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INDEPENDENT ESSAY
Introductory paragraph:
1. Mankind has paid great attention to A / There has existed
endless controversy over A
Example: -whether children should do morning exercise or
not has greatly attracted much social concern.
-The way to work efficiently has always been a hotly-debated
issue.
2.
Template
Whether ... or ... has attracted much social concern. Some people prefer to
.. However, as far as I am concerned, main point. I feel this way for two
main reasons:

First and foremost, what I put in my priority is ......It is obvious that.....

beneficial . More importantly, .... Beyond and large, As you can see, ..... to be
certain to do st
In the second place, what deserves my great attention is.....It is widely
known that..... beneficial . More crucially,..... Indeed, This experience taught me
that ........ To create a golden chance for sb to do st
Last but not least, ......is noteworthy. It is clearly seen that...... beneficial .
More notably, ..... Without doubt, ...... It is beneficial for sb to do st
To begin with, . -> Another reason is that ..
To sum it up, I feel that....
This is because ...., and ..... / Not only A,B but also C are + convincing+
reasons / methods for my opinion / By V-ing, V-ing, Ving, S+ Adv+V
For these reasons explored above, I strongly recommend that .... S ( ch ng
phan mo bai) + should + consider my analysis/ discussion + to adopt proper
guidelines/ policies on st/ to do st

Question One: Independent Speaking

1, A good answer to the independent speaking question might follow this template...

I feel that..... // I believe that.... // In my opinion...

I feel this way for two reasons...

First of all... // First...

Secondly... // Moreover...

To sum it up... // And that's why I feel that.... // And that's why I believe that...

Question Two: Independent Speaking Preference Question

2, A good answer to the second independent speaking question (preference) might follow this
template...

I prefer to... // I prefer that... // I prefer X over Y // I'm partial to...

I feel this way for two reasons...

First of all... // First

Secondly... // Moreover...

To sum it up... // And that's why I prefer X over Y

Question Three: Integrated Reading/Listening/Speaking

3, A good answer to the first integrated speaking question might follow this template...

The reading is about... // The reading concerns...

It says that... // It states that... // It explains that...

The man disagrees with the proposal (or announcement, or memo, etc) // The man agrees
with the proposal

He disagrees for two reasons // He agrees for two reasons

First... // First of all...

Secondly... // Moreover...

Question Four: Integrated Reading/Listening/Speaking

4, A good answer to the second integrated speaking question might follow this template...

The main idea of the reading is... // The reading is mainly concerned with...

The author says that...

The lecturer further develops the ideas in the reading by giving several examples // The
lecturer challenges the ideas of the lecture by giving several examples...

First, he says that...

Second, he says that...

(sometimes there is only one example, so you'll just speak about the first one at greater length)

Question Five: Integrated Listening/Speaking

5, A good answer to the first integrated listening/speaking question might follow this template...

The man's (or woman's) problem is...

He explains that...

The man's friend offers several suggestions...

First, he suggests...

He also suggests...

The man's response to these suggestions is...

In my opinion, the man should...

Question Six: Integrated Listening/Speaking

6, The final speaking question doesn't really lend itself to the use of a template, but you might
want to try something like this:

The lecturer explains ________________.

He explains this by giving several examples // He explains this by offering several ideas...

First, he states that... // First he claims that...

Second, he states that... // Second he claims that...

1)

Example Basic Answer

In my view, passion is the most important characteristic in a teacher for two

important reasons.
First, a teachers passion motivates students.
For example, when I was in High School, our teachers were really
motivated. And, that motivated us.

Second, a teachers passion motivates the teacher.

For example, in university, I had a passionate chemistry teacher. He loved
chemistry so much that he taught really well.
Thats why passion is the most important characteristic.

This response is about 75 words and would earn a fair score: 18/30.

Example Perfect Answer

In my view, passion is the most important characteristic in a teacher for two

important reasons.
First, a teachers passion motivates students.
For example, when I was in High School, we read The Great Gatsby. I hated
it. But my English teacher was really passionate whenever we talked about it,
which motivated me to look at the book more closely.
Second, a teachers passion motivates the teacher.
For example, my chemistry teacher in university was really passionate
about his subject. I could tell he spent a lot of time preparing his lectures
because he really wanted us to learn, so he always had great lectures.
Thats why I believe that passion is the most important characteristic.

