The 80 TOEFL writing topics on this web page focus on the most common question types found on the writing section of the TOEFL exam: agree/disagree, multiple choice, preference, and good idea.
“Ready to excel in TOEFL Writing? Dive into our free Online Discussion practice tests. Elevate your skills and conquer the exam. Follow the link for the latest updated July 2023 version of the TOEFL iBT!”
80 TOEFL Writing Topics
Agree/Disagree TOEFL Writing Topics (Most Common)
80 TOEFL Writing Topics
- Do you agree or disagree with the following statement? Children should be given a modest weekly allowance for doing household chores. Use specific reasons and examples to support your opinion. Do not use memorized examples.
- Do you agree or disagree with the following statement? Video games are great ways to help children learn creativity. Use specific reasons and examples to support your opinion. Do not use memorized examples.
- Do you agree or disagree with the following statement? Completing writing projects are more beneficial for students than taking multiple-choice exams. Use specific reasons and examples to support your opinion. Do not use memorized examples.
- Do you agree or disagree with the following statement? Consumers should be forced to buy electric-powered vehicles. Use specific reasons and examples to support your opinion. Do not use memorized examples.
- Do you agree or disagree with the following statement? Students should be given more options to learn in groups. Use specific reasons and examples to support your opinion. Do not use memorized examples.
- Do you agree or disagree with the following statement? Children should consult with their parents when they are choosing a major in college. Use specific reasons and examples to support your opinion. Do not use memorized examples.
- Do you agree or disagree with the following statement? Remote learning using techologies such as Zoom is just as effectice as in-person classroom learning. Use specific reasons and examples to support your opinion. Do not use memorized examples.
- Do you agree or disagree with the following statement? People who toss trash out their car windows should be fined at least $500. Use specific reasons and examples to support your opinion. Do not use memorized examples.
- Do you agree or disagree with the following statement? Children should be encouraged to play sports such as soccer and basketball. Use specific reasons and examples to support your opinion. Do not use memorized examples.
- Do you agree or disagree with the following statement? Children between the ages of 5 and 18 should not be allowed to listen to sexually explicit songs. Use specific reasons and examples to support your opinion. Do not use memorized examples.
- Do you agree or disagree with the following statement? Following China’s policy that originated in the 1970’s, families worldwide should only have one child per couple to prevent overpopulation. Use specific reasons and examples to support your opinion. Do not use memorized examples.
- Do you agree or disagree with the following statement? Football involves too much physical contact and should be banned. Use specific reasons and examples to support your opinion. Do not use memorized examples.
- Do you agree or disagree with the following statement? English grammar is one of the easiest language systems to learn. Use specific reasons and examples to support your opinion. Do not use memorized examples.
- Do you agree or disagree with the following statement? When looking for a spouse, a person should date several people at the same time. Use specific reasons and examples to support your opinion. Do not use memorized examples.
- Do you agree or disagree with the following statement? Middle class and rich citizens should pay at least 30% of their income to federal and state taxes so that governments can use this money to help the poor. Use specific reasons and examples to support your opinion. Do not use memorized examples.
- Do you agree or disagree with the following statement? Consulting tutors when students are having dfficulty with course content will help them to succeed academically. Use specific reasons and examples to support your opinion. Do not use memorized examples.
- Do you agree or disagree with the following statement? All households should be required to conserve by using 30% less water each month. Use specific reasons and examples to support your opinion. Do not use memorized examples.
- Do you agree or disagree with the following statement? All children should be required to get vacccinations from illnesses such as measles, small pox, coronavirus, and polio. Use specific reasons and examples to support your opinion. Do not use memorized examples.
- Do you agree or disagree with the following statement? A diet with little or no meat is the most healthy. Use specific reasons and examples to support your opinion. Do not use memorized examples.
- Do you agree or disagree with the following statement? Children should have part time jobs while attending high school. Use specific reasons and examples to support your opinion. Do not use memorized examples.
- Do you agree or disagree with the following statement? It is always good for people to have a hobby outside of work interests. Use specific reasons and examples to support your opinion. Do not use memorized examples.
