TOEFL Writing: How to Score 24+ on Both Tasks

What's a good TOEFL Writing score?

A TOEFL Writing score of 24+ (out of 30) is competitive for most universities, and 25+ is the safer target for selective programs — but the only number that matters is the one your specific program lists, so check its requirement directly. The Writing section is scored 0–30, built from two tasks that each earn a 0–5 rubric score.

Before you drill TOEFL tasks, it helps to know your underlying English level — a 24 in Writing is roughly upper-B2 to C1 work. A free five-minute English level check (below) tells you where you actually stand, and it's worth confirming how your target TOEFL score maps to a CEFR band so you aim at the right level.

What are the two TOEFL Writing tasks?

The Writing section takes about 29 minutes and has two tasks, per ETS:

How do you score high on the Integrated task?

The Integrated task rewards one thing above all: accurately reporting how the lecture responds to the reading. Your opinion is not asked for and not scored — candidates who argue their own view instead of summarizing both sources lose points. Follow this structure:

1. Opening (1 sentence): State that the lecture casts doubt on / challenges the reading's claim. "The lecture challenges the reading's argument that ___."
2. Three body paragraphs: the reading makes 3 points; the lecture rebuts each. For every one: state the reading's point, then "However, the lecturer argues that ___," with the specific detail from the lecture.
3. No conclusion needed — the three contrasts are the response. Spend your words on accurate reporting, not a summary.

How do you score high on the Academic Discussion task?

In 10 minutes you write a short post — not an essay — that makes a clear point and moves the discussion forward. A strong response is usually at least 100 words and does three things:

• Take a clear position on the professor's question in the first sentence.
• Give ONE reason, developed with a specific example — depth beats a list of shallow reasons. A concrete personal or hypothetical example is what earns "fully developed."
• Engage with a classmate — reference one of the two student posts ("While Marco makes a fair point about cost, I'd argue…"). This shows it's a discussion, not a monologue.

How is TOEFL Writing scored?

Each task is scored 0–5 against the ETS Writing rubrics by a combination of AI scoring and certified human raters, then the two are converted to a single scaled 0–30 section score. The rubric rewards task fulfillment (did you do what was asked?), organization and coherence, and language use (grammar, vocabulary range, accuracy). Rough guide:

How long does it take to get to a 24?

It depends entirely on where you're starting. If your English is already around B2 (roughly IELTS 5.5–6.5), a 24 in Writing is an upper-B2/C1 target — realistic with a few weeks of focused, feedback-driven practice on the two task types. If you're at B1, it's a bigger climb: you're building the underlying range and accuracy first, then the task technique.

That's why measuring your real level first saves time — practising TOEFL templates is wasted if the real gap is your grammar and vocabulary range. Nivelo's free English level check (below) shows where you stand, then a free week of Pro turns the gaps into daily writing practice with feedback. Note: Nivelo is a CEFR-aligned practice tool, not an official TOEFL or certification provider — always sit the real exam through ETS.