TOEFL iBT Writing Section

Academic Writing Skills

• In all academic situations where writing in English is required, students must be able to present their ideas in a clear, well-organized manner.
• The Writing section measures your ability to write in an academic setting.
  • Often students need to write a paper or an essay response on an exam about what they are learning in their classes.
  • This requires combining information they have heard in class lectures with what they have read in textbooks or other materials.
  • This type of writing can be referred to as integrated writing.
  • For example, in an academic course, a student might be asked to compare and contrast the points of view
  • expressed by the professor in class with those expressed by an author in the assigned reading material.
  • The student must successfully draw information from each source to explain the contrast.
  • In this type of writing, students must:
    • take notes on what they hear and read, and use them to organize information before writing
    • summarize, paraphrase, and cite information from the source material accurately
    • write about the ways the information they heard relates to the information they read
• Students must also write essays that express and support their opinions.
  • In this type of writing, known as independent writing, students express an opinion and support it based on their own knowledge and experience.
  • For example, students may be asked to write an essay about a controversial issue. The students use past, personal experience to support their position.

In all types of writing, it is helpful for students to:

• identify one main idea and some major points that support it
• plan how to organize the essay (e.g., with an outline)
• develop the essay by using reasons, examples, and details
• express information in an organized manner
• use effective linking words (transitional phrases) to connect ideas and help the reader understand the flow of ideas
• use a range of grammar and vocabulary for effective expression
• use grammar and vocabulary accurately; use idiomatic expressions appropriately
• follow the conventions of spelling, punctuation, and layout

The total time for the Writing section is 50 minutes. Test takers write their responses to 2 writing tasks. Responses are typed into the computer and sent to ETS’s Online Scoring Network where they are scored by certified raters.

• Task 1: Integrated Writing Task - Read / Listen / Write
  • Test takers read a short text of about 230–300 words (reading time, 3 minutes) on an academic topic.
    • Test takers may take notes on the reading passage.
    • The reading passage disappears from the screen during the lecture that follows.
    • It reappears when test takers begin writing so they can refer to it as they work.
  • Test takers listen to a speaker discuss the same topic from a different perspective.
    • The listening passage is about 230–300 words long (listening time, 2 minutes).
    • The listening passage provides additional information that relates to points made in the reading passage.
    • Test takers may take notes on the listening passage.
  • Test takers write a summary in connected English prose of important points made in the listening passage and explain how these relate to the key points of the reading passage.
    • Suggested response length is 150–225 words; however, there is no penalty for writing more as long as it is in response to the task presented.
• Task 2: Independent Writing - Writing from Experience and Knowledge
  • Test takers write an essay that states, explains, and supports their opinion on an issue.
    • Test takers may take notes on the reading passage.
    • The reading passage disappears from the screen during the lecture that follows.
    • It reappears when test takers begin writing so they can refer to it as they work.
  • Test takers listen to a speaker discuss the same topic from a different perspective.
    • An effective essay will usually contain a minimum of 300 words; however, test takers may write more if they wish.
  • Test takers must support their opinions or choices rather than simply list personal preferences or choices.
  • Typical essay questions begin with statements such as:
    • Do you agree or disagree with the following statement? Use reasons and specific details to support your answer.
    • Some people believe X. Other people believe Y. Which of these two positions do you prefer/agree with? Give reasons and specific details.