For students who are applying to university for the first time, the process of gathering documents and submitting a strong application can be intimidating. For international students, this process can be even more drawn out, as they will generally be required to take and pass the Test of English as a Foreign Language (or TOEFL) in order to demonstrate a degree of proficiency in English.

The TOEFL assesses a student’s ability to use and comprehend English in an academic context. It includes four sections, one of which is a two-part Writing portion. Here is how to prepare for the TOEFL Writing section:


Understanding the Integrated Writing and Independent Writing tasks
The TOEFL contains two writing tasks that test your skills: Integrated Writing and Independent Writing. The Independent Writing portion is fairly straightforward—you will be asked a question about an issue, and then you will have 30 minutes to give your opinion in writing. While the question will not be overly difficult, the task will require you to have a basic understanding of the mechanics of written English, as well as the ability to clearly state your thoughts.

The Integrated Writing portion is a somewhat different task. In this case, you will be provided with a passage that you should read carefully. Then, you will be asked to listen to a short pre-recorded lecture on the same topic, but from a different perspective. You will finally have 20 minutes to summarize the lecture and to explain how it relates to the passage—again, in writing. The purpose of the Integrated Writing portion is to measure your ability to read, listen, and respond appropriately in English.


Preparing for the Integrated Writing and Independent Writing tasks
As is often the case with standardized tests, the content of the TOEFL Writing section is specific to each exam, and you will not know what is included until test day. Nevertheless, by studying, you can develop and strengthen the skills you will need to successfully complete these tasks.

As previously stated, the Independent Writing portion tests your ability to use English to articulate and support an opinion. Given this information, you can practice using any number of sources, from magazines, to newspapers, to textbooks. For instance, candidates who are running for political office will typically have short briefs available on their websites, each of which details their position on a variety of issues. Using one such brief, you can choose four or five points to respond to in writing. When completing this exercise, ask yourself whether you agree or disagree with the issue. Then, ask yourself why you have taken this position, citing examples from the candidate’s argument to support or defend your outlook. This demonstrates your ability to identify a thesis statement or topic sentence, to weigh the evidence provided, and to draw, state, and support your own conclusion in English.

Like the Independent Writing task, it is important to remember that you are being tested on your writing ability in the Integrated Writing portion, not your outside knowledge of the subject. Thus, you can study for this task fairly easily as long as you have access to two different sources about the same topic, like a magazine article and a video. It may be helpful to locate sources that present a different perspective or that are in conflict, like two reviews of a movie.

Once you have two sources, read and listen to them carefully. The objective of this task is to test your ability to compare two different but related texts. Imagine, for example, that you have two separate accounts of a party. Both talk about the music, the food, the atmosphere, and the guests, but their descriptions are unique. As you consider how to respond, think about how each text discussed the main points—what was similar and what was different about their descriptions? 

The purpose of this exercise is to evaluate your ability to identify and articulate the relationship between the two text. You might also consider which you find more credible, and why. For example, did the person in the video provide more detail or evidence than the writing sample? Your success on the Integrated Writing portion of the TOEFL will depend heavily on how well you can identify, articulate, and explain all of these elements.  


David White is a contributing writer for UniversityTutor.com, the world's largest global marketplace for finding independent tutors. 


   

By Dixie Somers

​Everybody has his or her own list of must-read or must-check books. However, there are some writing masterpieces that you cannot afford to leave out, especially if you are college student or if you plan to join college. Without much ado, here is a list of the top 5 books that will make any college path easier:


Zero to One by Peter Thiel
Thiel highlights how you can break free and be truly different by being committed to a unique vision. Perhaps the most important part for a would-be college student is the section about education, where Thiel criticizes the dangerous drive towards external validation and competitive achievement. The book challenges you to ask yourself questions about your unique vision and what can have control or monopoly over that nobody can replicate. 


Excellent Sheep by William Deresiewicz
Deresiewicz argues for going to college, especially those colleges with face-time professors and small group seminars, but also favor doing gap years (whether formally or informally) and taking some time off during college and after college to maximize the period of freedom immediately after graduating to continue nurturing self-knowledge. 


