Get Used to a QWERTY Keyboard

The final section on the TOEFL is the writing section. You will need to use a QWERTY keyboard to type your responses into the computer. This is the standard keyboard for all North American keyboards. (It’s called a QWERTY keyboard because the top row of letters starts from the left with the letters QWERTY.)

Here’s what a QWERTY keyboard looks like:

You should practice as much as possible with a QWERTY keyboard. You need to know where all the letters are, how to make a capital letter, and where all the punctuation symbols are.

Learn Touch Typing
Most people type by using the “hunt and peck” method: you hunt (look) for the letter you need on the keyboard, and then peck (hit it) with one finger. When you learn touch typing, you will learn how to use all your fingers to to type WITHOUT looking at the keyboard! It’s a much faster method of typing, but it takes a lot of practice. Touch typing is not essential for the TOEFL, but it definitely helps you type faster.

Here’s a short video that shows you where to put your fingers on the keyboard:
Learn how to write an English Essay

As I mentioned in tip #6, the last section of the TOEFL is the writing section. There are two writing tasks. The last task, and the very last thing you will do on the TOEFL, is type a 300-word essay within 30 minutes.

Practice this essay as much as possible!

An English essay has a very specific format, and this format may be different than the format that you are used to in your language. Essays in English follow this format:
Introduction: The first paragraph introduces your essay, and tells the reader your opinion and what you are going to talk about in your essay.
Body: The middle of the essay on the TOEFL is 2-3 paragraphs that support your opinion.
Conclusion: The last paragraph summarizes your essay.

One paragraph is one thought. The first sentence of each paragraph explains what the paragraph is about, and the rest of the paragraph uses clear, specific examples to illustrate your opinion.

Understanding the traditional English style of writing an essay will help you in almost every section of the TOEFL. If you know that one paragraph = one thought, you can understand the structure of the reading passages better. You will also need to state an opinion and support your opinion with clear, specific examples in the speaking section.


More writing tips:
When you start practicing your essays, don’t worry about time. Begin by taking as long as necessary to write a good essay.
Once you are able to write a good essay, start timing yourself and getting faster at it, until you can write a good 300-word essay within 30 minutes.
Answer the question that you are asked! Don’t try to change the question. If it asks you to make a choice, make a clear choice – don’t try to argue both positions. There is no right or wrong answer. Your essay is scored on how well you answer the question.
Type your outline in the essay space on the computer! You waste time if you write it by hand and then type it.
Keep it simple and be specific!