Teamwork - TOEFL Writing Practice Test with Answers

Among the two TOEFL Writing tasks, the Integrated Writing task is conducted first as it needs you to read a short passage, listen to a lecture related to the same topic and then formulate your answer based on these two discussions as shown in the TOEFL Writing practice question on teamwork. For listening to the lecture, you will be provided with headphones. After the lecture, the reading passage will reappear on your computer screen with the instructions and the writing task. You will have 20 minutes to complete the task. 

The Integrated Writing task gives you the opportunity to demonstrate your ability to write and discuss subject matter that you have read and heard. Your answer will be marked on the score of 0-5 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. The best way to familiarise yourself with the pattern of this task and to integrate the strategies given below is to practise TOEFL Writing practice tests regularly. 

Therefore, let’s get going with the TOEFL Integrated Writing practice test to figure out the areas that you need to work on to achieve your TOEFL score!

Writing Instructions

• You will read a passage about an academic topic and you will listen to a lecture about the same topic.
• You may take notes while you read and listen.
• Then you will 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 may refer to the reading passage again when you write. You may use your notes to help you answer the question.
• There is no strict word limit. However, an effective response is considered to be within 150 to 225 words.
• Your response will be judged on the quality of your writing and on the completeness and accuracy of the content.
• Give yourself 3 minutes to read the passage.

Creating a committed team is a common step in taking on new projects within companies. There are several benefits to using a team. First of all, a group of people contributes a wider variety of information, experience, and abilities than any one person could. A team with multiple minds working together also has more coordination, which makes it possible for them to respond quickly to duties that are assigned to them. A team's combined resources can also be used to provide extremely original solutions to issues and obstacles. 

A team's collective nature creates an atmosphere that is favourable for creative thinking because each member of the group brings a distinct perspective to the table. The group is more likely to take risks and try different approaches, and there is a greater chance for innovative problem-solving. This willingness to take risks is facilitated by the shared responsibility within the group, distributing the accountability for decisions among all members. Consequently, no single individual bears the sole responsibility if a decision proves to be unsuccessful. This collaborative approach encourages a more dynamic and adaptive response to the complexities of a given project.

Participating in a group process yields substantial benefits for members of the team. There is no doubt that those who actively engage in decision-making feel more committed to the subsequent tasks than they would if the work were imposed upon them by third parties. Team members also have additional opportunities to present their ideas and skills, and their contributions may be valued as extremely important in addition to being acknowledged. This is explained by the fact that a team can do more and have a greater overall influence than a single person working alone could manage. Thus, within the context of the group dynamic, the cooperative character of teamwork offers a platform for individual growth and acknowledgment.

Now play the track below.

Question:

Summarise the points made in the lecture, being sure to explain how they oppose specific points made in the reading passage.

You have 20 minutes to plan and write your response.

Learn what a good TOEFL score is before you check out the sample answer to the Integrated Writing task!

Sample Responses for the Integrated Writing Task on Teamwork

Score 5 Response

The lecturer discusses a company's research utilising the group system for managing their work and highlights significant dispareties between the theory presented in the reading passage and the actual outcomes.

Firstly, certain members enjoyed "free rides," implying that some individuals did not contribute much effort but still received recognition for success. Consequently, diligent individuals were not duly acknowledged, denying them the opportunity to shine. This directly contradict the passage's assertions.

Secondly, the progress of groups was notably slow. While the passage claims that groups are more responsive than individuals due to increased numbers and aggregated resources, the speaker reveals that the company found groups to be slower than individuals in decision-making. Groups required additional time for necessary procedures such as meetings, contradicting the theoritecal efficiency of group dynamics.

Thirdly, influential individuals could emerge and guide the group toward either success or failure. If these influential figures steer in the right direction, there is no issue. However, in cases where they lead in the wrong direction, there is no one with sufficient influence to counter such decisions. Ovrall, the group might transform into a dictatorship, with the influential party as the leader, potentially becoming less flexible in thinking, one-sided, and susceptible to failure.

Rater’s Comments

This response contains a number of spelling, word construction, and subject-verb agreement mistakes. However, the majority of these errors appear to be the consequence of typing errors typical in first drafts. The lecturer's remarks, which defy the reading passage's reasons, are expertly presented by the writer. The author is quite detailed and has arranged his or her ideas in a way that makes sense - in each of the supporting paragraphs, the lecturer first provides an account of what actually occurred before making a clear connection to a theoretical idea from the reading.

