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Overview of Speaking and Writing Strategies for the TOEFL iBT

The TOEFL iBT consists of four test sections: Reading, Listening, Speaking, and Writing. Because the reading and listening questions are multiple-choice questions, they are called selective tasks. In contrast, the speaking and writing tasks are called constructive tasks. For TOEFL, build means develop and deliver. What do you have to develop and deliver on the day of the exam? Six verbal arguments and two written ones. Why does ETS use test scores to assess your ability to speak and write academic English? Because at an English-speaking university, you will build arguments of personal opinion, verbally and in writing (independent speaking tasks #1 and #2; independent writing task). You will also listen to and summarize lectures. Lectures are fact-based arguments (integrated writing task; integrated speaking task #4 and #6). You will also read and summarize fact-based arguments (Integrated Writing Task; Integrated Speaking Task #4 & #6). As you can see, ETS uses test scores to assess your ability to speak and write English academically. Therefore, to earn high TOEFL iBT speaking and writing scores, you need to know how to construct and summarize both factual and personal opinion arguments quickly and competently. You can do this using the strategy called argument mapping. Argument mapping begins with a review of basic argument development.

 

An argument is the process of presenting an opinion for the purpose of persuading an audience. For TOEFL, this type of argument is called a personal opinion argument. An argument, however, does not always have to persuade. An argument can also inform by presenting facts. For TOEFL, this type of argument is called a fact-based argument. An argument that successfully persuades or informs demonstrates consistency. Coherence means that the argument is clear and logical. For TOEFL, a consistent argument is a high scoring argument. A coherent argument demonstrates command of the English language. Competence means skill and knowledge. How can you quickly and competently construct both factual and personal opinion arguments that demonstrate consistency? Starting from a clear method of organization. There are two ways to organize an argument: deduction and induction. Let’s start with the argument and deduction of personal opinion.

Key features 

1. The TOEFL iBT is a test of English language proficiency. TOEFL assesses academic English language proficiency. For TOEFL, academic English means the first year of university-level English.

2. TOEFL stands for “Test of English as a Foreign Language.” and iBT stands for “Internet-Based Testing”. Internet-based means that the test computers are connected to the Internet. Your responses will be submitted online for scoring by ETS.

3. The TOEFL iBT is designed and implemented by Educational Testing Services (ETS) in Princeton, New Jersey, USA.

4. You cannot pass or fail the TOEFL test. You will get a total score of 120 points. Your score measures your command of the English language. The higher your score, the greater your command of the English language.

5. Before taking the TOEFL test, find out the TOEFL requirements of the school to which you are applying. Some US colleges and universities do not require a TOEFL score.

6. In some countries, you can take the TOEFL PBT (paper-based test). If you want to go to graduate school in the United States, don’t take the PBT. Take the iBT instead. Why? Because undergraduate and graduate students at US universities are expected to teach undergraduate classes. That means you must be able to speak academic English proficiently. That’s what the iBT proves. PBT does not test talk.

 

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Topics of this Edition

Developing an Argument
Writing Tasks
Independent Essay
Integrated Essay
Speaking Tasks
Speaking Task One
Speaking Task Two
Speaking Task Three
Speaking Task Four
Speaking Task Five
Speaking Task Six
Appendix
Scoring
Exercises
Answer Key
Independent Essay Rating
Speaking Task Ratings

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