Some people believe that it is important to use the knowledge gained from past experiences to guide current decisions, while others argue that focusing too much on the past prevents people from adapting to new situations. Which view do you agree with? Use specific reasons and examples to support your answer.
TOEFL Independent Writing Scoring Rubric
Position: Clear and consistent stance on the topic
Argumentation & Examples: Sufficient reasons with specific examples
Structure & Coherence: Logical organization and progression
Language Use: Vocabulary variety, grammatical accuracy, fluency
Scored 0-30 based on holistic scoring (original 0-5, scaled to 30).
Answering Tips
Spend 2-3 minutes planning your position
Use the structure: Introduction - Body 1 - Body 2 - Concession - Conclusion
Develop each body paragraph with: topic sentence + explanation + specific example + summary
Use specific examples with names, data, or real events
Reserve 2-3 minutes at the end to check grammar and spelling