Writing Topics
Topics in the following list may appear in your actual Neighbors are the people who live near us. In your opinion, what are the
qualities of a good neighbor? Use specific details and examples in your
test. You should become familiar with this list before answer.
you take the computer-based TOEFL test. Remember
that when you take the test you will not have a choice It has recently been announced that a new restaurant may be built
in your neighborhood. Do you support or oppose this plan? Why?
of topics. You must write only on the topic that is Use specific reasons and details to support your answer.
assigned to you.
Some people think that they can learn better by themselves than with a
teacher. Others think that it is always better to have a teacher. Which do
People attend college or university for many different reasons (for you prefer? Use specific reasons to develop your essay.
example, new experiences, career preparation, increased knowledge).
Why do you think people attend college or university? Use specific What are some important qualities of a good supervisor (boss)? Use
reasons and examples to support your answer. specific details and examples to explain why these qualities are
important.
Do you agree or disagree with the following statement? Parents are
the best teachers. Use specific reasons and examples to support Should governments spend more money on improving roads and
your answer. highways, or should governments spend more money on improving public
transportation (buses, trains, subways)? Why? Use specific reasons and
Nowadays, food has become easier to prepare. Has this change improved details to develop your essay.
the way people live? Use specific reasons and examples to support your
answer. It is better for children to grow up in the countryside than in a big
city. Do you agree or disagree? Use specific reasons and examples to
It has been said, “Not everything that is learned is contained in develop your essay.
books.” Compare and contrast knowledge gained from experience
WRITING TOPICS
with knowledge gained from books. In your opinion, which source In general, people are living longer now. Discuss the causes of this
is more important? Why? phenomenon. Use specific reasons and details to develop your essay.
A company has announced that it wishes to build a large factory near We all work or will work in our jobs with many different kinds of
your community. Discuss the advantages and disadvantages of this new people. In your opinion, what are some important characteristics of
influence on your community. Do you support or oppose the factory? a co-worker (someone you work closely with)? Use reasons and
Explain your position. specific examples to explain why these characteristics are important.
If you could change one important thing about your hometown, In some countries, teenagers have jobs while they are still students. Do
what would you change? Use reasons and specific examples to you think this is a good idea? Support your opinion by using specific
support your answer. reasons and details.
How do movies or television influence people’s behavior? Use reasons A person you know is planning to move to your town or city. What
and specific examples to support your answer. do you think this person would like and dislike about living in your
town or city? Why? Use specific reasons and details to develop your
Do you agree or disagree with the following statement? Television essay.
has destroyed communication among friends and family. Use
specific reasons and examples to support your opinion. It has recently been announced that a large shopping center may be built
in your neighborhood. Do you support or oppose this plan? Why? Use
Some people prefer to live in a small town. Others prefer to live in a big specific reasons and details to support your answer.
city. Which place would you prefer to live in? Use specific reasons and
details to support your answer. It has recently been announced that a new movie theater may be
built in your neighborhood. Do you support or oppose this plan?
“When people succeed, it is because of hard work. Luck has Why? Use specific reasons and details to support your answer.
nothing to do with success.” Do you agree or disagree with the
quotation above? Use specific reasons and examples to explain your Do you agree or disagree with the following statement? People should
position. sometimes do things that they do not enjoy doing. Use specific reasons
and examples to support your answer.
Do you agree or disagree with the following statement? Universities
should give the same amount of money to their students’ sports activities Do you agree or disagree with the following statement? Television,
as they give to their university libraries. Use specific reasons and newspapers, magazines, and other media pay too much attention to
examples to support your opinion. the personal lives of famous people such as public figures and
celebrities. Use specific reasons and details to explain your opinion.
Many people visit museums when they travel to new places. Why
do you think people visit museums? Use specific reasons and Some people believe that the Earth is being harmed (damaged) by human
examples to support your answer. activity. Others feel that human activity makes the Earth a better place to
live. What is your opinion? Use specific reasons and examples to support
Some people prefer to eat at food stands or restaurants. Other people your answer.
prefer to prepare and eat food at home. Which do you prefer? Use
specific reasons and examples to support your answer. It has recently been announced that a new high school may be built
in your community. Do you support or oppose this plan? Why? Use
Some people believe that university students should be required to specific reasons and details in your answer.
attend classes. Others believe that going to classes should be
optional for students. Which point of view do you agree with? Use
specific reasons and details to explain your answer.
27
, Writing Topics (continued)
Some people spend their entire lives in one place. Others move a number
of times throughout their lives, looking for a better job, house, community, People work because they need money to live. What are some other
or even climate. Which do you prefer: staying in one place or moving in reasons that people work? Discuss one or more of these reasons. Use
search of another place? Use reasons and specific examples to support specific examples and details to support your answer.
your opinion.
