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FO R TH E TO EFL®
W RITIN G SECTIO N
Practice Test #2
For the TOEFL® Writing Section

Practice Test #2
For the TOEFL®
Writing Section

1
Practice Test #2
For the TOEFL® Writing Section

The TOEFL Writing Section:

Directions

This section measures your ability to use writing to communicate in an academic environment.
There will be two writing tasks.

For the first writing task, you will read a passage and listen to a lecture and then answer a question based
on what you have read and heard.

For the second task, you will read an online discussion. A professor has posted a question about a topic,
and some classmates have responded with their ideas. You will write a response that contributes to the
discussion.

When you see the audio icon it means that there is an audio version of the text. Please click the
icon to get redirected to the audio file.

If you would like to see a model essay of the question you are answering, you can refer to the answer key.

When you're ready, turn the page to see the directions for the first writing task.

2
Practice Test #2
For the TOEFL® Writing Section

Writing Task 1 - Integrated Question

Directions: For this task, you will read a passage and listen to a lecture about an academic topic.

You may take notes during this time. After the passages have finished, you will then be asked a question
about them. After the question, you will have 20 minutes to write your response. Effective responses are
usually between 250 to 350 words. You may look at the reading passage and your notes as you write. Keep
in mind that the question will not ask for your opinion.

You have three minutes to read. You may begin reading now.

Most people credit Columbus with the discovery of America. However, recent
evidence suggests that Columbus didn't really discover America, but merely followed
in the footsteps of earlier explorers. Today, researchers agree that the Vikings
actually reached the North American lands and even established settlements there
500 years before Columbus.

According to Icelandic sagas, the Vikings reached North America by sailing from their
settlements in Greenland. These settlements were home to over half a million
people who lived in prosperous cities along the coast around 980. It was these hardy
people who began to explore lands to the west of Europe. Being experienced sailors,
they were able to reach the North American coast and discover a wonderful place
with abundant plantations of wild grapes that they called “Vinland,” known today as
Newfoundland.

Additionally, well-known evidence from the archaeological site referred to as L'Anse

aux Meadows, in Newfoundland, Canada proves that Vikings actually lived in North
America five centuries before the first Europeans arrived. Remains of nine Viking
houses were found by Norwegian archaeologists, Helge and Anne Ingstad. They
acknowledged that the houses were similar to Norse homes from the past. The
houses were made of wooden frames covered with sod, just like homes in Greenland
a thousand years earlier.

The existence of Vikings settlements in North America has also been proven by the
discovery of the Kensington Runestone in 1898 in the same region of Newfoundland.
Runestones are stones covered with runic inscriptions. Runes, or runic alphabets,
were used in Scandinavia before the adoption of Latin. Almost identical bedrocks
with the same inscriptions were found in Scandinavia and date to the 10th century,
around the same time as the establishment of these settlements in Newfoundland.

3
Practice Test #2
For the TOEFL® Writing Section

Now listen to part of a lecture on the same topic you just read about.

After you listen to the passage, answer the question.

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

You have 20 minutes to plan and write your response.

4
Practice Test #2
For the TOEFL® Writing Section
Writing Task 2 - Writing for an Academic Discussion
Your professor is teaching a class on sociology.
Write a post responding to the professor's question.
In your response, you should do the following.
● Express and support your opinion.
● Make a contribution to the discussion in
your own words.
An effective response will contain at least 100
words.
Dr. Williams
In recent years, there has been an increased focus
on the role of social media in politics. Some argue
that social media platforms provide a valuable
space for political discourse and citizen
engagement, while others highlight the risks
associated with misinformation and manipulation.
What are your views on the influence of social
media on politics? Is it more beneficial or
detrimental? Explain your position.
I believe that social media has had a
predominantly positive impact on politics. It
allows individuals to have a voice and
participate in discussions that were previously
limited to traditional media outlets. Social media
Kris enables political awareness and mobilization on
a broader scale, increasing civic engagement.
While social media has its merits, I think its
influence on politics has been detrimental. The
spread of misinformation has led to polarized
opinions and a lack of critical thinking.
Additionally, social media algorithms tend to
reinforce existing biases, creating information
bubbles that hinder meaningful dialogue and
Mohammed understanding.
Space for typing answers on test day. You will have ten minutes
to read and write.
5
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Practice Test #2
For the TOEFL® Writing Section

Practice Test #2
For the TOEFL® Writing Section
Answer Key

7
Practice Test #2
For the TOEFL® Writing Section

Integrated Writing Transcript

There are many who claim that the Vikings were the first foreigners to visit North American soil. These theories
have been peddled for years by questionable researchers producing flimsy evidence. None of the theories
mentioned in the reading are based on scientific or archaeological truth.

