VI. Helpful tips while you take the TWE

• Read the question extremely carefully. Determine what the writing task is and how you will organize your answer.



• After you read the question, restate the question in the form of a thesis. That way, you will frame your essay around the demands of the assignment.

Your thesis statement should include three or four key points that will be discussed in the essay.

Do not copy the question word for word. Restate the question in your own words as you create your thesis sentence. Be patient; this skill takes a lot of practice.

• Because of the imposed thirty minute time constraint, do not create an overly formal outline of your answer. However, do create a short shopping list of ideas that relate to the key points stated in your thesis.



• Limit your focus. Do not say too much.

General statements without support are not good.

Detail statements without general statements are not good either. You must keep a balance.

• Remember it is not how much you say but rather how you say it. The quality of your writing is more important than the quantity of your writing. It is recommended that you follow the five paragraph essay format. That will show the TOEFL readers that you have strong organizational skills in your writing.

VII. Discussion of Scored Essays:

Now read two sets of sample essays, each scored from one to six respectively. Pay particular attention to the discussion which precedes each essay so that you can understand why one essay received a higher score than another.

1. Do you agree or disagree with the following statement? People should be polite, no matter what the situation. Use specific reasons and details to support your answer.

2. Some people say that it is best to be loyal and to work for one company during one's life. Others take the opposite view and say it is better to change jobs frequently in one's life. Discuss these positions, using specific examples of both. Then tell which position you agree with and explain why.

VIII. Some last-minute Tips

1. Avoid repetition. The TWE essay needs to be focused and organized. Make sure each idea leads naturally from the last.

2. Avoid slang, contracted forms and informal English. The TOEFL demands formal, academic prose such as is found in college text books.

3. Don't experiment with expressions and idioms unless you are certain about their meaning and usage. Don't translate word by word from your mother tongue into English either. Keep the stylecorrect and formal.

4. Don't misinterpret the topic. Read the topic at least 3 times to really get a firm understanding of it.

5. Don't digress from the main topic. Make sure that every sentence and every paragaph relates back to what you are trying to show.

6. Be careful about spacing, commas and periods. Incorrect punctuation makes your essay harder to follow and will lower your score.

7. Don't be scared to exaggerate or even lie. The TWE essay is NOT the same as an application essay. You can lie about your age, your job, your taste, your hobbies etc. providing that they serve to strengthen your argument.

8. Follow the standard essay format. This makes it easier to organize and develop your ideas.

9. Use a variety of sentence lengths. Sometimes short sentences are effective while at other times a longer sentence works better.

10. Lastly, KISS! Keep (ideas) Short (and grammar) Simple! I often say to a student: "Imagine you had to explain this topic to someone in Junior-High school ". That is the level of complexity that you want to aim for in a TWE essay.

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