Should College Tuition Be Based on Income - TOEFL Writing Practice Test (Integrated)

The Integrated Writing task of the TOEFL exam assesses your ability to synthesize information and express it clearly in writing. This practice test is designed to help you refine your skills in summarising, analysing, and organising ideas into a coherent essay. Let’s start practicing and move closer to achieving your desired TOEFL score!

Writing Instructions

• You'll read a passage and listen to a lecture on an academic topic.
• You may take notes while listening to aid comprehension.
• Then you will write a response to a question that asks you about the lecture you heard.
• Answer the question comprehensively using information from the lecture. Avoid expressing personal opinions in the response.
• There is no strict word limit. However, an effective response is considered to be within 150 to 225 words.
• Your response will be assessed based on writing quality, content accuracy, and completeness.

The debate over whether college fees should be based on income has gained a lot of attention recently. Supporters say that income-based fees can make higher education more available to students from low-income families. By adjusting fees according to a family's financial situation, colleges can ensure that all students, no matter their economic background, have the chance to go to college. This approach can help reduce the money problems that often stop talented but poor students from attending college.

Another benefit of income-based fees is that it can lead to a more varied student body. When fees are adjusted based on income, students from different economic and social backgrounds are more likely to enroll. This variety improves the educational experience for all students, creating a more welcoming and well-rounded learning environment. Exposure to different perspectives and experiences can enhance critical thinking and prepare students for a worldwide job market.

Also, income-based fees can ease the burden of student debt. Many students graduate with a lot of debt, which can take years to repay and can hurt their financial stability. By matching fees with a family's ability to pay, students are less likely to take on excessive loans. This can lead to a more financially secure future for graduates, allowing them to invest in other areas like buying a home or starting a business.

However, critics argue that income-based fees could create management problems for colleges. Determining each family's financial situation requires a detailed and accurate assessment, which can be time-consuming and costly. There is also the possible chance for families to lie about their income to qualify for lower fees, leading to issues of fairness and honesty. Plus, some believe that income-based fees could discourage financial responsibility, as families might rely on reduced fees rather than saving for their children's education.

Now play the audio.

Question

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

Curious about what a good TOEFL score looks like? Check it out first, then explore the Integrated Writing sample answers!

Sample Responses for the Integrated Writing Task on - Should College Tuition Be Based on Income

Examine the provided pair of sample answers - one representing a mid-level and the other a high level. By studying these responses closely, you'll discover valuable lessons to enhance and polish your written responses.

High-Level Response

The lecture challenges the reading's support for income-based college fees by highlighting several drawbacks. Firstly, while the reading suggests that income-based fees can make higher education more accessible, the lecture points out the management difficulties involved. Accurately assessing each family's financial situation requires extensive paperwork and verification, increasing administrative costs and the risk of fraud.

Secondly, the reading claims that income-based fees can lead to a more diverse student body. However, the lecture argues that other costs, such as housing and books, remain significant barriers for low-income students. These additional expenses can still prevent them from enrolling, limiting the effectiveness of income-based fees in promoting diversity.

Lastly, the reading asserts that income-based fees can reduce student debt. In contrast, the lecture emphasizes that this approach does not address the root causes of rising college costs. Without broader reforms, the overall cost of higher education will continue to rise, potentially offsetting any benefits from income-based adjustments. Additionally, the lecture raises concerns that income-based fees could discourage financial responsibility, as families might rely on reduced fees instead of saving for their children's education.

In summary, while the reading presents a favorable view of income-based college fees, the lecture raises important concerns about management difficulties, additional costs, and the potential for undermining financial responsibility.

Rater's Comment

This response deserves a high score because it effectively summarizes the main points from both the reading and the lecture, demonstrating a clear understanding of the material. The essay is well-organized, with each paragraph addressing a specific counterargument from the lecture that challenges the reading. The second paragraph addresses the issue of additional costs, such as housing and books, which challenges the reading's assertion about promoting diversity. The final paragraph highlights the failure to address the root causes of rising college costs and the potential for discouraging financial responsibility, questioning the reading's claim about reducing student debt.

The response is coherent and flows logically from one point to the next, making it easy to follow. The language is clear and concise, with strong control over grammar and vocabulary. There are no significant errors that hinder understanding, and the use of transitions helps to clearly signal the relationship between the reading and the lecture. Overall, this response effectively captures the key points from both sources and presents them in a well-structured and articulate manner.

Mid-Level Response

The lecture disagree with the reading about income-based college fees. The reading says these fees can make college more accessible, but the lecture says managing this system is hard. It needs a lot of paperwork and checking, which costs money and can lead to mistakes and fraud.

The reading also says income-based fees can make the student body more diverse. But the lecture points out that other costs like housing and books is still big barriers for low-income students. These extra costs can stop them from enrolling, so the fees alone might not make much difference.

Lastly, the reading claims that income-based fees can reduce student debt. However, the lecture argues that this doesn't fix the main problem of rising college costs. Without bigger changes, the overall cost of college will keep going up, and students might still end up with a lot of debt. Also, the lecture say that income-based fees could make families less likely to save for college, relying on reduced fees instead.

In conclusion, while the reading is positive about income-based fees, the lecture raises important concerns. These include management problems, extra costs, and the risk of discoraging financial responsibility. These points suggest that income-based fees might not be as beneficial as the reading claims.

Rater's Comment

This response merits a mid-level score due to its partial but not comprehensive coverage of the main points from both the reading and the lecture. The essay captures the essence of the lecture's counterarguments but lacks depth and detail in some areas.

The second paragraph addresses the issue of additional costs, such as housing and books, but it could benefit from more specific examples or explanations to strengthen the argument. The final paragraph touches on the failure to address the root causes of rising college costs and the potential for discouraging financial responsibility but does not fully explore the potential consequences.

Additionally, there are a few grammatical and punctuation errors that affect the overall clarity and coherence of the response. Despite these issues, the response is generally well-organized and demonstrates a basic understanding of the material. With more detail and refinement, it could achieve a higher score.

With these strategies and examples in mind, you're ready to practice and refine your writing abilities!

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