- Do you agree or disagree with the following statement? Not everyone will succeed in life on their first try. However, they should not give up. Use specific reasons and examples to support your opinion. Do not use memorized examples.
- Do you agree or disagree with the following statement? Good listeners are much better friends that good conversationalists. Use specific reasons and examples to support your opinion. Do not use memorized examples.
- Do you agree or disagree with the following statement? Eating 3-5 smaller meals daily is much better for the digestive system rather than eating 1-2 large meals. Use specific reasons and examples to support your opinion. Do not use memorized examples.
- Do you agree or disagree with the following statement? All children and able-bodied adults should exercise 45 minutes daily at least five times per week. Use specific reasons and examples to support your opinion. Do not use memorized examples.
- Do you agree or disagree with the following statement? The current accepted work week is 40 hours a week, but it should be reduced to only 30 hours. Use specific reasons and examples to support your opinion. Do not use memorized examples.
- Do you agree or disagree with the following statement? Companies that sell junk food and sugary drinks should be prohibited from advertising their products on television. Use specific reasons and examples to support your opinion. Do not use memorized examples.
- Do you agree or disagree with the following statement? People who are arrested for selling drugs should not be imprisoned. Instead, they should be rehabilitated. Use specific reasons and examples to support your opinion. Do not use memorized examples.
- Do you agree or disagree with the following statement? Employees should change jobs frequently in order to gain more experience. Use specific reasons and examples to support your opinion. Do not use memorized examples.
- Do you agree or disagree with the following statement? At Christmas and at birthdays, it is always better to give than it is to receive. Use specific reasons and examples to support your opinion. Do not use memorized examples.
80 TOEFL Writing Topics
Mutiple-Choice Style TOEFL Writing Topics (Less common)
80 TOEFL Writing Topics
31. Which of the following employee attributes are most important?
- Workers should be able to get along well with others.
- Workers who are honest will make the most contributions.
- Workers need to always show up on time and should never leave early.
Use specific reasons and examples to support your opinion. Do not use memorized examples.
32. Which of the following are most important when choosing a house?
- Close to where you work
- Near where your children attend school
- In a safe neighborhood away from the city
Use specific reasons and examples to support your opinion. Do not use memorized examples.
33. Which of the following is most important when deciding on a university?
- An international reputation for research and teaching
- A reasonably priced institution that will not indebt its study body
- One which is located near a pristine beach
Use specific reasons and examples to support your opinion. Do not use memorized examples.
34. Which of the following is most important for someone suffering from depression?
- Having an affectionate pet such as a dog or cat
- Being able to interact with friends and family members regularly
- Having accurately prescribed medication to treat the mental illness
Use specific reasons and examples to support your opinion. Do not use memorized examples.
35. Which of the following is the most important part in maintaining an orderly society?
- A robust police department which builds relationships of trust with the public
- Having well-funded educational systems with trained and knowledgeable teachers
- Creating an environment in which churches have well-attended services
Use specific reasons and examples to support your opinion. Do not use memorized examples.
36. Which of the following is most important in having an environmentally-friendly city?
- A city with a public transportation system so extensive that private cars are not needed
- A city which requires all residences to use solar power for at least 80% of their energy needs
- City whose residences are required to recycle at least 50% of all water used.
Use specific reasons and examples to support your opinion. Do not use memorized examples.
37. Which of the following is the most healthy part of a person’s lifestyle?
- Continuous cardiovascular exercise for 45 minutes daily 5 days a week
- Eating an adundance of fresh vegetables and fruits
- Getting 8-9 hours of deep sleep nightly
Use specific reasons and examples to support your opinion. Do not use memorized examples.
38. Who would you most likely fire if you were the CEO of a large company?
- An employee who often arrives late
- Someone who argues a lot with other co-workers
- A worker who doesn’t commplete his job tasks competently
Use specific reasons and examples to support your opinion. Do not use memorized examples.
39. You just received an inheritance of more than 50 million dollars, and you MUST donate 1/2 of the money to one of the following:
- A hospital
- An elementary or high school
- A church
Which organization would you donate the money to? Why? Use specific reasons and examples to support your opinion. Do not use memorized examples.
