TOEFL Writing Task 1 [Integrated Task] – Practice Test #059

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

To promote ecologically sustainable forestry practices, an international organization began issuing certifications to wood companies that meet high ecological standards, such as conserving resources and recycling materials. These certified companies can then appeal to consumers by marketing their products as ecocertified. Globally, many wood companies have adopted environmentally friendly practices to obtain this certification. However, it is unlikely that wood companies in the United States will follow suit for several reasons.

First, American consumers are exposed to a vast amount of advertising, which makes it difficult for them to value or even notice an ecocertification label. Since many subpar products are promoted as “new” or “improved,” American consumers often distrust advertising claims.

Second, ecocertified wood is likely to be more expensive than uncertified wood. In order to receive ecocertification, a wood company must cover the cost of an inspection by a certification agency, and this expense is passed on to the consumer. Since American consumers are typically driven by price, they will probably opt for the cheaper uncertified wood products. As a result, American wood companies will prefer to keep their prices low rather than pursue ecocertification.

Third, while some argue that it is always smart for American companies to stay current with global trends, this point is not entirely convincing. Seeking certification would only be beneficial to American wood companies if they sold most of their products internationally. However, this is not the case. Most American wood businesses primarily cater to the large domestic market, which is generally satisfied with uncertified products.