There are two tasks in the Writing section of the TOEFL iBT: an Integrated Writing Task and an Independent Writing Task.

The Integrated Writing task comes first because it involves some listening, and when you are taking the real TOEFL iBT you will wear your headphones. When you are finished with the Integrated Writing Task, which takes about 20 minutes, you will be free to take your headphones off to work on the Independent Writing Task. You will have 30 minutes to complete the Independent Writing Task.

This chapter discusses each of the writing tasks in detail and the scoring criteria that readers will use to evaluate your writing. It includes samples of each task, sample responses to each task, and specific advice on how to approach writing your own response.

For both the writing tasks on the TOEFL iBT, the people evaluating your writing recognize that your response is a first draft. You are not expected to produce a well-researched, comprehensive essay about a highly specific, specialized topic. You can earn a high score with an essay that contains some errors.

Your first task when you begin reading is to answer the question “What is the topic of the selection?” This can best be answered by quickly skimming the passage for the general idea, stopping to read only the first sentence of each paragraph. A paragraph’s first sentence is usually the main topic sentence, and it gives you a summary of the content of the paragraph.

Once you’ve skimmed the passage, stopping to read only the first sentences, you will have a general idea about what it is about, as well as what is the expected topic in each paragraph.

Each question will contain clues as to where to find the answer in the passage. Do not just randomly search through the passage for the correct answer to each question. Search scientifically. Find key word(s) or ideas in the question that are going to either contain or be near the correct answer. These are typically nouns, verbs, numbers, or phrases in the question that will probably be duplicated in the passage. Once you have identified those key word(s) or idea, skim the passage quickly to find where those key word(s) or idea appears. The correct answer choice will be nearby.

Example: What caused Martin to suddenly return to Paris?

All international applicants who are nonnative speakers of English should provide evidence of their level of English proficiency prior to beginning academic work at an institution where English is the language of instruction. TOEFL scores are frequently required for the following categories of applicants:

Learn about speaking section in this video.

Two basic types of the TOEFL test exist: a computer-based test (CBT) and a paperbased test (PBT). Until a few years ago, everyone taking the TOEFL test used a pencil and paper version. But now, the computer-based test is given almost everywhere in the world. This book gives you lots of information about how to take the computer-based test, because that is the version you will probably be required to take.

You can take a paper-based test (PBT) only in areas where the CBT is not available. The Supplemental TOEFL Administration Program provides the PBT in areas where the CBT isn’t offered.

The questions asked on the CBT and the PBT are very similar. However, the method of answering those questions differs. On the PBT, each answer choice is assigned a letter: for example, A, B, C, and D. On the CBT, answer choices are not lettered; you simply click with your mouse on the correct answer choice. In this book, we use letters to label answer choices for clarity, even though you won’t see those letters appear on the TOEFL test computer screen.

Some useful advices which will help you to pass speaking section.

THE INTRODUCTION TO THE ESSAY

Like all first impressions, the introductory paragraph of your essay will leave a lasting imprint. Therefore, it is extremely important that it be well written. To favorably impress your readers, your introduction should contain the following:

Hook

How is a hook used in fishing? It dangles in front of its target (the fish) and tries to lure or captivate it. In much the same way, the "hook" in an essay is used to catch the attention of your audience. To (accomplish this, begin your essay with an interesting, thought-provoking idea about the topic you have been assigned.
Avoid asserting the obvious; that is, merely stating a fact that everyone knows is true. For example, "Learning a new language is difficult" is a fact known to be true by almost everyone, and, therefore, serves no useful purpose.

Sometimes a quotation (or proverb) works well as a hook if it is particularly relevant to the thesis.

            Here is a strategy, which will help you to do the test well.

        The Test of English as a Foreign Language (TOEFL) is an exam that determines whether a student whose native language is not English has strong enough English skills to succeed in courses at a college or university in the United States or Canada. The test, which is administered by an agency called the Educational Testing Service, contains four parts: Listening, Structure (which tests knowledge of grammar and mechanics), Reading, and Writing.

The purpose of the Test of English as a Foreign Language (TOEFL®) is to evaluate the English proficiency of people whose native language is not English. The test was initially developed to measure the English proficiency of international students wishing to study at colleges and universities in the United States and Canada, and this continues to be its primary function. However, a number of academic institutions in other countries, as well as certain independent organizations, agencies, and foreign governments, have also found the test scores useful. The TOEFL test is recommended for students at the eleventh-grade level or above; the test content is considered too difficult for younger students.