TEST STRATEGIES - WRITING
The last to come in the TOEFL test is the writing assignment. The Writing section measures your ability to compose in standard written English on two assigned topics. There are two tasks here. The first one is an integrated task involving reading of a short passage, listening to a short lecture and writing in response to a question based on the first two. Your second task in this section is independent. Here you are required to state an opinion, generate and organize ideas and to support them with examples and evidence. Both the tasks involve familiar topics not requiring any specialized knowledge.
Here you will have just under an hour to complete the two writing tasks, inclusive of the time taken to read the passage and listen to the conversation, as under:
Writing Section
Question Reading Time Listening Time Writing Time
Integrated task 3 minutes 2-3 minutes 20 minutes
Independent task - - 30 minutes
The clock on the screen displays time left. You are required to type out your answers on the system.
The integrated writing task is similar to the integrated reading-listening-speaking task in that you are required to correlate information given in the passage and the lecture, express the same in a clear and coherent manner, though in writing. The reading is of academic type having around 250-300 words. Your response should be of around 200 words (minimum 150). The question will normally require you to discuss the key points in the lecture and explain how they relate to the ideas given in the passage. Reading passage appears first, then is removed from the screen during the lecture, but reappears at the time of writing. You may take notes as during other sections and use them during your writing.
The independent writing task allows you 30 minutes time to plan and develop your answer and type it out in around 300 words.
How to prepare for the writing section
Do a lot of Reading and Listening to broaden your mental perspective and increase your general awareness.
Practice taking notes while you listen.
Practice summarizing information that you read or listen, in your own words.
Practice typing on the computer keyboard.
Practice basic computer typing techniques such as cut and paste.
How to proceed with the writing task
While doing the Reading and/or Listening concentrate on key points, not on details or examples.
Take quick notes of the key points, particularly during listening. Reading passage, in any case, will be available for viewing at the time of writing.
Read and listen to the question carefully lest you miss out on an important point while making your reply.
For integrated writing task you are not required to state your opinion, unless specifically asked. Rely on the information provided in the reading passage as well as the lecture.
For independent writing task it is NOT IMPORTANT WHAT opinion you state (as long as it is relevant to the topic), but HOW YOU STATE and HOW YOU SUPPORT your argument.
THINK BEFORE YOU WRITE. Do not start writing straightaway. Take your time to plan and organize your response. Generate as many ideas as possible, with regard to the topic. This is called brainstorming. After you have generated sufficient number of ideas and jotted them down on the sheet of paper provided for the purpose, put these ideas in a logical sequence Eliminate an idea that may be less relevant or otherwise cannot be fitted into your response. In nutshell planning and organizing involves following steps:
Generating ideas
Sequencing ideas
Eliminating (less relevant) ideas
Outlining brief sketch of essay on scratch paper
Divide your response into logical paragraphs, each para highlighting a distinct point.
In general, an essay is made up of three basic components, an introduction, a body, and a conclusion. You should aim for an essay containing a maximum of four to five paragraphs. Suggested length of integrated writing task is 150-225 words and of independent task around 300 words.
Though you are free to have any opinion on the topic, it is advisable to stick to the topic and be relevant.
Use words and phrases that you are familiar with .Do not use difficult words if you are not sure of the meaning, relevance and spellings. It is important to use good language and good vocabulary, but it is more important to use grammatically correct language and correctly spelled words.
In the case of integrated writing do not try to repeat the language as used in the Reading passage and/or the lecture unless you cannot find other words to express the idea.
Try to pace your answer as per the requirement of time, number of ideas yet to be covered, and the word count. The computer screen will display both the time left and the words used. Ideally you should finish writing 5 minutes before time so that you have time to revise and edit.
There is no strict rigidity about word range/limit. These are general guidelines to ensure that your answer is not too long or too short. If you are falling short of time and not likely to write the required number of words, try to complete your arguments and conclude your essay within the time available. Of course, if you have had sufficient typing practice in advance and if you have planned your response properly, such a situation should not arise.
Try to find a little time, after completing your writing, to have a second look at your composition to eliminate any inadvertent errors/ omissions, particularly with regard to grammar and spellings.
Overall the best strategy for essay writing is :
PLAN
WRITE
REVISE