Do you agree or disagree with the following statement? Face-to-face
Is it better to enjoy your money when you earn it or is it better to communication is better than other types of communication, such as
save your money for some time in the future? Use specific reasons letters, email, or telephone calls. Use specific reasons and details to
and examples to support your opinion. support your answer.
You have received a gift of money. The money is enough to buy either a Some people like to do only what they already do well. Other people
piece of jewelry you like or tickets to a concert you want to attend. Which prefer to try new things and take risks. Which do you prefer? Use
would you buy? Use specific reasons and details to support your answer. specific reasons and examples to support your choice.
Businesses should hire employees for their entire lives. Do you agree Some people believe that success in life comes from taking risks or
or disagree? Use specific reasons and examples to support your chances. Others believe that success results from careful planning. In your
answer. opinion, what does success come from? Use specific reasons and examples
to support your answer.
Do you agree or disagree with the following statement? Attending a live
performance (for example, a play, concert, or sporting event) is more What change would make your hometown more appealing to people
enjoyable than watching the same event on television. Use specific reasons your age? Use specific reasons and examples to support your
and examples to support your opinion. opinion.
Choose one of the following transportation vehicles and explain why Do you agree or disagree with the following statement? The most
you think it has changed people’s lives. important aspect of a job is the money a person earns. Use specific reasons
• automobiles and examples to support your answer.
• bicycles
• airplanes Do you agree or disagree with the following statement? One should
never judge a person by external appearances. Use specific reasons
WRITING TOPICS
Use specific reasons and examples to support your answer.
and details to support your answer.
Do you agree or disagree that progress is always good? Use specific
reasons and examples to support your answer. Do you agree or disagree with the following statement? A person should
never make an important decision alone. Use specific reasons and
Learning about the past has no value for those of us living in the examples to support your answer.
present. Do you agree or disagree? Use specific reasons and
examples to support your answer. A company is going to give some money either to support the arts or
to protect the environment. Which do you think the company should
Do you agree or disagree with the following statement? With the help of choose? Use specific reasons and examples to support your answer.
technology, students nowadays can learn more information and learn it
more quickly. Use specific reasons and examples to support your answer. Some movies are serious, designed to make the audience think. Other
movies are designed primarily to amuse and entertain. Which type of
The expression “Never, never give up” means to keep trying and movie do you prefer? Use specific reasons and examples to support your
never stop working for your goals. Do you agree or disagree with this answer.
statement? Use specific reasons and examples to support your
answer. Do you agree or disagree with the following statement? Businesses
should do anything they can to make a profit. Use specific reasons
Some people think that human needs for farmland, housing, and industry and examples to support your position.
are more important than saving land for endangered animals. Do you
agree or disagree with this point of view? Why or why not? Use specific Some people are always in a hurry to go places and get things done. Other
reasons and examples to support your answer. people prefer to take their time and live life at a slower pace. Which do
you prefer? Use specific reasons and examples to support your answer.
What is a very important skill a person should learn in order to be
successful in the world today? Choose one skill and use specific Do you agree or disagree with the following statement? Games are
reasons and examples to support your choice. as important for adults as they are for children. Use specific reasons
and examples to support your answer.
Why do you think some people are attracted to dangerous sports or other
dangerous activities? Use specific reasons and examples to support your Do you agree or disagree with the following statement? Parents or other
answer. adult relatives should make important decisions for their older (15 to 18
year-old) teenage children. Use specific reasons and examples to support
Some people like to travel with a companion. Other people prefer to your opinion.
travel alone. Which do you prefer? Use specific reasons and
examples to support your choice. What do you want most in a friend — someone who is intelligent, or
someone who has a sense of humor, or someone who is reliable?
Some people prefer to get up early in the morning and start the day’s Which one of these characteristics is most important to you? Use
work. Others prefer to get up later in the day and work until late at night. reasons and specific examples to explain your choice.
Which do you prefer? Use specific reasons and examples to support your
choice. Do you agree or disagree with the following statement? Most experiences
in our lives that seemed difficult at the time become valuable lessons for
What are the important qualities of a good son or daughter? Have the future. Use reasons and specific examples to support our answer.
these qualities changed or remained the same over time in your
culture? Use specific reasons and examples to support your answer. Some people prefer to work for themselves or own a business.
Others prefer to work for an employer. Would you rather be self-
Some people prefer to work for a large company. Others prefer to work employed, work for someone else, or own a business? Use specific
for a small company. Which would you prefer? Use specific reasons and reasons to explain your choice.
details to support your choice.
