Summary of "IELTS TOEFL Writing Full essay (high score)"
Summary of the Video: “IELTS TOEFL Writing Full Essay (High Score)”
This video tutorial by Adam from WriteToTop.com provides a comprehensive guide on how to write a high-scoring Task 2 essay for both IELTS and TOEFL exams. Despite differences in test formats, Adam emphasizes that the overall essay-writing approach is fundamentally the same across various English proficiency tests.
Main Ideas and Concepts
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Similarity of Essay Writing Across Tests The methodology for writing essays is largely consistent across IELTS, TOEFL, CAE, and other English tests. Differences mainly lie in essay length and time limits (e.g., TOEFL essays are longer and written in 30 minutes, IELTS essays shorter with 40 minutes).
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Understanding the Task
- Identify the question type (here: agree/disagree).
- Recognize that the first part of the prompt often states an opinion, which is not debatable.
- Focus on the second part, which presents the argument to agree or disagree with (e.g., should governments control media to reduce youth violence?).
- Avoid misunderstanding the question by focusing on the actual essay topic.
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Planning Before Writing
- Planning is essential to maintain focus and coherence.
- Use a mind map or circle diagram with the main topic in the center and subtopics or ideas around it.
- List pros and cons regardless of personal opinion; choose the side with stronger or easier-to-express ideas.
- Remember, the test assesses English proficiency, not intelligence or personal beliefs.
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Writing the Introduction
- Answer four key questions: What is the topic? What is the question? What is your opinion? Why do you hold this opinion?
- Provide a clear “roadmap” for the essay to guide the reader and yourself.
- Distinguish between the general topic and your thesis/opinion.
- Use high-level vocabulary only if confident; otherwise, keep language simple and clear.
- Two versions of introduction: a longer one for TOEFL (~67 words) and a concise one for IELTS (~36 words).
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Writing the Body Paragraphs
- Each paragraph should focus on one central idea.
- Start with a clear topic sentence.
- Develop ideas logically and avoid tangents.
- Use transitions to link paragraphs and ideas smoothly (e.g., indeed, on the other hand).
- Provide concrete examples and explanations to support arguments.
- Example argument structure:
- Media is not the sole influence on youth violence; many factors affect behavior.
- Government’s role is to maintain order, not act as a parent or censor content.
- Parents should control what children watch, not the government.
- Government censorship can lead to overreach and restrictions on freedoms, possibly increasing violence.
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Writing the Conclusion
- Keep it brief (1-2 sentences).
- Restate your thesis clearly without personal pronouns (I, me).
- Summarize main reasons briefly.
- Emphasize the societal responsibility over government censorship.
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Essay Length and Scoring Tips
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Additional Resources and Next Steps
- The presenter plans future videos on essay scoring and detailed feedback.
- Viewers are encouraged to join the WriteToTop.com forum for questions and community support.
Methodology / Instructions for Writing a High-Scoring IELTS/TOEFL Essay
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Understand the question carefully
- Identify the type of question (agree/disagree, discuss both views, etc.).
- Focus on the actual question being asked, not background statements or opinions.
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Plan your essay before writing
- Create a mind map or diagram with the main topic at the center.
- List ideas and arguments for both sides.
- Choose the side with more or clearer ideas to argue.
- Outline your introduction, body paragraphs, and conclusion.
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Write the introduction
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Develop body paragraphs
- Begin each paragraph with a clear topic sentence.
- Expand on one main idea per paragraph.
- Use examples and explanations.
- Use linking words and transitions to maintain flow.
- Address counterarguments or alternative views if relevant.
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Write the conclusion
- Restate your opinion clearly and succinctly.
- Summarize the key reasons supporting your stance.
- Avoid introducing new ideas.
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Use appropriate vocabulary and sentence structures
- Use advanced vocabulary only if confident.
- Prefer clarity over complexity.
- Use a mix of simple and complex sentences.
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Manage your time
Speakers / Sources Featured
- Adam — Host and presenter from WriteToTop.com, an English writing tutorial website.
This summary captures the core teaching points, essay structure, writing tips, and practical advice shared in the video for achieving a high score on IELTS and TOEFL writing tasks.
Category
Educational
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