ETS’s Independent Writing question is an Opinion Essay, where students are asked to give their opinion on a topic and support it with specific reasons and examples.

Students have 30 minutes to plan, write, and revise their essay, and are expected to write at least 300 words.

The question is used in several tests

1. - TOEFL iBT, Writing Question 2
   

2. - TOEIC Writing Test Question 8
   

3. - TWE (Test of Written English) taken with the TOEFL PBT
   

4. - (plus the Criterion Online Learning product)
   

The Independent Writing scoring rubrics have been refined and improved multiple times since the early TWE scoring rubrics. The scoring was also changed to use 0-5 (instead of TWE’s 1-6) and the online tests are now scored centrally through a highly managed network of assessors.

See pages 21-22 of the TOEIC S&W Examinee Handbook for the scoring guide (rubrics).

The Students are assessed on:

◾ whether their opinion is supported with reasons and/or examples

◾ grammar

◾ vocabulary

◾ organisation.

Please watch TOEFL TV’s
Independent Writing video
addressing:

1. ★Question structure
   

2. ★Approach tips
   

3. ★scoring criteria
   

4. ★sample respnose
   

5. ★skill building tips
   

The TWE Guide (5th ed)
was written in 2004 for
those interpreting the TWE
scores. It shows the
rigour required for valid
scoring, and includes
guides and samples.