Today we are going to discuss the writing section of the TOEFL test and share some tips and tactics that might be useful when taking the exam.
The TOEFL writing section will ask you to write two essays, the first one is a summary of a lecture and article (integrated section). The other one is a more open-ended question (independent section) where you will share your opinion. Let’s dive deeper into the independent section.
TOEFL Independent Section
You should share something personal on the TOEFL independent section, for example a common question is: “Some people prefer to live in places that have the same weather or climate all year long. Others like to live in areas where the weather changes several times a year. Which do you prefer?” Use specific reasons and examples to support your opinion.
This is a perfect question where you can share your personal experiences as an answer. You may live in a country where it’s mostly cold for most of the year and for that reason you might want to live in a country where the climate is constantly changing.
There are also writing questions where it’s better to write about knowledge you have about the topic rather than personal experiences. For example questions like, “Do you agree or disagree with the following statement? Airplanes have made the world a better place to live.” Use specific reasons and examples to support your answer.
This is a perfect topic to write about pros (faster travel time) and cons (pollution). First thing you want to write down is your position on the question. After discussing the positive and negative affects of airplanes, finish the text up with a conclusion.
Tips on How to improve your TOEFL writing skills
A key component to improving your writing skills is having a good vocabulary. A great way to improve your vocabulary is to learn new words through flash cards. Other ways to improve your writing is obviously to practice writing essays and articles. The important thing after writing your practice essay is to seek feedback from someone else so you know which areas are good and which requires improvement.
Another way to improve your writing is to actually read articles in English. Write down words you don’t know and look it up in the dictionary.
These are few TOEFL writing tips and tactics that will help you be better prepared for exam. We wish you the best of luck on your TOEFL exam!