how long should toefl essay be

TOEFL iBT ®

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TOEFL iBT Test Writing Section

The TOEFL iBT test Writing section measures your ability to write in English in an academic setting, and to present your ideas in a clear, well-organized way.

There are two writing tasks.

• Integrated writing task (20 minutes) — read a short passage and listen to a short lecture, then write in response to what you read and listened to.
• Writing for an Academic Discussion task (10 minutes) — state and support an opinion in an online classroom discussion.

You'll type your responses on a computer keyboard.

Test time:  It should take about 29 minutes to complete the Writing section.

Scoring: Writing tasks are scored based on the  Writing Scoring Guides (Rubrics) (PDF)  by a combination of AI scoring and certified human raters. Raw scores are converted to a scaled section score of 0–30.

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Explore a variety of official prep offerings to practice your English-writing skills with TOEFL ® TestReady ™ . Get insights and feedback on your grammar, usage, mechanics and more.

Writing videos

Watch these videos to learn about the questions in the Writing section, plus helpful tips.

Question 1: Integrated Writing

Read a passage and listen to a lecture. Then write a response comparing them.

View Transcript

Question 2: Writing for an Academic Discussion

Share your opinion in an online discussion with a professor and other students.

Do you need to be an expert on the topics?

The writing tasks measure your English proficiency, so you don't need deep knowledge on a specific topic to get a high score. Score raters recognize that each essay is a first draft, and you can receive a high score with an essay that contains some errors.

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How to Write a Successful TOEFL Essay: 10 Best Practices

If you are in the process of preparing for the TOEFL exam, this article will help guide you through the writing section of the test. We will discuss the independent writing task and ten best practices to follow which will help make sure you give it your best shot. Continue reading to find out how to write a successful TOEFL essay!

What is the TOEFL?

TOEFL stands for “Test of English as a Foreign Language” and is basically that—a way for educational institutions and even potential employers to assess your level of fluency in English. The greatest advantage of TOEFL is that it offers people a reliable way to measure and compare English language skills. The test is composed of four sections—reading, writing, listening and speaking.

What is the TOEFL essay?

When we say “the TOEFL essay” we are referring to the independent writing task of the exam, which is essentially the second and lengthier part of the writing section. In addition, there is an integrated writing task based on the reading and listening sections. In this EDUopinions blog, we mostly will focus on the independent writing task, which requires students to write a short argumentative essay in response to a prompt in 30 minutes.

How to write a successful TOEFL essay:

1. planning.

The first step for how to write a successful TOEFL essay is planning. Even though you only have 30 minutes to complete the task, spending 2-4 minutes planning will most likely pay off. After reading the prompt, use your planning time to decide on your clear and specific response—kind of like a thesis—and then create an effective structure to argue your point of view. Doing so will not only help you stay on topic; it will also help the marker follow your line of argument and more easily award points to your writing.

2. vocabulary

Next, a robust and varied vocabulary will also help you write a successful TOEFL essay. In the independent writing task, you should strive to be as concise and detailed as possible. Instead of writing that you are “not very good at tennis,” describing yourself as an “amateur” will score you more vocabulary marks. Another good tip: because the integrated writing task is based on the reading and listening sections, it is important that you paraphrase what was said in those sections rather than using the same vocabulary you encountered earlier in the exam.

3. Structure

As mentioned above, the structure is another important component for how to write a successful TOEFL exam. Since this task only lasts 30 minutes, your structure will be fairly basic, but that does not mean it is any less important. Right off the bat, you should state your response to the prompt (your thesis)—you can think of this as a condensed introductory paragraph. Next, the ‘body’ should include two reasons why you have taken this opinion as well as personal examples or evidence for your claim after each reason. After both body paragraphs, provide a brief conclusion that ties the two points you just made back to your opening line.

4. Transitions

Another great tip for how to write a successful TOEFL essay is to include smooth transitions in your writing. Rather than abruptly changing topic or immediately introducing an idea, incorporating transition words/phrases will help make your writing easier to read and demonstrate a greater depth of knowledge and skill. Think of words and phrases like ‘in addition,’ ‘moreover,’ ‘generally,’ ‘aside from,’ or ‘all in all’—using language like this in your TEOFL essay is a great way to elevate both your writing and score.

5. Paraphrase

This tip is specifically for the integrated writing task, which requires students to write extended responses to questions based on the reading and listening section materials and lasts 20 minutes. This section of the TOEFL assess your ability to engage with written and oral English, not your ability to repeat what you just read/heard. For this reason, paraphrasing is especially important for this section of the test. Instead of writing “the text says that ‘Annie was deeply saddened by the death of her dog.’” You should reword to include your own writing: “The text explains Annie’s profound sadness as a result of her dog’s death.”

6. Time management

Time management is another best practice for how to write a successful TOEFL essay. Because the independent writing section is so short (only 30 minutes), it is imperative that you work efficiently yet calmly. In practice, this means allocating certain amounts of time to certain parts of the task. For instance, you could aim to spend 2-3 minutes creating a plan, 1-2 minutes writing your main point, 15 minutes writing your body paragraphs, 5 minutes of the conclusion and 5 minutes to make final touches. Ultimately, how you decide to structure your time depends on you, your strengths and your goals, but sticking to a time management arrangement can be a helpful way to reach your potential.

7. Know the question type

In the independent writing task, knowing what type of question/prompt you answering is essential to a successful TOEFL essay. Broadly, there are four types of questions asked in the independent writing task. Commonly, students must choose to defend one side of a debate. Another common prompt allows students to respond to an open-ended and oftentimes personal question or statement. Other less common question types include evaluating the strengths and weaknesses of something and choosing between three options presented in the prompt. Being able to identify which question type you are asked will help you write a detailed and relevant essay.

8. Practice tests

One of the best tips for how to write a successful TOEFL essay is taking practice tests. While the above points have hopefully been helpful, there is no way for you to know what taking the TOEFL will be like unless you practice under similar conditions. Doing so will allow you to identify your strengths and weaknesses as a test-taker and highlight specific areas you may need to revise. Check out the TOEFL website for resources on how to access practice tests.

9. Study companion

Study companions can also be great resources to help you write a successful TOEFL essay. Be it a textbook, a tutor or online learning materials, test preparation is a surefire way to improve your TOEFL essay. A good study companion will clue you in to the test’s format, what you will be assessed on, how to manage your time and more! In addition, many study companions include practice tests packs, meaning you will have multiple opportunities to put your skills to the test.

10. Confidence

Last but not least, confidence is another essential for how to write a successful TOEFL essay. Though it may be easy to overlook, being confident in your English level and the preparation you have invested into the TOEFL exam will hopefully help reassure you and calm your nerves. In addition, keep in mind that while the TOEFL may be an important step in your academic/professional career, it is not the be-all end-all of your English fluency.

