TOEFL Build a Sentence: Campus Conversations (Set 1)
Ten word-order items in the 2026 TOEFL format: put the words in order to complete a reply in a short campus conversation.
- Time
- 6 min
Writadia · B1 · TOEFL Build a Sentence
NameClassDate
The situation
In the real test, you drag word tiles into the gaps. Here, write each completed sentence on the writing sheet. Each reply begins with the words given.
Your task
Put the words in the correct order to complete each reply.
- Did you finish the lab report? → Not yet. I ___ (still / am / for / waiting / the data)
- Where is the study group meeting? → I think ___ (in / room 204 / it / of / is / the library)
- Why were you late for class? → The bus ___ (on / broke down / way / the / campus / to)
- Can you send me the slides? → Sure, ___ (them / I'll / to / you / after / email / lunch)
- What did the professor say about the exam? → She said ___ (would / it / cover / chapters / three / only)
- Is the cafeteria open on Sundays? → ___ (do / you / know / whether / it / is / open)? I'm not sure either.
- How was your presentation? → It went better ___ (than / had / I / expected)
- Have you chosen a topic? → Not yet. I can't decide ___ (which / to / one / write / about)
- Do you need help with the reading? → Yes, ___ (if / it's / no / trouble / for / you)
- Why did the event get cancelled? → Apparently, ___ (not / enough / signed / up / people / had)
Writing toolkit
Open these only when you need them. Try the first draft on your own.
Plan it in steps
- Find the subject and the main verb first.
- Check if the reply is a statement or an indirect question.
- Put adverbs like "still" and "only" before the main verb.
- In indirect questions (do you know whether...), the word order is statement order.
- Read the full sentence aloud: does it sound natural?
Useful phrases
Patterns to remember
Tap a phrase to add it to your text. Gaps (…) are selected so you can type over them.
Vocabulary
- indirect question
- a question inside another sentenceDo you know where it is?
- cancel
- decide an event will not happenThe event was cancelled.
- sign up
- register for an activityNot enough people signed up.
- cover
- include as a topicThe exam will cover three chapters.
Model answer (96 words)
Read it after you’ve written your own version. Notice the highlighted parts. The numbers explain why they work.
- Not yet. I am still waiting for the data.1
- I think it is in room 204 of the library.2
- The bus broke down on the way to campus.
- Sure, I'll email them to you after lunch.
- She said it would only cover three chapters.3
- Do you know whether it is open?4 I'm not sure either.
- It went better than I had expected.5
- Not yet. I can't decide which one to write about.6
- Yes, if it's no trouble for you.
- Apparently, not enough people had signed up.7
- "still" goes between "am" and the -ing verb.
- Subject + verb first, then the place.
- "only" before the main verb.
- Indirect question: "whether it is", not "whether is it".
- Past perfect: the expectation came before the presentation.
- Question word + to-infinitive.
- Past perfect: the sign-up happened before the cancellation.
Teacher notes
Format note: in the 2026 TOEFL, Build a Sentence has about 10 items in about 6 minutes and each item is scored right or wrong. Every tile must be used exactly once.
Classroom idea: cut the words onto cards and let pairs race.
Extra challenge
Write three of your own items for a partner, using one indirect question, one past perfect and one adverb of frequency.
Lesson plan
- 5 minWarm-up
Show the situation on the classroom screen and ask: “What would you write in this situation?” Take two or three quick answers.
- 6 minWord pool
Open “Word pool” on the classroom screen. Students make one sentence each with: indirect question, cancel, sign up, cover.
- 7 minModel text
Reveal the model sentence by sentence in “Model text” mode. At each sentence ask: “What job does this sentence do?” Write these phrases on the board: “I am still waiting for ...”, “I think (that) it is in ...”, “Do you know whether it is ...? (not "whether is it")”.
- 15 minWriting
Start the timer. Students write their own text; anyone stuck can use the plan in the toolkit. ( words)
- 5 minPeer review
Students swap texts and fill in the peer-review sheet.
- 2 minWrap-up
Set the extra challenge as homework.
The task’s own teacher notes give extra ideas for the warm-up and focus.
Assessment rubric
| Criterion | 5 | 4 | 3 | 2 or below | Score |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Task fulfilment | Everything asked for, fully on purpose. | Almost all; a small gap. | Partly; one request missed. | Task largely not met. | |
| Development and organisation | Ideas explained, illustrated and easy to follow. | Clear but thin in places. | Ideas present, connections weak. | Ideas undeveloped. | |
| Language use | Varied and accurate; natural tone. | Minor errors, meaning clear. | Noticeable errors, limited range. | Errors block meaning. | |
| Total | / 15 | ||||
TOEFL responses get one holistic 0–5 score. This grid splits that score into three headings so you can explain it in class.
Task checklist
- Every sentence has a subject and a verb.
- My indirect questions use statement word order.
- I used every word given, once.
Teacher comment
Peer-review sheet
Students swap texts and give each other feedback with this sheet.
Before you finish
Before you finish
- Every sentence has a subject and a verb.
- My indirect questions use statement word order.
- I used every word given, once.
Writadia · B1 · TOEFL Build a Sentence
Assessment rubric: TOEFL Build a Sentence: Campus Conversations (Set 1)
| Criterion | 5 | 4 | 3 | 2 or below | Score |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Task fulfilment | Everything asked for, fully on purpose. | Almost all; a small gap. | Partly; one request missed. | Task largely not met. | |
| Development and organisation | Ideas explained, illustrated and easy to follow. | Clear but thin in places. | Ideas present, connections weak. | Ideas undeveloped. | |
| Language use | Varied and accurate; natural tone. | Minor errors, meaning clear. | Noticeable errors, limited range. | Errors block meaning. | |
| Total | / 15 | ||||
TOEFL responses get one holistic 0–5 score. This grid splits that score into three headings so you can explain it in class.
Task checklist
- Every sentence has a subject and a verb.
- My indirect questions use statement word order.
- I used every word given, once.
Teacher comment
Writadia · B1 · TOEFL Build a Sentence
Peer-review sheet: TOEFL Build a Sentence: Campus Conversations (Set 1)
WriterReviewer
Read your partner’s text carefully. Be kind and specific: say why, not just “good”.
Task checklist
| Yes | Partly | No | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Every sentence has a subject and a verb. | |||
| My indirect questions use statement word order. | |||
| I used every word given, once. |
Questions
- Does the text cover every point in the task?
- Are there paragraphs? What is each one about?
- Write two linking words the writer used.
- Is there a sentence you had to read twice?
Two stars and a wish
★ Something I liked
★ Another thing I liked
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Writadia · B1 · TOEFL Build a Sentence
Lesson plan: TOEFL Build a Sentence: Campus Conversations (Set 1)
- 5 minWarm-up
Show the situation on the classroom screen and ask: “What would you write in this situation?” Take two or three quick answers.
- 6 minWord pool
Open “Word pool” on the classroom screen. Students make one sentence each with: indirect question, cancel, sign up, cover.
- 7 minModel text
Reveal the model sentence by sentence in “Model text” mode. At each sentence ask: “What job does this sentence do?” Write these phrases on the board: “I am still waiting for ...”, “I think (that) it is in ...”, “Do you know whether it is ...? (not "whether is it")”.
- 15 minWriting
Start the timer. Students write their own text; anyone stuck can use the plan in the toolkit. ( words)
- 5 minPeer review
Students swap texts and fill in the peer-review sheet.
- 2 minWrap-up
Set the extra challenge as homework.
The task’s own teacher notes give extra ideas for the warm-up and focus.
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