Writing Section
Integrated Task
Independent Task
Essay Planning (*)
Tips
(*) for the Independent Task
Writing Section:
TASK:
Based on:
Type of Task:
Timing:
Length Recommended
INTEGRATED
WRITING TASK
INDEPENDENT
WRITING TASK
Reading passage
and related
lecture.
Summarize and
compare lecture
and passage.
Reading: 3 min.
Lecture: 2 min.
Writing: 20 min.
Your own
knowledge and
experience.
Give your
opinion of an
issue.
200 words.
300 words.
30 minutes.
Writing Section:
Entering & Editing the Tasks on the Computer:
 All typing is done on the computer;
 There are no spell check or grammar
check tools;
 Simple editing tools: cut, paste and undo.
Integrated Task:
The Passages & Lectures:
 Academic Subjects;
 Describe a theory, a concept, a problem, an
issue, a system of classification or a process.
The Integrated Writing Task - Skills Needed:
 Note-taking of a lecture and reading a passage;
 Finding main ideas & key points;
 Summarizing texts;
 Paraphrasing;
 Synthesizing material;
 Writing coherently and accurately;
 Simple editing tools: cut, paste and undo.
Integrated Task:
 You must write about the relationship
between passage & lecture;
 You must summarize the information;
 You must paraphrase;
 You must cite information used in your
response;
 You must synthesize (connect) the passage
& lecture.
Passage
Statement of the
Concept:
Lecture
Restatement of
the Concept:
1. Positive point
1. Corresponding negative point
2. Positive point
3. Positive point
2. Corresponding negative point
1. Negative point
2. Negative point
3. Negative point
1. Corresponding positive point
2. Corresponding positive point
3. Corresponding negative point
3. Corresponding positive point
Independent Task:
 Prompt (topic):
 Common contexts: education, the future,
technology, travel, friendship, sports and games,
entertainment, business, family, communication
and transportation.
 Types of prompts:
Defend an opinion;
Agree or disagree with a statement;
Explain the importance of a development,
invention or phenomenon.
Samples
Defend an opinion:
“Some people prefer to work for a company,
while others prefer to work for themselves.”
Discuss the advantages of each position.
Then indicate which one you prefer and why.
Agree or disagree with a statement:
Do you agree or disagree with the following
statement?
“Time should never be wasted.”
Use specific reasons and examples to support your
response.
Explain the importance of a development,
invention or phenomenon:
“Development in transportation such as the
automobile has had an enormous impact on
modern society.”
Choose another development in transportation that
you think is of great importance.
Use specific examples and reasons for your choice.
Independent Task:
 Length: 300 words
 Timing: 30 minutes
Suggested distribution of time:
 Pre-writing (reading the prompt; thinking
about the prompt; brainstorming and note taking;
writing an informal plan) - 5 minutes
 Writing the essay - 20 minutes
 Checking the essay (looking for and
correcting problems) - 5 minutes
Writing the essay:
Read the
essay prompt
Activating
commands
Type the essay
in this space
To have a look at all the essay titles which
may be set in the TOEFL, access the ETS
Bulletin, via this link:
http://ftp.ets.org/pub/toefl/989563wt.pdf
These are the 100 essay titles which may
come up in the test.
Tactics:
 Before the test, decide whether you’re going to
word process the essay or handwrite it.
 Be familiar with the directions so that you
don’t waste time reading them.
 Pace yourself by using the clock on the
screen.
 Read the prompt carefully. You must write
exactly what is asked for.
 Before writing, spend a couple of minutes
thinking about the topic.
Tactics:
 Follow a clear, logical organization
(introduction, development and conclusion).
 Always support your statements.
concrete examples and specific reasons.
Use
 Use connectors to indicate transitions.
 If you handwrite your essay, write legibly.
 Finish writing your essay a few minutes early
so that you have time to proofread what you
wrote.
Essay Planning:
• Reading and Analysing Essay Writing Prompts:
Sample 2
Some people believe that schools should primarily teach
students how to best compete with others. Other
people believe that schools should primarily teach
students how to cooperate with others. Which of these
approaches do you favor? Use specific reasons and
examples to support your answer.
Analysis
This prompt says that there are two opinions regarding
educational philosophy: it can either emphasize
competition or cooperation. I need to state which of
these opinions I’ll support.
If I support
cooperation: I need to show how cooperation will be
useful later on in life, e.g. being able to work with one’s
colleagues.
If I support competition: I have to
show the advantages of being a competitive person in
different areas of life.
Alternatively, I could write that a good education should
teach people to cooperate and also be strong
competitors.
Sample 2
Do you agree or disagree with the following
statement?
Professional athletes such as football stars and
entertainers such as singers and actors are paid too
much money for the work that they do.
Use specific details and examples to support your
answer.
Analysis
Possibilities:
• Provide a number of reasons why athletes and
entertainers make far too much money for what
they do, especially when compared with people
who contribute much more to society than they
do.
• Justify the large salaries. Argue that like any
other worker, they receive the salary that people
are willing to give them. They also entertain
people and bring a lot of enjoyment to them.
Sample 3:
Your hometown has just received a grant from an
international organization to fund one single
improvement project. Which of the following would you
recommend to receive the funding?
the city airport
the police department
the local schools
the city parks
the fire department
the streets and roads
the public transportation
system
the local hospitals
the art museum
Give specific examples and reasons to support your
recommendation.
Analysis
The prompt says that I can fund any one of a variety of
city services.
To write this essay, I need to decide what service my
hometown needs most.
E.g.:
• If there’s a high crime rate, it’s possible to make a good
case for funding the police department.
• It’s possible to explain the funding of schools or
hospitals, because most communities need improvements
in education and health care.
• Tips on Writing the Independent Task:
 Introduction:

Get the readers’ attention;

Restate the ideas of the prompt;
Present a clear statement of the
main idea of the essay (thesis
statement).

• Tips on Writing the Independent Task:
 The body:

Topic sentence
 Supporting sentence
 details / reasons / examples /
personal experiences
 Supporting sentence
 details / reasons / examples /
personal experiences
• Tips on writing the Independent Task:
 The conclusion:

To present / restate the thesis statement;
To summarize the main points presented in
the body;

To show the significance of the points made
in the body;

To present one last compelling reason why
the writer’s opinion is the correct one.

end
Credits
Microsoft Gallery
The Complete Guide to the TOEFL®iBT