40. You are going into the wilderness for two weeks. Which three objects would you bring with you?
- Matches, pocket knife, and a hat
- Sunglasses, poncho (rainsuit), and 1/2 pound of dried meat
- A compass, a shovel, and 2 liters of water
Use specific reasons and examples to support your opinion. Do not use memorized examples.
41. Which of the following measures would make a city safer?
- Hiring more police officers and getting them properly trained to serve the public
- Increasing the number of rehab facilities to help people quit using illegal drugs
- Improving educational facilties to prevent children from dropping out of school
Use specific reasons and examples to support your opinion. Do not use memorized examples.
42. Which of the following forms of social media are most harmful to children?
- TikTok
- YouTube
Use specific reasons and examples to support your opinion. Do not use memorized examples.
43. Which of the following is the most beneficial form of exercise for adults?
- Long-distance running
- Swimming
- Bicyling
Use specific reasons and examples to support your opinion. Do not use memorized examples.
44. Which politican would you most likely vote for?
- A candidate who will make it a priority to help the poor
- One who lowers taxes and deregulates small businesses
- A politician who promises to serve only one term in government
Use specific reasons and examples to support your opinion. Do not use memorized examples.
45. Which of the following animals would win in a fierce fight?
- A 1000 kg Salt Water Crocodile
- A 1,500 kg African hippopatamus
- A 227 kg Siberian Tiger
Use specific reasons and examples to support your opinion. Do not use memorized examples.
46. Which of the following jobs appeal to you the most?
- A doctor who cures infectitious diseases
- A lawyer who represents the rights of the underpriveleged
- An engineer who designs bridges and skyscrapers
Use specific reasons and examples to support your opinion. Do not use memorized examples.
47. Which of the following will allure more tourists to a city?
- A mega-entertainment center such as Disneyworld
- An abundance of trails and paved paths for bikers, runners, and walkers
- Huge shopping complexes offering discounts on 100’s of items
Use specific reasons and examples to support your opinion. Do not use memorized examples.
48. If the death penalty were allowed in your country, which method of execution should be implemented?
- Lethal injection
- A firing squad
- The electric chair
Use specific reasons and examples to support your opinion. Do not use memorized examples.
49. Which strategy is most effective when you have a lot of homework assignments?
- Completing the assignments with other members from the class
- Setting aside two hour blocks daily to tackle all the assignments alone
- To prioritize by completing the most difficult assignments to the least difficult ones
Use specific reasons and examples to support your opinion. Do not use memorized examples.
50. Which of the following events would cause the most harm to our planet?
- An eruption from a super volcanoe
- Impact from an asteriod which is at least 10 km in diameter
- A full-scale nuclear exchange of weapons involving the United States, Russia, China, the United Kingdom, India, Pakistan, Iran, and North Korea
Use specific reasons and examples to support your opinion. Do not use memorized examples.
80 TOEFL Writing Topics
Preference Style (Less common)
80 TOEFL Writing Topics
51. Computers are becoming more and more acceptable as tools that educators are using in classrooms. Some believe that this type of technology is useful for student learning. Others, on the other hand, believe that computers are not a required part of student learning. Which view do you support? Use reasons and examples to support your point of view. Make sure that you do NOT use memorized examples.
52. Some believe that food is becoming more and more scarce. Therefore, international laws should be passed that limit couples to having only one child. Others, on the other hand, believe that there will always be plenty of food for the world’s population. As a result, no laws are needed to restrict wordwide population growth. Which view do you support? Use reasons and examples to support your point of view. Make sure that you do NOT use memorized examples.
53. Some believe that all types of plastic should be banned since much of this material ends up polluting our oceans. Others, on the other hand, believe plastic should not be banned since it is an essential material. Which view do you support? Use reasons and examples to support your point of view. Make sure that you do NOT use memorized examples.
54. Some believe consumers should have vegetarian diets. Others, on the other hand, believe that these people should also eat meat in addition to healthy amounts of fruits and vegetables. Which view do you support? Use reasons and examples to support your point of view. Make sure that you do NOT use memorized examples.
