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TOEFL Writing: Syllabus, Question Types, and Practice Papers
TOEFL Writing is a 50 minutes section that contains two tasks. This includes TOEFL Independent Writing and TOEFL Integrated Writing. Candidates' English level proficiency is measured on their ability in writing in an academic setting. Within the TOEFL writing section, candidates are expected to present their ideas precisely, in a well-organised manner. Following are the two TOEFL writing section:
TOEFL Integrated Writing: This is a 20 minutes section where candidates need to read a short passage and listen to a lecture. Candidates need to write their response based on what they read and listened about.
TOEFL Independent Writing: This is a 30 minutes task. Candidates need to engage in writing a TOEFL essay based on a given topic explaining their personal experience or opinion.
How to Structure the TOEFL Essay?
Candidates can use a defined outline to write their answers for the TOEFL writing test. Candidates should at least include 3 paragraphs while writing an essay in the TOEFL writing section. Candidates need to engage in TOEFL writing practice using the TOEFL resources writing available online. For structuring the TOEFL essay candidates need to ensure that they analyse the TOEFL writing examples for both TOEFL writing task 1 and TOEFL writing task 2. Candidates should be aware of the TOEFL writing syllabus while they practice structuring the essay for both the tasks. Following points summarise the structure that candidates can use in TOEFL writing test:
Introductory Paragraph: Including an introduction will help highlight the context of the answer that will give an argumentative approach to the answer. Candidates should highlight major points, and ideas of the answer.
Body: Divided into two paragraphs, candidates can include well organised sentences with logical reasons and examples to support their sentence.
Conclusion: This paragraph should sum up the essay with appropriate supporting points.
Following a structured approach with appropriate grammar, and vocabulary can help candidates to ace TOEFL writing score.
TOEFL Writing Syllabus Overview
TOEFL writing section is divided into two different tasks; TOEFL independent writing, and TOEFL integrated writing. TOEFL writing section is the fourth and concluding section in TOEFL exam pattern. Below mentioned table gives a brief about TOEFL writing section:
| Task | Duration | Length | Common Topics |
|---|---|---|---|
| TOEFL Writing Task 1 (Integrated) | 20 minutes | 150-225 words | Academics |
| TOEFL Writing Task 2 (Independent) | 30 minutes | 300-350 words | Social Issues |
TOEFL Integrated Writing
TOEFL writing task 1 requires candidates to read an academic passage. The passage in the TOEFL integrated writing highlights three claims and is 250-300 words in length. Candidates next are entitled to listen to a short lecture. In TOEFL writing task 1, candidates write an essay explaining the claims and how they are being challenged by the speaker. Integrated TOEFL essay examples has been mentioned below:
Mentioned below is a brief of TOEFL writing task 1:
- Reading Time: 3 minutes
- Lecture Length: 2 minutes (approx.)
- Response Time: 20 minutes
TOEFL Independent Writing
TOEFL Independent Writing requires candidates to provide their opinion on a given topic. TOEFL independent writing has four types of questions. A brief of TOEFL independent writing task has been mentioned below:
A brief of TOEFL writing task 2 has been mentioned below:
- Response time: 30 minutes
- Recommended length: 300-350 words or more
Candidates need to understand what type of questions they can expect in TOEFL writing task 2. Following are the four different types of questions with TOEFL writing examples that can help candidates to understand about this TOEFL writing section.
Agree Or Disagree
In this type of question, candidates are required to give reasons to support their opinion. Below is an example of the agree or disagree type of question.
The above question is an agree or disagree type question for TOEFL independent writing. The purpose of the question is to understand how well candidates are able to explain their opinion on the by agreeing or disagreeing to the topic. Candidates' abilities in presenting their opinion with proper justification and in a well-structured manner would be assessed for this TOEFL essay.
Multiple Choice Questions
Candidates are given a situation and options are provided accordingly. Test takers are to choose an option and support their answer with logical explanations. For instance:
The above example presents a multiple choice type question for TOEFL essay. The purpose of this type of question is to understand the critical thinking abilities of candidates in choosing a particular option. Based on their choice of answer, candidates need to explain and justify with examples their choice of answer for the given topic.
Preference Type Question
Candidates are given two or more situations. They are to provide an explanatory response for the options they have chosen. For example:
This type of question includes two or more situations based on which candidates need to justify the preference of their answers. It is understood whether candidates are able to explain their preference of answer using examples and reasons and present them in writing.
