Essay sample for TOEFL iBT writing question 2

109. When people move to another country, some of them decide to follow the customs of the new country. Others prefer to keep their own customs. Compare these two choices. Which one do you prefer? Support your answer with specific details.

When people move to live in another country, they face many difficulties and problems at the beginning. Adapt new customs or keep their old ones? This is a big question. The answer depends on each person because there are both advantages and disadvantages of acquiring new customs and of keeping the old ones. If I had a chance to move to another country, I prefer following new customs because I want to be treated as a local person.

The advantage of keeping their own customs is to preserve their identity. People carry their traditions since they were born. These traditions have been part of their life. Thus, it is obvious that they want to keep their customs such as habits, living styles, religious practice, and cultural activities. They want to be themselves. Furthermore, keeping such customs allows them to avoid many changes in their life when settling down in a place they don’t know much about. The disadvantage of keeping their own customs is that sometimes these customs contradict the customs of the new country. For instance, smoking is considered a bad habit for women in Asia. However, it is totally normal habit of women in western countries.

Adapting new customs helps people integrate quickly into new communities in the new country. If people don’t follow new customs, they are not part of the new community. Hence, they will have troubles in their professional and daily life since local people may have some discrimination towards new settlers who look very different and who behave in a different way. In such case, conforming to local social rules and customs is vital for them if they don’t want to be excluded by local people. On the other hands, if people follow new customs, they are considered part of the new community. Thus, their life is much easier. However, they may have to sacrifice their own values to adapt the new ones.   

I prefer following new customs as I want to integrate to the new community. For instance, when I settled down in France ten years ago, I did not drink wines during a party. People looked at me as a stranger. I felt excluded from their conversations because they did not talk to me. Thus, I quickly realized that it was important for me to follow their customs. Therefore, I learned to drink wines, thing that I had never done before in my home country, Vietnam, because drinking wines is not appreciated as a good quality of women there. Since then, I have drunk wines at parties. Wherever I go, local people accept me easily when I drink wines since I show them that I know their customs.   

In conclusion, it is up to each person to choose to follow new customs or to keep his own customs when they move to another country. The ideal solution is to keep their own ones and follow the new ones because they can both keep their identity and integrate into new communities. It is also the solution I prefer because it’s necessary to be part of a new community. At the same time, I try to preserve my own customs to which I attach strongly.

My experience in practicing Toefl Practice Online (TPO)

The tests in TPO are very similar to actual TOEFT test. I think that it is a valuable source to achieve high scores. I have done 7 tests of Cambridge, 8 tests of Barron, 4 tests of Kaplan and 39 tests of TPO. The tests from other sources than TPO are good at the beginning of my toelf preparation because I can use them to evaluate my progress. However, these tests are not similar to the TOEFL test in terms of questions. They have all types of reading and listening question. However, I think that the way the questions are formed is slightly different from questions of TPO tests. That’s why I only practiced 39 TPO tests near the end of my preparation and before my actual tests.

I took three months to do 39 TPO tests. I have acquired a very large vocabulary in different fields such as chemistry, astronomy, biology, psychology, earth science, arts, literature etc…Thanks to  a friend who has helped me to find such 39 valuable TPO tests. The first five tests are actually the five tests in the ETS book .

I made a sheet of paper in which I wrote the scores of each test and taken dates. I learned from my mistakes to improve for the next tests. I did again listening or reading sections that I got a score below 24 points.

The speaking section of the 39 TPO tests is extremely useful to practice speaking. I used a voice recorder software named PAMUS Recorder to record my speaking. I review my recorded speeches to analyze errors and to improve fluency, sentence variation, intonation and natural pace.  Finally, I acquired a habit of speaking in front of a micro.

I spent a lot of time doing the first question of the writing section. I have done all 37 question 1 of the writing section. My weak point was that I forgot what the lecturer said at the beginning to report in the writing section. The more I practiced, the more I improved. However, I did not achieve a perfect level that I expected.  I also changed my writing templates several times until I find a good one.

What I have to say is that TPO tests are the only valuable sources to practice before the actual exams.

My experience in taking TOEFL iBT test for the first time

Exam date : April 22nd 2016-04-25

Exam time: 10:30 am

Test center: Superlec, Rennes, France

Buy the test

Before buying the test, I bought a TPO test, volume 25, from ETS to evaluate my level. I got 101 points on the TPO test. This result was what I expected so I decided to take the test.

I had to buy the test 3 months in advance because there was no place available at this test center 2 months before the test date. In addition, there is only one test section a month so I did not have choice.

Test time

When I purchase the test, it was indicated on the site Toeft.org the test time at 8:45am. However, I received an email prom Prometric two months before the test date that the test time was changed to 10:30 am. I then called the Prometric European center in Belgium to ask questions. They told me that there was no choice and I had to come to the test center 30 minutes before the test time because I had some papers to fill in.

