Speaking Through Social Media - TOEFL Writing Integrated Practice Test

In the TOEFL iBT exam, students are evaluated on a variety of skills, focusing more on communication. The Integrated Writing Test is one of the most significant test portions, assessing the skills in the writing section. 

The Writing practice test aims to enhance your writing abilities with an emphasis on the Integrated Writing section of the TOEFL exam. It aims to assist you in understanding work instructions, organizing responses effectively, and enhancing your performance on the writing portion of the TOEFL. Let's now get you on the route to obtaining 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 r 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.

Speaking Through Social Media

Due to the growing use of cell phones, the internet for mass communication has divided among people with different opinions. A common belief is that people are no longer as adept at forming close relationships with friends and family. It is hard to dispute how social media is continuously altering and how individuals communicate with one another. People all over the world are now able to develop relationships in a way that was previously not conceivable thanks to the development of new technologies that enable non-simultaneous and distant engagement. Even though some may argue that this is a threat, such new development creates various opportunities for meaningful and productive relationships.

People often feel estranged in their surroundings. There are so many hobbies and interests that people enjoy, that it can be difficult to find someone who shares the same passions. Social media is of huge benefit to these people as they are empowered with opportunity for connection to a widespread community and countless resources. Some may have always wanted to learn more about a topic without having an avenue to jump in. Social media has proved itself to be effective in educating people of all ages on a variety of subjects ranging from rollerblading to string theory. 

Moreover, the internet is especially helpful for helping people find a voice. Whereas the first amendment protects our right to free speech, many people feel that they have lost their ability to be heard. Social media allows us all to find a new way to speak confidently and ensures that every person has the opportunity to be heard.

Now play the Audio.

Question

Summarize the lecturer's main principles and highlight how they relate to the particular concepts of speaking through social media covered in the reading text.

Points to Remember

To respond to the question provided, you must list a number of social media-related drawbacks and risks that outweigh the reading passage's advantages. When elaborating, use only the pertinent justifications and relevant examples and do not use any outside sources. The lecturer notably focuses on the dangers of social media, like phishing attempts leading to identity theft and financial loss, or how too much screen time lead to bullying and manipulation for young children, and also impact on personal relationships and social skills.

You may begin by elaborating on the advantages of social media, such as communicating with people who share similar interests and also the freedom it gives to express themselves. The lecturer, however, also points out a counter argument by explaining how social media use might result in a decline in interpersonal relationships and social skills. Although social media help communities facilitate interactions, they do not get a chance to develop meaningful bonds or profound relationships. Give further details by mentioning the communication-related effects of social media along with relevant examples to support the reasons presented.

To summarize, the idea that social media fosters meaningful and fruitful connections is explicitly called into question by the lecture's results regarding the loss in intimate relationships and the shallow character of online interactions.

Sample Responses for the Integrated Writing Task on ‘Speaking Through Social Media’

This section provides a thorough evaluation of various responses, including both High-level and Mid-level answers. Through a detailed review of these responses, you can identify areas that need improvement to attain your target score in the TOEFL.

High-Level Response 

In the lecture, the professor highlights the negative impacts on social media in relation to building non-personal relationships and difficulty in developing social skills, which contrasts vastly with the positive aspects discussed in the reading passage. The professor discusses several important concerns about the use of social media.

To start with, there are many benefits associated with social networking sites such as building connections, which is mentioned in the reading passage. Notably, people can build bonds with individuals who have similar interests and have freedom of speech as well. However, the professor pointed out the risks as well, such as phishing scams which could result in identity theft and also lead to financial loss. Such concerns are a threat for both adults and children as well, who are also vulnerable to social media due to online manipulation and bullying.

Moreover, the lecturer also discusses the effect of spending excessive screen time on social skills and building relationships. For example, a research from the sociologists at Duke University and the University of Arizona reveals that, compared to the year 1985, Americans had fewer close relationships  in 2004 and there is a significant increase in the percentage of people without confidants. Thus, social media is also related to a decline in the number of personal relationships, challenging the reading passage's claim of it fostering meaningful connections.

Therefore, social media makes it possible for people to connect with one another through common interests, yet these connections frequently lack the depth and enduring connections of traditional community ties. The lecture makes the case that although these virtual communities offer brief opportunities for social interaction, they cannot take the place of the deeper, more meaningful connections that are highlighted in the reading text.

Rater’s Comment 

The response effectively provides an explanation of the drawbacks outweighing the benefits. The answer mentions that the more of a positive assessment of social media's role in fostering community building and communication is undermined by worries about phishing scams and the detrimental effects on children's social development. The disadvantages effectively highlight the dangers associated with social networking. The response is strengthened by the use of instances, which results in a thorough and perceptive summation. Overall, the writing shows coherence and a deep comprehension of the subject matter when analyzing the response in further detail.

Mid-Level Response 

In the lecture, the professor mentions the disadvantages of using social media to communicate which contrast with the more positive views presented in the reading passage. The risks involved are phishing leading to identity theft, harmful for children due to bullying and manipulation. Such an insight could reveal the dark side of the social media platform. Also, using too much social media could impact social skills and relationships with family members. Due to this, there is a decrease in meaningful relationships because people are not able to build strong bonds. In summary, the lecture is about how social media is detrimental to society and has a negative impact on people.

Rater’s Comment 

The response has very minimal elaboration and is not meeting the word count expectation for the writing part. The answer does not have enough supporting evidence to justify the reasons provided to support the arguments. The sentence structure could have been better by elaborating more on the ideas and explaining the stance. The response lacks depth and coherence, affecting the accuracy of communicating the information, making it a mid-level answer.

Are you ready to achieve TOEFL success? We've included sample responses and expert tactics to help you reach your target score. Now, it's your turn to engage in practice tests!

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