HOW TO WRITE THE TOEFL ESSAY 
 

Writing the TOEFL essay may seem daunting; however , adhering to the following guidelines, recommended by cursos ingles Madrid, are guaranteed to help you execute this essay in a fast and simplified manner.   
 

Tip # 1: Practice, Practice...and then Practice some more.

Before you even walk into the examination room, it’s imperative to practice writing.  make a list of vocabulary that may be useful to you when you write the exam and make sure you understand its definitions.  Once you have a 10 page, single-spaced list typed out (perhaps that may not be necessary but you get the gist), practice using the newly learned vocabulary in a range of grammatical structures.  Don’t be hesitant in experimenting with new ways of sentence structures.  Get someone, preferably a native English speaker, to review your work.  If you make a mistake, look at it in a positive way because now you’ve just learned another way on how to write a proper sentence.  Learn the essay structure like the back of your house door and practice writing in that style.  We will go into more detail about the essay format in the ensuing tips.  Also, monitor your time.  When you first start practicing writing the essay you don’t have to spend much time worrying about time but as you progress start keeping track on how long it takes you to write. 
 

Tip # 2:  Connect the dots with Connectors.

Connectors are an integral aspect in a sentence’s structure because it improves your writing style and expresses the relationships of ideas.  Many TOEFL students find it difficult to use connectors but if you study the following examples, it will significantly improve the quality of your writing.  Be sure to familiarize yourself with the following examples.

Connectors can be used to explain addition, opposition, cause/effect, comparison and contrast.  Let’s look at the various types of connectors: Coordinating conjunctions, e.g., and, but, for (cause) so (effect), and...too; Conjunctive adverbs, e.g., in addition, additionally, furthermore, moreover, also, however, nevertheless, therefore, as a result, consequently, similarly, in comparison; Correlative conjunctions, e.g., not only/but also; Prepositional Phrases, e.g., in addition to, as well as, along with, despite, in spite of; Subordinating conjunctions, e.g., although, despite the fact that, because, since, just as, ; Prepositions, e.g., because of, due to, as a result of, like, similar to. 
 

Tip # 3: Understanding the TOEFL Question is Paramount. 

After you’ve practiced and become a connector expert it’s time to write the essay.  There are a variety of questions you can choose from when writing the TOEFL essay including: It has recently been announced that a new restaurant may be built in your neighbourhood.  Do you support or oppose this plan?  Why?  Use specific reasons and details to support your answer; What are some important qualities of a good supervisor?  Use specific details and examples to explain why these qualities are important; Some students prefer to attend a small university.  Others prefer to attend a big university.  Discuss the advantages of each then indicate which type of university you prefer.  Use specific reasons and details to support your answer. 

Each topic ranges in its style from: agree or disagree; preference; if/imaginary; description/explanation and compare/contrast.  If you are asked to choose a point of view be sure to only write about the view you support; it’s not necessary to write about both points.  On the other hand, if you choose a topic that asks you to compare two points of view as well as indicate which side you support make a choice and don’t write that you agree with both arguments.  Give details and examples for both arguments and explain why you support the side you choose. Some questions may ask you to describe something, which can present challenges; however, you can look at this as opportunity to exercise your creative English-writing skills.  Whichever style or topic you decide on, the most important factor to consider is that you understand what is being asked of you and that you are comfortable with the topic.  
 

Tip # 4 Weather the Writing Storm when Brainstorming Your Ideas.

Before placing you’re pen to the page it is essential that you feel confident and relaxed.   The writing stage of the TOEFL exam is 30 minutes and it will be a great advantage if you take four or five minutes to brainstorm your ideas.  This will give you the opportunity to organize your arguments, opinions and ideas. 

When the topics are presented choose the one that is the easiest and/or is most interesting to you, and then identify your opinion.   Establish what the subject is and what you’re asked to do in order to write a full and coherent essay.  Taking the time to do this will assist you in reaping the best marks possible. 

If you choose, for example, an essay format which is one of preference and asks the potential question:  Do you prefer to live in a small or large city?  Write down as many ideas that come to mind and that would support your choice.  Remember, there are five paragraphs to the essay: an introduction, the first, second and third body paragraphs and finally the conclusion.  Be sure to list three different factors that will support your body paragraphs.   
 

Tip # 5: Introducing...the Introductory Paragraph.

The objective of the first sentence in the introductory paragraph is to grasp the reader’s attention compelling the reader to want to continue reading.  The next two or three sentences should give some background information of the topic without indicating the writer’s opinion.  In these sentences, list three main arguments, which you extrapolate from your brainstorming ideas.  This sets the framework of your essay and acts as a map in order to let the reader know what you will be writing about.  For example, if the topic is: do you prefer to travel alone or with a friend, and you choose, ‘I prefer to travel with a friend’ make sure you list three main arguments in the two or three sentences that follow the opening line.  You can include key words such as safety, social, health, environmental, economical reasons, etc... The last sentence of your introductory paragraph will then reveal your point-of-view and tie into your thesis.   The thesis is the main point of what you will be talking about in your essay. 
 

Tip # 6: The Bodies of your Essay are like a River: It has to Flow.

Begin your body paragraphs with a topic sentence.  This sentence will act as a gateway to the ensuing paragraph in that it introduces the main argument that you’ve chosen.  The following sentences have to provide details that will support the main idea which you indicated in the topic sentence.  For example, if you choose to write about the advantages of living in a big city and your first body paragraph describe the cultural advantages you have to list different factors that connect with this.  You can state:  People from different cultures typically flock to a big city when migrating to another country therefore, exposure to different types of foodcomer, arts, exhibitions, traditions, languages, ways of life, etc...are more widespread. In order to bolster your body paragraphs you should include some facts.  Thus, for each point that you write be sure to provide a fact or a specific detail.  Each point given ultimately serves to support your thesis.  The closing sentence should connect with your opening sentence and provide a terse summary of what you’ve just written for any given body paragraph. 
 

Tip 7:  In Conclusion-Finish your Final Paragraph with a Bang!

The concluding paragraph presents difficulty to any essay writer because it summarizes everything you have written but you want to avoid being repetitive.  The final paragraph is similar to the introductory paragraph in that it re-states your thesis using clear language. The concluding paragraph should answer the questions: why was this important?  Why should the reader care?  Has my essay in some way persuaded the reader to share my point-of-view?  Avoid using generalizations and most importantly, the very last sentence should sum up your thesis in a coherent manner.   
 

Tip #8: Before you Send Off Edit your Essay. 

Editing your TOEFL essay is just as important as the writing component.  When re-reading, it allows you to identify any grammatical mistakes and gives you the opportunity to correct them.  Be sure to check your spelling and verify that each sentence has a subject.  Check to see that the subjects and verbs agree with each other.  Make sure that the verb tenses and sentences make sense.  Each paragraph should have a topic and closing sentence, and check to see that the supporting sentences focus on the main idea. Finally, determine whether the paragraphs are interesting and engaging.