Hopefully, you have found these ten tips on how to write a successful TOEFL essay helpful. If you have any questions about the TOEFL exam or other standardized tests used for university admissions, feel free to get in touch with one of EDUopinions advisors for free, individual support!

Check out these related articles on IELTS vs TOEFL. Which one to choose? and the 5 best English tests to get admitted to universities .

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Writing Section of the TOEFL iBT

Toefl ibt writing section summary.

On the TOEFL iBT writing section, students must complete two written essays. Total section timing is 50 minutes, which is divided into a 20-minute segment for an integrated writing task and a 30-minute block for an independent writing task. Human graders trained by ETS read all essays, which are assessed on a scale of 0 to 5 (on score reports, this is called a "task rating"). Test-takers also receive a scaled writing section score of 0 to 30 along with brief and general comments on both essays. The primary criteria used by graders to evaluate essays are development, organization, and language use.

TOEFL iBT Integrated Writing

As denoted by the term, iBT integrated writing essays involve both reading passages and listening excerpts. Students first read a brief text on a general or academic topic, and then listen to a portion of a lecture on that same topic. An essay prompt asks students to summarize what was discussed in the lecture and how it either supports or undermines the content of the reading passage. On the actual test, this exercise will be referred to as "Writing Based on Reading and Listening." The suggested length of the essay is 150-225 words.

TOEFL iBT Independent Writing

On the iBT independent writing task, students write an essay in response to a prompt that can deal with a wide variety of general topics. This task is based on the essay prompt only and does not include any reading passages or lecture excerpts. Essay prompts typically ask students whether or not they agree with a certain statement, their opinions on issues of public interest, or what they would do in a given situation. The independent writing task is also known as "Writing Based on Knowledge and Experience." As indicated by the directions that accompany the essay prompt, the most effective independent essays are usually at least 300 words in length.

Important TOEFL iBT Writing Skills

While preparing for the iBT writing section, test-takers should focus primarily on developing the ability to address the relevant tasks in concise fashion. Pay special attention to answering the specific questions asked within the suggested essay wordcounts (students will not be rewarded for excessively long essays; in fact, they will almost certainly be penalized for too much irrelevant content). It is also crucial for students to practice writing essays within the iBT writing section's time constraints. The most successful essays are coherently structured, articulately developed, and correct in terms of the conventions of written English. Graders are mainly concerned with essay content, and it is possible to earn a high score in spite of a few spelling or grammar mistakes if the test-taker accurately explains the most important points associated with the essay. The taking of notes is allowed while completing the iBT writing section, and students may therefore outline their essays before writing the actual text.

TOEFL iBT Writing Score Requirements at Universities

TOEFL iBT writing standards can be set either at the institutional, divisional, or departmental level. Some schools consider writing skills to be more important than others. The total TOEFL score requirement for graduate students at UCLA is 87, but this composite score must consist of 25 writing, 24 speaking, 21 reading, and 17 listening (note that the expected writing score is the highest of these). Harvard University is an example of an institution that values all TOEFL scores equally (the minimum total score for most programs is 100, with at least 25 on each section). It is also common for universities to consider iBT total scores only and to have no specific requirements with respect to the writing section. Even in these cases, poor writing skills can be harmful to student prospects because low writing scores will obviously affect an applicant's ability to receive the expected total score.

TOEFL iBT Writing Section Validity

Independent researchers have explored the validity of the iBT writing section from a variety of perspectives. A doctoral dissertation written at Georgia State University in 2011 found "empirical evidence" that the two types of writing tasks included on the iBT writing section each elicited distinctive forms of writing, "thus justifying the concurrent use of them on an exam." A master's thesis written at the University of Illinois in 2010 asserted that writing section scores can serve as an "additional reference" for appropriate placement in remedial English courses. A 2013 paper found that the essay scores given by human graders could be predicted by certain "linguistic features" associated with complexity and sophistication (such as diversity of word choice, use of prepositional phrases, and variable sentence structures). The results of these studies seem to indicate that the iBT writing section is a valid assessment, but questions have been raised that will likely suggest further refinements.

TOEFL Tuesday: Can a TOEFL Essay Be Too Long?

How much is too much? Everybody knows that writing an essay that’s too short is a problem. But sometimes, students ask about the maximum essay length, thinking that either the graders will take off points or that the essay will simply be cut off, not able to continue.

But I can say in short, there is no maximum. You can write an enormous essay and get a perfect score.

Official recommendations from ETS

ETS (the company that makes the TOEFL) gives specific numbers for essay length in all their preparation material and during the actual test.  The recommendations are simple:

• Integrated essay : 150 – 225 words
• Independent essay : 300 words

These aren’t maximum scores, nor are they minimums. But to be honest, an essay that’s shorter than these recommended lengths may not get a perfect score. Usually, top scoring essays are longer.

Still, writing much more does not mean a higher score.

Quantity and quality

There’s a clear reason why shorter essays might have lower scores—they don’t have enough room to include details. That means the essay is not just shorter, but also lower quality. A longer essay gives enough room to add those important details.

Still, a long essay can cause a problem. Imagine trying to write 1000 words in 30 minutes for the independent essay. How much will you be able to focus on grammar, vocabulary, structure, and clarity? Not much. The more you write, the less attention you can pay to each word and sentence.

In other words, it’s possible to write too much, but only because you’re not focusing on the more important aspects of your essay.  It’s possible to write a 1000 word essay and get a perfect score, but I don’t recommend trying it. It’s much easier to write a 400 or 500 word essay with a perfect score.

So first, try to reach the recommended lengths from ETS. If you can write more, that’s best. But don’t worry about writing two times the recommended length—it’s better to focus on quality at that point, not quantity.

Lucas is the teacher behind Magoosh TOEFL. He’s been teaching TOEFL preparation and more general English since 2009, and the SAT since 2008. Between his time at Bard College and teaching abroad, he has studied Japanese, Czech, and Korean. None of them come in handy, nowadays.

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22 responses to “TOEFL Tuesday: Can a TOEFL Essay Be Too Long?”

hi lucas, i could nit finish last line of my independent essay. will that result in deduction?

Hi Apoorva,

There is a small chance that it will affect your score a bit, but if the rest of your essay was strong, it will be fine. 🙂

Hi.. I wrote an essay tat is less than 300 words in independent.will tat greatly affect my score? Thnks

Hi Aishwarya,

Nope! You want to aim for 300-350 ideally, but if it isn’t too much shorter, no worries. 🙂

Hi , i wrote the integrated essay of 400 words and i think it’s too long. How many marks are going to be deducted?

Marks would not be deducted for a long essay, but if the quality of that text is poor (content or grammar) then that would affect you. If the text is solid, though, 400 words is fine!

Hey for my independent essay I had about 257 words. Will any marks be deducted?