55. Some believe that success mostly depends on how hard someone works to achieve his goals. Others, on the other hand, believe that luck plays an important role in whether or not someone succeeds in life. Which view do you support? Use reasons and examples to support your point of view. Make sure that you do NOT use memorized examples.
56. Some believe that it is proper etiquette to kiss someone on a first date. Others, on the other hand, believe that a couple should not kiss the first time that they go out together. Which view do you support? Use reasons and examples to support your point of view. Make sure that you do NOT use memorized examples.
57. Some believe that licensed doctors should recommed herbal treatments for their patients. Others, on the other hand, believe that doctors should only be allowed to prescribe medication that has been approved by a governmental organization such as the Federal Drug Association. Which view do you support? Use reasons and examples to support your point of view. Make sure that you do NOT use memorized examples.
58. Some believe children should be given household chores appropriate to their age. For example, a 10-year old child could be given a chore of emptying the garbage on a daily basis. Others, on the other hand, believe children should not be given any chores so long as they spend enough time doing their homework assignments after coming home from school. Which view do you support? Use reasons and examples to support your point of view. Make sure that you do NOT use memorized examples.
59. Some believe that elementary and high schools should separate the genders. For instance, only boys study at some schools, whereas girls study at other schools. Others, on the other hand, believe the boys and girls should be allowed to study in the same classrooms at the same schools. Which view do you support? Use reasons and examples to support your point of view. Make sure that you do NOT use memorized examples.
60. Some believe that people should not marry outside of their culture and language. They believe that marriage is already difficult enough, and mixing cultures will only complicate matters further. Others, on the other hand, believe love matters more than a culture or language when it comes marriage. Which view do you support? Use reasons and examples to support your point of view. Make sure that you do NOT use memorized examples.
61. Some believe electric cars are viable alternatives to fossil-fuel vehicles. Others, on the other hand, believe fossil-fuel cars will always be superior in their quality and durable compared to electric cars. Which view do you support? Use reasons and examples to support your point of view. Make sure that you do NOT use memorized examples.
62. Some believe that action movies are the best movies to watch after a hard day’s work. Others, on the other hand, believe that they can relax more effectively by watching comedy movies. Which type of movie do you prefer? Use reasons and examples to support your point of view. Make sure that you do NOT use memorized examples.
63. Some believe that politicians should only serve one term in office. Limiting how long politicians serve, they believe, will minimize corruption and conflicts of interest. Others, on the other hand, believe that politicians will more effectively serve their districts if they serve more than one term. Which view do you support? Use reasons and examples to support your point of view. Make sure that you do NOT use memorized examples.
64. Some believe that people should not be allowed to fart in public places since the offensive odor can really annoy others. Others, on the other hand, believe that there is no harm farting in public, even if people fart loudly. Which view do you support? Use reasons and examples to support your point of view. Make sure that you do NOT use memorized examples.
65. Some believe that goverments should allocate more money for space exploration. According to them, space exploration can lead to new discoveries and cures for infectitious diseases. Others, on the other hand, believe that govermments should reserve more money in their budgets for basic needs on Earth such as poverty, education, and healthcare. Which view do you support? Use reasons and examples to support your point of view. Make sure that you do NOT use memorized examples.
66. Some believe children should not be allowed to watch television since it has no educational value. Others, on the other hand, believe that television has educational value, so children should be able to watch it. Which view do you support? Use reasons and examples to support your point of view. Make sure that you do NOT use memorized examples.
67. Some believe human activities have caused irreversible effects of climate change. According to them, unless humans change their behaviors, the Earth could suffer an extinction level event for most animal and plant life. Others, on the other hand, believe that natural factors have had more of an effect on our climate. According to this belief, there is nothing that humans can do to alter this naturally occurring cycle that the Earth is going through. Which view do you support? Use reasons and examples to support your point of view. Make sure that you do NOT use memorized examples.
