Preparing for TOEFL – Tips for the Independent Writing Task, Part 1
Submitted by: Kimi
The TOEFL (Test of English as a Foreign Language) exam contains four distinct areas of the English testing: reading, listening, speaking, and writing. The writing component of the test is broken down into two Tasks: the first, the Integrated Writing Task, requires students to summarize an academic reading passage and relate it to a university professor’s lecture on the same subject. The second section is the Independent Writing Task. This is not academic but rather a chance for you to express your opinion on any given subject. On first glance, this would appear to be simpler than the Integrated Writing Task, since you do not need to learn new information; the information for the Independent Writing Task requires you to make a decision and support that idea with examples or other forms of proof. Here are some tips for surviving the Independent Writing Task as well as an overview.
TOEFL Independent Writing Task – an overview
The Independent Writing Task follows the Integrated Writing Task. Students are presented with a question giving them two options to choose from. The student then must accurately and with proper grammar, sentence structure and vocabulary, describe their point of view on the issue. You have 30 minutes to write your answer, so preparation is a key component. You shouldn’t feel rushed; a half an hour is more than enough time to express yourself. Your answer must be at least 300 words; you will be penalized if your answer is shorter, however no punishment comes to longer answers.
Typical Independent Writing Task example question
There are two types of questions that you may face when writing your Independent Writing Task. One type makes a statement and then asks you to agree or disagree with it. The other type of question asks you to make a choice between A and B and provide support for your answer. Here are samples of each of the typical Independent Writing Task questions:
Question 1
“Do you agree or disagree with the following statement?
Always telling the truth is the most important consideration in any relationship between two people. Use specific examples and reasons in your answer.”
As you can see, the goal of this question is to agree or disagree. Choose a side and explain why you support that reason, and don’t forget to provide examples in your answer; without them, your final grade will take a hit.
Here is the other type of question:
Question 2 “Some people like to travel by airplane to reach their destination while others prefer to take a train. Which would you prefer and why? Please provide examples and reasons in your answer.”
This type of question is slightly different in that it wants you to choose between two options. The problem here is that you may not prefer either choice. In the above example, you may prefer to drive instead of flying or taking the train. If you write your essay stating that you prefer driving a car than flying or taking the train, you will receive a zero for the question. You may have written an accurate and grammatically perfect essay, but you will still receive a zero. This is because you did not directly answer the question presented to you. Make sure to choose between the two instead of just stating what you love.
Before you write
Before you start writing your essay, there are some things that you must keep in mind. The first is the amount of time you have. Budget your preparation time accurately, especially if you do not type quickly. Within the 30 minutes, I suggest five minutes of preparation time, followed by 15-20 minutes to write your essay. This leaves you with five to ten minutes to proofread and edit your work without feeling rushed.
Taking notes
The next important thing to remember is to properly prepare your notes before you start your essay. Notes are important because they organize your thoughts and keep you on track; you are less likely to wander off topic if you are writing your essay with your notes in hand. In your notes, write down the main points to support your choice; I recommend three to four points. But you should also consider other elements that are less important but still should be included in your essay. Get your key ideas down first, and then try to find examples for each. Examples should be seen as a mandatory element in your answer. A 300-word count isn’t that much (less than a page) so be concise and don’t write unbalanced; ensure that each of your ideas are given an equal amount of attention. Don’t write 200 words on one idea because that means your other two or three ideas will be far too short to be considered legitimate.
Proofreading: The importance of grammar and sentence structure
Another thing to remember when you are writing your Independent Writing Task essay is your grammar and sentence structure. Your notes don’t have to be in proper sentence form, but your essay surely does. That means that when you budget your time, you must leave ample amount of time to proofread your work; never simply complete your essay without actually reading it over again. If you have many grammar and sentence structure errors, your grade for the Writing Tasks will suffer for it.
Latest Articles about: TOEFL
1: Preparing for TOEFL – Building your English speaking skills2: Preparing for TOEFL – Explaining the Integrated Writing Rubrics
3: Preparing for TOEFL – Explaining the Independent Writing Rubrics
4: Preparing for TOEFL – Explaining the Speaking Rubrics
5: TOEFL Test Score: How the test is scored
Word Count: 955 Date: Sat, 26 Mar 2011 Time: 8:57 AM
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