The writing sections of English proficiency exams are often the most stressful part of the exam. However writing skills is often one of the most important language skills if you are going to study in an English speaking university.
Here is a list of a few things to keep in mind while writing in English.
Keep everything short and simple; avoid sentences that run off too long. The most important factor when writing is to explain your message to the reader in a clear and simple way. Use commas with short sentences; by using a comma you can extend your sentence. Remember that numbers of ten or less are normally written as word (for example nine) while numbers over ten usually are written in number (for example 19).
Depending on whether you are taking an exam to enter a U.S. University or a British University you should be aware that there are some differences between American English and British English. For example when using quotes, American English use double quotes (" "), while British English use single quotes (' ').
Structure your writing in a consistent manner, if your text is organized well the reader will be able to understand your thought process. Begin with an introduction followed by a couple body paragraphs and finally wrapping the text up with a conclusion.
Keep your reader in mind while writing; it’s important that you tailor your text towards your audience. For example an academic paper would be written differently from a business email.
In the end, the best way to improve your writing skills is to actually practice your writing. Learn the different rules and apply what you have learned when writing. If you are looking for writing practice for the TOEFL, TOEIC and IELTS sign up with ePrepz.