TOEFL Writing Task 1 [Integrated Task] – Practice Test #039

This TOEFL Writing Task 1 (Integrated Writing) practice test provides an authentic experience with a real reading passage and a corresponding audio lecture. Follow the instructions carefully to simulate the exam and assess your skills accurately.

TOEFL Integrated Writing Detailed Instructions

Read the passage: You will read an academic passage on a topic, usually about 3 minutes.
Listen to the lecture: After reading, you will hear a lecture on the same topic, presenting a different perspective or additional information. You will not be able to see the reading passage while listening.
Take notes: While reading and listening, take notes on the key points and main ideas. Most of your focus should be on the lecturer since the passage is already available for reference.
Refer back to the reading: You can review the reading passage after the listening portion is complete.
Stay objective: Avoid adding personal thoughts, agreeing or disagreeing with the speaker, or evaluating the quality of their arguments. The key is to remain neutral and accurately report what each source says. Think of yourself as a reporter: your task is to explain what each side claims, how their points relate to each other, and how the lecture challenges the reading.
Organize clearly and have a plan: Use clear structure with an introduction, body paragraphs, and a conclusion. Personally, I prefer writing a concise introduction that presents both sides and briefly states their main reasons, followed by three body paragraphs, each focusing on one point and discussing it from both perspectives. If done properly, there’s no real need for a conclusion, especially since this isn’t a personal or opinion-based essay.
Write your response: Summarize the main points from the lecture and explain how they relate to or challenge the points in the reading passage.
Stay within the word limit: Your response should be 150-225 words.
Proofread: Ensure your grammar, spelling, and sentence structure are accurate.
Submit your writing: Use the form below to privately submit your writing for review, or post it publicly in the comment section at the bottom of the page.
Feedback (optional): Order detailed written analysis or a video session to review your response using the official TOEFL writing criteria and identify specific areas for improvement.

Reading Passage

The Little Ice Age was a period of unusually cold temperatures that affected many regions of the world from around 1350 to 1900 CE. Harsh winters and the expansion of glaciers were characteristic of this time. Scientists have proposed several possible causes for the Little Ice Age.

First, the cooling may have been caused by a disruption of ocean currents. Prior to the Little Ice Age, there was a period of warm weather during which glaciers melted, sending large amounts of cold freshwater into the Gulf Stream, a major ocean current that influences Earth’s climate. Some scientists believe this influx of freshwater disrupted the Gulf Stream, potentially triggering the Little Ice Age.

Second, volcanic eruptions could have contributed to the cooling. Volcanic activity releases dust and sulfur gases into the atmosphere, forming clouds that block sunlight from reaching Earth’s surface. This reduction in sunlight can lower global temperatures. Several volcanic eruptions occurred during the Little Ice Age, which could have played a role in cooling the climate.

Third, decreases in human populations may have indirectly contributed to the cooling. Due to factors such as disease, warfare, and social upheaval, the human population declined just before and during the early stages of the Little Ice Age. As agricultural fields were abandoned, forests began to grow in these areas. Trees absorb carbon dioxide, a greenhouse gas that helps retain heat in the atmosphere. With more trees absorbing carbon dioxide, the greenhouse effect weakened, leading to cooler temperatures.