt.

Finish the essay with a conclusion that sums up the most important points in the essay

Have you ever talked to someone on the phone when you were in a hurry?  You know that you need to hang up, but you have to prepare the listener before you drop the call.  In other words, you will need to pre-close the phone conversation before you  end the call, right? Similar to a phone call, you need to “close” or conclude your essay.

• Include a transition word, more of which you can see here , to signal that the essay is coming to an end.
• Restate the most important points in the thesis and body paragraphs. However, do not use the same words.
• Do NOT bring up any new ideas.

Example conclusion:  In conclusion, people undoubtedly want to live in harmony with their roommates while they are in college. Even though there are many important qualities that are important when choosing a roommate, being respectful, clean, and quiet are attributes that I look for.

See a conclusion within the context of a fully-developed TOEFL independent essay model response:   CLICK HERE

TOEFL Independent Writing Strategies: Practice makes perfect, right?

If you have read most of this lesson, you know that I am serious about helping you to improve your writing score. In addition, you probably know that you will need to complete many practice TOEFL 1-2 tasks before you will make the improvements you need to score 24.

You cannot learn how to write just by reading this TOEFL lesson or by watching You Tube videos. You MUST practice writing a lot. As you do your writing practice, I want to score your essays so that you can monitor your progress.

F or only $45 monthly, you can send me your writing practice tests. In fact, as one of my online students  you can send me ONE independent or integrated writing practice test every 24 hours while you are subscribed to my course. These practice tests can come from anywhere on the Internet or from my Online TOEFL Course . By the way, the first week of using my services is free!

Your modest payment will also give you access to all 700 TOEFL lessons in my Online TOEFL Course.  To join my course and to start sending me daily writing practice tests, go here:  CLICK HERE

Respectfully,

Michael Buckhoff

[email protected]

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4 thoughts on “TOEFL Independent Writing Strategies”

You are welcome.

great content! helped me understand how to tackle writing section. Thank you 🙂

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TOEFL Prep Online Guides and Tips

The best toefl writing templates for any prompt.

Even if English composition isn’t your forte, you can still earn a high score on the TOEFL Writing section by following a template. But what exactly is a TOEFL Writing template? Simply put, TOEFL essay templates teach you how to organize your thoughts, select strong pieces of evidence, and get the Writing score you want .

In this article, we’re providing you with  two high-quality TOEFL essay templates for the Integrated and Independent Writing tasks. Before that, we’ll go over the differences between the two TOEFL Writing tasks and then discuss how our TOEFL essay templates can benefit you. After, we’ll teach you how to customize and use our templates.

What Essays Will You Write on the TOEFL?

The Writing section is the final section you’ll face on the TOEFL, and it consists of two separate tasks: an Integrated Writing task and an Independent Writing task . The Integrated task requires you to write a response comparing a lecture and an article, whereas the Independent task requires you to write an opinionated essay in which you agree or disagree with an idea.

Below, we examine the two TOEFL Writing tasks in detail.

Integrated Writing Task

For the Integrated task, you must read a passage on an academic topic for three minutes and then listen to a short lecture on the same topic. This lecture will either support or challenge what’s written in the passage. Your response must  summarize the main points discussed in the lecture and explain how these points relate to the reading .

You’ll have a total of  20 minutes to write your response. Your response should be around  150-225 words . During this time, you may reread the passage; however, you may not listen to the lecture again.

By the way: we have built the world's best online TOEFL course . Get online practice (TPO-sytle!) and individual grading and feedback on Speaking and Writing.

Learn how you can improve your TOEFL score by 15 points today .

The score you receive for this task will be on a scale of 0-5 . According to the official rubric , a level-5 essay (i.e., a perfect essay) selects the most crucial information from the lecture and presents it in a coherent, accurate, and well-organized manner. A level-3 essay is satisfactory but overall vague, with fewer key points and several grammatical errors. Finally, a level-1 essay offers minimal coherency and fails to address any of the main points in the lecture. ETS (the creators of the TOEFL) offers  several samples of scored Integrated essays  online.

Below is an example of an Integrated Writing task borrowed from  ETS :

Reading Passage

Critics say that current voting systems used in the United States are inefficient and often lead to the inaccurate counting of votes. Miscounts can be especially damaging if an election is closely contested. Those critics would like the traditional systems to be replaced with far more efficient and trustworthy computerized voting systems.

In traditional voting, one major source of inaccuracy is that people accidentally vote for the wrong candidate. Voters usually have to find the name of their candidate on a large sheet of paper containing many names—the ballot—and make a small mark next to that name. People with poor eyesight can easily mark the wrong name. The computerized voting machines have an easy-to-use touch-screen technology: to cast a vote, a voter needs only to touch the candidate’s name on the screen to record a vote for that candidate; voters can even have the computer magnify the name for easier viewing.

Another major problem with old voting systems is that they rely heavily on people to count the votes. Officials must often count up the votes one by one, going through every ballot and recording the vote. Since they have to deal with thousands of ballots, it is almost inevitable that they will make mistakes. If an error is detected, a long and expensive recount has to take place. In contrast, computerized systems remove the possibility of human error, since all the vote counting is done quickly and automatically by the computers.

Finally some people say it is too risky to implement complicated voting technology nationwide. But without giving it a thought, governments and individuals alike trust other complex computer technology every day to be perfectly accurate in banking transactions as well as in the communication of highly sensitive information.

Lecture Transcript

(Narrator) Now listen to part of a lecture on the topic you just read about.

(Female professor) While traditional voting systems have some problems, it’s doubtful that computerized voting will make the situation any better. Computerized voting may seem easy for people who are used to computers. But what about people who aren’t? People who can’t afford computers, people who don’t use them on a regular basis—these people will have trouble using computerized voting machines. These voters can easily cast the wrong vote or be discouraged from voting altogether because of fear of technology. Furthermore, it’s true that humans make mistakes when they count up ballots by hand. But are we sure that computers will do a better job? After all, computers are programmed by humans, so “human error” can show up in mistakes in their programs. And the errors caused by these defective programs may be far more serious. The worst a human official can do is miss a few ballots. But an error in a computer program can result in thousands of votes being miscounted or even permanently removed from the record. And in many voting systems, there is no physical record of the votes, so a computer recount in the case of a suspected error is impossible! As for our trust of computer technology for banking and communications, remember one thing: these systems are used daily and they are used heavily. They didn’t work flawlessly when they were first introduced. They had to be improved on and improved on until they got as reliable as they are today. But voting happens only once every two years nationally in the United States and not much more than twice a year in many local areas. This is hardly sufficient for us to develop confidence that computerized voting can be fully trusted.

