Three TOEFL iBT 2026 tasks reward having the right phrases ready: Write an Email (semi-formal register), Write for an Academic Discussion (academic opinion-giving), and Take an Interview (natural spoken elaboration). This guide organises useful vocabulary by function so you can build fluency without sounding memorised.
Write an Email — Phrases by Function
| Function | Useful Phrases |
|---|
| Opening | "I am writing to..." / "I hope this email finds you well." / "Thank you for your message regarding..." |
| Making a request | "I would like to request..." / "Would it be possible to...?" / "I was wondering if you could..." |
| Giving information | "I wanted to let you know that..." / "Please note that..." / "For your information,..." |
| Apologising | "I apologise for the inconvenience." / "I'm sorry for the late response." |
| Asking for clarification | "Could you clarify whether...?" / "I wasn't sure about... — could you confirm?" |
| Closing | "I look forward to hearing from you." / "Please let me know if you need any further information." / "Thank you for your time and consideration." |
Avoid in Write an Email: overly stiff phrases like "kindly do the needful," "this is to inform you," or "revert back" — these read as dated or overly formal for the semi-formal register TOEFL expects. See our guide on common grammar mistakes in TOEFL writing for more on this.
Write for an Academic Discussion — Phrases by Function
This task asks you to take a position in response to a professor's question and engage with two classmates' posts (100–130 words). The vocabulary below helps you do this efficiently within the 10-minute limit.
Stating Your Position
| Phrase | Example |
|---|
| "I agree with [Name]'s view that..." | "I agree with Maria's view that group projects build teamwork skills." |
| "I see this differently because..." | "I see this differently because individual assessments better reflect personal effort." |
| "While I understand [Name]'s point, I believe..." | "While I understand John's point about cost, I believe the long-term benefits outweigh it." |
| "In my view, the most important factor is..." | "In my view, the most important factor is accessibility for all students." |
Engaging With Classmates (Required by the Rubric)
| Phrase | Example |
|---|
| "[Name] makes a good point about..., but..." | "Sarah makes a good point about flexibility, but this could also reduce accountability." |
| "Building on what [Name] said,..." | "Building on what Tom said, I'd add that smaller class sizes also help." |
| "I'd push back slightly on [Name]'s claim that..." | "I'd push back slightly on Tom's claim that online classes are always less effective." |
Supporting Your Point
| Phrase | Example |
|---|
| "For example,..." / "For instance,..." | "For example, students who choose their own topics tend to stay more engaged." |
| "This is because..." | "This is because personal interest increases motivation." |
| "As a result,..." / "Consequently,..." | "As a result, overall participation tends to improve." |
Take an Interview — Phrases for Natural Elaboration
The Take an Interview task gives you 45 seconds per response to a follow-up question, with no preparation time. The goal is natural, spoken elaboration — not a memorised template. These phrases help you extend an answer naturally:
Giving an Initial Opinion
| Phrase | Example |
|---|
| "I'd say..." | "I'd say I prefer studying in the evening." |
| "Honestly, for me it depends on..." | "Honestly, for me it depends on how much free time I have that day." |
| "I'm someone who..." | "I'm someone who really values quiet spaces when I study." |
Adding a Reason or Example
| Phrase | Example |
|---|
| "The main reason is that..." | "The main reason is that mornings are when I focus best." |
| "Like, for example, last week..." | "Like, for example, last week I had an exam and I studied really early in the morning." |
| "It's mainly because..." | "It's mainly because there are fewer distractions then." |
Buying Time Naturally (Without Sounding Hesitant)
| Phrase | Example |
|---|
| "That's a good question — I think..." | Use sparingly; helps bridge a brief pause naturally |
| "Well, to be honest..." | Signals a genuine, considered response |
| "I haven't really thought about it that way, but..." | Useful if the follow-up question takes an unexpected angle |
Important: since Listen and Repeat and Take an Interview have no preparation time, the goal is not to sound rehearsed — it's to have a stock of natural connector phrases ready so you can elaborate smoothly under pressure. Raters reward fluency, idea development, and natural intonation, not complex vocabulary for its own sake.
Putting It Together
| Task | Priority | What to Focus On |
|---|
| Write an Email | Appropriate register | Semi-formal opening/closing phrases, clear requests |
| Write for an Academic Discussion | Engagement + support | Naming classmates, taking a clear position, one supporting example |
| Take an Interview | Natural elaboration | Reason + example pattern, natural connectors, no long pauses |
Practise TOEFL Writing and Speaking with Gabble — AI-powered feedback helps you use these phrases naturally and identifies where your responses sound memorised versus genuinely fluent.