28
Topics in the following list may appear in your actual Neighbors are the people who live near us. In your opinion, what are the
qualities of a good neighbor? Use specific details and examples in your
test. You should become familiar with this list before answer.
you take the computer-based TOEFL test. Remember
that when you take the test you will not have a choice It has recently been announced that a new restaurant may be built
in your neighborhood. Do you support or oppose this plan? Why?
of topics. You must write only on the topic that is Use specific reasons and details to support your answer.
assigned to you.
Some people think that they can learn better by themselves than with a
teacher. Others think that it is always better to have a teacher. Which do
People attend college or university for many different reasons (for you prefer? Use specific reasons to develop your essay.
example, new experiences, career preparation, increased knowledge).
Why do you think people attend college or university? Use specific What are some important qualities of a good supervisor (boss)? Use
reasons and examples to support your answer. specific details and examples to explain why these qualities are
important.
Do you agree or disagree with the following statement? Parents are
the best teachers. Use specific reasons and examples to support Should governments spend more money on improving roads and
your answer. highways, or should governments spend more money on improving public
transportation (buses, trains, subways)? Why? Use specific reasons and
Nowadays, food has become easier to prepare. Has this change improved details to develop your essay.
the way people live? Use specific reasons and examples to support your
answer. It is better for children to grow up in the countryside than in a big
city. Do you agree or disagree? Use specific reasons and examples to
It has been said, “Not everything that is learned is contained in develop your essay.
books.” Compare and contrast knowledge gained from experience
WRITING TOPICS
with knowledge gained from books. In your opinion, which source In general, people are living longer now. Discuss the causes of this
is more important? Why? phenomenon. Use specific reasons and details to develop your essay.
A company has announced that it wishes to build a large factory near We all work or will work in our jobs with many different kinds of
your community. Discuss the advantages and disadvantages of this new people. In your opinion, what are some important characteristics of
influence on your community. Do you support or oppose the factory? a co-worker (someone you work closely with)? Use reasons and
Explain your position. specific examples to explain why these characteristics are important.
If you could change one important thing about your hometown, In some countries, teenagers have jobs while they are still students. Do
what would you change? Use reasons and specific examples to you think this is a good idea? Support your opinion by using specific
support your answer. reasons and details.
How do movies or television influence people’s behavior? Use reasons A person you know is planning to move to your town or city. What
and specific examples to support your answer. do you think this person would like and dislike about living in your
town or city? Why? Use specific reasons and details to develop your
Do you agree or disagree with the following statement? Television essay.
has destroyed communication among friends and family. Use
specific reasons and examples to support your opinion. It has recently been announced that a large shopping center may be built
in your neighborhood. Do you support or oppose this plan? Why? Use
Some people prefer to live in a small town. Others prefer to live in a big specific reasons and details to support your answer.
city. Which place would you prefer to live in? Use specific reasons and
details to support your answer. It has recently been announced that a new movie theater may be
built in your neighborhood. Do you support or oppose this plan?
“When people succeed, it is because of hard work. Luck has Why? Use specific reasons and details to support your answer.
nothing to do with success.” Do you agree or disagree with the
quotation above? Use specific reasons and examples to explain your Do you agree or disagree with the following statement? People should
position. sometimes do things that they do not enjoy doing. Use specific reasons
and examples to support your answer.
Do you agree or disagree with the following statement? Universities
should give the same amount of money to their students’ sports activities Do you agree or disagree with the following statement? Television,
as they give to their university libraries. Use specific reasons and newspapers, magazines, and other media pay too much attention to
examples to support your opinion. the personal lives of famous people such as public figures and
celebrities. Use specific reasons and details to explain your opinion.
Many people visit museums when they travel to new places. Why
do you think people visit museums? Use specific reasons and Some people believe that the Earth is being harmed (damaged) by human
examples to support your answer. activity. Others feel that human activity makes the Earth a better place to
live. What is your opinion? Use specific reasons and examples to support
Some people prefer to eat at food stands or restaurants. Other people your answer.
prefer to prepare and eat food at home. Which do you prefer? Use
specific reasons and examples to support your answer. It has recently been announced that a new high school may be built
in your community. Do you support or oppose this plan? Why? Use
Some people believe that university students should be required to specific reasons and details in your answer.
attend classes. Others believe that going to classes should be
optional for students. Which point of view do you agree with? Use
specific reasons and details to explain your answer.
27
, Writing Topics (continued)
Some people spend their entire lives in one place. Others move a number
of times throughout their lives, looking for a better job, house, community, People work because they need money to live. What are some other
or even climate. Which do you prefer: staying in one place or moving in reasons that people work? Discuss one or more of these reasons. Use
search of another place? Use reasons and specific examples to support specific examples and details to support your answer.
your opinion.
