As you know the iBT writing section is divided into two parts: Integrated Writing and Independent Writing.
Integrated Writing
This Type of Writing is Based on Reading and Listening. This task measures your ability to synthesize information from a reading and a listening passages. You will have three minutes to read a passge of 230-300 words.Then it is hidden while you are listening to a two-minute passage from a lecture that is related to reading. You may take notes during both. Then you have 20 minutes to write a 150-220-word response to a question. The reading passage reappears this time so that you may refer to it while you are writing.
To answer the integrated task, you must identify the relevant ideas and relationships form the passages and organize the information in a coherent manner. Your response is scored on your:
- organmization,
- discussion of the key ideas and supporting details,
- accuracy of language in addressing all parts of the question.
The video recommendations below may be of help to you, too.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Ytubzmj_j94&feature=player_detailpage
Task 1.
Read a passage about an academic topic. Then you will read a listening passage about the same topic. You are permitted to take notes while you read. You will be asked a question that relates to both passages. Your response should be 150-225 words. Hint: Look for three main points that are related. Your score will depend on the quality of your writing as well as how well you answer the question. After you have read the listening passage you will have twenty minutes to plan and write your response.
Reading:
Listening passage (Transcript of lecture):
As you all likely know by now, Pluto has been officially demoted to a dwarf planet. What this means is that we will no longer include it as part of our solar system. The debate about whether or not Pluto should hold its status as a planet created such a conflict within the community of world astronomers that it has been called the Great Pluto War. The decision on whether or not to demote Pluto was put to a final vote by astronomers from around the world at the International Astronomical Union Conference. However, when I say from around the world, I don't mean worldwide. In fact, less than 10% of the world's astronomers voted, and most of those who were at the conference had already gone home by the last day when the vote took place. Of more than 10 000 potential voters, less than 500 took part, mainly because there was no way for them to cast their vote without actually being at the conference. Many astronomers believe that if electronic voting had been an option, Pluto along with two other celestial objects, would now be considered planets. Furthermore, the definition that was decided upon for a planet - that it must clear the neighborhood around its orbit - doesn't technically hold up, since Earth, Mars, Neptune, and Jupiter all have asteroids as neighbors.
The IUC decision disappointed many people outside the astronomy community too. You see, there are more than a few Pluto lovers out there. Some were so angry at the resolution that they began putting petitions together to have the ruling overturned. In New Mexico, where Pluto's discoverer was a resident, state officials have declared March 13th, Pluto Planet Day. Children in particular have a thing with Pluto and are perhaps the least willing to part with it. The name for the now dwarf planet was put to a vote in 1930. And incidentally, Pluto, which was chosen unanimously by a group at the observatory where it was discovered, had been submitted by a young schoolgirl.
Independent Writing task
Within the Independent Writing task students are asked to write an essay on a given general question. The purpose of this Writing task is to measure the students' ability to state their opinions or express their comments on topics which are based on their personal knowledge and experience. The students should also support their ideas and opinions with examples or details. Students are given 30 minutes to write their essays. The essay should be approximately 300 words.
The following are TOEFL style essay examples:
1) If you could change one important thing about your country, what would you change? Use reasons and specific examples to support your answer.
2) What are some important qualities of a good school teacher? Use specific details and examples to explain why these qualities are important.
3) Many people say that the internet is the most important invention ever. Do you agree or disagree with this and if not, what do you believe to be more important? Use specific reasons and examples to support your opinion.
4) Do you agree or disagree with the following statement? People pay too much attention to the less important things in life and fail to see the larger issues. Use specific reasons and details to explain your opinion.
5) Which do you feel is more important in your life: security or freedom and independence? Use reasons and specific examples to support your opinion.
6) A job should mean a job for life. Do you agree or disagree? Use specific reasons and examples to support your answer.
7) Do you agree or disagree with the following statement? With the help of technology, life is easier today than in the past. Use specific reasons and examples to support your answer.
Integrated Writing
This Type of Writing is Based on Reading and Listening. This task measures your ability to synthesize information from a reading and a listening passages. You will have three minutes to read a passge of 230-300 words.Then it is hidden while you are listening to a two-minute passage from a lecture that is related to reading. You may take notes during both. Then you have 20 minutes to write a 150-220-word response to a question. The reading passage reappears this time so that you may refer to it while you are writing.