The 300 word count is just a recommendation. So you certainly won’t automatically lost points for having 257 words. If you’ve managed to fully develop your essay and satisfy the criteria in the official TOEFL Writing rubric , you could get a decent score. However, 257 still is a bit low. It’s difficult to put together a fully developed written response unless you’re closer to 300 words, or slightly over. So a 257 word essay is more likely to get a lower score than an TOEFL Independent response that’s around 300 words.

Hi, I have written an independent essay of 222 words, but it is fully developed, with introduction, two body paragraphs and conclusion, grammar is also normal, academic vocabulary is udes, how many scores are possible to get with this essay? Thank you

As we mentioned in this blog post, there is no specific grading on the length of the essay. Writing an essay with 222 words does not guarantee you a certain score or score range. In general, higher scoring essays tend to be longer, but that doesn’t mean that a shorter essay will automatically lower your score. The potential problem with a shorter essay is that you can’t fully develop your ideas. I recommend that you check out the TOEFL essay rubric and assess your essay according to that. Better yet, have someone else grade your essay for you 😀

My integrated essay is around 500 words. Could that be too much? The question asked for something “complete” so I included every detail from the text and the lecture.

Hi Delilah,

Whether or not this is “too much” depends on the quality of your writing! In general, 500 words is a pretty good length for the essay. However, you should make sure that your writing is clear and correct and that you don’t have a lot of errors. Just writing a lot won’t get you a good score on the essays–you also must write well 🙂 I recommend that you review your essays using the official essay rubric and see how you fare 🙂

Hi Lucas, I just gave my Toefl and in writing section, wrote 350 words in Q1 (Integrated) and 558 words in Q2. However, I am feeling nervous whether such long essay would affect my writing score or not. I didn’t write with the intention of just making the essay longer and longer. Both the essays have been neatly written with proper structures (4 para) and nearly perfect Grammer. Though, I have not written those big or tough vocabulary words in the Q2 (independent) part. Can you give me any guidance how this will affect my score? Thanks again for all your help and support throughout all your videos and blogs. I really appreciate you guys!! Sincerely, Luv.

As Eliot mentions in this post, there is no word limit on the essays. If you wrote a strong, grammatically correct and well-structured essay, then there is no reason why the length would negatively affect your score. I know it’s difficult, but you’ll have to wait for your scores to be sure! I’m glad that you have enjoyed our blog and that we helped you out as you prepared for your exam 🙂

Hi there! I was just wondering if there will be an automatic word counter for both writing tasks, or do we need to count how many words we have already used ourselves? Thank you.

Yes, there is a word counter on the screen when you take the test, so you will be able to track how long your essays are as you type them. 🙂 So, you won’t need to predict your word count at all.

With that said, if you want to estimate your word count during practice, you can count the number of words in the first three lines, divide by 3, and then multiply by the total number of lines. 🙂 That will give you a good idea of how many words you have.

This. Possibly the most relevant question in the comments here. And NO mention of it on the official ETS site.

There will be a word count feature on the actual TOEFL exam. So you don’t need to worry about counting words! 🙂

Hi! I just took the TOEFL iBT for the first time and ended up with a 250 word essay, I managed to write an introduction, body and conclusion in 4 paragraphs, but I ran out of time to elaborate the idea a little more, it was too concise Is it really that bad? in my case I needed a total test score equivalent to a 6.5, ideally 7.0 IELTS, I believe this was the lowest point in my test, I left the classroom a little worried. Cheers

Hi Maximiliano.

As we mention in this blog post, quality really does matter more than quantity. Unlike in the IELTS, there is no minimum word count in TOEFL essays. These are just recommendations. Unfortunately, it’s difficult to say with any certainty what your score will be–you will have to wait for the results of your exam and then decide how you will proceed! I know it’s stressful to have to wait for results, but try to relax a bit and enjoy the accomplishment of taking the test 🙂

hi Lucas! I have a question, I usually write the essay without really looking at the word count. I try to always focus on the content. However, sometimes after I finish the 3 points and contrast them, I feel there are still some small details that I need to add as a fourth paragraph. is that bad? will they deduct points? thank you!

Hi Sandra 🙂 You definitely want to reach the recommended minimum word count. Once you’ve done that, focus on organization and development. Without knowing the specifics, I would say that small details don’t matter too much. Just make sure that each paragraph has a clear and specific purpose. Hope that helps!

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5 Simple Tips For Writing Your TOEFL iBT Essay

The TOEFL iBT® test writing section includes two essays. Feeling unsure of your writing skills? Read our article to succeed on test day!

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The TOEFL iBT test is a great way to demonstrate your English language proficiency for university education. The test consists of 4 sections reading, listening, speaking and writing and is completed in about 3 hours.

The final writing section includes two essays, one independent writing task, and one integrated writing task. The integrated writing is 20 minutes long and is based on a reading and listening passage recreating a common academic setting. In this section, it is important to retain what you learned in the lecture and relay the ideas without copying words and phrases from what you have read. The independent writing task is based on an essay prompt only, with a 30-minute time limit. This essay gives you a chance to express your own ideas on a topic and to be more creative in your writing.

There are many different ways to improve your English language skills as well as prepare for your  TOEFL iBT test, and this article will focus on tips specific to the TOEFL iBT essay. Listed below are five tips for improving your TOEFL iBT writing skills. 

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1. Create an essay plan

Having a plan for what you will write can help your TOEFL iBT essay to flow better and assist you when forming a discussion. Noting down a short essay plan before you start writing will help you to use your time efficiently. When you know what you are going to write next, you won’t have to pause in a panic between each paragraph to think.

There are a number of common TOEFL iBT essay plans that work very effectively. But what is most important is what works best for you and how your brain works. Having an organized plan is essential to succeed in the TOEFL iBT writing test because it ensures that the examiner knows where to look in your essay. You may have written some great work but if your essay is disorganized it can make it very difficult for you to achieve the grades you deserve.

2. Know what the examiner wants

Look at the writing rubrics for the TOEFL iBT writing test and have a goal for what grade you want to achieve.

The writing rubrics can give you clear notes of what the examiner expects from your TOEFL iBT essay. This can give you goals and skills to work towards, such as organization and clarity.

TOEFL iBT writing test examples with estimated grades can be found online and can give you a good idea of what to work towards when practicing for the writing section. When you are aware of what the examiner is looking for it can help you to feel more confident in what you write.

3. Give yourself a word limit

It is recommended that a good TOEFL iBT essay will contain a minimum of 150 words for the integrated task and 300 words for the independent task, but it is ultimately up to you to decide.

By giving yourself a word limit you will know when to stop writing to focus on reading through and correcting your essay. This will also force you to consider what is essential to your essay and give you a higher grade rather than wasting space. Quality not quantity certainly rings true when writing your TOEFL iBT essay.

4. Stick to the prompt  

Under pressure in the TOEFL iBT exam , it can be easy to get carried away and start to stray away from the essay prompt.

After each paragraph quickly read over what you have written to see if it is relevant to your TOEFL iBT essay prompt. It will ultimately save time if you do this after each paragraph rather than at the end when you realize you have written on a completely different topic. This will also help you to process how you will move into the next paragraph. 

