What is the difference between the TOEFL independent essay and the integrated essay? Lots.
For the independent essay, you have 30 total minutes to write. This task measures only one skill: your ability to demonstrate OPDUL=C in an opinion-based essay. ETS says "your independent essay should be about 300 words - but you can write more if you want!" Do you need to write more? No, thank you.
Remember: For TOEFL, longer does not mean better. Quite the contrary.
Remember: The independent essay is the last task on the TOEFL iBT. When you start to write, you will have been sitting in front of the computer for 3 1/2 hours.
Remember: The raters don't care about your opinion or your writing style (see style).
For the integrated essay, you will integrate (combine) 4 skills: you will take notes as you read a passage for 3 minutes, then you will take notes as you listen to a 2-3 minute lecture on the same topic. You will then write a 20-minute essay summarizing (and combining) the points in the reading passage and in the lecture, demonstrating "how the lectures casts doubt on the points made in the reading." The total task time is about 25 minutes. When you write your integrated essay, you will see the reading passage on your computer screen; however, you will hear the lecture only once, so note taking is critically important. This task measures your ability to demonstrate OPDUL=C in an integrated essay. ETS says "your integrated essay should be 225 words - but you can write more if you want!"
Remember: If you write more, a lot more, that will send a signal to the raters. That signal says this test-taker is losing focus, thinking more is better. Au contraire. When I see a long integrated essay - you know, just look at it - I know before reading it that it lacks coherence (OPDUL=C), and, ultimately, it does.
Remember: Note taking is an essential TOEFL strategy (see note taking). Good notes = higher score and essays around 225 words.
Okay, so which essay is the most challenging? You probably think the integrated essay, right? Right? More tasks = more challenge, right? Wrong. Classroom experiences proves that a majority of test-takers score higher on the integrated essay. This fact always surprises me too. Once my TOEFL students understand the writing game specific to the integrated essay, they score 4s and 5s, no problem.
So what, you ask, is the secret to getting a high-scoring integrated essay and a high-scoring independent essay - and what is all this OPDUL=C stuff?
The Pro
Global warming is happening now.
Do you agree or disagree?
