The new TOEFL format presents unique challenges in its two writing sections: Integrated Writing and Academic Discussion. While these tasks test your ability to write clearly and logically, many students make common errors that can affect their scores. This blog will explore some of the most frequent mistakes test-takers make in these sections and provide practical tips to help you avoid them.
Integrated Writing
Integrated Writing in TOEFL assesses your ability to summarize and compare information from a reading passage and a related lecture. Additionally, you must highlight how the lecture contradicts the passage, demonstrating understanding and effective synthesis of ideas.
Let us look at some common mistakes to avoid while writing an integrated essay.
Failure to Summarize Properly:
- Many test-takers copy phrases directly from the passage or lecture instead of summarizing them.
- Solution: Focus on paraphrasing. Moreover, use synonyms and rephrase sentences to show that you understand the material rather than repeating it verbatim.
Omitting Key Points from the Lecture or Passage:
- Sometimes, test-takers overlook key details from the passage or fail to accurately capture points from the lecture.
- Solution: Take careful notes during the lecture, organizing them by main ideas and supporting details. It’s crucial to balance both the reading and lecture content when writing. This balance ensures that you don’t overlook key details from the passage or fail to accurately capture points from the lecture.
Inadequate Comparison of Lecture and Passage:
- Focusing too much on the reading passage or the lecture without comparing them effectively.
- Solution: Address both sources in a balanced way. In addition, highlight how the lecture contradicts, supports, or elaborates on the points made in the passage.
Writing Irrelevant Details:
- Including irrelevant information from personal knowledge or experiences instead of focusing strictly on the provided material.
- Solution: Stick only to the details from the passage and lecture. Avoid adding personal opinions or extra information unless the task asks for it.
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Academic Writing (Discussion)
The TOEFL Academic Writing (Discussion) task asks you to express and support your opinion on a given topic with the help of personal ideas and experiences. Success depends on presenting clear, well-organized arguments with relevant examples.
Misinterpreting the Prompt:
- Some test-takers misunderstand the discussion question or respond to a different aspect of the topic.
- Solution: Read the question carefully, note the key phrases, and address the prompt fully. Furthermore, stick to the question’s scope.
Over-Generalization:
- Writing vague or broad statements without specific examples to support claims.
- Solution: Provide concrete examples or evidence to back up your points. For instance, instead of writing “technology is good,” discussing how technology improves daily life will make the response more effective.
Failing to Add New Insights
- Not responding to the professor’s question and repeating the ideas stated by the other two students.
- Solution: Your response may expand on the viewpoints of one or the other students in the class discussion while introducing your fresh perspective rather than reiterating their ideas. An effective response is usually at least 100 words.
General Tips for Both Sections
- Use a Template: A basic template for Academic Discussion and Integrated Writing will make organizing your ideas easier under time pressure.
- Practice Paraphrasing: This is key in both Academic Discussion and Integrated Writing to avoid copying directly from the given discussion or the passage. It also shows your language proficiency.
- Lack of Coherence: Avoid disorganized essays where ideas lack a logical flow. Use a clear structure: begin with an introduction, followed by body paragraphs and a conclusion. Ensure coherence by using clear topic sentences and connecting each paragraph logically to build a cohesive argument.
- Poor Time Management: Avoid spending too much time on the introduction, which can result in rushed essays. Manage your time wisely: 5 minutes for planning, 20 for writing, and 5 for reviewing in Integrated Writing. For Academic Discussion, use 2 minutes for planning, 6-7 for writing and 1-2 for reviewing. Keep your writing concise and organized.
- Edit for Clarity: Complex sentences can lead to confusion. Prioritize clarity and simplicity, ensuring each sentence is grammatically correct.
- Improve Vocabulary: A wider range of vocabulary helps express ideas more effectively and avoid repetition for both writing tasks. Use transition words to ensure a smooth flow between ideas.
- Grammar and Spelling Errors: Check for grammar, punctuation, sentence structure, and spelling mistakes. Proofread in the last few minutes, focusing on subject-verb agreement, articles, and sentence fragments. Practice writing essays to minimize errors.
- Word Count Issues: Avoid writing too little or too much. Short essays may lack depth, while long ones risk repetition. Aim for clear, concise, and complete responses —around 200 words for the Integrated Essay and 150 for the Academic Discussion. Focus on quality, not quantity.
You will improve your performance in the TOEFL Writing section by avoiding these common mistakes and following these strategies.
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