TOEFL Writing Topics 2026: 40 Practice Prompts for Both Tasks

The fastest way to raise your TOEFL writing band is to practise on realistic prompts, not to read more theory. This page gives you 40 TOEFL writing topics that match the 2026 test exactly: 24 academic discussion questions and 16 email scenarios. Set a timer, write a full answer, then check it against the scoring points below.

The two writing tasks on the 2026 TOEFL

The 2026 TOEFL writing section has two tasks and takes about 35 minutes in total. The first is Writing for an Academic Discussion: a professor poses a question and two classmates reply, and you add your own view in about 10 minutes, aiming for at least 100 words and referring to at least one classmate by name. The second is the Write an Email task: you read a short situation and write a clear, polite email in about 7 minutes.

Both tasks are scored on the 1 to 6 band scale used across the 2026 test. If you are still learning the structure of each task, read our TOEFL writing tips, the email task template, and the academic discussion guide before you start drilling these topics.

24 Academic Discussion topics

Treat each prompt as the professor's question. State a clear opinion in your first sentence, give one or two reasons with a specific example, refer to one classmate's view, and finish with a short conclusion. The topics below are grouped by theme so you can practise the vocabulary of each one.

Education

1. Some universities now require every first-year student to take a course in critical thinking. Do the benefits of a required critical-thinking course outweigh the loss of an elective?
2. Should universities replace traditional final exams with project-based assessment?
3. Some courses now move lectures online and reserve class time for discussion. Is this "flipped classroom" model better than traditional lectures?

Technology and the internet

4. Some argue that AI writing tools should be allowed in university assignments as long as students disclose that they used them. Do you agree?
5. Should governments limit how much time children are allowed to spend on social media each day?
6. Is it better for a city to invest in faster public internet or in more public transport?

Work and careers

7. More companies now offer permanent remote work. Does working from home help or harm employees who are early in their careers?
8. Should employers be allowed to look at a job applicant’s social media activity when deciding whom to hire?
9. Some people say students should choose a major based on job prospects rather than personal interest. What is your view?

Environment

10. Should single-use plastics be banned completely, even where no affordable alternative exists yet?
11. Is it more effective to fight climate change through individual lifestyle changes or through government regulation?
12. Should cities charge drivers a fee to enter the busiest downtown areas?

Society and government

13. Should voting be mandatory for all eligible citizens?
14. Some cities offer free public transport to every resident. Is this a good use of public money?
15. Should governments fund the arts, or should the arts rely mainly on private support?

Media and culture

16. Do streaming services improve access to culture, or do they reduce the variety of films and music that get made?
17. Should museums return cultural artefacts to their countries of origin?
18. Is it better to read a few books deeply or many books quickly?

Health and lifestyle

19. Should universities make a physical-education course a requirement for graduation?
20. Some employers pay workers who meet fitness goals. Is rewarding healthy behaviour with money a fair idea?
21. Should advertising for fast food that targets children be banned?

Money and the economy

22. Should students from low-income families be paid to attend school?
23. Is it wiser to save money carefully or to spend on experiences while you are young?
24. Should a country prioritise lowering taxes or improving public services?

16 Email task topics

For each scenario, write a complete email: a greeting, a clear statement of the problem, a specific request, and a polite closing with your name. Decide before you start whether the tone should be formal (a professor or an office) or friendly (a classmate).

1. Your professor has scheduled the final exam on a date when you have a documented medical appointment. Write to ask whether you can take the exam at another time.
2. The library has charged you a late fee for a book you returned on time. Write to the librarian explaining the situation and asking for the fee to be removed.
3. You would like to join a research project led by one of your professors. Write to introduce yourself and ask how to apply.
4. The heating in your dormitory has stopped working. Write to the housing office to report the problem and request a repair.
5. You missed a class because you were ill. Write to a classmate asking for the lecture notes and any announcements.
6. The campus bookstore gave you the wrong edition of a textbook. Write to ask how to exchange it.
7. You need more time on an essay because of a family emergency. Write to your professor to request an extension.
8. The internet in your apartment was down on the day an assignment was due. Write to your professor to explain and ask how to submit it.
9. You want to start a study group and need a room on campus. Write to the department office to request a booking.
10. Your tuition payment was charged twice. Write to the finance office to report the error and request a refund.
11. You are interested in a part-time job advertised on the campus noticeboard. Write to ask about the hours and how to apply.
12. A campus tour you travelled a long way to attend was cancelled without notice. Write to request a new date.
13. You would like feedback on a draft before the final deadline. Write to your professor to ask for a short meeting.
14. Your meal card was charged for a meal you did not buy. Write to report the error and ask for it to be corrected.
15. You need a letter of recommendation from a professor. Write to request it and explain when it is due.
16. Your group partner has not replied for a week and a project is due soon. Write to your professor to ask for advice.

How to practise these writing topics

Picking a topic is the easy part. The practice only works if you write under the same conditions as the real test:

• Set a timer for 10 minutes (discussion) or 7 minutes (email) and stop when it ends.
• Spend the first minute planning your opinion and reasons, then write without stopping.
• Leave the last minute to fix obvious spelling and grammar slips.
• Compare your answer against a band 5 to 6 model and mark what is missing.

The hardest step to do alone is the honest comparison. On a TOEFLMock writing test your answer is scored and you are told exactly why it earned its band, with a model answer beside it, so you can see the specific change that would lift your score.

How your writing is scored

A band 1 or 2 answer is usually off-topic, unfinished, or too short to judge. A band 3 or 4 answer addresses the prompt but has frequent language errors or thin development. A band 5 or 6 answer fully answers the prompt with clear, well organised ideas and only minor errors. The single biggest reason students score low is not finishing both tasks, so completing every answer matters more than perfect grammar. To understand the scale in detail, see our guide to the 1 to 6 scoring system.

Frequently asked questions

How many writing tasks are on the 2026 TOEFL?

Two. You write a response to an academic discussion prompt and a short email, and the whole writing section takes about 35 minutes.

How long do I get for each writing task?

You get about 10 minutes for the academic discussion task, where you should aim for at least 100 words, and about 7 minutes for the email task, which expects a shorter response.

What is a good TOEFL writing score?

Writing is scored on the 1 to 6 band scale. A band 5 or 6 means you fully answer the prompt with clear, well organised ideas and few language errors. Most universities are comfortable with an overall band around 4 to 5.

How can I get feedback on my practice essays?

Take a writing test on TOEFLMock and the system explains why each answer scored the band it did, with a model answer you can compare against, so you know exactly what to fix next time.

Related articles

• TOEFL Writing Tips 2026: 12 fixes that raise your band
• TOEFL Write an Email: template and examples
• TOEFL Academic Discussion: band 6 framework and samples
• TOEFL Speaking Topics 2026: practice questions