TOEFL iBT Sample Questions

n newspapers much of the news tended to be 
local. So radio brought Americans together by offering them shared experiences and information about 
events all around the country. 
TOEFL iBT Sample Test Questions 
Copyright © 2005 ETS. All rights reserved 
61 
Narrator 
Using points and examples from the talk, explain how the automobile and the radio contributed to a 
common culture in the United States. 
Please begin speaking after the beep. 
[2 secs beep] 
[Appearing on screen] 
6. Using points and examples from the talk, explain how the automobile and the radio contributed to a 
common culture in the United States. 
Preparation time: 20 seconds 
Response time: 60 seconds 
TOEFL iBT Sample Test Questions 
Copyright © 2005 ETS. All rights reserved 
62 
Test Sample Questions for Writing 
Sample questions for the Writing section of the next generation TOEFL test are like the ones you will be 
presented with at the test center beginning in September 2005. 
These sample questions are noninteractive view only. To take the interactive practice questions and 
receive feedback about your English skills go to the TOEFL Practice Online Community 
( 
The actual test will be delivered via the Internet at secure, official test centers. This will make TOEFL an 
Internet-based test (iBT). Test takers will not be able to take the official test at home on the Internet. 
Writing Section Directions 
Make sure your headset is on. 
This section measures your ability to use writing to communicate in an academic environment. There will 
be two writing tasks. 
For the first writing task, you will read a passage and listen to a lecture and then answer a question 
based on what you have read and heard. For the second writing task, you will answer a question based 
on your own knowledge and experience. 
Now listen to the directions for the first writing task. 
Writing Based on Reading and Listening Directions 
For this task, you will first have three minutes to read a passage about an academic topic. You may take 
notes on the passage if you wish. The passage will then be removed and you will listen to a lecture about 
the same topic. While you listen, you may also take notes. 
Then you will have 20 minutes to write a response to a question that asks you about the relationship 
between the lecture you heard and the reading passage. Try to answer the question as completely as 
possible using information from the reading passage and the lecture. The question does not ask you to 
express your personal opinion. You will be able to see the reading passage again when it is time for you 
to write. You may use your notes to help you answer the question. 
Typically, an effective response will be 150 to 225 words long. Your response will be judged on the 
quality of your writing and on the completeness and accuracy of the content. If you finish your response 
before time is up, you may click on Next to go on to the second writing task. 
Now you will see the reading passage for five minutes. Remember it will be available to you again when 
you write immediately after the reading time ends. The lecture will begin, so keep your headset on until 
the lecture is over. 
TOEFL iBT Sample Test Questions 
Copyright © 2005 ETS. All rights reserved 
63 
Writing 1 
Directions: 
You have 20 minutes to plan and write your response. Your response will be judged on the basis of the 
quality of your writing and on how well your response presents the points in the lecture and their 
relationship to the reading passage. Typically, an effective response will be 150 to 225 words. 
Altruism is a type of behavior in which an animal sacrifices its own interest for that of another animal or 
group of animals. Altruism is the opposite of selfishness; individuals performing altruistic acts gain 
nothing for themselves. 
Examples of altruism abound, both among humans and among other mammals. Unselfish acts among 
humans range from the sharing of food with strangers to the donation of body organs to family members, 
and even to strangers. Such acts are altruistic in that they benefit another, yet provide little reward to the 
one performing the act. 
In fact, many species of animals appear willing to sacrifice food, or even their life, to assist other 
members of their group. The meerkat, which is a mammal that dwells in burrows in grassland areas of 
Africa, is often cited as an example. In groups of meerkats, an individual acts as a sentinel, standing 
guard and looking out for predators while the others hunt for food or eat food they have obtained. If the 
sentinel meerkat sees a predator such as a hawk approaching the group, it gives an alarm cry alerting 
the other meerkats to run and seek shelter. By standing guard, the sentinel meerkat gains nothing—it 
goes without food while the others eat, and it places itself in grave danger. After it issues an alarm it has 
to flee alone, which might make it more at risk to a predator, since animals in groups are often able to 
work together to fend off a predator. So the altruistic sentinel behavior helps ensure the survival of other 
members of the meerkat’s group. 
