The Test of English as a Foreign Language or TOEFL is an important English proficiency test taken by many non-native English speakers who plan to apply for undergraduate or graduate programs at English-medium universities. The TOEFL assesses how well a person can use and understand English in an academic setting. One section of the TOEFL exam is the independent writing task which requires test takers to write a coherent essay on a given topic within a limited time frame, typically 30 minutes. Writing a high-scoring TOEFL essay takes practice and an understanding of what graders look for. Here are some tips and a sample essay response to help you improve your TOEFL independent writing skills.
The TOEFL writing rubric focuses on four key areas – task response, organization, language use, and written conventions. To score high, your essay needs to fully address the topic question, have a clear introduction, body paragraphs, and conclusion, demonstrate a wide range of grammar and vocabulary, and have few to no spelling or punctuation errors. Start by carefully reading and analyzing the essay prompt. Pinpoint the key issues or dimensions it asks you to discuss. Brainstorm different perspectives on the topic before choosing a position to argue. Having a clear position or stance from the beginning will make organizing your ideas easier.
In your introductory paragraph, state your thesis or position on the issue clearly and concisely. Provide a brief preview of the supportive points or examples you will discuss in the body paragraphs. Keep the intro paragraph short at around 3-5 sentences. The body should be the main part of your essay where you develop your argument and support your thesis with relevant examples, facts, reasons, and details. Typically, 3 well-developed body paragraphs are sufficient for a high-scoring TOEFL essay. Each body paragraph should have a clear topic sentence explaining the point or example, supporting details or reasons for your point, and concluding sentence that links back to the thesis. Transitional phrases and words help the reader smoothly flow between paragraphs and strengthen coherence.
In the conclusion paragraph, restate the central idea or position of your essay but do not simply repeat verbatim what you wrote in the introduction. You can also comment on the implications or significance of your argument, address counterarguments, or provide a call to action. Keep the conclusion focused, succinct, and no more than 3-5 sentences long. Check that your essay addresses all parts of the prompt, has a logical flow and progression of ideas from introduction to conclusion. Review for any grammatical errors, inappropriate word choice or repetition, awkward phrasing, inconsistencies, or factual inaccuracies. Leave enough time before the test ends to proofread your work for minor spelling, punctuation or formatting issues. Following these steps will optimize your chances of scoring high on the TOEFL independent writing task.
Here is a sample response for the following TOEFL essay question: “Some people believe that government funding of the arts is necessary to ensure that important works of art are created and available to the public, while others believe that government funding of the arts is not necessary. Discuss both views and give your opinion.”
Government funding for the arts has both benefits and drawbacks that need consideration from different perspectives. Supporters argue that public grants are crucial to support culturally significant artistic creations and access to the arts. Without financial aid, many valuable artistic works may never be realized due to economic barriers. Government assistance can promote diversity and foster new talent, especially from marginalized communities. Access to publicly funded artistic institutions like museums, theaters, and performances also strengthen civic engagement and cultural understanding for all members of society regardless of income.
Opponents counter that the free market, private sector, and individual donations should determine which artistic endeavors succeed or fail. They believe the government is not well suited to decide what counts as culturally or artistically valuable. Private sponsorship may be more responsive to changing tastes and trends. There are also concerns about too much government influence over the content or message of the arts. Too much reliance on public money could reduce artistic independence and experimentation. Additionally, in tough economic times, government funding of the arts could be seen as a lower priority when basic services are at risk.
On balance, a moderate level of public support combined with private funding seems most pragmatic. Government assistance is justified to ensure the continued creation of great works of art, preserve cultural heritage and tradition for future generations, as well as maintain access and appreciation of the arts for all citizens. Private sources should also play a major role to foster independence and maximize responsiveness to public interests. In tough times, funding levels may need adjustment but not elimination which would be detrimental in the long run. Both public and private cooperation are vital to sustaining a healthy arts community.