Question: Summarize the points made in the lecture, being sure to explain how they oppose specific points made in the reading passage.

Independent Writing Task

For the Independent task, you will write about your opinion on a certain topic . You must provide clear reasons and specific examples for why you agree or disagree with the issue or statement. (This doesn’t have to be your real opinion, though!) You’ll have 30 minutes to write your response. A typical high-scoring essay is at least 300 words .

You’ll receive a score on a scale of 0-5 . According to the official rubric , a level-5 essay effectively addresses the topic, provides clear and ample details, and contains at most only minor issues with grammar and word choice. A level-3 essay offers a generally coherent response with occasional slips in clarity. Finally, a level-1 essay offers little to no detail and contains multiple technical errors. You can look at samples of Independent essays  on the ETS website.

Here is an example of an Independent Writing task taken from ETS :

Do you agree or disagree with the following statement?

Always telling the truth is the most important consideration in any relationship.

Use specific reasons and examples to support your answer.

Integrated Task vs. Independent Task

So far we’ve covered all of the basic components of the TOEFL Writing tasks. To briefly recap, here is an overview of the Integrated and Independent Writing tasks:

What Is a TOEFL Writing Template?

The purpose of a TOEFL Writing template is to help you compose a detailed and eloquent essay — and of course get you a high Writing score! But what exactly is a template?

It’s easiest to think of an essay template as a skeleton . While a skeleton is the framework for a body, a template is the framework for an essay . Thus, a TOEFL Writing template highlights basic structural patterns and phrases you can integrate into your own writing. What a template doesn’t do is write your essay for you. Ultimately, it’s up to you to decide how you’ll add the skin and muscles (i.e., the details and supporting evidence) to your “skeleton.”

Furthermore, writing templates are typically created to suit different types of essays . For example, a template for a compare/contrast essay will differ from a template for an editorial piece. This is why it’s so important you use a writing template specifically geared toward the TOEFL!

What Are the Benefits of a TOEFL Writing Template?

There are three major benefits to using a TOEFL Writing template.

It Organizes Your Thoughts

Using a TOEFL Writing template ensures you’ll have a focused and well-organized response . A high-quality template teaches you how to structure your response so that your introductory, body, and concluding paragraphs are all clearly defined. This way, even if your grammar and spelling aren’t perfect, your response will still have an overall strong framework that’s easy to follow.

TOEFL essay templates also show you  what kinds of transitions you can use and where . Transitions are a key component of essays that allow you to connect your thoughts and progress to new ideas smoothly. Truth be told, you probably won’t score super highly on the TOEFL Writing section if you don’t use any transitions!

It Saves You Time

Another big benefit of using a TOEFL Writing template is that it saves you time on the Writing section. Since you’ll already have a sense of how you’re going to structure your essay,  you’ll spend less time planning it out and   coming up with transitions, openings, and closings. As a result, you’ll get more time to actually write out your response!

It Gives You Confidence

Lastly, a TOEFL Writing template allows you to  feel more prepared on test day. Many test takers find it difficult to write out responses to English-language prompts in only 20 or 30 minutes. But TOEFL essay templates equip you with the skills you’ll need to feel more confident in your writing skills — and confidence is the first step toward getting a great TOEFL score!

2 TOEFL Essay Templates for You to Use

In this section, we offer you   a TOEFL Integrated Writing template and an Independent Writing TOEFL template . We also provide you with a handy list of key transitional words and phrases  you can incorporate into your essays.

Please note that you do not need to follow these templates directly. In fact, we strongly encourage you to replace our sample words and phrases with your own . We will talk more about how to customize our TOEFL essay templates in the following section. But for now, let’s take a look at the templates!

Template 1: Integrated Writing Task

Before we dive into our TOEFL Integrated Writing template, let’s get a quick reminder of what the Integrated task entails.

For this task, you’ll read a passage and then listen to a lecture. Your task is to summarize the lecture and explain whether the lecture challenges or supports what’s written in the passage. You’ll have 20 minutes to compose a response of around 150-225 words .

We’ll divide our template into four paragraphs:  an introduction and three body paragraphs . You shouldn’t need a separate concluding paragraph for this task, as you can still score a 5 without one (plus, you likely won’t have enough time to write one!). But if you want to write a conclusion, just be sure you keep it short —  two to three sentences  at most.

Now, on to the TOEFL Integrated Writing template!

Paragraph 1 (Introduction)

Your first paragraph will introduce the lecture and how it relates to the reading. This paragraph doesn’t need to be long; a simple  two or three sentences should suffice.

1. Begin with a topic sentence that summarizes the main point of the lecture.

• According to the lecture, …
• Based on the lecture, …
• The lecturer states/believes that …
• The lecturer talks about …
• The lecturer discusses …

2. Next, explain whether the passage refutes or supports the main point of the lecture.

Examples (Contrast):

• By contrast, the author of the passage explains/states/posits that …
• The author of the passage, however, disagrees with this idea/belief. Instead, he/she believes that …
• The author of the passage, however, doubts this idea/belief and thinks that …
• The author challenges this point, however, by explaining/suggesting/positing that …

Examples (Agreement):

• This line of thinking agrees with that of the author, who states that …
• The author of the passage agrees with this notion/idea/belief, stating that …
• Likewise, the author of the passage explains/states/posits that …
• The author of the passage supports this idea/belief, explaining that …

Paragraph 2 (Body)

In this paragraph, you’ll want to focus on one of the key points in the lecture and explain whether the passage refutes or supports this idea.

1. Introduce the main point you’ll be discussing.

• First, the lecturer asserts/claims/suggests that …
• For one, the lecturer thinks/believes that …
• The first point the lecturer makes is that …

2. Next, describe this particular point in more detail and then discuss how the passage either refutes or supports it. I suggest using one to two sentences here.

• On the other hand, the author asserts/claims/suggests that …
• Likewise, the author thinks/believes that …
• This concept is refuted/supported by the passage, which asserts/claims/suggests that …

3. Finally, conclude your paragraph by explaining what this difference or similarity means .

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• This difference/similarity ultimately means/indicates that …
• Basically, the lecturer/author is saying that …
• The lecturer and author are essentially in agreement with each other. Both think/believe that …
• Clearly, the lecturer and author maintain different views on …

Paragraph 3 (Body)

In this paragraph, you’ll focus on another key point in the lecture and again discuss how the passage either agrees or disagrees with this idea. The structure here is essentially identical to that of paragraph 2, so make sure you are using new transitions and varying your word choice.

1. Start by introducing the second point  in the lecture you’ll be discussing. Because this is your second body paragraph, do not use transitions such as “first” or “first of all.”