With not much time available, it is best to ensure you stay on track throughout the TOEFL iBT writing test. While this is more applicable to the independent writing task it can also be good to keep in mind during the integrated writing.

5. Write, write and write some more

Practice is necessary for the TOEFL iBT writing test, as it can improve writing skills and writing speed. The more writing you do the more confidence you will feel when taking the exam.

Being great at writing doesn’t happen overnight and the best way to improve your grade on TOEFL iBT essay is through practice. Taking 30 minutes to practice a sample TOEFL iBT essay will help you significantly. By regularly returning to writing you will learn and retain your skills. By doing this, you will also become familiar with the essays, which will make them seem less daunting when taking the TOEFL iBT test.

Also, it is important to ensure that, when you practice, you time yourself. Sure you can write an amazing TOEFL iBT essay in an hour, but can you do it in 20 minutes?

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The Keystone Team is comprised of experienced educators and advisors dedicated to providing valuable resources and advice to students all over the world.

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How long should TOEFL Essay be?

We recommend that your toefl integrated writing essay be 250-300 words long. it’s important to note that the same word count is suggested for the independent writing task, for which you have 30 minutes to complete..

The length of a TOEFL essay depends on which essay you are writing. The TOEFL iBT test includes two essays: the Integrated Writing Task and the Independent Writing Task. For the Integrated Writing Task, where you must read a passage, listen to a short lecture, and then write a response, your essay should typically be about 150 to 225 words. For the Independent Writing Task, which requires you to express and support an opinion on a topic, a more substantial essay of about 300 to 350 words is expected. 

Writing within these word limits is advisable as it allows sufficient scope to develop ideas while demonstrating your ability to write concisely and effectively. Essays that fall significantly short may not fully demonstrate your ability to develop and express ideas, while overly long essays might be penalized for lack of conciseness.

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How long is the toefl test.

It can be almost as tricky to figure out how to make sure you get to all the TOEFL questions as it is to figure out how to answer them. As such, many test takers worry about the TOEFL test time. But how long is the TOEFL test? Answer:  about four hours for the TOEFL iBT, and three for the paper-delivered TOEFL. As you can see, the TOEFL certainly isn’t short—but it doesn’t have to be endless, either.

In this guide, we go over the length of the TOEFL iBT, the revised Paper-delivered Test, and all of their sections. We also give you four tips on how to deal with the TOEFL test time so that you can beat exhaustion on test day.

How Long Is the TOEFL Test Overall?

The TOEFL test time is about four hours.  This means that with check-in the TOEFL iBT takes about four and a half hours. I say “about” because the length of the TOEFL is not the same each time—rather, it varies due to differences in the Reading and Listening sections (which I’ll explain more in just a moment).

There are four sections on the TOEFL iBT: Reading, Listening, Speaking, and Writing. Each section has its own designated time limit. There is also a mandatory 10-minute break in the middle of the test, between the Listening and Speaking sections.

The following table gives an overview of TOEFL timing and the number of questions you’ll have on each section:

Source: ETS.org

As you can see, the Reading and Listening sections vary in length depending on how many questions you get. Reading can have 36-56 questions and last anywhere from 60 to 80 minutes, whereas Listening can have 34-51 questions and last anywhere from 60 to 90 minutes. These ranges exist due to the possibility of having unscored, experimental questions.

By the way: we have built the world's best online TOEFL course . Get online practice (TPO-sytle!) and individual grading and feedback on Speaking and Writing.

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By contrast, the Speaking and Writing sections are always the same length—20 minutes and 50 minutes, respectively—since they do not have any experimental questions (or, in this case, tasks) like the Reading and Listening sections do.

Now, let’s take a closer look at the length of each TOEFL section.

How Long Is TOEFL Reading?

TOEFL Reading is 60-80 minutes long. In total, you’ll get three to four passages and 36-56 questions. Each passage is accompanied by 12-14 questions that ask you specific questions about the content and style of the text.

Although you are not timed on specific parts of Reading, you should generally aim to spend around 20 minutes on each passage and question set. This gives you about five minutes to read the passage and 15 minutes to answer the questions (essentially, a pace of about one minute per question).

How Long Is TOEFL Listening?

TOEFL Listening is similar to Reading: its length varies depending on whether you get any experimental questions. Listening can include 34-51 questions and last 60-90 minutes, making it one of the longest TOEFL sections.

In this section, you’ll listen to various audio clips, which take the form of lectures (or class discussions) and conversations. In total, you’ll get four to six lectures and two to three conversations. Lectures are three to five minutes long and come with six questions each, while conversations are about three minutes long and come with five questions each.

Here’s a chart that summarizes this information:

How Long Is TOEFL Speaking?

TOEFL Speaking is just 20 minutes long, making it the shortest section on the TOEFL.  This section consists of six tasks: the first two are Independent tasks, and the latter four are Integrated tasks. Below, we look at how each task is timed.

Independent Tasks (Tasks 1 and 2)

These two tasks require you to express your opinion on familiar topics. For both tasks, you’ll read a short prompt and then get  15 seconds to prepare your response and 45 seconds to speak.

Integrated Tasks (Tasks 3 and 4)

These next two tasks require you to combine your reading and listening skills with your speaking skills. You must read a passage, listen to an audio clip (of a conversation for task 3 and of a lecture for task 4), and answer a prompt.

Overall, you’ll have:

• 45-50 seconds to read the passage
• About 60 seconds to listen to the audio clip
• 30 seconds to prepare your response
• 60 seconds to speak

Integrated Tasks (Tasks 5 and 6)

These final two tasks don’t contain any reading passages but do require you to listen to an audio clip and answer a prompt. Task 5 focuses on a conversation, while task 6 focuses on a lecture.

You’ll get:

• About 1-2 minutes to listen to the audio clip
• 20 seconds to prepare your response

How Long Is TOEFL Writing?

TOEFL Writing is 50 minutes long and consists of two essays: an Integrated essay and an Independent essay. We explain how these two tasks differ below.

Integrated Essay

The Integrated task is the first essay you’ll write. For this task, you must read a passage, listen to a lecture on the same topic, and write an essay comparing the two.

In total, you’ll have:

• 3 minutes to read the passage
• About 2 minutes to listen to the audio clip
• 20 minutes to plan and write your essay

Independent Essay

Unlike the Integrated task, there’s no passage or audio clip on the Independent task. Here, all you’ll get is a short prompt to write about. You’ll have 30 minutes to plan and write your response.

How Long Is the Revised TOEFL Paper-Delivered Test?

Most people take the TOEFL iBT (iBT stands for “internet-based test”) on a computer. But those based in a country that doesn’t offer the TOEFL iBT must instead take the revised TOEFL Paper-delivered Test .

