The Impact of Climate Change on Human Migration Patterns - TOEFL Writing Practice Test

With the TOEFL iBT^® Writing Practice Test on 'The Impact of Climate Change on Human Migration Patterns', you are being assessed your ability to write academically. In this Writing Academic Segment, a lecture of a professor is being played and you'll take part in a conversation where you are required to voice your opinion and also provide justification for the same.

Remember that while attempting the practice test, you are not only focusing on the exam format but also building skills to share your perception as well. Let's dive into the Academic Writing Practice test and get you started!

Writing Instructions:

• You will read a discussion related to an academic topic in class where your classmates have written their opinions on the said topic.
• You have 10 minutes to prepare and write your personal opinion on the academic topic. 
• Try to answer the question based on the discussion. You can also take ideas from the opinions posted by your classmates.
• There is no maximum word limit. However, an effective response should be a minimum of 100 words.
• Your response will be judged on the quality and clarity of your writing with well-supported reasons.

Instruction: Your professor is teaching a class on environmental science. Write a post responding to the professors question. In your response, you should

1. express and support your personal opinion
2. make a contribution to the discussion in your own words.

An effective response will contain at least 100 words. You have ten minutes to write.

Professor: Climate change is increasingly affecting various aspects of our lives, including human migration patterns. Some argue that climate change is a big driver of migration, while others believe that economic and political factors are more important. Do you think climate change is the main factor driving human migration today? Why or why not?

Ruby: I believe climate change is a main factor driving human migration today. Rising sea levels, extreme weather events, and long droughts are making some areas hard to live in. For example, many people in low areas have to move because of flooding. Economic and political factors are also important, but the quick and serious impacts of climate change are increasingly pushing people to move.

Oliver: Although climate change plays a role, I think economic and political factors are more important in driving human migration. People often move to seek better job opportunities or to escape political instability and conflict. For example, many migrants from Central America are fleeing violence and poverty, not just environmental changes. Climate change may make these issues worse, but it is not the main driver in most cases.

Before delving into sample responses, let us examine the parameters of a strong TOEFL score!

Sample Response for the Academic Discussion Writing Task on The Impact of Climate Change on Human Migration Patterns

Below are the two responses for the Academic Discussion Writing question where one of them showcases a mid-level proficiency while the other exhibits a high level of skills. Through examining the distinctions, you will acquire valuable insights into the components that lead to attaining an exceptional score in the Writing section.

Score 3 Response

I think climate change is a big factor in human migration, but not the only one. Ruby is right that rising sea levels and extreme weather events force people to move. However, Oliver makes a good point that economic and political reasons are also very important. For example, people from Central America often move because of violence and poverty. Climate change can make these problems worse, but it is not always the main reason people leave. Sometimes, people move because they want better jobs or safer places to live. So, while climate change is important, we should also consider other factors. (Word Count - 101)

Rater’s Comment

This response is adequate but lacks the depth and clarity of a higher-scoring response. The student acknowledges both Ruby's and Oliver's points, which shows an understanding of the complexity of the issue. However, the argument is not as well-developed or supported with specific examples. The response mentions rising sea levels and extreme weather events but does not provide detailed examples or explanations. Additionally, the statement "Climate change can make these problems worse, but it is not always the main reason people leave" is somewhat vague and could be elaborated further. There are also grammatical errors, such as "people from Central America often move because of violence and poverty" and "Sometimes, people move because they want better jobs or safer places to live," which affect the overall clarity of the response. Despite these issues, the response is generally comprehensible and addresses the prompt, making it deserving of a mid-level score.

Score 5 Response

While both Ruby and Oliver make compelling points, I believe that climate change is becoming an increasingly significant factor in driving human migration. The frequency and intensity of natural disasters, such as hurricanes, floods, and wildfires, have escalated due to climate change, forcing people to leave their homes. For instance, the Pacific island nations are experiencing rising sea levels that threaten to submerge entire communities, compelling residents to relocate. Although economic and political factors are undeniably crucial, they often intersect with environmental issues. For example, prolonged droughts can devastate agricultural economies, leading to food shortages and economic instability, which in turn drive migration. Therefore, while economic and political factors are important, the accelerating impacts of climate change are increasingly becoming a primary driver of human migration. (Word count - 126 words)

Rater’s Comment

This response merits a high score due to its clear and well-developed argument that climate change is a significant driver of human migration. The response begins by acknowledging the validity of both Ruby's and Oliver's points, which demonstrates an understanding of the complexity of the issue. It then provides specific examples, such as the rising sea levels affecting Pacific island nations, to illustrate the direct impact of climate change on migration. The response also effectively links economic and political factors to environmental issues, showing how they can be interconnected. For instance, the mention of prolonged droughts leading to economic instability adds depth to the argument. The language is formal and appropriate for an academic discussion, and the response is well-organized, with a logical flow from one point to the next. There are no major grammatical errors, and the argument is coherent and easy to follow. Overall, the response fully addresses the prompt and provides a strong, well-supported argument, making it deserving of a high score.

Awesome job! You can also share your response in the comments and our TOEFL experts are more than willing to provide valuable feedback! 

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