TOEFL Writing Mistakes Indian Students Make (and How to Fix Them)
Many Indian students have strong grammar knowledge from school, yet still lose marks in the TOEFL Writing section. The problem is usually not English itself but a set of predictable habits: formal phrases that sound odd in an email, essays with no clear opinion, and small slips that a careful reread would catch. This guide covers the most common TOEFL writing mistakes we see, with a fix for each, based on the current TOEFL iBT Writing tasks.
The TOEFL Writing section in 2026
Since January 2026, TOEFL iBT Writing takes about 23 minutes and has three task types:
- Build a Sentence (10 items): arrange words or phrases into a correct sentence or question. Each item is worth 1 point.
- Write an Email (1 item): write an email in an academic or social situation, such as making a request, giving information or proposing a solution. Scored out of 5.
- Write for an Academic Discussion (1 item): add your opinion to an online class discussion and support it, responding to other students’ views. Scored out of 5.
The section result is reported on the new 1 to 6 band scale. ETS says scoring focuses on how clearly and effectively you communicate, not on producing a perfect first draft.
The most common TOEFL writing mistakes, and how to fix them
1. Preparing for the old format
Many free books and videos still teach the old integrated essay, where you read a passage and summarise a lecture. That task is no longer in the test. Fix: practise the three current tasks, using official ETS practice material wherever possible.
2. Overusing fancy vocabulary
Words like “plethora”, “myriad” or “paramount” used in the wrong context make writing harder to read, not more impressive. Fix: choose the clearest accurate word. Show range through precise everyday vocabulary (“affordable”, “reliable”, “time-consuming”) and varied sentence structures.
3. Ignoring part of the instructions
The email task usually lists several things to include. Students often answer two and forget the third. Fix: before typing, turn each instruction into a one-word checklist on your scratch paper and tick it off as you write.
4. The wrong tone in emails
Indian office English has phrases that read as strange or outdated to international readers:
| Avoid | Use instead |
|---|---|
| Respected Sir/Madam | Dear Professor Thomas / Dear Ms Lee |
| Kindly do the needful | Could you please let me know … |
| Please revert back | I look forward to your reply |
| I am having a doubt | I have a question about … |
| Myself Arun, studying in … | My name is Arun, and I am a student in … |
Fix: match the tone to the reader. A professor gets a polite, direct email; a classmate can get a friendlier one. Both should be clear and natural.
5. No clear position in the academic discussion
Some students describe both sides without ever saying what they think. Fix: state your opinion in your first or second sentence, such as “I agree with Priya that …” or “In my view, the better option is …”.
6. Repeating what classmates already said
The prompt shows posts from other students. Copying their reasons adds nothing. Fix: briefly acknowledge one classmate, then add a new reason or example of your own. This is what “responding to others’ viewpoints” means in practice.
7. General claims with no example
“Technology is very useful for students” says almost nothing. Fix: support each main point with a specific example, real or realistic: “When our college moved assignments to an online portal, I could submit work from home during the monsoon floods.”
8. Small grammar and spelling slips
The test is typed and has no spellchecker. Typical errors include:
- Missing articles: “I am student” instead of “I am a student”.
- Subject-verb agreement: “Each of the students have …” instead of “has”.
- Extra prepositions: “discuss about”, “return back”, “comprise of”.
- Uncountable nouns made plural: “informations”, “advices”, “equipments”.
Fix: keep one minute at the end of each task to reread for your personal list of frequent errors. These small TOEFL writing mistakes are the easiest marks to win back.
9. Question word order in Build a Sentence
Spoken Indian English often keeps question order inside statements: “Can you tell me where is the library?” The correct form is “Can you tell me where the library is?” Fix: practise embedded questions and the position of auxiliary verbs, because these patterns appear often in sentence-building tasks.
10. Poor time management
Spending too long on Build a Sentence leaves too little time for the two longer responses. Fix: move steadily through the sentence items, and plan your email and discussion post with a quick outline before you start typing.
A worked example: fixing an email
Task: you missed a class because you were unwell. Write to your professor to explain, ask how to get the notes, and ask about the deadline for the assignment.
Weak version:
Respected Sir, myself Arun from your class. I was not able to attend yesterday’s class due to fever. Kindly do the needful. Please revert back soon.
It sounds outdated, does not ask for the notes and ignores the deadline question.
Improved version:
Dear Professor Menon,
I am Arun Kumar from your Tuesday Economics class. I am sorry I missed yesterday’s lecture; I had a high fever and my doctor advised me to rest.
Could you please tell me the best way to get the notes from that session? I would also like to check whether the deadline for the market analysis assignment is still Friday, as I want to make sure I submit it on time.
Thank you for your understanding.
Best regards,
Arun
Every instruction is covered, the tone is polite but natural, and the sentences are simple and accurate.
Frequently asked questions
How long should my TOEFL academic discussion response be?
Rather than chasing a word count, focus on a clear opinion, at least one well-developed reason and a specific example. Most strong responses are a solid paragraph. Practise with a timer so you know what you can write well in the time available.
Is the integrated writing task still in TOEFL?
No. Since January 2026 the Writing section has three tasks: Build a Sentence, Write an Email and Write for an Academic Discussion. Older materials that teach the integrated essay are out of date for the current test.
Does handwriting or typing speed matter?
All responses are typed, so typing speed matters. If you type slowly, practise daily; being able to type comfortably frees your attention for ideas and accuracy.
Avoiding these TOEFL writing mistakes is much easier with someone checking your work. Read more about how we approach TOEFL coaching in Kochi. At Casper Academy of Excellence, our online, one-on-one coaching gives detailed feedback on every response, backed by 25+ years of English test preparation experience. Speaking needs the same clarity; see our TOEFL speaking template guide too. Contact us or call or WhatsApp +91 81 36 835 444 to plan your TOEFL preparation.
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