This version of the TOEFL is similar to the iBT but lacks a Speaking section and experimental questions on the Reading and Listening sections. As a result, it’s a much shorter test:  about three hours long.

Here is an overview of the time limits for the paper-delivered TOEFL:

As you can see, the Reading and Listening sections are always 60 minutes long  because there are no experimental questions on the paper-delivered test. This means that all Reading and Listening questions you get will count toward your final TOEFL score.

You also don’t get a 10-minute break on the paper-delivered TOEFL like you do on the TOEFL iBT. In other words, you must take the entire test in one sitting without stopping.

How to Stay Focused for the Full TOEFL Test Time

The TOEFL is a long test. That’s a fact! But it doesn’t need to be a tiring test, too. Here are our top tips for dealing with TOEFL timing, both before and on test day.

#1: Choose a Test Date and Time That Work Well for You

When you take the TOEFL can have a big effect on how easily you get through test day, so  try to take the test on a free, easygoing day of the week. This way you’ll have nothing to worry about before the test and can rest and relax upon finishing it.

You should also choose a time that works well for you.  For example, if you often have trouble focusing in the early morning hours, consider taking an afternoon TOEFL. On the other hand, if you’d rather get the TOEFL done and over with, a morning test is likely a better fit for you.

Ultimately, your goal is to be at your most focused during the TOEFL, so don’t choose a day or time when you won’t feel as prepared for the test or as confident in yourself.

#2: Take Full-Length Practice Tests

Another way to deal with the lengthy TOEFL is to take full-length practice tests. This allows you to get used to the TOEFL test time and steadily build up stamina for test day.

By far the best TOEFL practice tests to use are official  ones. There are three ways you can get these:

• TOEFL Practice Online (TPO) tests (coming soon): These tests are based on real TOEFL tests and cost 45.95 USD a piece. Though pricey, they’re some of the most helpful TOEFL tests available, with a realistic interface and timed mode.
• The Official Guide to the TOEFL Test :  A comprehensive prep book, The Official Guide comes with four full-length practice tests on paper and DVD. Like the TPO tests, these tests contain extremely realistic TOEFL questions. However, this book is far cheaper than a TPO test, usually selling for around  25 USD.
• Official TOEFL iBT Tests Volume 1 and Volume 2 :  The cheapest way to access TOEFL practice tests is through these two prep books. In each book, you’ll get five full-length practice tests on DVD, and all tests are real retired TOEFLs! What’s more, both books only cost around  20-25 USD each.

Once you’ve got a practice test and are ready to take it, try to recreate a real testing environment as closely as possible: find a slightly noisy place to take your test in (this is important since testing rooms can get loud during the Speaking section), gather scratch paper, and time yourself using official time limits.

Following these steps will help you get used to the TOEFL format and allow you to prepare yourself, both physically and mentally, for the length of the test.

#3: Get Up and Move During the Break

You’ll have one mandatory 10-minute break between the Listening and Speaking sections. This is an important resting period as it helps break up the monotony of the test, so definitely take advantage of it!

Make an effort to get away from the computer:  stand up, stretch, and walk around the testing room. Exercise will reenergize your brain and make the test feel less exhausting. In addition, go to the bathroom, drink some water, and eat a snack so that you don’t worry about getting hungry or needing to use the bathroom later.

Don’t just sit in your chair the entire break. Not only is this bad for your health, but it can also make the test feel endless!

#4: Get Lots of Sleep the Night Before

No matter what time you plan to take the TOEFL, make sure you get plenty of sleep the night before and are well rested for the test. Going into the TOEFL tired can make the test feel longer and more challenging than it really is, so take it easy and try to go to bed early, even if your test isn’t scheduled for the morning.

Furthermore, avoid studying the day before the test.  Your brain will need a break from studying, and this is not the time to pull an all-nighter!

Recap: How Long Is the TOEFL Test?

The TOEFL iBT test time is about four hours, while the revised TOEFL Paper-delivered Test time is about three hours. The TOEFL iBT is slightly longer because there is no Speaking section and no experimental questions (for Reading and Listening) on the paper-delivered TOEFL.

Each TOEFL section varies in how much time it gives you. Here is a quick recap of how TOEFL timing works for both the TOEFL iBT and paper-delivered test:

To do well on the TOEFL, you must mentally and physically prepare yourself for the length of the test. Here are our top tips for helping you deal with the four-hour test:

• Choose a test date and time that work well for you—ideally, when you’re not tired or busy
• Take full-length practice tests to increase your stamina for test day
• Get up and move during your break—if needed, use the bathroom, drink water, and eat a snack, too
• Get plenty of sleep the night before to stay focused and avoid exhaustion on test day

What’s Next?

Got more questions about how the TOEFL works? Read our guides to learn how the TOEFL is scored and how you can register for the test today .

Getting ready to take the TOEFL? Then you’ll need to know how to prepare for it .  Get expert tips on how to attack difficult questions , and take a look at our picks for the  best TOEFL resources .

Ready to improve your TOEFL score by 15 points?

Author: Hannah Muniz

Hannah graduated summa cum laude from the University of Southern California with a bachelor’s degree in English and East Asian languages and cultures. After graduation, she taught English in Japan for two years via the JET Program. She is passionate about education, writing, and travel. View all posts by Hannah Muniz

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The Best College Essay Length: How Long Should It Be?

College Essays

Figuring out your college essay can be one of the most difficult parts of applying to college. Even once you've read the prompt and picked a topic, you might wonder: if you write too much or too little, will you blow your chance of admission? How long should a college essay be?

Whether you're a terse writer or a loquacious one, we can advise you on college essay length. In this guide, we'll cover what the standard college essay length is, how much word limits matter, and what to do if you aren't sure how long a specific essay should be.

How Long Is a College Essay? First, Check the Word Limit

You might be used to turning in your writing assignments on a page-limit basis (for example, a 10-page paper). While some colleges provide page limits for their college essays, most use a word limit instead. This makes sure there's a standard length for all the essays that a college receives, regardless of formatting or font.

In the simplest terms, your college essay should be pretty close to, but not exceeding, the word limit in length. Think within 50 words as the lower bound, with the word limit as the upper bound. So for a 500-word limit essay, try to get somewhere between 450-500 words. If they give you a range, stay within that range.

College essay prompts usually provide the word limit right in the prompt or in the instructions.

For example, the University of Illinois says :

"You'll answer two to three prompts as part of your application. The questions you'll answer will depend on whether you're applying to a major or to our undeclared program , and if you've selected a second choice . Each response should be approximately 150 words."

As exemplified by the University of Illinois, the shortest word limits for college essays are usually around 150 words (less than half a single-spaced page). Rarely will you see a word limit higher than around 650 words (over one single-spaced page). College essays are usually pretty short: between 150 and 650 words. Admissions officers have to read a lot of them, after all!

Weigh your words carefully, because they are limited!

How Flexible Is the Word Limit?

