Should the Voting Age Be Lowered to 16 - TOEFL Writing Integrated Practice Test

The TOEFL iBT^®exam evaluates various abilities of a candidate, placing particular importance on their communication skills. Among all the test sections, the Writing Section is particularly significant which requires diverse skills from TOEFL examinees. With the practice test paper on 'Should the Voting Age Be Lowered to 16', you would be able to enhance your writing abilities, concentrating specifically on the Integrated Writing task of the TOEFL test.

This practice test aims to assist you in understanding task instructions, structuring responses effectively, and enhancing your performance in the TOEFL Writing segment. So, let's start your journey towards attaining 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 the voting age should be lowered to 16 has caught a lot of attention. Supporters say that lowering the voting age would boost involvement in democracy and better reflect the interests of younger people. One key argument is that 16-year-olds are mature enough to make informed voting decisions. At this age, many teenagers are already taking on adult tasks, like working part-time jobs, paying taxes, and even driving. They also learn about civics and government in school, which gives them the knowledge needed to vote. Letting them vote would recognize their ability to contribute meaningfully to society.

Another point is that lowering the voting age could increase political engagement among young people. Early involvement in voting can create a habit for life of voting and participating in civic duties. Studies show that people who start voting at a younger age are more likely to keep voting throughout their lives. By lowering the voting age, we can grow a more politically active and informed group of citizens. And, teenagers are directly affected by many political decisions, like those about education, climate change, and social policies. Giving them the right to vote would make sure their voices are heard and their interests are represented. This could lead to more balanced and inclusive making policies, as politicians would need to consider the views of younger voters.

Now play the audio.

Question

Summarise on the lecture's arguments by putting emphasis and highlight the relevance as well as claims mentioned in the reading passage. 

Transcript of the Audio of the Lecture on Should the Voting Age Be Lowered to 16 

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 the Voting Age Be Lowered to 16

A comprehensive analysis of various responses is provided below, enabling you to identify areas requiring improvement to achieve your target score.

High-Level Response

Rater's Comment

This response effectively summarizes the main points from both the reading and the lecture, demonstrating a clear understanding of the material. The writer accurately identifies the key arguments from the reading, such as the maturity of 16-year-olds, increased political engagement, and the direct impact of political decisions on teenagers. They then skillfully present the counterarguments from the lecture, including the lack of life experience and maturity, susceptibility to outside influences, and the need for legal consistency.

The response is well-organized and coherent, with each paragraph focusing on a specific point of contention between the reading and the lecture. The writer uses clear and concise language, making the essay easy to follow. Additionally, the response maintains objectivity, refraining from expressing personal opinions and instead focusing on summarizing the relationship between the reading and the lecture. The use of transitions, such as "in contrast" and "however," helps to clearly signal the relationship between the reading and the lecture, enhancing the overall coherence of the essay. The writer also demonstrates strong control over grammar, sentence structure, and vocabulary, with only minor errors that do not affect meaning.

Overall, this response meets all the criteria for a high score, effectively presenting the key information from both the reading and the lecture in a well-organized and coherent manner.

Mid Level Response

Rater's Comment

This response provides a basic summary of the main points from both the reading and the lecture, but it lacks depth and detail. The writer identifies the key arguments from the reading, such as the maturity of 16-year-olds, increased political engagement, and the direct impact of political decisions on teenagers. They also present the counterarguments from the lecture, including the lack of life experience and maturity, susceptibility to outside influences, and the need for legal consistency.

However, the response is somewhat disorganized and lacks coherence. The writer does not clearly signal the relationship between the reading and the lecture, making it difficult to follow the flow of the essay. Additionally, there are noticeable grammatical and punctuation errors, such as "The reading says that 16-year-olds are mature enough to make informed voting decisions because they take on adult tasks and learn about civics in school." This sentence is too long and could be broken into two separate sentences for clarity. The response also lacks transitions, which would help to clearly signal the relationship between the reading and the lecture. For example, the writer could use phrases like "however" or "in contrast" to better connect the ideas.

Overall, while this response provides a basic summary of the main points from both the reading and the lecture, it lacks depth, organization, and coherence. The grammatical and punctuation errors also hinder comprehension, making it difficult to follow the writer's argument.

Strategies for Taking the Integrated Writing Task on Should the Voting Age Be Lowered to 16

Here are the strategies for taking the Integrated Writing Task on Should the Voting Age Be Lowered to 16

• Read the passage carefully, taking concise notes on key points.
• Listen actively to the lecture, noting its relationship to the reading.
• Begin your response by clearly stating how the lecture relates to the reading.
• Explain any contradictions or connections between the reading and lecture.
• Integrate information from both sources throughout your essay.
• Use clear transitions and attributions for information from each source.

Prepared to enhance your TOEFL writing skills? Our collection of example responses and professional tips is here to support you in your journey. It's time to put your abilities to the test with some hands-on practice!

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