On the test day

I got up at 7:00 am, took a good breakfast and a cup of coffee. Since I love Robusta coffee, I made a cup of very strong coffee my self. I felt good and had confidence in myself.

I took lunch at 9:30 am, 1 hour before the test, when I was on my car. I drank some fruit juice to have some vitamins.

At the test center

I arrived at 10:00 am.  There was clear indication where the test rooms located so it was easy to find the center in a big campus.

The, I was told to verify my name on the list hung on the door. The test administrator then gave me a paper to copy by hand and to sign.

There were about 20 test takers at that day. The administrator allowed 1 person to enter the test room at one time. Another administrator proceeded the registration by verifying my ID and taking a photo. 

Then, I was told to wait until all test takers were registered. I then saw my photo on the screen of a computer so I thought that it was my place.

When all test takers were registered, we were asked to sit in front of a computer where there was our picture. There was no partition between computers. Then, the administrator explained the rules of the test. For example, we were allowed to have only 3 sheets of paper at one time. When we finished three sheets, we could ask for another 3 sheets in exchanging for 3 used sheets. We were allowed to drink only mineral water during the test. Eating was not allowed.

The administrator came to each computer to start the test. Therefore, we all did not start the test at the same time. After the break, the administrator also came to key in the password so that we could continue the test.

I had a long reading section (4 passages, 14 questions each passage) and a short listening section. I kept the headset all the time during the test to avoid noise in the center. However, when I arrived at the two last listening lectures, other test takers started to speak. Thus, I was unable to concentrate even though I already wore the headset. Furthermore, the person next to me pressed often on his table. Since my table was in touch with his table, my table vibrated and therefore, my screen was also vibrated. As a result, it was difficult for me to read on the screen.

During the test, I managed my time as below:

Reading Section:

question 1 to 14: time left: 60 minutes

question 15 to 28: time left: 40 minutes

question 29 to 42: time left: 20 minutes

question 43 to 56: time left: 0 minutes

I did not start right away the section.  I read the instruction to get familiar with the reading first and to prepare to concentrate on the real reading passages. This short preparation was good to get ready.

Listening section: for each part

question 1 to 5: time left: 7 minutes

            question 6 to 11: time left: 3.5 minutes

            question 12 to175: time left: 0 minutes

I did not start right away the section.  I listened to the instruction to get familiar with the listening first and to prepare to concentrate on the real listening passages. This short preparation was good to get ready.

Speaking Section

The computer asked to test my voice before the section began. I spoke right after the beep. I continued to speak even the time left is zero. I had some stress when I spoke because I did not hear my voice. The headset filtered quite well my voice.

The question 4 was a bit unfamiliar compared to the question 4 in TPO (Toefl practice online) test. Otherwise, others questions were very similar to questions in TPO.

The timing for the speaking questions are below:

Question 1:

                Introduction + reason: 15 seconds

                Example: 30 seconds

Question 2:

                State opinion + reason: 15 seconds

                Example: 30 seconds

Question 3:

                States plan + opinion: 20 seconds

                Reason 1: 20 seconds

                Reason 2: 20 seconds

Question 4:

                States definition in the reading: 20 seconds

                Example in the lecture: 40 seconds

Question 5:

                States problem + 2 solutions: 20 seconds

                Reason : 20 seconds

                Reason 2: 20 seconds

Question 6:

                States two points in the lecture: 10 seconds

                First point + example: 25 seconds

                First point + example: 25 seconds

Writing Section

The two questions were very similar to questions in TPO.  The first question was about three theories of fossils found in one area in a desert. The lecture refutes the reading. The second question was about agree or disagree that present days media tend not to tell factual information and this has consequence for the public. This writing topic is not in the 185 writing essay topics given on the website of ETS.

I used 5 minutes at the end of each essay to check typing error. As I was not familiar with the keyboard of the test center, I typed very slowly at first. 

I took 10 minutes break to go to toilets, drink a fruit juice and eat some cakes. I used three minutes to speak English to prepare for the speaking section.

I was the last person to leave the center. I was not worried when the others left because I thought that I had to make use of my time to write good essays.

Now I’m waiting for the result, which will be downloadable in the PDF format next May 4^th 2016. Wait and see!

Topics for speaking question 1 and 2

Here are several questions that I collected from 39 TPO tests and several sources. I hope that will help you get good speaking score.

Describe a resource that helped you to do something better than before. Describe it and explain why it was helpful to you.
 

What is your favourite kind of food? Describe it and explain why it is your favourite.

What is your most useful study aid? Describe it and explain why it is useful in helping you to study.

 Think of a place that makes you feel relaxed and peaceful. Describe it and explain why it is relaxing and peaceful for you.

