Toefl exam Essentials

CHAPTER HIGHLIGHTS
■
Review the list of TOEFL exam writing prompts at
www.toefl.org.
■
Time yourself and practice writing essays about several
prompts.
■
Familiarize yourself with the scoring system and the
criteria for a top-rated essay.
■
Do not write about a topic other than the one assigned
to you. If you write about a different topic, you will
receive a score of 0.
■
Plan on writing five paragraphs: an introduction, three
supporting paragraphs, and a conclusion.
■
Aim to write about three to four sentences in each
paragraph.
■
Give yourself about 5–10 minutes to plan, 15–20
minutes to write, and 5 minutes to proofread your essay.
■
The prewriting process includes stating your thesis,
brainstorming, and outlining.
■
Use your outline to organize your essay and fill in gaps
where supporting details are needed.
■
Proofread for grammatical errors and word choice; do
not revise or rewrite.

---

---

Appendix A
Test Details
T
he computer TOEFL exam is offered almost every day in
the United States. However, every test location does not
give the exam every day. Depending on demand, test cen-
ters may give the computer test daily, weekly, or monthly. You may
be able to schedule a test date in as little as three days, but plan to
register at least six to eight weeks in advance (as spaces can fill
quickly). When registering, keep in mind that the busiest testing
months are October, November, December, April, and May.
The paper test is given less frequently and is available in
fewer locations. At the time of publication, the test dates for the
paper exam in 2004 include the following:
■
January 17, 2004
■
March 12, 2004
■
May 15, 2004
139

---

140