But how flexible is the word limit? What if your poignant anecdote is just 10 words too long—or 100 too short?

Can I Go Over the Word Limit?

If you are attaching a document and you need one or two extra words, you can probably get away with exceeding the word limit by such a small amount. Some colleges will actually tell you that exceeding the word limit by 1-2 words is fine. However, I advise against exceeding the word limit unless it's explicitly allowed for a few reasons:

First, you might not be able to. If you have to copy-paste it into a text box, your essay might get cut off and you'll have to trim it down anyway.

If you exceed the word limit in a noticeable way, the admissions counselor may just stop reading your essay past that point. This is not good for you.

Following directions is actually a very important part of the college application process. You need to follow directions to get your letters of recommendation, upload your essays, send supplemental materials, get your test scores sent, and so on and so forth. So it's just a good general rule to follow whatever instructions you've been given by the institution. Better safe than sorry!

Can I Go Under the Word Limit?

If you can truly get your point across well beneath the word limit, it's probably fine. Brevity is not necessarily a bad thing in writing just so long as you are clear, cogent, and communicate what you want to.

However, most college essays have pretty tight word limits anyways. So if you're writing 300 words for an essay with a 500-word limit, ask yourself: is there anything more you could say to elaborate on or support your points? Consult with a parent, friend, or teacher on where you could elaborate with more detail or expand your points.

Also, if the college gives you a word range, you absolutely need to at least hit the bottom end of the range. So if you get a range from the institution, like 400-500 words, you need to write at least 400 words. If you write less, it will come across like you have nothing to say, which is not an impression you want to give.

What If There Is No Word Limit?

Some colleges don't give you a word limit for one or more of your essay prompts. This can be a little stressful, but the prompts generally fall into a few categories:

Writing Sample

Some colleges don't provide a hard-and-fast word limit because they want a writing sample from one of your classes. In this case, a word limit would be very limiting to you in terms of which assignments you could select from.

For an example of this kind of prompt, check out essay Option B at Amherst :

"Submit a graded paper from your junior or senior year that best represents your writing skills and analytical abilities. We are particularly interested in your ability to construct a tightly reasoned, persuasive argument that calls upon literary, sociological or historical evidence. You should NOT submit a laboratory report, journal entry, creative writing sample or in-class essay."

While there is usually no word limit per se, colleges sometimes provide a general page guideline for writing samples. In the FAQ for Option B , Amherst clarifies, "There is no hard-and-fast rule for official page limit. Typically, we anticipate a paper of 4-5 pages will provide adequate length to demonstrate your analytical abilities. Somewhat longer papers can also be submitted, but in most cases should not exceed 8-10 pages."

So even though there's no word limit, they'd like somewhere in the 4-10 pages range. High school students are not usually writing papers that are longer than 10 pages anyways, so that isn't very limiting.

Implicit Length Guideline

Sometimes, while there's no word (or even page) limit, there's still an implicit length guideline. What do I mean by this?

See, for example, this Western Washington University prompt :

“Describe one or more activities you have been involved in that have been particularly meaningful. What does your involvement say about the communities, identities or causes that are important to you?”

While there’s no page or word limit listed here, further down on page the ‘essay tips’ section explains that “ most essay responses are about 500 words, ” though “this is only a recommendation, not a firm limit.” This gives you an idea of what’s reasonable. A little longer or shorter than 500 words would be appropriate here. That’s what I mean by an “implicit” word limit—there is a reasonable length you could go to within the boundaries of the prompt.

But what's the proper coffee-to-paragraph ratio?

Treasure Hunt

There is also the classic "treasure hunt" prompt. No, it's not a prompt about a treasure hunt. It's a prompt where there are no length guidelines given, but if you hunt around on the rest of the website you can find length guidelines.

For example, the University of Chicago provides seven "Extended Essay" prompts . You must write an essay in response to one prompt of your choosing, but nowhere on the page is there any guidance about word count or page limit.

However, many colleges provide additional details about their expectations for application materials, including essays, on FAQ pages, which is true of the University of Chicago. On the school’s admissions Frequently Asked Questions page , they provide the following length guidelines for the supplemental essays: 

“We suggest that you note any word limits for Coalition or Common Application essays; however, there are no strict word limits on the UChicago Supplement essays. For the extended essay (where you choose one of several prompts), we suggest that you aim for around 650 words. While we won't, as a rule, stop reading after 650 words, we're only human and cannot promise that an overly wordy essay will hold our attention indefinitely. For the “Why UChicago?” essay, we suggest about 250-500 words. The ideas in your writing matter more than the exact number of words you use!”

So there you go! You want to be (loosely) in the realm of 650 for the extended essay, and 250-500 words for the “Why UChicago?” essay.

Help! There Really Is No Guidance on Length

If you really can't find any length guidelines anywhere on the admissions website and you're at a loss, I advise calling the admissions office. They may not be able to give you an exact number (in fact, they probably won't), but they will probably at least be able to tell you how long most of the essays they see are. (And keep you from writing a panicked, 20-page dissertation about your relationship with your dog).

In general, 500 words or so is pretty safe for a college essay. It's a fairly standard word limit length, in fact. (And if you're wondering, that's about a page and a half double-spaced.) 500 words is long enough to develop a basic idea while still getting a point across quickly—important when admissions counselors have thousands of essays to read!

"See? It says 500 words right there in tiny font!"

The Final Word: How Long Should a College Essay Be?

The best college essay length is usually pretty straightforward: you want to be right under or at the provided word limit. If you go substantially past the word limit, you risk having your essay cut off by an online application form or having the admissions officer just not finish it. And if you're too far under the word limit, you may not be elaborating enough.

What if there is no word limit? Then how long should a college essay be? In general, around 500 words is a pretty safe approximate word amount for a college essay—it's one of the most common word limits, after all!

Here's guidance for special cases and hunting down word limits:

If it's a writing sample of your graded academic work, the length either doesn't matter or there should be some loose page guidelines.

There also may be implicit length guidelines. For example, if a prompt says to write three paragraphs, you'll know that writing six sentences is definitely too short, and two single-spaced pages is definitely too long.

You might not be able to find length guidelines in the prompt, but you could still hunt them up elsewhere on the website. Try checking FAQs or googling your chosen school name with "admissions essay word limit."

If there really is no word limit, you can call the school to try to get some guidance.

With this advice, you can be sure you've got the right college essay length on lockdown!

Hey, writing about yourself can even be fun!

What's Next?

Need to ask a teacher or friend for help with your essay? See our do's and dont's to getting college essay advice .

If you're lacking in essay inspiration, see our guide to brainstorming college essay ideas . And here's our guide to starting out your essay perfectly!

Looking for college essay examples? See 11 places to find college essay examples and 145 essay examples with analysis !

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Ellen has extensive education mentorship experience and is deeply committed to helping students succeed in all areas of life. She received a BA from Harvard in Folklore and Mythology and is currently pursuing graduate studies at Columbia University.

