English Level for TOEFL Writing Section

by Strictly English TOEFL Tutors on March 6, 2009

People think that to get a good writing score, you have to write at an advanced level of English. This is not true. A virtually perfect score can be achieved with intermediate level English that has no mistakes. Short sentences that are perfect will score higher than complicated sentences that have mistakes.  So don’t try to “sound smart” or “show off” on the test. Focus on being accurate and clear instead.

The Reading Passage for the 20-Minute Essay

by Strictly English TOEFL Tutors on January 29, 2009

I know it’s hard to believe, but sometimes TOEFL makes things EASY for you!  After you finish listening to the lecture for the 20-Minute Essay, the reading passage returns. This helps you a lot. If you can locate the reading’s three main points, then they will help you to figure out what the listening was saying. So even if you didn’t understand the listening, all you have to remember is that it talked about the same points as the reading. Once you locate those points in the reading, they might help you to figure out what the listening was saying about those same points.

Bad Subject/Verb Agreement Can Cost You Points

by Strictly English TOEFL Tutors on

If you have consistent subject verb agreement problems in your writing, it could lower your score up to 33%. So be careful. Make sure that every singular subject has a singular verb. For example: “he writeS” or “the sun burnS”. This is a very simple grammar point, so make every effort to remember to use your “S”s!

Good Conclusions for the 30-Minute Essay

by Strictly English TOEFL Tutors on December 28, 2008

Everyone says that your conclusion should “repeat the introduction”. Strictly English says: NO IT SHOULDN’T! Repeating the introduction lacks creativity and it lacks “development,” which is the idea that your essay has intellectually “gone somewhere.” The best way to write a conclusion is to offer a “plan of action” for the reader based on what you’ve written in the essay.
To find out more about how to write a “plan-of-action” conclusion for TOEFL’s 30-minute essay, sign up for our ONLINE writing tutorials!

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