Influence by Robert Cialdini
This book provides a deep insight into how to interact and engage with people around you. So whether you will be looking for an internship or just to land your first job during the holidays, Influence offers very practical advice. You will be exposed to six universal principles on how to become a skilled persuader and how to defend yourself against different situations. 


Major in Success by Patrick Combs
The book reaches out to undecided students in search of a major that best fit their life interests and career ambitions and shows near-graduating students how to bolster their CV and career profiles and ace the interview to land their first jobs after college. Combs also presents top innovative strategies for combating the 6 greatest fears that tend to hold students back. 


How to Win at the Sport of Business by Mark Cuban
This book provides insider knowledge of how to become a thriving entrepreneur at any age. By telling his own life experience, Cuban presents an unconventional and yet effective way of building a successful business empire at any stage of your career. 


Conclusion
College is a bubble and whatever institution you choose to study, there are high chances that your life will be based around same lecture halls, bars, and people. Reading is probably the best way to get out of the bubble to think about a wider world out there. Visit here for more information about college degrees. 

Dixie Somers is a freelance writer. Find Dixie on Facebook.

​By David White

If you are an international student who is exploring colleges and universities in the United States, you have likely been exposed to a great deal of information. In general, American schools welcome international students as a way of diversifying their campuses and attracting the best talent. Of course, the incoming freshman class can only be so big.

If you are wondering how to make yourself a more attractive candidate to a U.S. school, Advanced Placement (or AP) courses and exams can be a great way to ensure your application stands out. Typically, students take AP classes and tests to gain college credit while still in high school, to skip introductory courses in certain subjects, or to challenge themselves. These courses and exams are generally more complex and in-depth than ordinary high school classes, with greater expectations placed on students. A test score of 3 or higher is often required to earn college credit or to receive advanced course placement.

For international students, AP classes are not always available or a great choice, but if you have access to them, consider the following ways that they can help you achieve your academic goals. International students should take AP exams:


1. To earn college credit or to receive advanced placement
As previously mentioned, one of the most popular reasons to take an AP exam is to earn college credit or to receive advanced placement consideration. For example, if you have a deep knowledge of biology and hope to pursue a biology degree at an American institution, then you might not benefit from enrolling in an introductory class that focuses on content you already know. In this case, a high AP score could allow you to opt out of the basic biology course and to begin with a more advanced class.

Not only does this allow you to rapidly move ahead—which may prevent you from becoming bored—it might also save you money and start you closer to your end goal of a degree.


2. To demonstrate initiative 
There are many qualities that admissions committees hope to observe in applicants. Among these attributes, initiative and a passion for learning are critically important. Sitting for an AP exam can have practical benefits, but it also says something about you as a student, and the degree to which you are serious about your studies.

AP exams require broad knowledge of a particular subject and a commitment to studying that exceeds that of the ordinary student. By participating in the AP program, you are demonstrating to admissions committees that you take your academics very seriously, and that you are willing to work hard to make progress toward your goals. 


3. To practice for university
Under the best of circumstances, transitioning from high school to college can be very challenging. In addition to the new environment and the significant number of new experiences, the workload can be much more demanding. For international students, this can be doubly difficult, as they are also navigating a new cultural experience while potentially operating in a non-native language. 

But AP courses and their associated exams can be considered a fairly accurate representation of college-level work and college-level preparation. In light of this information, the studying required to earn a 3 or better is a great way to practice the skills you will need in order to succeed in a college environment.


4. To strengthen language skills
If you plan to apply to an American college or university, you will likely have to pass a language test that demonstrates your proficiency in English. However, these tests are not always a comprehensive assessment of your English language skills. 

Exams like the TOEFL test your ability to comprehend English in a general academic context, but it would be impossible to tailor each test to individual interests and circumstances. Studying for AP exams and classes can be an excellent way to practice your language skills—and to develop a more robust understanding of the academic concepts that you will be pursuing in an English language setting.


David White is a contributing writer for UniversityTutor.com, the world's largest global marketplace for finding independent tutors.