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Master the new 2026 TOEFL Integrated Writing task on urban farming viability with 3 scored model responses, CEFR-aligned rubric breakdowns, and 15+ academic terms.
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Master the new 2026 TOEFL Integrated Writing task on urban farming viability with 3 scored model responses, CEFR-aligned rubric breakdowns, and 15+ academic terms.
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You will read a short academic passage about urban farming viability, then listen to a lecture that challenges the passage’s claims. You have 20 minutes to write a response that explains how the points in the lecture relate to the specific claims in the reading.
Paraphrased Reading Passage Summary:
Paraphrased Listening Lecture Summary:
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Below are three complete responses at different performance levels. Each targets the 250–300 word range, which matches ETS’s optimal length for scoring efficiency on the 90-minute test.
| Score Level | CEFR 2026 | Legacy 0–120 Equivalent | Raw Score (0–5) | |-------------|-----------|------------------------|-----------------| | High | 6.0 | 28–30 | 5.0 | | Mid-High| 5.0 | 24–27 | 4.0 | | Developing| 4.0 | 17–23 | 3.0 |
The reading passage presents three arguments supporting the viability of urban farming, but the lecturer systematically challenges each claim. First, while the author states that urban agriculture reduces transportation expenses, the professor argues that these savings are largely canceled out by the high costs of establishing and maintaining city-based farms. He explains that purchasing specialized hydroponic equipment, nutrient solutions, and hiring skilled urban labor is significantly more expensive than traditional rural farming. Therefore, the financial advantage of shorter supply chains disappears.
Second, the reading claims that rooftop gardens improve building insulation and cut energy usage. The professor directly contradicts this by pointing out that the structural modifications required to support heavy soil and irrigation systems are extremely costly. Even if the plants provide some thermal regulation, the initial roof reinforcement expenses usually outweigh any long-term energy savings. Consequently, the economic benefit highlighted in the passage is unrealistic for most property owners.
Finally, the text suggests that small urban plots can generate enough food to sustain entire neighborhoods. The lecturer disputes this scalability issue, noting that limited space and unpredictable urban weather severely restrict crop yields. He provides the example that leafy greens grow well in cities, but calorie-dense staples like wheat and corn cannot be cultivated efficiently in such environments. As a result, urban farms can only supplement local food supplies rather than serve as a primary source of nutrition. Overall, the lecture demonstrates that urban farming faces practical limitations that the reading passage overlooks.
(268 words)
Scoring Breakdown:
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The reading says urban farming is good for cities, but the lecture disagrees with the points. The first point is about transportation. The reading thinks it saves money because food doesn’t travel far. However, the lecturer says that setting up urban farms is actually very expensive. You need special equipment and workers, which costs a lot. So the savings from transport are gone.
The second point is about insulation. The author claims rooftop gardens help buildings use less energy. The professor says this is not really true because roofs need to be stronger to hold the dirt and water. Fixing roofs costs a lot of money, and the energy saving is small. So it is not worth it.
The third point is about food production. The passage says urban farms can feed whole neighborhoods. The lecturer argues that space is limited and weather in cities is not always good for farming. He mentions that you can grow vegetables, but you cannot grow enough grains or big crops. So urban farms cannot replace normal farms. They just add a little bit of food.
In summary, the lecture shows that urban farming has many problems that make it less viable than the reading suggests. The costs are high and the food output is low. The professor gives better evidence that challenges the author’s optimistic view.
(258 words)
Scoring Breakdown:
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The reading talk about urban farming. It say it help the city. The lecture is different. The professor say it is not good. First, the reading say food don’t travel far so it save money. But the listening say it cost too much to build the farm. You need buy machine and pay people. So no save money. Second, the passage say roof garden make building cool. The lecture say roof need fix because heavy. Fix cost much money. Energy save is small. So not good. Third, reading say small farm feed neighborhood. Listening say not possible. City not have enough sun and space. Only small vegetables grow. Can not make enough food for everyone. So urban farm just help little. The professor disagree with reading. Reading is too positive. Lecture show real problem. Urban farming is hard in city. Many cost and little food. I think lecture is right because it give fact. The reading just dream. Urban farming maybe future but now not work well.
(198 words)
Scoring Breakdown:
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| Term | Definition | Example Collocation | |------|------------|---------------------| | Offset | To compensate for or balance out a cost/effect | Transport savings are offset by high labor costs. | | Hydroponic | Growing plants without soil using nutrient water | Hydroponic systems require precise pH monitoring. | | Structural reinforcement | Strengthening a building’s load-bearing capacity | Roof structural reinforcement is mandatory for soil beds. | | Thermal regulation | Maintaining stable indoor temperatures | Green walls aid in passive thermal regulation. | | Yield limitation | Restricted crop output per unit area | Yield limitation stems from shallow root zones. | | Calorie-dense staples | High-energy crops like grains and legumes | Urban plots cannot produce calorie-dense staples. | | Scalability | Ability to expand operations efficiently | The scalability of rooftop agriculture remains unproven. | | Supplement | To add to something without replacing it | Urban farms supplement traditional food networks. | | Capital expenditure | Initial investment in equipment/infrastructure | High capital expenditure deters municipal investment. | | Mitigate | To reduce severity or impact | Drip irrigation mitigates water waste in arid zones. | | Viability | Practical potential for long-term success | Economic viability depends on subsidy availability. | | Spatial constraints | Physical limitations of available area | Spatial constraints restrict mechanized harvesting. | | Nutrient runoff | Excess fertilizer washing into waterways | Contained systems prevent nutrient runoff. | | Prohibitively expensive | Too costly to be practical | Installation remains prohibitively expensive for renters. | | Counterargument | A reasoned response that opposes a claim | The professor presents a compelling counterargument. |
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The TOEFL iBT transitioned on January 21, 2026. The Integrated Writing task remains 20 minutes but now appears after adaptive Reading and Listening sections. ETS reports that 68% of test-takers who score 5.0+ on Integrated Writing explicitly use contrastive transitions (“conversely,” “however,” “whereas”) and accurate paraphrasing rather than verbatim quotes. Scores now deliver in 72 hours via the official ETS portal, and all centers use custom stereophones for clearer audio input. Practice with the new 1–6 CEFR-aligned rubric, which emphasizes precise synthesis over length.
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