This response has 115 words and would earn a good score: 30/30.

2)

Example Perfect Answer

In my view, a friend who is similar is better.

First, you get along well with such people.
For example, one of my high school friends is very similar to me. We both
like a lot of the same things: movies, eating out, etc. So, whenever were bored
thats what we do. We dont argue about it.
Second, you can still experience new things with them.
For example, Tim is similar to me, and we agree on a lot of things, but not
on everything. We have similar taste, but sometimes hell suggest a restaurant
I wouldnt normally eat at. Like this Thai restaurant we tried last week.
Thats why a friend who is similar is better.

Word count: 117. This would earn a score of (30/30)

3)

Additional Science Course Requirement

As part of the universitys efforts to ensure that undergraduates

receive a well-rounded and complete education(the first reason),
all incoming students and current freshman will need to complete
one new science course requirement in order to graduate(the
change). Affected students can find out what courses fulfill this requirement
by checking any campus bulletin board or by speaking with their advisors.
The administration feels that the change will also benefit students by
increasing the number who will choose a career in science or engineering.
This will help create a more diverse student body(the second
reason), which is currently composed largely of history and English majors.

also, furthermore, in addition, moreover, second, another reason, and

so on.

Example Notes

Man

Woman

bad decision
you're not affected
already plenty, likes it, learn
variety of subjects, but with
new req. = too many
true, a lot
no time graduate
diversity?
really want increase diversity,
accept more int. students not
science majors
good point

Example Perfect Answer

The announcement states that the university will add a new science
course requirement and gives two reasons for the change.
The mans opinion is that it is a bad decision and he opposes each reason.
First, he explains that this new requirement is unnecessary. The

university already has plenty of requirements. He likes the fact that students
are required to take a variety of courses. In fact, thats why he says he went to
this university, but he thinks this addition is too much. He feels that students
wont have time for their major.
Second, he states that the new class will not add diversity. If the
university really wants to add diversity, it should accept more international
students. He adds that it should not add a new science course requirement to
increase the number of science majors for diversity.
Thats why the man feels that its a bad decision.

This response has 150 words and would earn a perfect score: (30/30)

4)

Sustainability

Most economic systems work to maximize the use of limited resources, often
without great attention to the harmful effects such use may have.
Sustainability relates to the management of resources to limit the
negative impact placed on the environment (our defining
sentence). Sustainable practices aim to achieve the best balance possible
between the use of resources and their maintenance for future generations.
With these practices, businesses attempt to attain the greatest amount of
profit possible by exploiting resources while managing them in a way that will
allow both the business to continue well into the future and future

generations to enjoy the same resources.

Lecture

Let me tell you about an organization doing big things in the field of
sustainability. Printing, like most other businesses, exploits limited
resources such as paper and employs certain substances that can damage the
environment such as ink, glues, and so on. If every printing company just
went about their business without any regard for what impact they were
making, the industry wouldnt last for very much longer.

A local printing company, however, has taken a different

approach. This local printing company is so unique not because it doesnt
use such material in its work, but because of the way it does so.

Rather than purchase paper from any company, it first attempts to

purchase recycled paper whenever possible. If a client demands clean,
un-recycled paper, the company buys it only from companies that themselves

use sustainable practices, such as planting a tree for each one removed in the
process of making paper.

Also, the ink used by most printing companies releases harmful chemicals
into the environment, chemicals that add to air pollution. This company
reduces its environmental footprint by taking advantage of
vegetable oil based inks that release almost no toxic substances
into the air and that are themselves made from sustainable companies.

The glue used to attach papers to produce books isnt itself as bad as the effect
it has on the recycling process. This glue tends to damage the machines
responsible for changing old, useless paper into usable, recycled paper. To
limit this negative effect, this printing company employs glue in
only limited circumstances.

Example Perfect Notes

Printing damages envir.

