Writing Methods
Start Small
Strictly English believes that you cannot write a good TOEFL essay before you can write a good paragraph, and you cannot write a good paragraph before you can write a good sentence. Therefore, we spend a great deal of time at the level of the sentence making it perfect. from there, the rest almost takes care of itself!
Strengthen Your Ability to use details
The only way to get a score above a 26 on the Writing Section of the iBT is to be sure you have used details in both the Integrated Writing Task and the Independent Writing Task. The trick, though, is to know which kind of details matter for each task. We can explain those tricks quickly and easily so that you'll use the correct details that matter for each essay.
Standard Templates
During the TOEFL test, you do not have time to waste on figuring out how to structure your essay. Therefore, we'll teach you standard ways to organize both your 20-minute essay and your 30-minute essay so that you can begin writing right away!
Standard Reasons for the independent essay
Many students lose time on the test trying to come up with reasons to support their opinion. To save you time, we have a list of seven reasons, three of which are guaranteed to work no matter what the question is.
TOEFL English
We'll teach you only the English grammar you need for the TOEFL. For example, there is no need to know noun clauses for the 20-Minute Essay or the 30-Minute Essay, so we don't waste your time teaching them to you. But adjective clauses can be very powerful in both essays, so we will make sure you know how to use them!
Some of Our Writing Strategies
- Simple grammar scores high
TOEFL is much more impressed by error-free intermediate English than it is by poorly constructed advanced English grammar. So, TOEFL is not the time to test the outer limits of your English abilities. Instead, focus on writing perfect English that is a bit below your abilities.
- Focus on Details
Be sure to use our methods for knowing what details matter for the Integrated Writing Task and what details matter for the Independent Writing Task. They are not the same so do not confuse them!
- Use point-counterpoint for the "20-Minute essay"
Don't get fooled by the other TOEFL books that explain the 20-Minute essay as a for-against structure. This is not right, and ti will cause you to structure you essay incorrectly. Follow our point-counterpoint structure and raise your score 3-7 points!
- Use 5-paragraph structure for the "30-minute essay"
All American children learn the 5-paragraph essay beginning in 7th grade. And all college midterm exams and final exams require students to use the 5-paragraph structure. Therefore, take advantage of this classic American essay format when writing your 30-minute essay on the iBT.