Test technique - writing strategies

The iBT has two types of writing tasks, so there are two sets of test strategies.

This means a total of 21.

With understanding and application, their usefulness should make them easy to acquire.

Strategies for the integrated writing task - read, listen, and write

1. Be completely familiar with the test format and directions. Study and practice are key.

2. Don't waste time reading the directions. You should already know them. Begin the questions immediately.

3. Don't worry if some of the content is unfamiliar. You'll still be able to answer all questions.

4. Read the reading passage carefully. You will have only a limited amount of time for reading.

5. Take careful notes as you read. Focus on the main points and key supporting material. Avoid writing down too many unnecessary details.

6. You will hear the listening passage one time only during the test, so focus and listen carefully.

7. Take careful notes as you listen. Focus on the main points and key supporting material. Avoid writing down too many unnecessary details.

8. Organize your response very clearly. You should have an overall topic statement that shows the relationship between the reading passage and the listening passage. You should also have a paragraph about the reading passage and a paragraph about the listening passage.

9. Use transitions to make your response cohesive. Your essay is easier to read and understand if you show how the ideas in your response are related.

10. Stick to vocabulary, sentence structures, and grammatical points that you know. This is not the best time to try out new words, structures, or grammar points.

11. Be aware of time. Use the timer at the top of the screen.

12. Finish writing your response a few minutes early so that you have time to edit what you wrote. Spend the last three to five minutes checking your response for problems in sentence structure and grammatical errors.

Strategies for the independent writing task - essay writing

1. Be completely familiar with the test format and directions. Study and practice are key.

2. Don't waste time reading the directions. You should already know them. Begin the questions immediately.

3. Read the question carefully, and answer the question exactly as it is asked. Take some time at the beginning of the task to be sure that you understand the question and what the question is asking you to do.

4. Organize your response very clearly. You should think of having an introduction, body paragraphs that develop the introduction, and a conclusion to end your essay.

5. Use transitions to make your essay cohesive. Your essay is easier to read and understand if you show how the ideas in your essay are related.

6. Whenever you make a general statement, be sure to support that statement. You can use examples, reasons, facts, or personal information to support any general statement.

7. Stick to vocabulary, sentence structures, and grammatical points that you know. This is not the best time to try out new words, structures, or grammar points.

8. Be aware of time. Use the timer at the top of the screen.

9. Finish writing your response a few minutes early so that you have time to edit what you wrote. Spend the last three to five minutes checking your response for problems in sentence structure and grammatical errors.