Writing+Overview

listen [|here] The last section on the TOEFL iBT is the Writing section. This section consists of two tasks, one integrated task and one independent task. You write your responses to these two tasks on the computer. • The integrated task consists of a 250-300 word reading passage" and a 1- 2 minute lecture on the same academic topic. The information in the reading passage and the information in the listening passage are related, but the listening passage does not simply repeat what is in the reading passage. You take notes on the information in each of the passages, and then you must write a 100-200 word response about how the information in the two passages is related. • The independent task consists of an essay topic. You must write an essay on the topic that is given. The ideas in your essay come from your personal experience rather than from material that is given to you. Because these tasks are different, there are different strategies for each task. The following strategies can help you on the integrated task in the Writing section. STRATEGIES FOR THE INTEGRATED WRITING TASK 1. Be familiar with the directions. The directions on every test are the same, so it is not necessary to spend time reading the directions carefully when you take the test. You should be completely familiar with the directions before the day of the test. 2. Dismiss the directions as soon as they come up. You should already be familiar with the directions, so you can click on I!t'€QDttn~aj s soon as it appears and use your time on the passages and questions. 3. Do not worry if the material in the integrated task is on a topic that is not familiar to you. All of the information that you need to write your response is included in the passage. You do not need any background knowledge to answer the questions. 4. Read the reading passage carefully. You will have only a limited amount of time to read the passage. S. Take careful notes as you read the passage. You should focus on the main points and key supporting material. Do not try to write down everything you read. Do not write down too many unnecessary detalls. 6. listen carefully to the passage. You will hear the passage one time only. You may not hear the passage again. 7. Take careful notes as you listen to the spoken material. You should focus on the main points and key supporting material. Do not try to write down everything you hear. Do not write down too many unnecessary details. 8. Organize your response very clearly. You should have an overall topic statement that shows the relationship between the reading passage and the listening passage. You should also have a paragraph about the reading passaqe and a paragraph about the listening passage. WRITING OVERVIEW 247 9. Use transitions to make your response cohesive. Your essay is easier to read and understand if you show how the ideas in your response are related. 10. Stick to vocabulary, sentence structures, and grammatical points that you know. This is not the best time to try out new words, structures, or grammar points. 11. Monitor the time carefully on the title bar of the computer screen. The title bar indicates how much time you have to complete your response. 12. Finish writing your response a few minutes early so that you have time to edit what you wrote. You should spend the last three to five minutes checking your response for problems in sentence structure and grammatical errors. The following strategies can help you on the independent task in the Writing section. STRATEGIES FOR THE INDEPENDENT WRITING TASK 1. Be familiar with the directions. The directions on every test are the same, so it is not necessary to spend time reading the directions carefully when you take the test. You should be completely familiar with the directions before the day of the test. 2. Dismiss the directions as soon as they come up. You should already be familiar with the directions, so you can click on t(t&~liime;;Jas soon as it appears and use your time on the passages and questions. 3. Read the question carefully, and answer the question exactly as it is asked. Take some time at the beginning of the task to be sure that you understand the question and what the question Is asking you to do. 4. Organize your response very clearly. You should think of having an introduction, body paragraphs that develop the introduction, and a conclusion to end your essay. 5. Use transitions to make your essay cohesive. Your essay is easier to read and understand if you show how the ideas in your essay are related. 6. Whenever you make a gene~al statement, be sure to support that statement. You can use examples, reasons, facts, or personal information to support any general statement. 7. Stick to vocabulary, sentence structures, and grammatical points that you know. This is not the best time to try out new words, structures, or grammar points. 8. Monitor the time carefully on the title bar of the computer screen. The title bar indicates how much time you have to complete your essay. 9. Finish writing your essay a few minutes early so that you have time to edit what you wrote. You should spend the last three to five minutes checking your essay for problems in sentence structure and grammatical errors. .