• Second, the lecturer argues/contends/asserts that …
• Next, the lecturer suggests/proposes that …
• Another key point the lecturer makes is that …

2. Next, explain this key point in more detail  and elaborate on how it is either refuted or supported by the passage. As with paragraph 2, I recommend using one to two sentences here.

• In other words, the lecturer is suggesting/proposing that …
• The author, however, agrees/disagrees with this idea/belief, suggesting/proposing that …
• Similarly, the author argues/contends/asserts that …

3. Finally, explain what this difference or similarity means .

• What this difference/similarity means is that …
• This difference/similarity in thinking tells us that …
• Evidently, the lecturer thinks/believes that … , whereas the author thinks/believes that …

Paragraph 4 (Body + Conclusion)

This final body paragraph will offer  your last key point in addition to a brief conclusion . Once again, try to vary your transitions and words here so that your body paragraphs do not sound redundant.

1. Introduce and summarize the third point in the lecture . This is your third and final body paragraph, so do not use transitions such as “first” or “next.” Instead, use transitions such as “third,” “finally,” “last,” and “lastly.”

• Third, the lecturer explains/states that …
• Finally, the lecturer introduces the idea that …
• Lastly, the lecturer goes on to say that …

2. Then, explain this point in more detail and discuss whether the passage matches or challenges it. Use one or two sentences here.

• This point is also made in the passage, which argues/contends/asserts that …
• The passage supports this idea, suggesting/proposing that …
• On the contrary, the author writes that …

3. Finally, conclude your paragraph by explaining the significance of this similarity or difference . You should also look at this sentence as the conclusion to your entire response . Remember, you do not need to write a separate concluding paragraph for this task; it’s perfectly OK to combine it with your last body paragraph!

• In conclusion, the lecturer and author appear to be in agreement/disagreement about …
• All in all, the lecturer argues/contends/asserts that … , whereas the author argues/contends/asserts that …

Template 2: Independent Writing Task

For this task, you will read a short prompt and then write a response explaining whether you agree or disagree with the issue or idea. Unlike the Integrated task, here you’ll be writing an opinionated response  (though you do not have to write about your actual opinion).

You’ll have 30 minutes to write an essay of at least 300 words . Because this essay should be longer than the Integrated task, it’s best to use the basic five-paragraph structure, with an introduction, three body paragraphs, and a conclusion.

Note that many of the example sentences below are based on the sample Independent Writing prompt used above . This means that these sentences will not apply exactly to other prompts! So don’t simply copy the sentences onto your test; instead, use them as a general guide to help you develop a better sense of style and flow in your writing.

Now, let’s take a look at our Independent Writing TOEFL template.

In this paragraph, you’ll introduce the main issue or idea and rephrase the prompt in your own words. Then, you’ll state whether you agree or disagree with the statement and why.

1. For your first sentence, you’ll want to come up with a hook  that introduces the topic of your essay in a unique and creative way. Most people  start broad and then get specific . This sentence is also a great opportunity to insert a hypothetical question.

• There is great debate about .. .
• It is said that .. . But is this always true?
• Many people wonder  whether telling the truth at all times is necessary in order to maintain a healthy relationship with someone .

2. Next, introduce your opinion on the topic . You may list your specific reasons for your opinion here or in the following sentence(s). Remember, this doesn’t need to be your real opinion!

• In my opinion, …
• I believe that … is important because …
• I agree/disagree with this idea/suggestion because …
• For me, although telling the truth is important , there are many cases in which it’s OK to lie .

3. Here, state how many points (three is ideal) you’ll be discussing in your essay and then  briefly summarize what these reasons for agreeing or disagreeing are . Your reasons may come from facts, predictions, personal beliefs, experiences, etc.

• In this essay, I will address three potential problems with lying in relationships .
• Lying is never a smart idea because it undermines trust in relationships, causes feelings of betrayal, and often leads to more lying.

In this paragraph, you’ll introduce  your first key point about the issue and offer specific examples illustrating why you agree or disagree.

1. For the first sentence, introduce the key point you want to talk about.

• First of all, lying can make it difficult to trust someone in a relationship.

2. Next, provide an example to explain why you believe this is the case . I suggest using a hypothetical situation somewhere in your essay to help illustrate one of your points.

• For example, if a father lied to his daughter by telling her she was good at drawing, the daughter might begin to wonder whether her father has lied to her about other things, too.

3. Continue your paragraph by elaborating on your example . Explain any effect or consequence of the example and discuss how this outcome supports your viewpoint.

• The next time the father praises his daughter for something, she might believe he is lying, even if he isn’t. In other words, the daughter might find it difficult to trust her father, thereby damaging their relationship.

This paragraph will follow a similar structure to that of paragraph 2, only this time you’ll discuss your second key point . To prevent this paragraph from sounding too similar to the one before it, vary your word choice and choose a different type of example on which to focus.

1. In the first sentence, introduce your second key point . Because this is your second body paragraph (and second point), make sure you employ appropriate transitions, such as “second,” “secondly,” and “next.”

• Second, lying can cause feelings of betrayal in relationships.

2. As you did in paragraph 2, use these next few sentences to elaborate on your point and offer specific examples . Always clarify how your examples support your stance (agree or disagree) and how they relate back to the issue stated in the prompt.

• When I was young, I lied to my best friend about being able to attend her birthday party. She later told me I’d betrayed her and that we couldn’t be friends anymore. Essentially, because I’d lied to her, I destroyed our relationship.

Paragraph 4 (Body)

This is the last body paragraph in which you will introduce and explain your third and final key point .

1. First, introduce your third point . As this is your final body paragraph, make sure you’re using appropriate transitions, such as “finally,” “last,” “lastly,” and “third,” to introduce your point.

• Lastly, lying often begets more lying. This means that once you tell a lie, you will become more likely to tell other lies.

2. As you did in paragraphs 2 and 3, elaborate on this point by providing new evidence, details, and/or examples. Explain why this point is important and how it supports your stance on the issue.

• If you lie but nobody knows you’ve lied, you might begin to believe it’s OK to lie. As a result, you start to lie more and more. However, once people realize how often you lie, they’ll likely lose all trust in you and might even decide to end their relationships with you.

Paragraph 5 (Conclusion)

Like the Integrated Writing task, a separate concluding paragraph isn’t always necessary here . That said, if you have time, I recommend quickly wrapping up your points in a concise yet effective conclusion. One to three sentences should suffice.

1. In the first sentence or two, summarize your stance and explain why you feel this way . You may re-introduce your three main points here. You may also paraphrase the prompt and explain once more whether you agree or disagree with the issue and why.

