TOEFL Writing has two tasks. The first is integrated — you read a passage, listen to a lecture, then write about how they relate. The second is the 'Writing for an Academic Discussion' task, where you respond to an online classroom discussion with your own contribution. It's scored 0 to 30, and clear structure is what raises the score.
The short version
•Two tasks: an integrated (read + listen + write) task and an academic-discussion task.
•Integrated task = report how the lecture relates to the reading (not your opinion).
•Discussion task = a clear position with a reason and example.
•Scored 0–30; organisation and accuracy raise the score.
The two tasks
In the integrated task, the lecture usually challenges or adds to the reading; your job is to report accurately how the lecture relates to each point in the reading — not to give your own opinion. Strong notes from both sources are everything.
In the academic-discussion task, you read a professor's question and two students' posts, then add your own well-reasoned contribution — stating a clear position, giving reasons and an example, and engaging with the topic.
How to study for it
For the integrated task, practice taking parallel notes (reading point ↔ lecture response) and writing accurate, well-organised summaries. For the discussion task, practice making a clear point with a specific reason and example in a limited time. Both reward organisation, range of language, and accuracy.
Write to time, then check your work against what raters look for — task completion, coherence, and language use — or use AI feedback to catch weak structure and grammar.
Frequently asked
What are the TOEFL Writing tasks?
Two: an integrated task where you read a passage, listen to a lecture, and write about how they relate; and a 'Writing for an Academic Discussion' task where you contribute your own reasoned post to an online class discussion. It's scored from 0 to 30.
Did TOEFL remove the independent essay?
The longer independent essay was replaced by the shorter 'Writing for an Academic Discussion' task. Always confirm the current Writing format on the official ETS sources.
How do I improve my TOEFL Writing score?
For the integrated task, take parallel notes and report the relationship accurately; for the discussion task, make a clear point with a reason and example. Write to time and get feedback on structure, coherence, and grammar.