TOEFL Writing Task 1 [Integrated Task] – Practice Test #050

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 United Kingdom, often called Britain, has a deep and extensive history of human habitation. Evidence of structures, tools, and art can be found dating back thousands of years, spanning periods from the Stone Age, Bronze Age, and Iron Age, through Roman colonization, the Middle Ages, and into the early industrial era. However, throughout much of the twentieth century, archaeology, the field devoted to discovering and studying ancient cultural artifacts, faced significant challenges and limitations in Britain.

First, numerous valuable artifacts were lost due to construction projects. The population boom in Britain, particularly from the 1950s onward, led to a surge in construction within cities, towns, and villages. During excavation for new building foundations, workers frequently uncovered sites of archaeological importance. Unfortunately, construction usually continued without preserving these artifacts, resulting in the destruction of many historically significant finds.

Second, financial support for archaeological research was often seen as insufficient by many in the field. For the majority of the twentieth century, archaeology was primarily funded by government grants, which enabled the investigation of only a small number of major sites. This left hundreds of other fascinating projects without financial backing. Additionally, shifting government priorities occasionally led to cuts in funding.

Lastly, pursuing a career in archaeology was difficult. Jobs in archaeology were mostly available at universities or within a few government agencies, but there were always limited positions. As a result, many aspiring archaeologists were forced to seek careers elsewhere, contributing to the field only as unpaid hobbyists.