Talk about a time when you experienced success. Describe the experience and say why it was a success for you.

Who is an important person in your country? Describe this person and explain why he is important.

Talk about an experience in your life that made you feel embarrassed. Describe it and say why it was embarrassing.

What is your favourite season of the year? Describe the season and explain why you like it so much.

 Where would you most like to live? Describe this place and explain why you would like to live there.

Who is the most intelligent person you know? Describe the person and say why you think he/she is intelligent.

When have you been happily surprised by something? Describe the experience and say why the surprise was a happy one for you.

Describe a person you want to know more about. Why?

Students are required to go to school before they are 16?

 Characteristics of a marriage partner:

 

Barron: Teachers should be evaluated based by the performance of their students on standardized tests or by the performance in the classroom?

If you were study in another country, would you prefer to live with a local family, live alone or with friends?

 

What do you think that students can reduce homesickness?

 Who do you like to spend time with?

You friend wants to improve his grades. What advice you would give to help him?

 Students study harder than before?

 Students should study in a quiet environment

 What type of music do you enjoy the most? 

 Some people like to collect some old things such as newspapers. Others like to discard them.

 Benefits of having a pet.

 

Some prefer to buy used books and other prefer to buy new books. Which one do you prefer?

 

Government should spend money one some projects to encourage citizens to have a healthier lifestyle.

 Some personal characteristics that I look for in friends

 

 Some personal characteristics that I look for in a marriage partner

 Describe the most memorable class

 Describe the most efficient transportation means in your country

 

Talk about a job you want to do in the future

 

Describe changes in technology that have affected your life. Explain what effect they have on you as student.

What kind of friends is better? One who is very similar to you or one who is very different? Which kind of friends do you prefer and why?

  

Talk about a good way to make new friends

Agree? It’s important to learn from the past

Agree ? Students should be allowed to bring cell phones into class.

 

What is a skill that students need?

Do you prefer shopping online or shopping in stores?

Talk about a personality that has changed since your childhood

Agree? Students should be required to learn practical skills such as cooking and managing finance at school?

Talk about a popular gathering place in your town.

Do you think that eating healthier foods easier or more difficult than it was 40 or 50 years ago?

A friend of yours wants to go to University next year but can’t decide on a major field of study. What advice would you give your friend to help make this decision?

Some people enjoy spending their free time alone in activities such as reading, thinking or writing. Others enjoy spending their time in shared activities with other people. Which do you prefer? Why?

Students have to complete various types of academic assignments in school. Choose one of the assignments below and explain why you think it’s beneficial for students:

-          Research paper

-          Class presentation

-          Group project

Agree? To protect the health of our children, advertisements for candy and junk foods should not be shown on television.

Some people like studying in public places where there are other people around. Others prefer to study in places where there are few or no people around. Which do you prefer?

Which of the following careers or jobs do you think are the best rewarding?

-          University professor

-          Environmental scientist

-          Newspaper journalist

Some people prefer to learn about current events from watching TV news programs. Others prefer to read in newspapers or on the internet. Which do you prefer?

Talk about an important news event that happened recently in your country. Describe it and explain why it is important

There can be several advantages to spend time living in another country. Talk about one advantage and explain why living in this country provides such advantage

Agree? Parents should involve in the process of helping their children to choose a career.

Parents need to make sure their children lead a healthy life. What can parents do to help their children?

Some university students choose to take difficult classes even if they might not get good grades in the class. Others prefer to take easy classes in which they know they get good grades. Which do you prefer?

Students often like to study with others in a group. What are benefits of studying in a group. Give at least one benefit and explain why.

Agree? Children should receive money for doing household tasks such as cleaning.

What students should do to improve their performance in class?

Some people do not enjoy shopping and they shop only when they have something to purchase. Others like to go shopping for pleasure whether or not they have something to buy. Which do you prefer?

Some people like to have cell or mobile phone with them all the time. Others prefer not to bring their cell or mobile phone with them everywhere they are or they choose not to have one at all. Which do you prefer?

Tack about a popular actor, musician or artist whose work you do not like and explain why you do not like his work.

Agree? Parents should be in the process of helping their children to choose a university

Is it good to build a cafeteria in your school?

Agree? ¨Private cars should not be allowed in the center of big cities

Some people believe that it’s better for children to grow up in big cities. Others think that it’s better for them to grow up in small towns or rural areas. What’s your opinion?

Imagine that you donate an amount of money to your community. Which of the following you prefer to donate?

Environmental group

Local library

Animal rescue center

What is the most important characteristic of a good working environment?

Friendly coworkers

Flexible hours

Helpful boss/managers

Agree? It’s important to have some sort of work experience such as a part-time job before attending university?

Some people prefer enjoy watching movies on television in their free time. Others prefer reading books or magazines. Which do you prefer?

Agree? It is important to know about other cultures