TOEFL iBT Writing Overview

Section Content Time Words Score

Writing Integrated: 20 150225 /30
read, listen, and minutes
write

Independent: 30 300
knowledge and minutes
experience
 2. Integrated Writing Task
Reading Passage
You have three minutes to read and take notes on a 250300
word academic passage.
Usually has three main points.
After you read the passage, it will disappear
but will re-appear when you hear
the question and begin to write.
 3. Integrated Writing Task
Listening passage
two to three minutes
developed with three main points
You will only hear the lecture
once.
Take complete and accurate
notes.
 4. Integrated Writing Task
Writing your essay
20 minutes
Question:
Summarize main points and show how they support the
reading; OR
Summarize main points and show how they cast doubt on the
reading.
 5. Text Tools
Copy: copies highlighted text
Cut: cuts highlighted text
Paste: pastes copied or cut text
Undo: Undoes last action
Redo: Redoes action you just undid
Word count: shows number of words written
Enter (twice): starts new paragraph
 6. Top Score Features
The essay is on topic and addresses both parts of the
question.
The essay:
summarizes listening and reading content.
relates reading to listening.
is written in a logical order (coherent) with sufficient detail
(progression).
includes transitions to make it cohesive.
contains a range of vocabulary and
grammar.
 7. Independent Writing Task
Plan, write, and edit in 30 minutes.
State opinion.
Give reasons, details, and examples to support
opinion.
 8. Top Score Features
The essay is on topic and answers all aspects of the
question.
The essay
is coherent: written in a logical order.
shows evidence of progression: main points are supported
with sufficient detail.
is unified: every sentence relates to the thesis statement.
is cohesive: ideas connect with transitions.
includes range of vocabulary
and grammatical structures.
 9. Scoring
Essay is scored from zero to five.
Essays are scored by four ETS raters.
The final writing score is out of 30.
10. Example Independent Writing
Scoring Rubrics
5 on topic and responds to the task
logically organized with main
points, details, and examples
everything relates to the thesis
statement
proper language used consistently
range of grammatical constructions
appropriate vocabulary and idioms
may contain the occasional error