68. Some believe that cats make great pets by bringing comfort, compassion, and unconditional love to their owners. Others, on the other hand, believe that dogs make better pets than cats. Which pet do you think brings more satisfaction to their owners? Use reasons and examples to support your point of view. Make sure that you do NOT use memorized examples.
69. Some believe that it is better to rent a home rather than buy one. Others, on the other hand, believe that buying a home represents a much better investment. Which view do you support? Use reasons and examples to support your point of view. Make sure that you do NOT use memorized examples.
70. Some important guests are coming to visit you. To get ready, some believe that the first thing to be cleaned should be the interior and exterior windows. Others, on the other hand, believe the guest bathroom and living room should be the first areas of the home to be cleaned. Which view do you support? Use reasons and examples to support your point of view. Make sure that you do NOT use memorized examples.
80 TOEFL Writing Topics
Good Idea (Less common)
80 TOEFL Writing Topics
71. Some schools do not allow high school students to bring their smartphones to class. They believe that students will excel academically and socially without relying on these popular gadgets. Do you think that it is a good idea? Use reasons and examples to support your opinion. Make sure that you do NOT use memorized examples.
72. Some assert that children should be limited to one hour of electronics daily because the types of gadgets can harm children’s development. Do you think that it is a good idea to restrict how much time children spend on their electronics? Use reasons and examples to support your opinion. Make sure that you do NOT use memorized examples.
73. Some say that all citizens of a country should be required to get vaccinated against the Coronavirus. They believe that making everyone get vaccinated will help society to develop herd immunity, which will effectively end the pandemic. Do you think that everyone should be required to get vacccinated? Use reasons and examples to support your opinion. Make sure that you do NOT use memorized examples.
74. Some educators believe that children should read about 45 minutes every day? They believe that this type of extensive reading will help children to mature academically. Do you think that extensive reading is a good idea for children? Use reasons and examples to support your opinion. Make sure that you do NOT use memorized examples.
75. Some believe that outdoor and indoor smoking should be banned everywhere. They believe that the secondhand smoke from cigarettes creates a health hazard. Do you think that it is a good idea to prohibit smoking? Use reasons and examples to support your opinion. Make sure that you do NOT use memorized examples.
76. Some believe that countries worldwide should be forced to reduce their fossil fuel consumption by at least 20%. They believe that reducing fossil fuels such as oil and natural gas will counteract the dangerous effects of climate change. Do you think that it is a good idea for countries to limit their fossil-fuel consumption? Use reasons and examples to support your opinion. Make sure that you do NOT use memorized examples.
77. Some say workers should have the same political views of the instutions for which they work. For example, if the instution such as a school district supports the Black Lives Matter (BLM) movement, then educators under this organization should also support the BLM. If they do not, then they should be fired or forced to resign. Do you think it is a good idea for organizatons to fire employees who have opposing political views? Use reasons and examples to support your opinion. Make sure that you do NOT use memorized examples.
78. Some administrators and teachers say children should be punished by being paddled with a wooden board. They believe that this type of corporal punishment will curb undesirable behaviors. Do you think that it is a good idea to paddle children when they act out? Use reasons and examples to support your opinion. Make sure that you do NOT use memorized examples.
79. Some say drugs such as marijuana, herione, and cocaine should be legalized. They believe that legalizing these drugs will significantly reduce crime. Do you think that it is a good idea to legalize drugs? Use reasons and examples to support your opinion. Make sure that you do NOT use memorized examples.
80. To reduce fossil fuel consumption, some say governments should prohibit families from purchasing more than one automobile. They believe that if families have only one vehicle they will drive fewer miles, thereby slowing the emission of dangerous greenhouse gases into the atmosphere. Do you think that it is a good idea? Use reasons and examples to support your opinion. Make sure that you do NOT use memorized examples.
80 TOEFL Writing Topics
While you practice writing responses to these 80 TOEFL writing topics, consider joining my TOEFL Speaking and Writing Feedback Service. That way you can get estimated TOEFL writing scores every time you complete a practice test.
TOEFL Speaking Boot Camp Course: CLICK HERE
May the next TOEFFL exam you take be your last!
Michael Buckhoff, mbuckhoff@aol.com