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How long should my essay be?

By raghudevramaiahyahoo.com January 31, 2002 in TOEFL

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Raghudevramaiahyahoo.com.

I am good in written english.I would like to know how long my toefl essay should be, generally.

Also , is it better to take one side of the argument or both sides of the argument if u want to(for example,for a topic like is it better to study in large university compared to a small one?)

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250-400 words is a great length, and, as a rule of thumb, the longer the better!! :)

Hope that helps!

Please post further questions here.

Please search this newsgroup for FAQs & search TestMagic.com from the bottom of every page.

TestMagic.com

San Francisco, CA USA

• 6 months later...

cinderellahn

250-400 words is a great length, and, as a rule of thumb, the longer the better!! :)   Hope that helps!   Please post further questions here.   Erin   Please search this newsgroup for FAQs & search TestMagic.com from the bottom of every page.   TestMagic.com San Francisco, CA USA

Oh, why the longer the better??? So, if my essay is only about 250 words, I won't have the highest score (6), right?

_/_/_/_/_/_/_/_/_/_/_/_/_/_/_/_/_/_/

Kindness in words creates confidence.

Kindness in thinking creates profoundness.

Kindness in giving creates love.

i cant say of the lenght but what i have observed after getting disappointing score in essay ( 5.0 :( ,total 640( 275 cbt)) is that they hardly look for content. instead what they look for is, general organization and how clearly one has presented the views. i guess too much impressive language and twists harm rather than help.

so try to be simple ,direct and use normal language. the bottomline is, u should be able to present the views clearly.

now coming to my score ,can anybody opine if my essay score looks unimpressive?. actually my gre verbal is 710( total 2200) and i never expected less than 280/5.5 in toefl.

i will be taking gmat soon and after getting my unexpected scores in essay , iam getting worried. i have no illusions that i write like rushdie or roy ,but still i always thought i write better than many of the indians. after getting 5.0 in essay iam wondering what are my chances in AWA part of gmat. i need atleast 5.5 in that and before getting my essay result of toefl i thought i would definately get that much. but now it seems i have to some preparation for that, anysuggestions are welcome. genrally what they look for in AWA?

Welcome to forum davvy!

But please don't say that again:

i cant say of the lenght but what i have observed after getting disappointing score in essay ( 5.0 :( ,total 640( 275 cbt)) is that they hardly look for content.

I would be very happy to get the score of 250 ctb (600). Thus, please don't say that you are unhappy with your score! It makes me feel so stupid. Your general score is very good, your essay score is normal (isn't very good, but also isn't very bad).

Anyway, some your points about essay scoring perhaps is true, I believe you :), but I want to know one thing: do you always write in such manner (no capital letters and crazy punctuation)? If the answer is 'yes' so maybe that's why you got the 'disappointing' score?

PS. I don't even know what AWA is :)

iam sorry if u felt stupid because of my post. blv me, i never expected that my post will rub anybody the wrong way. actually i really felt disappointed after getting my essay and final score. u see, i have got 710( 97 %ile) in gre verbal and more importantly i will be taking gmat soon - where i have to write some essays- , so hoping a 6 in essay was obvious. i had this notion after seeing some ppl who are real bad writers and still they ended up with 5 or even 5.5 in essay.

some observations regarding the toefl:

it is one of the easiest exams on earth , which led many to take it lightly and then pay for it.

1listening: if u cant understand what they say , u dont ought to be in usa :). well, concenteration is imp in this section as a brief lapse of concenteration can cost u whole conversation.

2reading: it's soooooooooooo easy and boring. just pray to god that u dont fall asleep during this section.:)

3 essay: now iam sure that they just look at basic organization. no hi fi fundas are needed in this section.

and vaya i dont write like this in formal writing. as for crazy punctuations, what u mean? i write adhering to the rules of standard written english.

now i have heard about this rescoring of toefl essay. can anybody suggest if i should go for it and generally, do scores improve?. what if a bigger jerk gives 4.5 this time:)

iam sorry if u felt stupid because of my post. blv me, i never expected that my post will rub anybody the wrong way.

I forgive you :), because it isn't big deal and I understand your situation, but sometimes you should think more about others. I believe in progress so I won't tell you that after arrogant

I felt stupid again... :)

Well I hope then you write your essay you write in formal english, all the word, and use capital letters.

Crazy puntuation is:

I like cats,dogs , birds ,and turtles.Do you like them?Oh , yes I do !

Good puntuation is:

I like cats, dogs, birds, and turtles. Do you like them? Oh, yes I do!

So, maybe that was your problem?

Best, wishes - Renata

• 2 weeks later...

Davvy, Renata is right. Try copying your essay or post into Microsoft Word or another word processor with spell/grammar checking to see the green and red squiggly lines. They do a great job of catching the kind of mistake we're talking about.

FYI, we have discussed "crazy punctuation" many times in these forums, and Renata has pointed this out many times to various people.

Let me know if you can't find the topics, okay?

• 2 months later...

Miss Avni Bhatnagar

I'm supposed to handwrite my essay!What do I do?I've posted one essay and I'm waiting for Erin Sir's reply to it with an estimate score.Mr. erdtrek has disappointed me but I think negative comments on my essay will help me!

Sorry erdtrek but I felt too bad!Anyways,I accept all the comments.

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Test Resources

TOEFL® Resources by Michael Goodine

Using “nowadays” vs “recently”.

Students often struggle to use “recently” and “nowadays” properly in their TOEFL essays.  Here’s a quick guide on recommended usage.

Use “ nowadays ” to talk about the state of the world, as in: “ Nowadays, a lot of people choose to attend university .”

Use “ recently ” to talk about a specific event which happened in the recent past, as in: “ My husband recently decided to study Spanish .”

Word Placement

Both are adverbs. “ Recently ” looks fine at the beginning or end of a sentence. It can also be used in the middle (right beside the verb).  As in:

• “ Recently , my husband decided to study Spanish.”
• “My husband  recently  decided to study Spanish.”
• “My husband decided to study Spanish  recently .”

Note the comma in the first sentence.

“ Nowadays ” is usually best at the beginning or end of a sentence. As in:

• “ Nowadays , a lot of people choose to attend university.”
• “A lot of people choose to attend university  nowadays .”

Using it in the middle of a sentence is a bit trickier, but it is possible if you use parenthetical commas before and after it, as in:

• “A lot people,  nowadays , choose to attend university.”

Sign up for express essay evaluation today!

Submit your practice essays for evaluation by the author of this website.  Get feedback on grammar, structure, vocabulary and more.  Learn how to score better on the TOEFL.  Feedback in 48 hours.

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CNN values your feedback

Dr. sanjay gupta: it’s time for president biden to undergo detailed cognitive and neurological testing and share his results.

When the 46th President of the United States took the debate stage a week ago, it became apparent, even from his first answer, that this would not be the performance he hoped for.