• In the end, I believe telling the truth is the most important consideration in a relationship.
• Ultimately, lying can easily destroy relationships because it weakens trust, results in feelings of betrayal, and often causes more lying.

2. Finally, if you have time, bring together your concluding paragraph with a single general statement about your viewpoint .

• This is why it is imperative we always refrain from lying.
• Thus, the only way to ensure your relationships with others are healthy is to always tell the truth.

54 Key Transitions & Phrases

In addition to TOEFL essay templates, we offer you an assortment of  common transitions and phrases you can use in your TOEFL responses. These words will allow your writing to flow more smoothly and connect your thoughts in a clearer, more logical manner.

To add information to a point, or to introduce a new (related) point:

• In addition, …
• Additionally, …
• Furthermore, …
• Moreover, …
• Besides, …
• Also, …

To introduce an example:

• For example, …
• For instance, …

To introduce an opinion:

• I believe that …
• I think that …

To start a new body paragraph:

• First off, …
• First of all, …
• To begin/start, …
• Secondly, …
• Last, …

To add similar or related information:

• Likewise, …
• Similarly, …
• On a related note, …

To restate information in a shorter or clearer way:

• In other words, …
• In short, …
• Simply put, …
• Essentially, …
• In essence, …
• Basically, …

To contrast information:

• That (being) said, …
• Nevertheless, …
• Nonetheless, …
• By/in contrast, …
• On the contrary, …
• On the other hand, …

To show cause and effect:

• As a result, …
• Because of this, …
• As such, …
• Consequently, …
• Therefore, …

To emphasize information:

• Evidently, …
• Clearly, …
• Certainly, …

To conclude information, a paragraph, or your overall response:

• In conclusion, …
• All in all, …
• As you can see, …
• In the end, …
• Ultimately, …

How to Customize a TOEFL Writing Template

Below, we offer you a few pieces of advice to help you customize your TOEFL Writing template.

Integrated Writing Template

Here are two ways to customize our TOEFL Integrated Writing template.

#1: Tweak Sample Sentences & Openers

The sample sentence and openers we’ve provided above don’t contain any specific information, so you are welcome to incorporate these examples into your own Integrated Writing response however you like.

That said, you don’t need to use these examples exactly as they are . If you’d like to tweak them, try replacing the verbs and transitions with other (synonymous) words. I also suggest adding adverbs to emphasize certain words. So for example, instead of writing, “The author, however, disagrees with this belief,” you could write, “The author, on the other hand, strongly challenges this concept.”

Just be sure that the examples you’re using in your essay fit with the type of lecture-passage relationship you’re given. Remember, this relationship can be either supportive (in which the lecture agrees with the passage) or contrastive (in which the lecture disagrees with the passage).

#2: Use Different Words to Emphasize Contrast

Most Integrated Writing tasks will give you a lecture that challenges  what’s written in the passage. In these cases, it’s important you use a variety of transitions, conjunctions, and prepositions to emphasize this important contrast throughout your essay.

There is one caveat, though:  do not use a single transition more than once in your response . For instance, if you were to consistently start your supporting sentences with “however,” your essay would lack balance and begin to sound redundant. So be sure to vary your word choice!

Here is a list of strong contrastive words you can use in your Integrated Writing response:

• Nonetheless …
• Even though
• In spite of

Independent Writing Template

Here are three ways you can customize our Independent Writing TOEFL template.

#1: Choose the Side That’s Easier to Support

Although the Independent Writing task asks specifically whether you agree or disagree with an idea, you do not need to write about your real opinion . What you should really do is choose the side that’s easier to argue — regardless of whether you actually agree or disagree with it!

In other words, it’s perfectly OK to make things up for this response and pretend you support something you don’t actually believe. Remember, you are not being judged on which stance you choose but on  how effectively you support your stance.

#2: Do Not Copy Sample Sentences Word for Word

For this task’s examples, I’ve primarily supplied you with whole sentences, all of which were based on the sample Independent Writing prompt used above. Because our examples refer to a specific prompt, you cannot  copy these sample sentences word for word and use them in your own essay . Failing to change these sentences means your essay won’t make a whole lot of sense, if any at all!

Therefore, what you should actually be doing is using these example sentences to learn what types of details to include in your Independent Writing response. You may also use our examples to get a feel for how you can change up your sentences and word choice.

#3: Vary Your Supporting Details

For your response, you must come up with specific details and examples to support your viewpoint. These examples can range from facts and statistics to experiences and hypothetical situations.

In order to produce a truly compelling response (and get a high essay score), you must incorporate a variety of effective examples into your essay. This means you’ll want to  avoid using the same types of examples for each point you make . So if you were to discuss a personal experience for your first body paragraph, focus on a different type of detail, such as a universally accepted fact or a hypothetical scenario, for your second body paragraph.

How to Use a TOEFL Writing Template: 4 Tips

Finally, here are four general tips for using a TOEFL Writing template effectively.

#1: Employ a Variety of Transitions

The sample sentences and openers we’ve given you for each template above contain different transitions to help link ideas together; thus, we encourage you to use a variety of transitions in your own essays . For ideas, refer to our transition list above. This list can help you swap out some of our sample transitions for other ones you believe fit better with your writing.

Ultimately, varying your word choice is critical to ensuring your essay is well written . This means that a high-scoring TOEFL essay will not simply use transitions but use them well . So if you’ve already inserted “therefore” in one area, try using “as a result” or “thus” in another area. You’ll still get the same meaning but with a stronger, more versatile effect.

#2: Add Details Without Rambling

Don’t feel limited by the number of sentences we’ve included in each body paragraph in our templates. If you need to use two or three sentences to explain a point, that’s OK! You should always give a lot of detail for your points — so long as you are staying concise and focused.

For example, if you spend a paragraph discussing a hypothetical scenario but fail to offer any analysis, you probably won’t receive a high TOEFL score. Likewise, if you write a verbose introduction or conclusion, your score may end up being lower than you wanted it to be.

Basically, you must find the perfect balance between detail and analysis. A good way to monitor this balance is to  always try to hit the word minimum for each task . Doing this means you’ll likely have an essay that’s sufficiently detailed. Just try not to exceed the maximum or you’ll risk rambling!

#3: 2 Strong Points Is Better Than 3 Weak Ones

Each of our TOEFL essay templates above has three body paragraphs and three main points. Although three points is a solid number of points, if you can only think of two points, just stick with those and try to   support them as clearly and effectively as possible.

