TOEFL® Test
Change in Your School (Expository)
If you could make one important change in a school that you attended, what change would you make? Use reasons and specific examples to support your answer.
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Change Job or Not (Persuasive)
Some people prefer to change jobs or professions during their careers. Others choose to stay in the same job or profession. Discuss the advantages of each choice. Which do you prefer? Use reasons and examples to explain your choice.
Change Your Hometown (Expository)
If you could change one important thing about your hometown, what would you change? Use reasons and specific examples to support your answer.
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Changes in the 21st Century (Expository)
The 21st century has begun. What changes do you think this new century will bring? Use examples and details in your answer.
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Dorm Roommate (Persuasive)
You have been told that dormitory rooms at your university must be shared by two students. Would you rather have the university assign a student to share a room with you, or would you rather choose your own roommate? Use specific reasons and details to explain your answer.
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Experience or Books (Persuasive)
It has been said, "Not everything that is learned is contained in books." Compare and contrast knowledge gained from experience with knowledge gained from books. In your opinion, which source is more important? Why?
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Films (Expository)
Films can tell us a lot about the country where they were made. What have you learned about a country from watching its movies? Use specific examples and details to support your response.
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Gift of Money (Persuasive)
You have received a gift of money. The money is enough to buy either a piece of jewelry you like or tickets to a concert you want to attend. Which would you buy? Use specific reasons and details to support your answer.
Group Member or Leader (Persuasive)
Do you agree or disagree with the following statement?
It is better to be a member of a group than to be the leader of a group.
Use specific reasons and examples to support your answer.
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Hiring Employees (Persuasive)
Businesses should hire employees for their entire lives. Do you agree or disagree? Use specific reasons and examples to support your answer.
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Important Animal (Expository)
What is the most important animal in your country? Why is the animal important? Use reasons and specific details to explain your answer.
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Important Plant (Expository)
Plants can provide food, shelter, clothing or medicine. What is one kind of plant that is important to you or to the people in your country? Use specific reasons and details to explain your choice.
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Important Room (Expository)
What do you consider to be the most important room in a house? Why is this room more important to you than any other room? Use specific reasons and examples to support your opinion.
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Improve Your Community (Expository)
You have decided to give several hours of your time each month to improve the community where you live. What is one thing you will do to improve your community? Why? Use specific reasons and details to explain your choice.
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Land (Expository)
Imagine that you have received some land to use as you wish. How would you use this land? Use specific details to explain your answer.
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Learn from Mistakes (Persuasive)
Do you agree or disagree with the following statement?
People always learn from their mistakes.
Use specific reasons and details to support your answer.
Living Longer (Expository)
In general, people are living longer now. Discuss the causes of this phenomenon. Use specific reasons and details to develop your essay.
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Method of Travel (Expository)
You need to travel from your home to a place 40 miles (64 kilometers) away. Compare the different kinds of transportation you could use. Which method of travel would you choose? Give specific reasons for your choice.
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Money and Success (Persuasive)
Do you agree or disagree with the following statement?
Only people who earn a lot of money are successful.
Use specific reasons and examples to support your answer.
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Money on Technology (Persuasive)
Some people think that governments should spend as much money as possible on developing or buying computer technology. Other people disagree and think that this money should be spent on more basic needs. Which one of these opinions do you agree with? Use specific reasons and details to support your answer.
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Moving (Expository)
A person you know is planning to move to your town or city. What do you think this person would like and dislike about living in your town or city? Why? Use specific reasons and details to develop your essay.
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New Product (Expository)
If you could invent something new, what product would you develop? Use specific details to explain why this invention is needed.
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Plan Children's Free Time (Persuasive)
Some people think that parents should plan their children’s leisure time carefully. Other people believe children should decide for themselves how to spend their free time. Which idea do you agree with? Give reasons for your choice.
Playing and Winning (Persuasive)
Do you agree or disagree with the following statement?
Playing a game is fun only when you win.
Use specific reasons and examples to support your answer.
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Preferred Source of News (Persuasive)
Some people believe that newspapers are the best source of news. Other people think that the news is presented better on radio or television. Which of these sources of news do you prefer? Use specific reasons to support your choice.
Preferred Teacher Style (Persuasive)
Some people learn best when a classroom lesson is presented in an entertaining, enjoyable way. Other people learn best when a lesson is presented in a serious, formal way. Which of these two ways of learning do you prefer? Give reasons to support your answer.
Prepare for a Trip (Expository)
Imagine that you are preparing for a trip. You plan to be away from your home for a year. In addition to clothing and personal-care items, you can take one thing. What would you take and why? Use specific reasons and details to support your answer.
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Reasons for Attending College (Expository)
People attend a college or university for many different reasons (for example, new experiences, career preparation and increased knowledge). Why do you think people attend college or university? Use specific reasons and examples to support your answer.
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Reducing Pollution (Expository)
There are many kinds of pollution. What can you do to help reduce one kind of pollution in your community? Use examples and specific details to explain your answer.
Resources Disappearing (Expository)
Many parts of the world are losing important natural resources, such as forests, animals or clean water. Choose one resource that is disappearing and explain why it needs to be saved. Use specific reasons and examples to support your opinion.
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Show Emotion (Persuasive)
Do you agree or disagree with the following statement?
People should always show their strong emotions (such as excitement, anger or joy).
Use specific reasons and details to support your answer.
Stay in Hometown or Move (Persuasive)
After they complete their university studies, some students live in their hometowns. Others live in different towns or cities. Which do you think is better — living in your hometown or living in a different town or city? Give reasons for your answer.
Successful Students (Expository)
Successful students do well in school for many different reasons. Identify one or two important personal characteristics that help a student succeed in school. Use specific examples to show why you think these characteristics are important for student success.
Why Study Abroad? (Expository)
Many students choose to attend schools or universities outside their home countries. Why do some students study abroad? Use specific reasons and details to explain your answer.
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Young People Teaching Older People (Persuasive)
Do you agree or disagree with the following statement?
There is nothing that young people can teach older people.
Use specific reasons and examples to support your position.
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