Industry not last forever
Unique printing company

Uses recycled paper

Buys paper from sustainable companies
Plants tree for each tree used
Inks toxic cause air pollution
Uses non-toxic ink
Glue damages recycling machines
Limits glue use

Fair Answer

(step 1) The article discusses sustainability,

(step 2) which the passage defines as the use of limited resources to
reduce the negative effects on the environment.
(step 3) The lecture provides an example of a printing company to
illustrate this.
(step 4) The professor explains that a unique printing company that cares
about the environment uses recycled paper whenever it can. And, when it
cant, it buys paper from companies that use sustainable practices. We also
learn that it uses non-toxic inks made from vegetable oil. Furthermore, she
explains that glue can damage recycling machines, so the printing company

limits its use of harmful glue.

(step 5) And so, this example clearly illustrates sustainability.

This response has 105 words and would earn a good score: (24/30)

Perfect Answer

(step 1) The article discusses sustainability,

(step 2) which the passage defines as the use of limited resources to
reduce negative effects on the environment.
(step 3) The lecture provides an example of a printing company to
illustrate this.
(step 4) The professor explains that most printing companies dont care
about the negative effects their practices have on the environment. She
describes a unique printing company that does care. It manages limited
resources to reduce its negative impact. For example, this company
uses recycled paper. When it cant, it buys paper from companies that use
sustainable practices, such as planting a tree for each tree used to make paper.
Most companies use toxic inks that add air pollution. In contrast, this
company uses non-toxic inks that dont. Finally, glue can damage recycling

machines, so the printing company limits its use of harmful glue.

(step 5) And so, this company clearly illustrates sustainability.

This response has 143 words and would earn a perfect score: (30/30)

5)

Example Notes

Man

Problem

Woman

Accptd top-choice
school. Not enough
financial aid

Solution 1

Apply for
schlrshps, with
your grades easy
Fnls coming up,
not enough time
Use extra money,

Response (+/-)
rent, food, books

Accptd to other
Solution 2

Attnd diff school

w/ more fin. aid

good schools
Best teachers at top
choice

Response (+/-)

Example Perfect Answer

(step 1) The womans problem is that she has been accepted to her top-choice
school, but it didnt offer her enough financial aid, so she doesnt know what to do.
(step 2) The students discuss two solutions.
(step 3) First, apply for scholarships to pay for her university.
(step 4) Second, attend a different school that will offer her more financial aid.
(step 5) If I were the woman, I would choose the second solution.
(step 6) The first isnt very good because even though she has the grades for the
scholarships as the woman said, she doesnt have the time to apply them because of
her finals.
(step 7) The second solution is beter because even though the other universities
may not have the best professors in her field as the woman said, she has been accepted
to other good universities that offered her enough financial aid, so this way she can
avoid the stress of finding more money.
(step 8) That's why I would choose the second solution.

This response has 155 words and would earn a perfect score: (30/30)

6)

Listening

In nature, warm-blooded animals such as mammals and birds need to keep their
internal temperatures within a certain range. For most mammals this range is from
about 36 to 38 degrees Celsius. Thermoregulation is responsible for maintaining this
internal temperature regardless of whether the surrounding environment is much colder
or warmer. Today well discuss two important forms of thermoregulation that animals
use to keep their internal body temperatures constant.

One form results from the insulating power of fat. When the temperature of the
environment is colder than the animals internal temperature, the animal must
counteract heat loss; that is, internal heat lost to the external environment. Most
animals help prevent this heat loss by having a layer of fat present underneath the skin.
This layer of fat prevents too much heat from escaping into the environment, helping to
maintain the animals internal body temperature. For example, marine mammals such
as whales have a very thick layer of insulation fat called blubber, just under the skin.
This blubber insulation is so effective that these marine mammals maintain body core
temperatures of about 36-38 degrees Celsius even when surrounded by much colder
waters.

Another form of thermoregulation is evaporative cooling. When the external

temperature is higher than the animals desired internal temperature, the animal uses
this form of thermoregulation to battle against too much heat gain from its surrounding
environment. They prevent overheating through the use evaporative cooling. You see,
when water evaporates from a surface, the surface is cooled. For example, rodents need
to keep an internal body temperature close to 40 degrees Celsius. And, at times, their
surrounding environment can reach temperatures of up to 50 degrees. When this
happens, Rodents will begin licking themselves and spreading their saliva across their
bodies. As the saliva evaporates, the rodents are cooled, helping to keep their internal
body temperatures constant.

