TOEFL Sample Essays

Writing an essay is the second step in the Writing section of TOEFL. The topic for writing essays can be chosen from the list of topics given in the official website, or you can use a completely new topic. Whichever choice you make, writing your own sample essays during test preparation can be a wonderful experience if you remember to concentrate on what you actually think about the topic instead of aping others.

The example essays need not be elaborate in structure and neither do you need to use complicated vocabulary to prove your point. The essays have to be written in simple and correct English and have to compulsorily be backed by illustrations to support arguments. If you are writing about personal choices and feelings then you should add 'I believe' or 'I think' or 'I feel' before making a statement. The essays need to be at least 300 words in length but students are permitted to write more if they wish to and if they have enough time left. The time allotted for essay writing in the test is 30 minutes.

One of the example essays from the official list is discussed here.


Many students have to live with roommates while going to school or university. What are some of the important qualities of a good roommate? Use specific reasons and examples to explain why these qualities are important.

TOEFL Sample Essay

Living away from the comfort of your home is not an easy job. Not only do you feel nomadic, you also start missing your family and that is a depressing feeling. Many students have to live with roommates while going to school or university and if their roommates are not to their liking then students miss their family all the more.

According to me, the qualities of good roommates can essentially be clubbed into three broad categories. Firstly, the roommates have to be friendly, secondly, roommates should be cooperative, and thirdly, roommates should be neat and tidy as far as their living standards are concerned.

A friendly roommate does not only mean a person who is friends with you but, it means a person who is in general, not of a foul nature. I know of many friends who decided to become roommates but because of their differences in nature could not sustain living together for long. Harmony does not come from being friends with one particular individual but by being friendly in general.

Cooperative roommates believe in sharing their belongings and their space, they listen to each other and understand each other's problems and concerns. They do not interfere in each other's lives while at the same time, participate in activities together. Roommates might have to study together, prepare or arrange for meals together and, also need to do the daily chores in collaboration with each other. In these day-to-day processes of life, roommates do need to adjust their behaviour with respect to each other and therefore, being cooperative is a key characteristic of a good roommate. Being friendly and being cooperative are like two sides of the same coin so, it can be safely stated that roommates have to essentially be friendly as well as cooperative to be called `good roommates`.

Neat roommates are hygiene-loving individuals. Living together requires people to share the living areas and the most commonly shared areas are the toilets and eating rooms. Roommates should take turns in keeping these areas clean and they should also keep a check on personal hygiene. If the environment is not hygienic then living together can get very difficult. Students may have health problems and also lose interest in studies. I believe that peace of mind also gets affected if the surroundings are dirty.

Students live jointly for a number of reasons. Some universities require students to stay in their facilities while others stay together out of personal choice. In a nutshell, whatever their reasons of living with roommates might be, students should choose good roommates so that their experience of living with them is fruitful.