TOEFL Writing Task 1 [Integrated Task] – Practice Test #053

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

Private collectors have been trading fossils, the preserved remains of ancient organisms, since the 18th century. In recent years, however, the buying and selling of fossils, especially those of dinosaurs and other large vertebrates, has turned into a lucrative industry. Rare and significant fossils are now being sold to private buyers for millions of dollars. This trend is unfortunate for both the scientific community and the general public.

The public loses out because fossils that might otherwise be donated to museums for everyone to enjoy end up in private collections, inaccessible to the general public. As a result, fewer people are able to view these fossils, which could lead to a decline in public interest in paleontology—a regrettable outcome.

Even more concerning is the fact that scientists may lose access to some of the most valuable fossils, missing opportunities to make critical discoveries about extinct species. Wealthy fossil collectors, eager to own the rarest and most significant specimens, are often able to outbid scientists, museums, and universities that cannot match the high prices.

Additionally, commercial fossil collectors frequently damage valuable scientific evidence related to the fossils they dig up. Many of these collectors lack proper training or simply aren’t concerned with the meticulous fieldwork and documentation that reveal essential details about ancient life. For instance, scientists have gained insights into the biology of nest-building dinosaurs called oviraptors by carefully studying the precise arrangement of fossils in the ground and noting other nearby remains. Commercial fossil hunters, on the other hand, often disregard the positioning of fossils and ignore smaller specimens around larger ones.