As you can see in the sample TOEFL essays here , many essays with scores of 2 and 3 actually address three points — but their points are altogether weak, with few supporting details and insufficient analysis. What this means is that just having three points in your essay isn’t enough to guarantee you a high essay score . Thus, it’s far better to write an essay with two strong points than three weak ones.

#4: Do Not Copy Entire Sentences From the Prompt

If you struggle with English, you might be tempted to borrow some sentences and phrases from the prompt. While it’s OK to paraphrase sentences, you should never copy exact sentences from your prompt .

Copying the prompt shows evaluators that you lack the English level necessary for writing creatively and analytically. On top of this, copying is also a form of plagiarism, which means you are essentially “stealing” another’s work.

So what does this mean for your score? If you copy entire sentences and phrases from the reading or topic, you will receive a score of 0 .

Additional Resources for TOEFL Essay Templates

In addition to our templates above, here are a couple of online resources offering high-quality TOEFL essay templates you can use for free.

• TOEFL Resources : This resource offers detailed templates for the Integrated and Independent Writing tasks along with useful transitional phrases and sentence openers.
• Magoosh : This handy PDF contains a lengthy list of transitions as well as various sample TOEFL essays.

Recap: How Can a TOEFL Writing Template Help You?

TOEFL essay templates are an especially useful component of TOEFL prep because  they raise your chance of achieving a high TOEFL Writing score .

With TOEFL essay templates, you can organize your thoughts more clearly, spend less time outlining your responses, and prepare for the TOEFL with increased confidence. Our templates are also flexible , allowing you to customize certain elements to your liking and cater the templates to many different prompts.

When using a TOEFL template, always remember the following four tips:

• Employ a variety of transitions throughout your essay
• Add details but try not to ramble
• Two strong point are better than three weak ones
• Do not copy exact sentences from the prompt

Now that you’re equipped with our TOEFL essay templates and the knowledge of how to use them, you should have no trouble getting a great TOEFL Writing score!

What’s Next?

Seeking additional help with the TOEFL Writing section?  Start practicing with our 13 Writing topics  and get information on what resources you can use for high-quality Writing topics .

What does a high-scoring TOEFL essay look like? Take a look at our analyses of two perfect-scoring TOEFL essays  to learn what you can do to guarantee yourself a high essay score on test day.

Want more TOEFL templates?  Check out our TOEFL Speaking templates to improve your English-speaking skills and confidence.

Ready to improve your TOEFL score by 15 points?

Author: Hannah Muniz

Hannah graduated summa cum laude from the University of Southern California with a bachelor’s degree in English and East Asian languages and cultures. After graduation, she taught English in Japan for two years via the JET Program. She is passionate about education, writing, and travel. View all posts by Hannah Muniz

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The TOEFL Test is a test of academic English skills. A good TOEFL score is often required by non-native English speakers in order to study at schools and universities that teach in English. The TOEFL can also be required in other situations, such as for visas or for certain jobs. This is an unofficial subreddit, not affiliated or endorsed by ETS, who create and own the TOEFL test. More information can be found here: https://www.ets.org/toefl

TOEFL writing tips from a 30 scorer

-Make your ideas consequent and easy to understand for your reader, make your essay look like a story.

-Sometimes use metaphors to enrich your essay (e.g. the world is losing bits of its historical puzzle every day).

-Use “when it comes to” and “as for” as a transition whenever you have a chance.

-Substitute “in my opinion” with “from my point of view” sometimes.

-Never use “etc”, instead, use “and so on” in a formal essay.

-Not “less”, but “fewer”.

-Make use of dramatizing word combinations. Use “even”, “conspicuously”, “immensely”, “to a great extent” etc.

-Memorize “refrain”, and “abstain”. These two words always find their ways into my essays.

-Always use paragraph transitions; however, try using paragraph transitions different from “firstly; secondly; in conclusion”. You can find appropriate synonyms in the internet (e.g. to begin with; additionally; finally).

-Ask advice from other English-speakers along with your teacher, and read casual essays written by English-speakers. You will be introduced to different uses of transitions, new words like “notion”, “connotation”, “endeavor”, “indulge in” and so on.

-Do not use past simple tense all the time. Try to watch tutorials on how to use tense forms properly. Sometimes using past perfect and present perfect will ornament your essay.

-The most important tip is to have more than 400 words in your essay. To facilitate this, improve your writing speed. My writing speed was 50 wpm at the time I took the exam. This allowed me to have 460 words in my independent task essay, and 360 words in the integrated task. -If you’re unfamiliar with these words, try to memorize some of them:

Essay Writing Guide

Transition Words For Essays

Last updated on: Dec 19, 2023

220 Best Transition Words for Essays

By: Nova A.

15 min read

Reviewed By: Jacklyn H.

Published on: Jul 9, 2019

Writing essays can be hard, and making sure your transitions are smooth is even harder. 

You've probably heard that good essays need good transitions, but what are they? How do you use them in your writing? Also, your essays are assessed according to particular criteria and it is your responsibility to ensure that it is being met.

But don't worry, we are here to help. This blog will give you transition words for essays, including how to choose the right ones and where to place them for maximum impact. Essay writing is a technical process that requires much more effort than simply pouring your thoughts on paper.

If you are new to the concept of transition words and phrases, deep dive into this article in order to find out the secret to improving your essays.

On this Page

What Are Transition Words 

Transition words are essential elements in essay writing that create smooth transitions between ideas. 

Think of a transition as a conjunction or a joining word. It helps create strong relationships between ideas, paragraphs, or sentences and assists the readers to understand the word phrases and sentences easily.

As writers, our goal is to communicate our thoughts and ideas in the most clear and logical manner. Especially when presenting complex ideas, we must ensure that they are being conveyed in the most understandable way.

To ensure that your paper is easy to understand, you can work on the sequencing of ideas. Break down your ideas into different sentences and paragraphs then use a transition word or phrase to guide them through these ideas.

Why Should You Use Transitions

The purpose of transition words goes beyond just connectivity. They create a cohesive narrative , allowing your ideas to flow seamlessly from one point to another. These words and phrases act as signposts and indicate relationships. 

These relations could include:

• Cause and Effect
• Comparison and Contrast
• Addition and Emphasis
• Sequence and Order
• Illustration and Example
• Concession and Contradiction
• Summary and Conclusion

They form a bridge and tie sentences together, creating a logical connection. In addition to tying the entire paper together, they help demonstrate the writer’s agreement, disagreement, conclusion, or contrast.

However, keep in mind that just using or including transitional words isn’t enough to highlight relationships between ideas. The content of your paragraphs must support the relationship as well. So, you should avoid overusing them in a paper.