According to Scandinavian legends, the Vikings discovered these lands before Columbus in 1492. While it is true
that the Vikings were skillful sailors and their old tales tell of a place called Vinland, there's no evidence to
suggest that Vinland is Newfoundland. In fact, there are a lot of other places with naturally grown grapes around
Iceland and Greenland that could have inspired the tales of Vinland.

Furthermore, the two Norwegian scientists who found the remains of houses in L'Anse aux Meadows, and
determined that the houses were of Norse origin, are making claims that no other scientist has supported. It's
not difficult to imagine that these Norwegian archaeologists may have had other motivations besides pure
scientific evidence to equate the houses in the settlements to Norsemen. I suspect a bit of patriotism infected the
researchers' claims. Besides, finding just a few houses doesn't prove that the Vikings actually lived there.

Finally, those runestones may, in fact, not be runestones after all. According to some geological studies, the
carvings were made in the 19th century. The story goes like this: a Swedish farmer who discovered a runestone in
Kensington has been accused of deliberately carving the stone before he quote-unquote “found” it. So, he
actually didn't discover anything at all. There is still a debate about the authenticity of the Kensington Runestone,
but most agree that, at best, it cannot be relied upon as a piece of evidence to support the claim that the Vikings
landed and inhabited North America before Columbus.

8
Practice Test #2
For the TOEFL® Writing Section

Task #1: Integrated Writing

The reading and the lecture are about whether there is evidence to support the claim that the Vikings, not
Columbus, discovered North American lands. The author of the reading believes there is sufficient
evidence that proves the Vikings were the first settlers in North America. The lecturer casts doubt on the
theories made in the reading. He suggests that these claims have no scientific support.

First of all, the author points out that according to Scandinavian legends, the Vikings discovered Vinland,
present-day Newfoundland, sometime in the 10th century. This point is challenged by the lecturer. He
suggests that while Vikings were very skilled at sailing, there is no indication that Vinland is actually
Newfoundland. He puts forth the idea that there are many other places in Iceland or Greenland that could
be the Vinland from the tales.

Secondly, the author contends that scientists have found remnants of Viking settlers in L’Anse aux
Meadow, Canada, including their homes and structures. The article notes that these findings date back
over 500 years before Columbus arrived from Europe. The lecturer rebuts this argument. He says that the
Norwegian archaeologist who claims to have found Viking houses in Canada are not supported by any
other scientists. He believes their research was probably tainted because of their Scandinavian origins.
Furthermore, even if their findings are legitimate, the discovery of a few homes is not proof that Vikings
truly settled in North America.

Finally, the author states that stones with runic writing on them, known as runestones, have been found
near Newfoundland. The professor, on the other hand, points out that geologists have determined that
the markings on the runestones are actually from the 19th century. He mentions how it is still disputed as
to whether these stones are authentic with many claiming the farmer who discovered them carved the
stones himself.

9
Practice Test #2
For the TOEFL® Writing Section

Writing Task 2 - Writing for an Academic Discussion

“What are your views on the influence of social media on politics? Is it more beneficial or detrimental? Explain
your position.”

Recently, there has been much debate about the role of social media in politics. In my opinion, using social
media to promote politics is extremely detrimental. Mohammed makes an excellent point when he talks
about the possibility of misinformation leading to polarized opinions. I would also add that political
statements posted on social media are often not vetted to the same level as information from TV or
newspapers. This can lead to blatant lies being accepted as truth.

Additionally, social media is vulnerable to cyber-attacks and manipulation. It is possible to clone fake
accounts and make it appear as if many people are posting certain views when, in fact, these people do
not exist. Recently articles on CNN show that foreign governments may have tried to use Facebook to
influence the 2020 US Presidential election by using “ghost accounts” with phony IP numbers. Since
misinformation is more easily distributed online and fake accounts are easier to create, I believe social
media is harmful to society.

10
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