TOEFL Writing Task 1 [Integrated Task] – Practice Test #051

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 cane toad, a large amphibian species weighing around 1.8 kg, is originally from Central and South America. It was purposefully introduced to Australia in 1935 with the aim of helping farmers by consuming insects that damage crops. However, the toads reproduced quickly, and their population now poses a threat to smaller native animals that are not considered pests. Several strategies have been suggested to curb the spread of cane toads in Australia.

One approach to stop the spread would be to construct a national fence. A barrier preventing the movement of the toads would stop them from invading parts of Australia they haven’t yet reached. This method has been used in the past: a national fence was built in the early 20th century to stop the spread of rabbits, another species introduced to Australia that had a detrimental effect on native ecosystems.

Another proposal is to capture and eliminate the toads with the help of volunteers. Cane toads can be easily trapped using simple devices or even caught by hand. Younger toads and their eggs are even easier to collect and destroy since they are confined to water. If the Australian government were to launch a campaign encouraging citizens to work together to remove the toads, the combined effort could halt their spread.

Finally, scientists are working on developing a virus to control the cane toad population. This virus would be specifically engineered to infect various amphibians and reptiles but only harm cane toads. By preventing them from reaching maturity and reproducing, the virus would effectively manage the population of cane toads.