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Types of Transitions

Transitions in essays can be classified into different types based on the relationships they indicate between ideas. Each type serves a specific purpose in guiding readers through your arguments. 

Let's explore some common types of transitions and their examples:

Additive Transitions 

These transitions are used to add information or ideas. They help you expand on your points or provide additional supporting evidence. Examples:

• In addition
• Furthermore
• Additionally
• Not only... but also
• Coupled with

Adversative Transitions

Adversative transitions show contrast or contradiction between ideas. They are used to present opposing viewpoints or highlight differences. Examples:

• Nevertheless
• On the other hand
• In contrast

Causal Transitions

Causal transitions explain cause-and-effect relationships. They help you establish the reasons behind certain outcomes or actions. Examples:

• As a result
• Consequently
• Resulting in
• For this reason

Sequential Transitions

Sequential transitions indicate the order or sequence of events or ideas. They help you present your thoughts in a logical and organized manner. Examples: 

• Subsequently
• In the meantime
• Simultaneously

Comparative Transitions

Comparative transitions highlight similarities or comparisons between ideas. They help you draw connections and illustrate relationships. Here are some transition words for essays examples: 

• In the same way
• Compared to
• In comparison
• Correspondingly
• By the same token
• Equally important
• Analogous to

Getting started on your essay? Check out this insightful read on essay writing to make sure you ace it!

List of Good Transition Words for Essays

As mentioned above, there are different categories of transitions that serve a unique purpose. Understanding these different types will help you pick the most suitable word or phrase to communicate your message.

Here we have categorized the best transition words for essays so you can use them appropriately!

Transition Words for Argumentative Essays

In argumentative essays , the effective use of transition words is essential for presenting a well-structured and coherent argument. 

Transition Words for Compare and Contrast Essays

In compare and contrast essays , transition words play a crucial role in highlighting the similarities and differences between the subjects being compared. 

Here are a few transition words that are particularly useful in compare and contrast essays:

Transition Words for Cause and Effect Essays

In cause and effect essays , transition words help illustrate the relationships between causes and their corresponding effects. 

Here are a few transition words that are particularly useful in cause-and-effect essays:

Transition Words for Different Parts of Essays

Transition words are valuable tools that can be used throughout different parts of an essay to create a smooth and coherent flow. By understanding the appropriate transition words for each section, you can logically connect your ideas. 

Introduction Transition Words for Essays

Introductions are one of the most impactful parts of the essay. It's important that it connects logically with the rest of the essay. To do this, you can utilize different transition words for essays to start. Here are some starting transition words for essays:

Transition Words for Essays Body Paragraph

In an essay, body paragraphs play a crucial role in presenting and developing your ideas. To ensure a logical flow within each body paragraph, the strategic use of transition words is essential.

Here are lists of transitions for essays for different body paragraphs:

Transition Words for Essays for First Body Paragraph

Here is a list of transition words that you can use for the first body paragraph of an essay:

Transition Words for Essays Second Body Paragraph

Here is a list of transition words for the second body paragraph of an essay:

Transition Words for Essays Third Body Paragraph

Transition Words for Essays Last Body Paragraph

Transition Words for Essays Conclusion 

Here is a list of ending transition words for essays:

Do’s and Don’ts of Using Essay Transitions

When it comes to using transitions in your essay, there are certain do's and don'ts that can help you effectively enhance the flow of your writing. Here are some key guidelines to keep in mind:

• Add transitions only when introducing new ideas.
• Go through the paper to make sure they make sense.
• Start by creating an outline, so you know what ideas to share and how.
• Use different transitions for each idea.
• Don’t overuse them.
• Don’t keep adding transitions in the same paragraph.
• Don’t completely rely on transitions to signal relationships.
• Don’t incorporate it into your content without understanding its usage.

By now, you have probably understood how transition words can save you from disjointed and directionless paragraphs. They are the missing piece that indicates how ideas are related to one another. You can also generate more essays with our AI powered essay writer to learn the art of transitioning smoothly from one paragraph to another. 

If you are still unable to distinguish transitions to open or conclude your essays, don’t be upset - these things require time and practice.

If you are looking for the perfect essay-writing service, get in touch with the expert writers at 5StarEssays.com. We will include the right transitions according to the type of paper, ensuring a coherent flow of ideas.

Just say ‘ write my essay ’ now and let our essay writer create quality content at the most pocket-friendly rates available.

As a Digital Content Strategist, Nova Allison has eight years of experience in writing both technical and scientific content. With a focus on developing online content plans that engage audiences, Nova strives to write pieces that are not only informative but captivating as well.

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33 Transition Words and Phrases

Transitional terms give writers the opportunity to prepare readers for a new idea, connecting the previous sentence to the next one.

Many transitional words are nearly synonymous: words that broadly indicate that “this follows logically from the preceding” include accordingly, therefore, and consequently . Words that mean “in addition to” include moreover, besides, and further . Words that mean “contrary to what was just stated” include however, nevertheless , and nonetheless .

as a result : THEREFORE : CONSEQUENTLY

The executive’s flight was delayed and they accordingly arrived late.

in or by way of addition : FURTHERMORE

The mountain has many marked hiking trails; additionally, there are several unmarked trails that lead to the summit.

at a later or succeeding time : SUBSEQUENTLY, THEREAFTER

Afterward, she got a promotion.

even though : ALTHOUGH

She appeared as a guest star on the show, albeit briefly.

in spite of the fact that : even though —used when making a statement that differs from or contrasts with a statement you have just made

They are good friends, although they don't see each other very often.

in addition to what has been said : MOREOVER, FURTHERMORE

I can't go, and besides, I wouldn't go if I could.

as a result : in view of the foregoing : ACCORDINGLY

The words are often confused and are consequently misused.

in a contrasting or opposite way —used to introduce a statement that contrasts with a previous statement or presents a differing interpretation or possibility

Large objects appear to be closer. Conversely, small objects seem farther away.

used to introduce a statement that is somehow different from what has just been said

These problems are not as bad as they were. Even so, there is much more work to be done.

used as a stronger way to say "though" or "although"

I'm planning to go even though it may rain.

in addition : MOREOVER

I had some money to invest, and, further, I realized that the risk was small.

in addition to what precedes : BESIDES —used to introduce a statement that supports or adds to a previous statement

These findings seem plausible. Furthermore, several studies have confirmed them.

because of a preceding fact or premise : for this reason : THEREFORE

He was a newcomer and hence had no close friends here.

from this point on : starting now

She announced that henceforth she would be running the company.

in spite of that : on the other hand —used when you are saying something that is different from or contrasts with a previous statement

I'd like to go; however, I'd better not.

as something more : BESIDES —used for adding information to a statement

The city has the largest population in the country and in addition is a major shipping port.

all things considered : as a matter of fact —used when making a statement that adds to or strengthens a previous statement

He likes to have things his own way; indeed, he can be very stubborn.

for fear that —often used after an expression denoting fear or apprehension

He was concerned lest anyone think that he was guilty.

in addition : ALSO —often used to introduce a statement that adds to and is related to a previous statement

She is an acclaimed painter who is likewise a sculptor.

at or during the same time : in the meantime

You can set the table. Meanwhile, I'll start making dinner.