Good Idea
It is not usually questioned. However, this task requires candidates to explain a given idea in terms of it being good or bad. Candidates can engage in TOEFL writing practice for TOEFL writing task 2 to develop their skills in writing a TOEFL essay. For instance:
TOEFL Writing Tasks Topics
TOEFL writing section requires candidates to write based on a number of academic, general or current affairs topics. The TOEFL writing test includes the below mentioned TOEFL writing topics:
TOEFL Integrated Writing Task Topics
TOEFL writing task 1 topics are based on academic settings and candidates can find relevant topics in TOEFL writing syllabus. Candidates can come across topics such as; lectures on history, classical literature, spending habits of consumers, scientific debates and many more in TOEFL writing task 1. However, TOEFL integrated writing topics might also include modern topics like social media, digital age, etc. Thus, it is necessary for candidates to undertake TOEFL integrated writing practice. Below mentioned table summarises the TOEFL writing test topics:
| Any academic subject of humanities, commerce, or science | Any notable incident in any part of the globe |
| Latest political and economic changes | Newspaper report |
| Foreign policies and business deals | Games, tournaments, and any sport reports |
| Education system | Scientific invention |
| Latest invention | Latest invention |
| Business deals | Business deals |
TOEFL Independent Writing Topics
TOEFL writing task 2 topics covers areas such as education, technology, social media, life of a university student, small towns vs.big cities, and many more. TOEFL independent writing task covers a wide range of topics. Test takers should undertake effective TOEFL writing prep to ensure a good TOEFL writing score. Below mentioned table summarises the TOEFL writing test topics:
| Education | Business |
| Family | Children |
| Newspaper | Money |
| TV | Emotions |
| Technology | Economy |
| Travel | Friendship |
| Game | Literature |
| Culture | Astro |
TOEFL Writing Score
TOEFL writing score ranges from 0-30. Raw scores are calculated prior to scaled scores in TOEFL writing score. TOEFL writing section has a raw score ranging from 0-5. So the total raw score in TOEFL essay writing is 0-10. Evaluated raw scores are converted to scaled scores ranging from 0-30. Average TOEFL writing score is 24, which is regarded as a good score in TOEFL test. Mentioned below is a table that portrays aw score to scaled score conversion for TOEFL writing test:
| Raw TOEFL Writing Score | Scaled TOEFL Writing Score |
|---|---|
| 0 | 0 |
| 0.5 | 4 |
| 1 | 5 |
| 1.5 | 7 |
| 2 | 8 |
| 2.5 | 10 |
| 3 | 11 |
| 3.5 | 12 |
| 4 | 14 |
| 4.5 | 15 |
| 5 | 17 |
| 5.5 | 18 |
| 6 | 20 |
| 6.5 | 21 |
| 7 | 22 |
| 7.5 | 24 |
| 8 | 25 |
| 8.5 | 27 |
| 9 | 28 |
| 9.5 | 29 |
| 10 | 30 |
TOEFL Writing Test Tips
Below mentioned are some of the TOEFL writing tipsto help ensure everything goes smoothly while you’re completing the Writing section:
- Plan Writing the Essay: Spend a max two to three minutes to outline the structure of your essay. Include points such as thesis statements, major points of your essay, and examples you want to include.
- Establish Reference with Question: Remember to include justification for the mentioned question. Interrelate the paragraphs and try to refer to the point you claimed earlier. Try to discuss the question the essay prompt is asking.
- Review Your Essay: After you’ve finished writing your essay, it’s helpful if you can spend a little time proofreading. Keep at least 1min to skim your essay and catch any spelling or grammar errors or any sentences that aren’t clear.
- Practice Essay Writing: The first step in TOEFL writing prep is to undertake practice. This will help with establishment of concepts and meaning the questions that candidates might face in the TOEFL writing test. Candidates can come across a number of TOEFL writing tests online and practice accordingly.
TOEFL Practice Papers
Below mentioned are some TOEFL writing practice papers that can help you in your writing practice.
Candidates can undertake practice from the above mentioned TOEFL writing practice papers. Moreover, they can find more practice papers on the internet and undertake practice for TOEFL writing tests online.
*The article might have information for the previous academic years, which will be updated soon subject to the notification issued by the University/College
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