What are the TOEFL Speaking and Writing Templates?

Stuck in a rut when it comes to your TOEFL iBT Speaking and Writing? Do you run out of time? Is organizing your thoughts a challenge for you? 

Do not worry, you’re not the only one. There are many others who struggle with time management and organization problems in their TOEFL iBT Speaking and Writing. One of the best ways to overcome these problems is to make use of a template. A template will not only force your mind to come up with ideas to answer the question, it will also help you organize your thoughts. Remember that both in Speaking and Writing, organization and the logical flow from one idea to another are important. 

To make things a little easier for you, we’re dishing out the most basics of templates. However, it is still advisable for you to ask your TOEFL review center on how to better use these to your advantage.

Speaking

The very basics of Speaking is to give an answer to the question, then follow it up with a reason, then possibly an example to strengthen the argument. Thus, the easiest way to answer the TOEFL iBT Speaking  questions would be to follow this template:

1.       Answer the question.

2.       Give one reason for your answer.

3.       Expand your reason.

4.       Support it with an example

5.       Give another reason for your answer.

6.       Expand this reason.

7.       Support it with an example. 

Repeat as necessary.

Writing

Regardless of whether you are writing for an international English exam, or doing essays for whatever else reason, there is a universal pattern on how to do your article.:

1.       Introduction. This basically gives you the scope and limitation of what your article will be about. If I am the reader, reading your introduction should give me an idea as to what your topic will include.

2.       Body. This may be made out of several paragraphs, depending on what you wish to write about. The number of points you wish to make may correspond with the number of paragraphs you write. For instance, if you are writing an article arguing the importance of owning a smart phone, and you have 4 reasons supporting your argument, you may expand those 4 reasons in 4 separate paragraphs.

3.       Conclusion. This basically terminates your article.

Templates are indeed helpful in organizing your ideas and making expression through Writing or Speaking faster, but remember that success is not equivalent to just knowing these templates – you must also sound natural, be grammatically accurate, and be able to use the right words. And this is what your teachers at your TOEFL review center are for.

Good luck!