TOEIC Writing Tips

• Work with a teacher or experienced TOEIC exam prep specialist. For most students, this is the only way to do well on the writing section. You need the feedback that the teacher will provide. Write several sample essays and have them corrected by a teacher. If you are short on money, at least invest in a teacher or class to prepare for the writing and speaking sections of the TOEIC, and then do the listening and reading sections on your own by working with a good preparatory TOEIC guidebook.
• Study the questions very carefully in advance so you know exactly what to expect. Often the question will ask you to do three or four specific things. Make sure you address all of them in your answer. The TOEIC examiner will be checking for this.
• Complete the writing tasks within the given time limits. You must be able to produce what's required within the time limits or you'll lose marks heavily. It's no use writing half of a beautiful answer.
• Plan before you write during the last essay question. Brainstorm and decide what you're going to say and how you'll expand on it. When you know what to write, you can concentrate on how you're going to write it.
• Write in an organized way. If you've planned in advance, you'll create a more organized, coherent piece of writing, which will earn you higher marks.
• Divide your writing into paragraphs, in the essay question. It is confusing to be faced with a massive block of writing. You wouldn't want to read a magazine article or book like this. Always divide your writing into clear paragraphs.
• Write clearly and simply. Don't experiment with new vocabulary or idioms. Use simple, clear English to communicate your ideas powerfully.
  
• Spell correctly. Yes, this does affect your score so avoid careless mistakes. A careless mistake is when you have spelt the same word in different ways in the same piece of writing. A careless mistake is also when you misspell a word which is already given in the exam topic. The only thing you have to do is to copy it correctly. Watch for this type of carelessness and practice until you overcome it.
  
• Stay on topic. Do what is asked of you – nothing more, nothing less.