Narrator 
Now listen to part of a lecture on the topic you just read about. 
Professor 
You know, often in science, new findings force us to re-examine earlier beliefs and assumptions. And a 
recent study of meerkats is having exactly this effect. The study examined the meerkat’s behavior quite 
closely, much more closely than had ever been done before. And some interesting things were 
found...like about eating habits...it showed that typically meerkats eat before they stand guard -- so the 
ones standing guard had a full stomach! And the study also found that since the sentinel is the first to see 
a predator coming, it’s the most likely to escape...because it often stands guard near a burrow, so it can 
run immediately into the burrow after giving the alarm. The other meerkats, the ones scattered about 
looking for food, are actually in greater danger. 
And in fact, other studies have suggested that when an animal creates an alarm, the alarm call might 
cause the other group members either to gather together or else to move about very quickly, behaviors 
that might actually draw the predator’s attention away from the caller, increasing that animal’s own 
chances of survival. 
TOEFL iBT Sample Test Questions 
Copyright © 2005 ETS. All rights reserved 
64 
And what about people--what about some human acts that might be considered altruistic? Let’s take an 
extreme case, uh, suppose a person donates a kidney to a relative, or even to a complete stranger. A 
selfless act, right? But ...doesn’t the donor receive appreciation and approval from the stranger and from 
society? Doesn’t the donor gain an increased sense of self worth? Couldn’t such non-material rewards be 
considered very valuable to some people? 
Altruism is a type of behavior in which an animal sacrifices its own interest for that of another animal or 
group of animals. Altruism is the opposite of selfishness; individuals performing altruistic acts gain 
nothing for themselves. 
Examples of altruism abound, both among humans and among other mammals. Unselfish acts among 
humans range from the sharing of food with strangers to the donation of body organs to family members, 
and even to strangers. Such acts are altruistic in that they benefit another, yet provide little reward to the 
one performing the act. 
In fact, many species of animals appear willing to sacrifice food, or even their life, to assist other 
members of their group. The meerkat, which is a mammal that dwells in burrows in grassland areas of 
Africa, is often cited as an example. In groups of meerkats, an individual acts as a sentinel, standing 
guard and looking out for predators while the others hunt for food or eat food they have obtained. If the 
sentinel meerkat sees a predator such as a hawk approaching the group, it gives an alarm cry alerting 
the other meerkats to run and seek shelter. By standing guard, the sentinel meerkat gains nothing—it 
goes without food while the others eat, and it places itself in grave danger. After it issues an alarm it has 
to flee alone, which might make it more at risk to a predator, since animals in groups are often able to 
work together to fend off a predator. So the altruistic sentinel behavior helps ensure the survival of other 
members of the meerkat’s group. 
Question: 
Summarize the points made in the lecture you just heard, explaining how they cast doubt on points made 
in the reading. 
Narrator 
Summarize the points made in the lecture you just heard, explaining how they cast doubt on points made 
in the reading. 
TOEFL iBT Sample Test Questions 
Copyright © 2005 ETS. All rights reserved 
65 
Writing Based on Knowledge and Experience 
Directions 
For this task, you will write an essay in response to a question that asks you to state, explain, and 
support your opinion on an issue. You will have 30 minutes to plan, write, and revise your essay. 
Typically, an effective essay will contain a minimum of 300 words. Your essay will be judged on the 
quality of your writing. This includes the development of your ideas, the organization of your essay, and 
the quality and accuracy of the language you use to express your ideas. 
If you finish your essay before time is up, you may click on Next to end this section. 
When you are ready to continue, click on the Dismiss Directions icon. 
Writing 2 
Directions: 
Read the question below. You have 30 minutes to plan, write, and revise your essay. Typically, an 
effective response will contain a minimum of 300 words. 
Question: 
Do you agree or disagree with the following statement? 
Good teachers are more important to a child’s development than good parents. 
Use specific reasons and examples to support your answer.