1. Improving Your
Writing Skills on
the TOEFL iBT
César Maldonado
TOEFL iBT Outreach Officer
MA in Applied Linguistics
cmaldonado@iie.org
2. Writing Section Characteristics
Clarity, accuracy and good organization
For All Task Types:
Main idea, some major points
Outlining/planning
Reasons, examples, and details
Organization
Connecting ideas
Grammar and vocab for effective expression
Spelling, convention and layout
Paraphrasing
Summarizing
3. 1.) Integrated writing (Read>Listen>Write)
Reading (3 min) and 2 min.
recording>Reading passage appears:
prompt with 20 min.
2.) Independent writing (Essay)
Essay of usually 300 words: 30 min for prep,
writing and revision
Development
Organization
Support
Clear and accurate
4. Formal writing tasks
Purpose and audience
Prewriting- brainstorming, reading and
analyzing
Drafting- record ideas
Revising- improving from feedback (2, 3)
Editing- mechanical errors
Publishing- turning in assignment
7. 30 sec. recordings -
- summarize
Replay recording-
check summary
Mark sections
Review accuracy:
Teacher or friend
listen to recording
again and identify
problem areas
8. Read two short articles or
essays that take related or
opposite views on the same
topic or issue.
9. Outline and
compare main
points
Write summary and
check
Write: Relationship
and differences,
supporting info.
10. Read one lengthy article in
English from a magazine or a
website each day.
11. Outline article
Write summary in
English as quickly
as you feel
comfortable
Review grammar,
vocab, and
accuracy
Combine related
ideas -- more
lengthy, complex
sentences
12. Read short but interesting
academic articles in
magazines and on websites
in your own language each
day.
13. Translate into
complex, accurate
sentences in
English
Review translations
for accuracy of
content,
vocabulary and
grammar
Learn to recognize
common errors you
make so you can
correct these on
your own
15. Read a text before
listening to a talk
on the same
subject:
List similarities and
differences
Read an editorial
on a subject:
Talk about it with
someone
Write summary of
different views
16. Get a book that teaches the
different types of connecting
words. These expressions
show the relationship
between sentences and
paragraphs.
22. Know expressions
that show:
reasons (because,
since)
results (as a result,
so, therefore)
examples (for
example, such as)
23. Know expressions
that show:
reasons (because,
since)
results (as a result,
so, therefore)
examples (for
example, such as)
comparisons
24. Know expressions
that show:
reasons (because,
since)
results (as a result,
so, therefore)
examples (for
example, such as)
comparisons (in
contrast, on the
other hand)
25. Know expressions
that show:
reasons (because,
since)
results (as a result,
so, therefore)
examples (for
example, such as)
comparisons (in
contrast, on the
other hand)
a process or list
26. Know expressions
that show:
reasons (because,
since)
results (as a result,
so, therefore)
examples (for
example, such as)
comparisons (in
contrast, on the
other hand)
a process or list
(first, second, then)
27. Know expressions that
show:
reasons (because,
since)
results (as a result, so,
therefore)
examples (for
example, such as)
comparisons (in
contrast, on the
other hand)
a process or list (first,
second, then)
conclusions
28. Know expressions that
show:
reasons (because,
since)
results (as a result, so,
therefore)
examples (for
example, such as)
comparisons (in
contrast, on the other
hand)
a process or list (first,
second, then)
conclusions (in
conclusion, in
summary)
30. Pay attention to how ideas
support a position and
practice generating ideas to
support a position.
31. Read articles and
essays that express
opinions about an issue
(social, environmental
or educational issues)
Identify the writer's
opinion or opinions
Notice how the writer
addresses possible
objections to the
opinion, if they’re
present.
Outline the article and
note the ways the
writer supports the
ideas.
32. Write response to
article or essay in
English, taking the
opposite viewpoint
Outline your response.
Note the methods
you use to support
your ideas
Reread what you have
written
Make sure your
supporting ideas are
clearly related to your
main point
Make sure you have
developed each of
your points in detail. Is
there anything more
you could have said
to strengthen your
points?
33. Pay attention to how you
organize ideas and think
about how a reader who
isn’t familiar with your topic is
going to be able to follow
the information you want to
present.
34. Spend time planning
and thinking about
how to organize your
ideas.
Your reader
Have a friend or a
teacher outline your
essay so that you
can see if others can
recognize your
method of
organization.
35. Make sure you use
the words to
connect ideas and
supporting
information in the
way you want your
reader to
understand them
Reader doesn’t
know what you
know or what you
intend. (Consider
revisions)
Ask teacher to
check your use of
topic sentences,
paragraphs, and
connecting words,
phrases, and
sentences.
36. Think about who will be
reading your writing. In some
situations you need to write
in a formal manner and your
sentence structure,
vocabulary use and general
style should reflect that.
37. Work to expand the types of
sentences you write and
increase your vocabulary.
38. Create your own
dictionary of
English words
Use those words in
your own writing
39. Try writing longer
and more complex
sentences instead
of short, simple
sentences.
41. No vague words and
phrases
Focus on a different
aspect of English
grammar each week
Read article or essay
in English in a
magazine or on a
website each day
Summarize and
respond to it in
English
Proofread and revise
Ask your teacher to
review your writing
42. Read a lot in English. This will
help you recognize good
writing styles.
