Writing Study Guide for the TOEFL Test

General Information

There are two tasks on the TOEFL Writing test, and you will have a total of 29 minutes to complete them both. Here are descriptions of what to expect from the two tasks, which will be completed in the following order using a computer keyboard:

Integrated Writing Task

You will be given three minutes to read a short passage, taking brief notes about the main idea and supportive key points. Then, you’ll listen to a short lecture on the same topic from a different perspective. As you listen, note points that correspond to the passage you read. You will only be able to listen to the recording once.

After listening, the written passage will appear on your screen, along with a question for you to write about. Be sure to read this question carefully to ensure that you write to answer it. The question normally asks you to summarize the lecture and compare it to the passage you read. Therefore, you cannot just write about the written passage. Most responses have between 150 and 225 words, and you’ll have about 15 minutes to write.

Writing for an Academic Discussion Task

First, you will read an online discussion that begins with a professor posing a question about a certain topic. There will be some student responses following that question. Then, you’ll have 10 minutes to write a post to add to that discussion that expresses your opinion about the topic and relates to the question asked by the professor. You should probably aim for about a 100-word response.

Scoring

The trained scorers (both human and AI) for the Writing test will consider that the text you produce is a first draft, so they will not be looking for perfection. You will be given a score between 0 and 5 for each task. An outline of scoring basics for both parts can be found in the TOEFL iBT Writing Rubrik The following skills will be considered.

Integrated Writing Task

Your performance on this task is evaluated based on the following criteria.

Development

The crucial thing the scorers are looking for is whether you can use information from the lecture and relate it to the information in the text you read. This correlation should be presented point by related point in a manner that is easy to read and understand.

Organization

One of the most important points in the scorers’ evaluation of your writing is organization. In other words, how you put your thoughts together. The scorers will look for signs that you really understand how to explain your response. When typing your response, ensure you have an introduction and a strong topic or main idea. This should be followed by supporting paragraphs and sentences in logical order. Using appropriate transitions also helps the writing flow well.

Additionally, did you do what the task asked of you? Did you summarize, link ideas, compare and contrast, and did you develop them according to the task? Be careful not to repeat ideas as you write.

Language Use

The use of language has many facets and your TOEFL writing response will be evaluated based on these main ones.

Grammar

Grammar is critical in the writing section. It is a way for the scorers to evaluate your language. Therefore, your grammar needs to be correct. It is easy to get it wrong. Let’s look at some areas where your writing should be appropriate and precise.

mixing tenses—Do not mix verb tenses in a sentence. There are instances where mixing tenses is allowed; however, for this test, it’s best not to risk it. Keep your tenses the same in the same sentence.
sentence variety—The TOEFL scorers will also look at your ability to correctly write different types of sentences. Your responses should include simple sentences (“The university book club has a weekly meeting.”), compound sentences (“The university book club raised the fees, so she decided to quit.”), and complex sentences (“Though she was very rich, she still didn’t want to pay the higher fees.”). If you only use simple short sentences, your response won’t receive a high score.
subject-verb agreement—When taking the TOEFL writing section, you must be certain that the subject and verb agree. You need to double-check your sentences and ask yourself, if the subject is singular, is the verb singular? Is the subject plural? Then, the verb should be plural. Sometimes, the subject and verb are separated. They can be separated by a prepositional phrase. Remember that the prepositional phrase has no effect on the verb. For example, this is correct:

The effects of that rise in fees are likely to be devastating to the club.

These are the major grammatical areas that the scorers will consider. It’s important to practice grammar through online sites and/or practice books.

Vocabulary

Vocabulary is another important area at which the scorers will look when evaluating your response and includes:

word choice—You should choose words that are appropriate and accurate. Practice looking up synonyms for key words you know so that you can use those words in your writing.
variety—Use a variety of words in your response. Don’t use the same words over and over again. Again, using synonyms is a good way to improve your writing and, thus, your score.
idiomaticity—Idiomaticity involves how natural-sounding your writing is. Are you writing in the same manner as a native speaker? Are you using expressions that are associated with native speakers? For example, “Happy New Year” is preferred over “Merry New Year.”

The best ways to build your vocabulary are to study idiomatic expressions, read sample responses, and look up synonyms for keywords.

Writing for an Academic Discussion Task

This task will be scored by both human and AI scorers. The score you receive will be between 0 and 5 and will reflect the quality of your writing, regardless of what position you take on the topic.

Development

Just as in the integrated writing section, it is crucial that your response is developed naturally, accurately, and logically. Also, it is important that your remarks contribute to the discussion started by the professor and other students. Be sure you support each of your ideas with examples and/or reasons. Your score will not be as high if you simply insert random, unconnected comments with little or no supporting evidence.

Variety in Language Use

When responding to the discussion, try to use varied language structures and a wide vocabulary. Just be sure you understand what you are writing. If you misuse words just to appear smart, the effect will be the opposite, and your score will reflect that.

Correct Language Use

Unlike in today’s texting and posting environment, your posts for this test section need to utilize standard written English conventions with regard to spelling, punctuation, capitalization, and word use. Review the information under “Language Use” above for good reminders concerning correct usage and conventions. If you make just a few small errors that might be typical of any writer in timed circumstances, it will not significantly affect your score.