TOEIC Practice Online Writing Score Ranges and Descriptors
Feedback to Test-Takers
Score Range 170-200Typically writers in this range can express and support an opinion in writing. They are very effective when giving straightforward information or asking questions in writing.
Writers in this range may have these weaknesses:
- Occasional unnecessary repetition of ideas or unclear connections between ideas
- Minor grammatical mistakes or incorrect word choices.
- Begin by clearly stating the opinion or choice you want the reader to know about
- Support your ideas; use examples that are relevant to your main point
- Give each paragraph a topic sentence and controlling idea
- Use appropriate linking words and phrases to show how your support relates to your opinion
- What do they need to know in order to understand your information?
- How do you make them feel positively disposed toward your message?
Score Range 110-160
Typically writers in this range can express an opinion but usually have some problems supporting it. When asked to give straightforward information or ask questions, they can partially complete the task.
Writers in this range may have these weaknesses:
- Not providing enough specific support and development for opinions or explanations
- Not completing the task (this may be caused by not reading carefully)
- A lack of organization or unclear connections between ideas or pieces of information
- Grammatical mistakes or incorrect word choices that can obscure meaning
To improve writing skills, you may want to:
- Study the organization of good paragraphs and longer texts
(In English, a good paragraph discusses ONE main idea which is usually written in the first sentence, called a "topic sentence". Each paragraph should discuss one aspect of the main idea of the essay and use appropriate linking words and phrases).
- While you are writing in English, pay attention to your sentence structure and grammar:
(Don't just write simple sentences. Use a variety of sentence structures and sentence combination techniques).
- Think about the audience who will read your writing
- Read as much English as you can; reading will make writing easier
- Practice rewriting: look at writing you have done in the past and decide what you would do differently
- Practice writing under time constraints
Score Range 70-100
Typically writers in this range are unable to express and support an opinion in writing. When attempting to communicate straightforward information, they leave out or unsuccessfully convey part of the information.
Writers in this range may have these weaknesses:
- Not providing enough examples, explanations, or details to support the opinion, or inadequate organization or connection of ideas
- Serious grammatical mistakes or incorrect word choices
- Not completing the task (this may be caused by not reading carefully)
- Missing or obscure connections between sentences
To improve writing, you may want to:
- Take a class that teaches all four skills, especially writing
- Practice writing daily by keeping a journal in English (your “journal” may be an electronic file on a computer)
- Write your opinions about things that you experience or topics that you are interested in
- Find a pen pal and write e-mail messages or letters to each other
- Practice typing in English
- While you are writing in English, pay attention to sentence structure and grammar
(Begin by writing simple sentences; make sure that each sentence has a subject and a verb, and that subjects agree with the verbs. [E.g., The student likes...; The students like…]; take two of your sentences and practice combining them.)
- Study the organization of good paragraphs and longer texts
(In English, a good paragraph discusses ONE main idea which is usually written in the first sentence, called a "topic sentence". Each paragraph should discuss one aspect of the main idea of the essay and use appropriate linking words and phrases).
- Expand your vocabulary by reading
Score Range 40-60
Typically, writers in this range are just beginning to express themselves in English. They may be able to write complete sentences (with some errors) but may not be able to create text of more than one sentence.
To improve writing, you may want to:
- Take a class in English that teaches all four skills, especially writing
- Practice typing in English
- While you are writing in English, pay attention to sentence structure and grammar
- Begin by writing simple sentences
- Make sure that each sentence has a subject and a verb, and that subjects agree with the verbs
- Take two of your sentences and practice combining them
- Study the organization of good paragraphs
(In English, a good paragraph discusses ONE main idea which is usually written in the first sentence, called a "topic sentence". Each paragraph should discuss one aspect of the main idea of the essay and use appropriate linking words and phrases).
- Expand your vocabulary by reading
Score Range 0-30
Writers in this range left part or parts of the TOEIC Writing Test unanswered. Test takers in this range may need to improve their reading ability in order to understand the test directions and the content of test questions.
To improve writing, you may want to take an English class that teaches all four skills so that you can improve your reading as well as your writing efficiently.
