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The essay section of the TOEFL test is worth approximately
half of your final Structure score. The following points describe the
different essay scores and present tips for how to improve your score.
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6
- An effective essay |
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A 6 essay demonstrates a strong
ability in writing for the development of ideas and the structure
of the essay.
- Effectively addresses the topic
- Is well organized
- Uses transitional devices to connect sentences and paragraphs
- Develops appropriate and interesting details to support the
thesis and to illustrate ideas
- Demonstrates a varied and advanced vocabulary
- Uses various sentence structures
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5 - A
strong essay |
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A 5 essay demonstrates a competent
ability in writing. It may have some errors that do not seriously
distract or confuse the reader.
- Clearly addresses the topic--some essay elements may be more
effective than others
- Is well organized
- Develops supporting ideas with relevant details
- Uses linking words to connect sentences and paragraphs
- Demonstrates a varied vocabulary
- May have errors in mechanics, word usage, and sentence structure
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4 - An
adequate essay |
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A 4 essay demonstrates an adequate
ability in writing. Some errors may distract the reader, but they
do not obscure the meaning.
- Adequately addresses the topic--determine an area of writing
that is weak, i.e. the introduction, and make it a strength
- Is satisfactorily organized--use more linking words to connect
your sentences and paragraphs
- Treats the topic simplistically or repetitively--develop your
details
- Uses simple sentence structure--write more than subject +
verb + object sentences by using modifiers
- May have some errors that confuse the reader--check your work
for grammar, spelling, or punctuation mistakes
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3 - A
developing essay |
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A 3 essay demonstrates a competence
in writing. There is a lack of development and there are major
problems with your overall structure.
- Is organized but it is inadequate--develop your introduction,
body, and conclusion
- Lacks linking words
- Presents inappropriate word choice and word order
- Spells common words incorrectly
- Has a conclusion that doesn't agree with the argument
- Uses several awkward phrases--check that the subject and verb
agree and that the pronouns agree to their reference
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2 - An
underdeveloped essay |
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A 2 essay shows you need to
develop your writing skills. There is a serious lack of development
and organization. Visit WritingDEN
for some free tutorials about essay writing.
- Is slightly related to the topic
- Demonstrates little evidence of organizational patterns
- Has frequent errors in basic punctuation and capitalization
- Lacks diverse vocabulary
- Has common words often spelled wrong
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1 - A
weak essay |
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A 1 essay demonstrates a need
to develop your writing skills. Visit WritingDEN
for free online essay tutorials.
- Lacks proper sentence structure--practice writing sentences
and linking them to other sentences with transitional devices
- Uses punctuation incorrectly or misses punctuation altogether
--review commas and periods
- May use capitals incorrectly
- Contains spelling errors for "simple" words--study and develop
your English vocabulary
- Lacks organization
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0 - An
unscorable essay |
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A 0 essay demonstrates a serious
need to develop your writing skills. Visit WritingDEN
for some free online tutorials about essay writing.
- Contains no response--make an effort to write an essay because
it is worth half of your Structure score
- Repeats the topic--learn to write an introduction, a body,
and a conclusion
- Is off-topic--you must respond to the topic
- Is not written in English--the TOEFL test is a test of your
English abilities
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