TOEFL Writing Essay Sample | Choose something you like and explain why

These five sample answers respond to the classic "choose something you like and explain why" prompts: a place, a restaurant, an event or activity, a teacher, and a goal. They also show a well-known prep technique: build one detailed personal story (here, a trip to a small French town by the sea) and adapt it to many different prompts, so you never run out of ideas under time pressure.

Each answer names one clear choice in the first sentence, then supports it with two or three specific, personal reasons.

Sample 1: A place you like

Prompt: Choose a place you like and explain why you like it.

Well, the place I enjoy the most is a small town in France. I like this town because it has a charming ocean view. I mean, the sky there is so blue, and the beach is always full of sunshine. You know how romantic it can be: relaxing on the beach as the sun sets, with the ocean breeze blowing and the seabirds singing.

Of course, I also like this small French town because it has many great restaurants. They serve the best seafood I've ever had, such as lobster and tuna. Most importantly, I got a lot out of my trip there because I made some wonderful French friends. One of them even gave me a little watch as a souvenir of our friendship.

Sample 2: A restaurant you like

Prompt: Choose a restaurant you like and explain why you like it.

Well, the restaurant I enjoy the most is a French restaurant on a beautiful beach. I like this small restaurant because it has a charming ocean view. I mean, the sky there is so blue, and the beach is always full of sunshine. You know how romantic it can be: relaxing on the beach as the sun sets, with the ocean breeze blowing and the seabirds singing.

Of course, I also like this restaurant because it serves the best seafood I've ever had, such as lobster and tuna. Most importantly, I made some wonderful French friends there. One of them even gave me a little watch as a souvenir of our friendship.

Sample 3: An important event or a favorite activity

Prompt: Choose an important event or a favorite activity and explain why this event is important to you or why this activity is your favorite.

Well, one very important event in my life (or: my favorite activity) was a short trip to France. I loved this trip because we visited a small town by the sea. The town has a charming ocean view. I mean, the sky there is so blue, and the beach is always full of sunshine. You know how romantic it can be: relaxing on the beach as the sun sets, with the ocean breeze blowing and the seabirds singing.

Of course, I also loved this trip because the town has many great restaurants. They serve the best seafood I've ever had, such as lobster and tuna. Most importantly, this trip meant a lot to me because I made some wonderful French friends. One of them even gave me a little watch as a souvenir of our friendship.

Sample 4: A teacher you like

Prompt: Choose a teacher you like and explain why you like him or her. Include specific details in your answer.

Well, the teacher I admire most is a French woman who taught me in high school. She grew up in a beautiful little town by the sea, and her eyes are as deep blue as the ocean there. I admire her because she is not only my teacher but also a very good friend. Last summer, she invited me to visit her hometown. You know how romantic it can be: relaxing on the beach as the sun sets, with the ocean breeze blowing and the seabirds singing.

She also took me to some restaurants that serve the best seafood I've ever had, such as lobster and tuna. Finally, she gave me a little watch as a souvenir of our friendship.

Sample 5: A goal you want to achieve

Prompt: Everyone has a goal to fulfill. What is your goal, and why do you want to achieve it? Include specific examples and details in your explanation.

Ever since I was a child, I have dreamed of traveling to France. My parents told me about a little French town by the sea. They said it has a charming ocean view, the sky there is so blue, and the beach is always full of sunshine. You know how romantic it can be: relaxing on the beach as the sun sets, with the ocean breeze blowing and the seabirds singing.

Of course, I also want to visit this town because it has many great restaurants. They serve some of the best seafood in the world, such as lobster and tuna. Most importantly, it would be a great chance to make friends with local people and learn about French culture firsthand.

What to notice

• The story stays the same; the first sentence changes. Each answer opens by naming the place, restaurant, event, teacher, or goal the prompt asks for, then connects it to the same set of details.
• Details are concrete. A blue sky, lobster and tuna, and a watch as a souvenir are easier to remember and more convincing than "it is beautiful" or "the food is good."
• Don't force it. If a prompt doesn't fit your story naturally, answer it directly. A reused story that ignores the question will hurt your score more than a simple, honest answer.