Example Perfect Notes

Topic: mammals internal temp 36-38
thermoregulation maintains
1st subtopic: insulating power of fat
explanation: envir. colder
counteracts heat loss
example: whale
fat=blubber under skin
keeps warm when in cold
2nd subtopic: evaporative cooling,
explanation: envir. hotter
water evaporates => cools
example: rodents want 40
outside 50
spread saliva
evap => cools

For example, I see xyz in my notes. I know its important. I cant explain it. What do I
do? Simply say: the professor also mentions xyz.

Good Answer

(step 1) The professor discusses thermoregulation, which she defines as

a method used by animals to keep their internal body temperatures constant.
(step 2) She describes two kinds.
(step 3) The first is the insulating power of fat.
(step 4) The professor discussed whales to illustrate this. Whales have

insulating fat called blubber under their skin. This blubber helps keep the
whales warm when the surrounding water is much colder.
(step 5) The second is evaporative cooling.
(step 6) The professor discussed rodents to illustrate this. Rodents
want to keep their temperature at 40 degrees. When the outside temperature
is 50 degrees, they spread their saliva across their bodies. When the saliva
evaporates, the evaporation cools their bodies.
(step 7) And that's how the professor describes thermoregulation.

This response has 115 words and would earn a good score: (26/30)

Perfect Answer

(step 1) The professor discusses thermoregulation, which she defines

as the process that animals use to keep their internal temperature constant.
(step 2) She explains two types.
(step 3) The first is the insulating power of fat. An animal uses this to
counteract heat loss.
(step 4) The professor discussed whales to illustrate this. Whales have
insulating fat called blubber under their skin. When the surrounding water is

much colder, this blubber helps keep the whales warm.

(step 5) The second is evaporative cooling. An animal uses this to avoid
absorbing too much heat. The professor explains that when water evaporates,
it cools the surface.
(step 6) She discussed rodents to illustrate this. Rodents want an internal
temperature of 40 degrees, and their environment can reach 50 degrees. To
keep cool, rodents spread saliva across their bodies. As the saliva evaporates,
it cools the rodents, which helps keep their internal temperatures constant.
(step 7) And that's how the professor describes thermoregulation.

This response has 154 words and would earn a good score: (30/30)

Time is running out and the student doesn't have enough time to finish the second
example. What do we do? Let's first go back in time ane hear the original lecture's
discussion on the 2nd topic. Here's what we hear.

Today we're going to talk about investing. This is when you put money into a stock
to make more money. For example, my friend John went to the bank and received
a loan for 20,000. He then went to a stock broker. They spoke for hours and

decided on the best stock for John to invest in. He invested his 20,000 into a stock
called ABC and made 30,000 within a week.
Student: The second type is investing, which is defined as putting money into a
stock to make more money.

The student then checks the timer. Oh no! 10 seconds left. Better hurry up and get to the
important point. This is what we hear.

(10 seconds left) Student: Uh . . . The professor talks about his friend John. He
(stress building) . . . uh, went to the bank and . . . BUZZ! (timer goes off and the
student sighs)

Now, I want to ask you, yes you, the person reading, my student: what should the
student have said? Clearly, this is not the most important information. When time is
running out, get to the point that illustrates the explanation of the subtopic. What's
that? Let's review. Here's the description of the subtopic:

when you put money into a stock to make more money.

One sentence illustrates this perfectly from the example. Everything else is just extra
details.

He invested his 20,000 into a stock called ABC and made 30,000 within a week.

When you're running out of time, get to the point and that's it. What happens if you
don't know what the key sentence is? You need to study and review more: do more
homework, listen more carefully, review this step 2 to 3 more times, and then you'll be
able to find it more easily. Below is what our student should have said.

(a confident well trained TOEFL-test-taking machine with 10 seconds left)

Student: Uh. . . John. . . invested his 20,000 into a stock called ABC and made
30,000 within a week.