For me as a brain specialist, it was concerning to watch President Joe Biden, and it quickly became clear that I was not alone in my reaction. Over the past week, I received more than a dozen calls, texts and emails from medical colleagues who, like me, specialize in the brain. It wasn’t that what we noticed was necessarily new but that it was particularly pronounced, and right from the start of the debate.

Related article Biden facing intense scrutiny as campaign ramps up unscripted events

From a neurological standpoint, we were concerned with his confused rambling; sudden loss of concentration in the middle of a sentence; halting speech and absence of facial animation, resulting at times in a flat, open-mouthed expression. To be clear, these are only observations, not in any way diagnostic of something deeper, and none of these doctors wished to suggest that was the case.

The consensus from the doctors reaching out to me, however, was that the president should be encouraged to undergo detailed cognitive and movement disorder testing, and those results should be made available to the public.

Over the past five years, I have reported extensively on the advances in the world of treating and reducing risk of dementia, including Alzheimer’s disease, Lewy body dementia and vascular dementia. For the documentary “The Last Alzheimer’s Patient,” I even went through extensive cognitive testing to demonstrate what it entailed and determine whether I had problems with executive functioning, judgment or memory lapses, as well as blood tests to determine things like the level of abnormal proteins that may be present in my brain and my B12 levels. My sense of smell and my genetic risk factors were checked. This type of testing is not necessary for most people as a matter of routine, but every one of the brain doctors I spoke to recommended that level of examination for Biden.

Biden’s health history

The last official report in February was a health summary which concluded that the president was “fit for duty.” The White House said a team of 20 doctors, including a neurologist, participated in completing his physical. An “extremely detailed” neurologic exam found nothing consistent with neurological disorders, the summary said. It also found no evidence of Parkinson’s disease that might explain his stiff gait and decreased expression in his face. Although Parkinson’s disease is the most common cause of parkinsonism - a set of movement symptoms such as stiffness and tremor – there are other causes as well, and it was not clear in the medical report that those had been investigated. They did find evidence of neuropathy and arthritis in his feet, which can cause numbness, weakness and pain. There was no mention of any sort of cognitive testing .

Biden was examined by his physician after the debate to check on a cold, the White House said, but it was a “brief check” and not a physical. When White House press secretary Karine Jean-Pierre was asked this week whether Biden should receive and release the results of any kind of cognitive test, she replied that his medical team has said it’s “not necessary.”

Related article I have a family history of Alzheimer’s disease. I wanted to understand my own risk

It’s true that the trajectory of aging varies from person to person. Biden is 81, and former President Donald Trump is 78. Both have already lived longer than the average American male lifespan of 74.8 years. This isn’t necessarily surprising, as both men have access to high-quality health care, and they don’t drink or smoke. Biden’s medical team has previously disclosed that he had two separate brain operations for aneurysms, including one that ruptured on the left side of his brain, in 1988, and there is some evidence that this type of hemorrhage may increase the risk of delayed cognitive problems later in life. Trump’s father died of Alzheimer’s disease at 93. Neither man has any other known risk factors for cognitive decline.

Trump does at times display some of these same signs as Biden, including nonsensical rants as well as confusing names and current events. He said he’d undergone the Montreal Cognitive Assessment, known as MoCA, in the past. According to his medical team, he received a perfect score when he took the test in 2018. Trump said he took a second cognitive test for his last physical exam at the end of 2023 and “aced it.” In a note at the end of last year, Dr. Bruce Aronwald wrote that Trump’s cognitive exams “were exceptional.” Trump has not released his actual medical records, and memos about his health that were previously released have at times used hyperbolic language, unusual for medical documentation.

The MoCA isn’t the same level of cognitive testing the medical experts I spoke to would like to see Biden do, but it could serve as an initial screening tool for cognitive decline. For Trump, this might be considered either a screening test or a baseline to understand how his cognition might be changing. It’s not clear that Biden has ever had such a baseline examination for comparison.

An ‘episode’ or a ‘condition’?

To be clear, there are aspects of aging that can be beneficial to the job of the presidency. Older people may “have something called crystalized intelligence, which is the accumulated wisdom associated with the passage of time,” according to Jay Olshansky, professor at the School of Public Health at the University of Illinois-Chicago. This is our knowledge that comes from learning and experiences.

Related article White House now says Biden was seen by his doctor days after debate

On the other hand, there are definitely aspects of cognition that decline as we age — especially fluid abilities like processing speed, attention span and memory. This is normal and expected and doesn’t necessarily stand in the way of someone’s ability to do their job. But for a minority of us, that decline is steeper and can lead to dementia. Think of this as the difference between forgetting where you put your keys and not understanding what your keys are for.

Still, determining a diagnosis of dementia is not as straightforward as many believe, and there are many other things that could account for the clinical observations I described above. A poor night’s sleep or low blood sugar can have an impact. A viral illness or the medications used to treat those symptoms can result in temporary brain fog.

Biden and his aides have said it was a “bad night.” The White House press team said Biden had a cold but did not take any medications to treat symptoms. After the debate, Jean-Pierre added that he had jet lag following overseas travel earlier in the month and worked late doing his presidential duties as well as preparing for the debate. According to three sources briefed on these comments, Biden told Democratic governors during a meeting at the White House on Wednesday that he will stop scheduling events after 8 p.m. so he can get more sleep. The debate started at 9 p.m. Eastern.

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“It’s a legitimate question” whether Biden’s debate performance was an “episode” or a “condition,” former House Speaker Nancy Pelosi said during an MSNBC interview Tuesday.

That is precisely why detailed testing is important. It can help determine whether there is a simpler explanation for the symptoms displayed or if there is something more concerning. As a doctor, I would want to understand the possibility of underlying dementia because, over the past several years, we have learned that there are medical treatments and lifestyle changes that can delay and, in some cases, even reverse the symptoms of the disease. These are hopeful days when it comes to dementia, and early diagnosis and treatment is better than it has ever been.

Seeking answers

With an election looming in November, we don’t have answers about Biden.

The White House has rejected requests from the press to release more medical records and question Biden’s physician, Dr. Kevin O’Connor. Biden’s press secretary said O’Connor watched the debate and had no concerns afterward.

Elected officials, like anyone else, are entitled to some level of privacy, and under federal health-care laws, there is no ability for someone to obtain personal medical information on an individual unless authorized, even the president. There is also no requirement for the president or candidates to disclose that information. Most do not. In fact, in the 23 years I have been reporting on these topics, only Sen. John McCain — one of the oldest presidential candidates in US history — shared all of his records with me and the American public.

We often hear that observing a candidate on the campaign trail is the best assessment of the individual’s physical and cognitive health. Back in 2020, Biden said he was “constantly tested” by the work of running for president. “All you’ve got to do is watch me,” he said then.

The country is watching now, and that assessment gives cause for concern — and a need for transparent testing.

CNN’s Amanda Sealy contributed to this report

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