To answer the integrated task, you must identify the relevant ideas and relationships form the passages and organize the information in a coherent manner. Your response is scored on your:
- organmization,
- discussion of the key ideas and supporting details,
- accuracy of language in addressing all parts of the question.
The video recommendations below may be of help to you, too.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Ytubzmj_j94&feature=player_detailpage
Task 1.
Read a passage about an academic topic. Then you will read a listening passage about the same topic. You are permitted to take notes while you read. You will be asked a question that relates to both passages. Your response should be 150-225 words. Hint: Look for three main points that are related. Your score will depend on the quality of your writing as well as how well you answer the question. After you have read the listening passage you will have twenty minutes to plan and write your response.
Reading:
In a vote that took place at the International Astronomical Union Conference on August 24th, 2006, Pluto lost its status as a planet in our solar system. Pluto was originally discovered in 1930 when scientists were searching for something that was interfering with Uranus's orbit. Though Pluto was estimated to be similar in size to Earth, it was later discovered that it was even smaller than our own moon, as well as many other moons. It is now known that there are thousands of planetary objects similar to Pluto, including Eris which is slightly larger than Pluto. Choosing to reclassify Pluto to a dwarf planet honors the fact that science is about making new discoveries. While it was a sad day for Pluto lovers, people in general have accepted the idea, and the next generation of children will grow up knowing only eight planets and thinking nothing of it. As Mike Brown, the astronomer who discovered Eris, noted following the IUC's decision, "science is self-correcting."
Listening passage (Transcript of lecture):As you all likely know by now, Pluto has been officially demoted to a dwarf planet. What this means is that we will no longer include it as part of our solar system. The debate about whether or not Pluto should hold its status as a planet created such a conflict within the community of world astronomers that it has been called the Great Pluto War. The decision on whether or not to demote Pluto was put to a final vote by astronomers from around the world at the International Astronomical Union Conference. However, when I say from around the world, I don't mean worldwide. In fact, less than 10% of the world's astronomers voted, and most of those who were at the conference had already gone home by the last day when the vote took place. Of more than 10 000 potential voters, less than 500 took part, mainly because there was no way for them to cast their vote without actually being at the conference. Many astronomers believe that if electronic voting had been an option, Pluto along with two other celestial objects, would now be considered planets. Furthermore, the definition that was decided upon for a planet - that it must clear the neighborhood around its orbit - doesn't technically hold up, since Earth, Mars, Neptune, and Jupiter all have asteroids as neighbors.
The IUC decision disappointed many people outside the astronomy community too. You see, there are more than a few Pluto lovers out there. Some were so angry at the resolution that they began putting petitions together to have the ruling overturned. In New Mexico, where Pluto's discoverer was a resident, state officials have declared March 13th, Pluto Planet Day. Children in particular have a thing with Pluto and are perhaps the least willing to part with it. The name for the now dwarf planet was put to a vote in 1930. And incidentally, Pluto, which was chosen unanimously by a group at the observatory where it was discovered, had been submitted by a young schoolgirl.
Independent Writing task
Within the Independent Writing task students are asked to write an essay on a given general question. The purpose of this Writing task is to measure the students' ability to state their opinions or express their comments on topics which are based on their personal knowledge and experience. The students should also support their ideas and opinions with examples or details. Students are given 30 minutes to write their essays. The essay should be approximately 300 words.
The following are TOEFL style essay examples:
1) If you could change one important thing about your country, what would you change? Use reasons and specific examples to support your answer.
2) What are some important qualities of a good school teacher? Use specific details and examples to explain why these qualities are important.
3) Many people say that the internet is the most important invention ever. Do you agree or disagree with this and if not, what do you believe to be more important? Use specific reasons and examples to support your opinion.
4) Do you agree or disagree with the following statement? People pay too much attention to the less important things in life and fail to see the larger issues. Use specific reasons and details to explain your opinion.
5) Which do you feel is more important in your life: security or freedom and independence? Use reasons and specific examples to support your opinion.
6) A job should mean a job for life. Do you agree or disagree? Use specific reasons and examples to support your answer.
7) Do you agree or disagree with the following statement? With the help of technology, life is easier today than in the past. Use specific reasons and examples to support your answer.
