Vocabulary and Grammar Checklist for TOEFL Writing

Across all three TOEFL Writing tasks, Language Facility rewards precise, correctly used vocabulary and grammatically controlled sentences — not complex vocabulary or long, elaborate sentence structures. This checklist covers what to focus on across Build a Sentence, Write an Email, and Academic Discussion.

In this guide

1. Vocabulary: precision over sophistication
2. Grammar patterns worth double-checking
3. Sentence variety without overcomplicating
4. A checklist by task
5. Building vocabulary and grammar confidence over time
6. Try this yourself
7. Frequently asked questions

Vocabulary: precision over sophistication

A precise, correctly used common word demonstrates stronger language control than a rare or advanced word used slightly incorrectly. Reaching for unfamiliar vocabulary under time pressure is one of the most common ways writers introduce avoidable errors across all three writing tasks. Use vocabulary you're confident with, and prioritize accuracy over sounding impressive.

Grammar patterns worth double-checking

• Subject-verb agreement, especially in longer sentences with intervening phrases
• Article usage ("a," "an," "the"), particularly with countable versus uncountable nouns
• Verb tense consistency within a single response, especially between a position and its elaboration
• Apostrophes in contractions, a small but noticeable error type across Write an Email and Academic Discussion

Sentence variety without overcomplicating

Aim for a mix of sentence types — a simple direct statement, a sentence with a concession or connector, and a sentence that links to a previous point. This variety demonstrates control without requiring unusually complex grammar. Avoid stacking multiple subordinate clauses in one sentence just to appear sophisticated, since this is where control most often breaks down under time pressure.

A checklist by task

Task	What to double-check
Build a Sentence	Subject-verb pairing, connector placement, complete grammatical structure
Write an Email	Tone-appropriate vocabulary, greeting/closing consistency, contraction use matched to recipient
Academic Discussion	Sentence variety, subject-verb agreement in longer elaboration sentences, precise transition words

Building vocabulary and grammar confidence over time

Rather than memorizing long vocabulary lists disconnected from real writing practice, build vocabulary through repeated timed practice across all three tasks, noting which words and structures you consistently use correctly versus which ones you tend to misuse under time pressure. This task-specific practice builds more usable confidence than general vocabulary study alone.

Why a smaller, reliable vocabulary beats a large, shaky one

A writer with a smaller set of vocabulary they can use accurately under time pressure will typically outscore a writer with a larger vocabulary that includes words they're unsure how to use correctly. Since Language Facility rewards control more than range, it's often more valuable to solidify accurate use of vocabulary you already know than to memorize new, unfamiliar words shortly before practicing or testing.

How this checklist connects to the specific criteria in each task

The vocabulary and grammar habits in this checklist feed directly into each task's Language Facility criterion, but they also indirectly support the other criteria: clearer sentences make it easier for a reader to follow your coverage of required points in Write an Email, or your reasoning in Academic Discussion. Treating grammar and vocabulary as supporting the whole response, not just as a separate scored category, is a more accurate way to think about their overall impact.

Try this yourself

Complete a practice attempt on each of the three tasks, then review your responses specifically against the checklist by task above. Confirm your self-review with the TOEFL writing checker, which flags grammar and vocabulary issues automatically across all three tasks.

Frequently asked questions

Does using advanced vocabulary boost scores across all three tasks?

Not directly, and it can hurt your score if it introduces errors. Precise, correctly used vocabulary at any level demonstrates stronger control than misused advanced words, across Write an Email and Academic Discussion specifically.

Is grammar checked the same way in Build a Sentence as in the other two tasks?

No — Build a Sentence is scored by exact chunk ordering rather than a holistic Language Facility judgment, while Write an Email and Academic Discussion evaluate grammar as part of a broader criterion alongside content and organization.

How many grammar errors are too many in a single response?

There's no fixed number — a pattern of frequent, unclear errors affects the score more than one or two isolated slips, which most responses can absorb without a significant impact.

Should I keep a personal log of vocabulary or grammar mistakes?

Yes — a short running log of specific words or grammar patterns you've misused in practice responses makes it easy to spot recurring issues and check whether they're improving over time, more reliably than relying on memory alone.

Related reading: Language Facility tips for Academic Discussion and common mistakes in the email task.