BESIDES, FURTHER : in addition to what has been said —used to introduce a statement that supports or adds to a previous statement

It probably wouldn't work. Moreover, it would be very expensive to try it.

in spite of that : HOWEVER

It was a predictable, but nevertheless funny, story.

in spite of what has just been said : NEVERTHELESS

The hike was difficult, but fun nonetheless.

without being prevented by (something) : despite—used to say that something happens or is true even though there is something that might prevent it from happening or being true

Notwithstanding their youth and inexperience, the team won the championship.

if not : or else

Finish your dinner. Otherwise, you won't get any dessert.

more correctly speaking —used to introduce a statement that corrects what you have just said

We can take the car, or rather, the van.

in spite of that —used to say that something happens or is true even though there is something that might prevent it from happening or being true

I tried again and still I failed.

by that : by that means

He signed the contract, thereby forfeiting his right to the property.

for that reason : because of that

This tablet is thin and light and therefore very convenient to carry around.

immediately after that

The committee reviewed the documents and thereupon decided to accept the proposal.

because of this or that : HENCE, CONSEQUENTLY

This detergent is highly concentrated and thus you will need to dilute it.

while on the contrary —used to make a statement that describes how two people, groups, etc., are different

Some of these species have flourished, whereas others have struggled.

NEVERTHELESS, HOWEVER —used to introduce a statement that adds something to a previous statement and usually contrasts with it in some way

It was pouring rain out, yet his clothes didn’t seem very wet.

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• Toefl Exam 2024
• Toeft Registration 2024
• Toefl Exam Date
• Toeft Eligibility
• Toefl Exam Fee
• Toefl Exam Pattern
• Toefl Syllabus
• Toefl Documents Required
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• Types of Toefl Exam
• Toefl Books
• Tofel Exam Tips
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10 Simple Tips for Writing TOEFL Essay in 2024

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The TOEFL iBT test is an excellent way to demonstrate your English proficiency for university admission, comprising reading, listening, speaking, and writing sections. The Writing Section includes two essays: one independent and one integrated. The integrated essay, lasting 20 minutes, is based on a reading and listening passage, requiring you to explain ideas in your own words. To improve your TOEFL iBT writing skills, familiarize yourself with the essay structure, practice paraphrasing, and expand your vocabulary to express ideas clearly.

Focus on grammar, learning common structures used in academic writing, and practice writing complex sentences. Regularly review and edit your essays to refine your writing. By following these tips and practicing consistently, you can enhance your TOEFL iBT writing skills and increase your chances of achieving a high score.

How to write a good TOEFL essay?

Table of Content

10 Amazing TOEFL 2024 Essay Writing Tips

Tips for writing a good toefl essay, create an essay plan, know what the examiner wants, give yourself a word limit, stick to the prompt, keep on practising your writing, use effective paragraph structure, use specific examples, use varied sentence structure, use academic vocabulary, use correct grammar and punctuation, integrated writing task, transition words and phrases, integrated essay time breakdown.

Here’s a quick summary of our top 10 TOEFL Writing Tips:

• Tip 1: Pay close attention to the reading passage because the listening passage will challenge each point made in it.
• Tip 2: Practice taking brief but accurate notes during the listening passage. You only get to hear it once.
• Tip 3: Paraphrase the passages. The TOEFL grading criteria include vocabulary, and you will earn zero points if you simply quote the material.
• Tip 4: Use lots of transitional words and phrases to help develop your essay and connect your ideas.
• Tip 5: Manage your time wisely. You only have 20 minutes to write an essay of at least 250 words.
• Tip 6: Add to the discussion. Do not repeat points and ideas from the passages in your response.
• Tip 7: Stick to a few simple verb tenses.
• Tip 8: Try to include multiple sentences with more than one clause.
• Tip 9: Plan to edit your essay for at least one minute at the end. There is no spellcheck on the TOEFL.
• Tip 10: Practice writing at home and ask a teacher or trained TOEFL expert to give you a grade and point out your weaknesses.

Must Read: Top 10 TOEFL 2024 Writing Tips to Ace the Exam

Solve Free TOEFL Practice Papers:

Having a plan for your TOEFL iBT essay can make your writing flow better and help you organize your ideas. Writing down a short essay plan before you start will help you use your time well. When you know what you will write next, you won’t have to stop and think between each paragraph.

There are several common TOEFL iBT essay plans that work well. However, the most important thing is to find what works best for you. An organized plan is essential to succeed in the TOEFL iBT writing test because it helps the examiner follow your essay easily. Even if you have great ideas, a disorganized essay can make it hard to get the grades you deserve.

Check the writing rubrics for the TOEFL iBT writing test and set a goal for the grade you want.

The writing rubrics show what the examiner expects from your TOEFL iBT essay. This can help you focus on important skills like organization and clarity.

You can find examples of TOEFL iBT writing test essays with estimated grades online. These examples give you a good idea of what to aim for when practicing. Knowing what the examiner is looking for can make you feel more confident in your writing.

A good TOEFL iBT essay should have at least 150 words for the integrated task and 300 words for the independent task. However, it’s up to you to decide.

Setting a word limit helps you know when to stop writing and start checking your essay. This also forces you to focus on what is essential, leading to a higher grade. In writing your TOEFL iBT essay, quality is more important than quantity.

Under pressure during the TOEFL iBT exam, it’s easy to go off-topic.

After each paragraph, quickly read what you have written to ensure it is relevant to the essay prompt. This will save time because you won’t have to rewrite at the end if you realize you strayed from the topic. It also helps you plan the next paragraph.

With limited time, it’s best to stay on track throughout the TOEFL iBT writing test. This is especially important for the independent writing task but is also useful for the integrated writing.

More Practice is key for the TOEFL iBT writing test as it improves both your writing skills and speed. The more you write, the more confident you will feel during the exam.

Becoming good at writing doesn’t happen overnight, so practice is essential. Spending 30 minutes on a sample TOEFL iBT essay regularly will help you improve. By practicing often, you will retain your skills and become familiar with the essays, making them less intimidating during the test.