Do you agree or disagree with the following statement? Face-to-face
Is it better to enjoy your money when you earn it or is it better to communication is better than other types of communication, such as
save your money for some time in the future? Use specific reasons letters, email, or telephone calls. Use specific reasons and details to
and examples to support your opinion. support your answer.
You have received a gift of money. The money is enough to buy either a Some people like to do only what they already do well. Other people
piece of jewelry you like or tickets to a concert you want to attend. Which prefer to try new things and take risks. Which do you prefer? Use
would you buy? Use specific reasons and details to support your answer. specific reasons and examples to support your choice.
Businesses should hire employees for their entire lives. Do you agree Some people believe that success in life comes from taking risks or
or disagree? Use specific reasons and examples to support your chances. Others believe that success results from careful planning. In your
answer. opinion, what does success come from? Use specific reasons and examples
to support your answer.
Do you agree or disagree with the following statement? Attending a live
performance (for example, a play, concert, or sporting event) is more What change would make your hometown more appealing to people
enjoyable than watching the same event on television. Use specific reasons your age? Use specific reasons and examples to support your
and examples to support your opinion. opinion.
Choose one of the following transportation vehicles and explain why Do you agree or disagree with the following statement? The most
you think it has changed people’s lives. important aspect of a job is the money a person earns. Use specific reasons
• automobiles and examples to support your answer.
• bicycles
• airplanes Do you agree or disagree with the following statement? One should
never judge a person by external appearances. Use specific reasons
WRITING TOPICS
Use specific reasons and examples to support your answer.
and details to support your answer.
Do you agree or disagree that progress is always good? Use specific
reasons and examples to support your answer. Do you agree or disagree with the following statement? A person should
never make an important decision alone. Use specific reasons and
Learning about the past has no value for those of us living in the examples to support your answer.
present. Do you agree or disagree? Use specific reasons and
examples to support your answer. A company is going to give some money either to support the arts or
to protect the environment. Which do you think the company should
Do you agree or disagree with the following statement? With the help of choose? Use specific reasons and examples to support your answer.
technology, students nowadays can learn more information and learn it
more quickly. Use specific reasons and examples to support your answer. Some movies are serious, designed to make the audience think. Other
movies are designed primarily to amuse and entertain. Which type of
The expression “Never, never give up” means to keep trying and movie do you prefer? Use specific reasons and examples to support your
never stop working for your goals. Do you agree or disagree with this answer.
statement? Use specific reasons and examples to support your
answer. Do you agree or disagree with the following statement? Businesses
should do anything they can to make a profit. Use specific reasons
Some people think that human needs for farmland, housing, and industry and examples to support your position.
are more important than saving land for endangered animals. Do you
agree or disagree with this point of view? Why or why not? Use specific Some people are always in a hurry to go places and get things done. Other
reasons and examples to support your answer. people prefer to take their time and live life at a slower pace. Which do
you prefer? Use specific reasons and examples to support your answer.
What is a very important skill a person should learn in order to be
successful in the world today? Choose one skill and use specific Do you agree or disagree with the following statement? Games are
reasons and examples to support your choice. as important for adults as they are for children. Use specific reasons
and examples to support your answer.
Why do you think some people are attracted to dangerous sports or other
dangerous activities? Use specific reasons and examples to support your Do you agree or disagree with the following statement? Parents or other
answer. adult relatives should make important decisions for their older (15 to 18
year-old) teenage children. Use specific reasons and examples to support
Some people like to travel with a companion. Other people prefer to your opinion.
travel alone. Which do you prefer? Use specific reasons and
examples to support your choice. What do you want most in a friend — someone who is intelligent, or
someone who has a sense of humor, or someone who is reliable?
Some people prefer to get up early in the morning and start the day’s Which one of these characteristics is most important to you? Use
work. Others prefer to get up later in the day and work until late at night. reasons and specific examples to explain your choice.
Which do you prefer? Use specific reasons and examples to support your
choice. Do you agree or disagree with the following statement? Most experiences
in our lives that seemed difficult at the time become valuable lessons for
What are the important qualities of a good son or daughter? Have the future. Use reasons and specific examples to support our answer.
these qualities changed or remained the same over time in your
culture? Use specific reasons and examples to support your answer. Some people prefer to work for themselves or own a business.
Others prefer to work for an employer. Would you rather be self-
Some people prefer to work for a large company. Others prefer to work employed, work for someone else, or own a business? Use specific
for a small company. Which would you prefer? Use specific reasons and reasons to explain your choice.
details to support your choice.
28