Score 4 Response

The lecture following the paragraph on teamwork in organisations presented contrasting views on the effectiveness of teamwork. Firstly, despite the paragraph asserting that the team approach could be faster than individual work, the lecture argued the opposite - teamwork might actually be considerably slower. This is attributed to team members occasionally taking more time than necessary to reach conclusions or even decide on simple matters like the next steps.

Secondly, while the paragraph implies that teamwork provides a competitive advantage, the lecture suggests that this may have negative repercussions. Leaders emerging within the group might make incorrect decisions or perceive something as highly creative when, in reality, it is not viable, but, the remaining team members might blindly follow these leaders, resulting in suboptimal outcomes.

Lastly, the paragraph emphasises that teamwork fosters a sense of collective responsibility, enhancing overall team effectiveness. However, the lecture presents a contrasting viewpoint, suggesting that some team members are merely riding along for a "free ride," contributing little but still receiving credit as part of the collective effort.

Rater’s Comments

This response's author clearly aims to tie the lecture and passage together, and she does a fantastic job of addressing the lecturer's remarks regarding group decision-making and the problem of certain group members not contributing. However, the writer's second point is not as well-stated as her first and third. It's challenging to understand the paragraph's main statement (Leaders emerging within the group might make incorrect decisions or perceive something as highly creative when, in reality, it is not viable, but, the remaining team members might blindly follow these leaders, resulting in suboptimal outcomes.). This response receives a score of 4, which corresponds to what the Scoring Guide refers to as "an occasional lapse of clarity." All things considered, this is still a really solid response that tackles the assignment directly and effectively summarises the important details from the talk.

Score 3 Response

The lecturer presents a contrasting perspective on the article's portrayal of teamwork, emphasising the potential negative effects associated with team efforts. Despite the prevalent popularity of team spirit and cooperation in today's business world, the lecturer finds hidden and deeper consequences.

First of all, the lecturer argues that the individual contributions of team members may not receive proper acknowledgment. In situations where a team member contributes minimally or not at all during discussions, decision-making, and final implementation, their lack of effort may go unnoticed due to the emphasis on teamwork. Conversely, the exceptional work of highly creative individuals within the team might be overshadowed for the same reason.

Then, the lecturer argues that the value of teamwork diminishes when influenced by a few key individuals in the group. While the primary advantage of a team is to prevent individual errors, the presence of one or two influential or persuasive individuals can render the team ineffective.

Moreover, the lecturer suggests that teamwork often becomes an excuse for evading responsibility. With everyone involved, nobody cares.

In conclusion, the lecturer advocates for a comprehensive assessment of the advantages and disadvantages associated with widely adopted concepts or methods. The key is to maintain a sense of common sense in evaluating the true implications of teamwork and similar practices.

Rater’s Comments

This response does a good job framing the problem. The lecturer's remarks regarding team members who contribute greatly and others who do very little are accurately conveyed in the first point, which is clearly articulated. However, the writer used a few ambiguous phrases ("hidden and deeper consequences," "one or two influential or persuasive individuals"). The point regarding influencers and how they cause issues is still not clear. The viewpoint is not presented clearly in the final section, which starts with the line "Moreover." This response shows several of the common characteristics that lead to a response receiving a score of three.

Strategies for Taking the Integrated Writing Task on Teamwork

We know writing tasks for TOEFL can be quite overwhelming, especially when the aim is to achieve a score of 5. But, do you know what makes it easier to handle? Well, the strategies, of course!

So, explore the strategies given below and implement them while practising your TOEFL Writing sample practice tests!

• Take notes while you are reading the passage as well as while listening to the lecture. There is no need to memorise the points as the passage will reappear on the screen.
• Find out the main idea of the passage. It will either be for or against a notion. It will help you figure out the distinguishing features between the lecture and the passage.
• Listen for information, examples, or explanations that will help you to present your points of contrast clearly. 
• Before writing, reread the passage and make an outline of the contrasting ideas presented in the audio and the text.
• Do not add your opinion as it is not asked for. Relate the information provided in the passage and the audio and present them accordingly.
• Ensure that you write in full sentences in English. The length of the sentences does not matter as long as they present your points effectively. 
• Make sure the words you use in your answers are your own, not just phrases and passages you've memorised or copied from the text/audio. 

Now that you have gone through the sample answers for this TOEFL Writing practice test along with the strategies to make them stand out, it is time to gear up for practice!

Drop a message in the comments section below with your response to this question and get it reviewed by our TOEFL experts!

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