Also, it’s important to time yourself when you practice.

Paragraphs are the building blocks of your essay. Each paragraph should start with a clear topic sentence that ties into the main idea of the essay. Support your main point with evidence and examples in each paragraph. Make sure each paragraph flows smoothly into the next by using transition words and phrases to link ideas and create a cohesive essay.

To score high on your TOEFL essay, use specific examples to support your ideas. Include real-life examples, statistics, and facts to back up your arguments. This shows your knowledge of the topic and your critical thinking skills. Specific examples also make your essay more interesting and help you stand out from other test-takers.

Vary your sentence structure to make your essay more engaging. Mix short and long sentences, questions, and statements to add variety. This will help avoid repetition and keep your writing interesting. However, ensure that your sentences are grammatically correct and fit well in the context of your essay.

Using academic vocabulary makes your essay sound more professional. Choose words that are suitable for the academic level of the test. Avoid slang, casual language, and overly complex words. Make sure you use words correctly and understand their meanings.

Correct grammar and punctuation are crucial for a high score on the TOEFL writing section. Ensure you use correct verb tenses, subject-verb agreement, and sentence structure. Use appropriate punctuation to make your writing clear and easy to read. If you’re unsure about any grammar or punctuation rules, look them up or ask a tutor for help.

Transitional words and phrases are crucial and should be used in TOEFL essays. Transition between contrasting points of views in both readin and listening passages are important:

How to write a good TOEFL essay- FAQs

What is the format of the toefl essay.

The TOEFL essay is a 30-minute written task where you are asked to express and support your opinion on a specific topic. The essay is typically four to five paragraphs long and should include an introduction, body paragraphs, and a conclusion.

Where can I find sample TOEFL essays to practice with?

You can find sample TOEFL essays in TOEFL preparation books or online. The official TOEFL website also provides sample essays and scoring guides.

How can I prepare for the TOEFL writing section?

To prepare for the TOEFL writing section, you should practice writing essays using sample prompts, develop your grammar and vocabulary skills, and learn how to organize and develop your ideas effectively. You may also want to work.

How to write a TOEFL essay?

To write a TOEFL essay, it is important to understand the prompt, brainstorm ideas, create an outline, and then write a well-structured essay with an introduction, body paragraphs, and a conclusion. Practice organising your thoughts and expressing them clearly within the time limit provided.

Is 27 a good writing score in TOEFL?

Yes, a score of 27 is considered a good writing score in TOEFL. It demonstrates a high level of proficiency in writing and indicates strong language skills, coherence, and clarity in expressing ideas.

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• School Education /

International Olympic Day Essay in English for School Students

• Updated on  
• Jun 20, 2024

Essay on International Olympic Day: International Olympic Day is a global event celebrated on June 23, This day is dedicated to promoting the Olympic ideals of peace, friendship, and the harmonious development of body and mind. It serves as a reminder of the unifying power of sports and the significant role the Olympics play in bringing together people from diverse cultures and backgrounds. Here’s an essay on International Olympic Day for students.

Table of Contents

• 1.1 History of Olympic Day 
• 1.2 Importance of Olympic Game 
• 1.3 2024 Summer Olympic 
• 2.1 Conclusion

Essay on International Olympic Day in 500 Words

International Olympic Day, celebrated annually on June 23, honours the inception of the modern Olympic Games and promotes the Olympic values of excellence, friendship, and respect. This global observance encourages participation in sports activities across all ages, genders, and abilities, fostering a spirit of unity and international collaboration.

History of Olympic Day 

Proposed in 1947 by Doctor Gruss, Olympic Day commemorates the establishment of the IOC and the revival of the Olympic Games by Pierre de Coubertin. The first Olympic Day was celebrated on June 23, 1948, with nine National Olympic Committees (NOCs) participating. Today, over 200 NOCs join in, hosting sports events, educational workshops, and cultural exhibitions.

Quick Read: Essay on National Sports Day

Importance of Olympic Game 

The Olympic Games provide a global stage for athletes to compete at the highest level, fostering international cooperation and understanding. The Games promote values such as excellence, friendship, and respect, inspiring millions to engage in sports and lead healthier lives. Economically, the Olympics drive infrastructure development and boost tourism in host cities.

Quick Read: Essay on Uniform Civil Code

2024 Summer Olympic 

The 2024 Summer Olympics, officially the Games of the XXXIII Olympiad, will be held in Paris from July 26 to August 11, 2024. Paris was awarded the Games in 2017 and will host the Olympics for the third time, having previously hosted in 1900 and 1924. The 2024 Games will mark the centenary of the 1924 Paris and Chamonix Games and will be the sixth Olympics held in France.

The events will take place in Paris and 16 other cities across Metropolitan France, with Tahiti hosting surfing events. Notably, breakdancing will debut as an Olympic event. The theme for the 2024 Olympics, “Games wide open” (French: Ouvrons grand les Jeux), emphasizes inclusivity and global participation. The Games are expected to cost €8.3 billion and will be the final Olympics under Thomas Bach’s presidency. 

Quick Read: Essay on Importance of Sports

The 2024 Olympics will also mark the centenary of the 1924 Paris Games, creating a bridge between the past and the present. The official theme, “Parade,” composed by Victor Le Manse and recorded with the Orchestre National de France, embodies the celebratory and unifying spirit of the event. Paris 2024 will be the final Olympic Games under the presidency of Thomas Bach, symbolizing a significant transitional period for the IOC.

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Top Olympic Gold Medalist

International Olympic Day is a reminder of the power of sports to bring people together and promote positive values. As we look forward to the Paris 2024 Summer Olympics, we celebrate the rich history and global significance of the Olympic movement. These Games promise not only thrilling athletic competition but also a renewed commitment to unity, innovation, and sustainability, inspiring future generations worldwide. The legacies of top Olympic gold medalists like Michael Phelps, Larisa Latynina, Paavo Nurmi, and Carl Lewis continue to inspire athletes and fans alike, embodying the enduring spirit of the Olympics.

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Ans: American swimmer Michael Phelps is the most decorated Olympian of all time, with 28 medals, 23 of which are gold. He was also the first athlete to win 8 gold medals at a single Olympics.

Ans: Larisa Latynina and Polina Astakhova each competed for the Soviet Union in 1956, 1960, and 1964. Latynina has the most medals of any female athlete in Olympic history, with 18.

Ans: The Paris’24 Olympics will include a total of 32 sports and 8 in Milano Cortina 2026, the next Winter Olympics. These 40 sports will be further divided into sub-categories, like track and field events, swimming, wrestling, etc. each for men and women.

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