新托福写作常见关键问题
Q: 拼写错误和语言问题要不要紧？
A: 关于这一点，我们要一分为二来看。一方面，我们没必要吹毛求疵；阅卷人知道这是first draft并且是under timed condition，只要看得懂，不构成理解障碍，就没太大问题（minor flaw）。另一方面，语法和拼写还是重要的，一旦这些小错误导致阅卷人觉得难以理解，就会构成重大问题（major flaw）。
把"dependence"写成"dependency"没太大问题；偶尔把"becomes independent"写成了"becomes independency"是个可以看到的错误，但还是问题不大；偶尔写出"They prefer to be depended on their parents."这样的奇怪句子也会得到阅卷人的宽恕。
"Occasional language errors will not count against you as long as they do not cause you to misrepresent the meaning of points from the reading and the lecture." [OG, P253]
"If your essay includes a few minor lexical and grammar errors, you can still get a high score. However, if you make a lot of grammar errors and if those errors make it hard to understand your meaning, you will get a lower score." [OG, P260]
Q: 字数是不是很重要？
A: 首先，字数没有上限。
其次，目前字数会比以前更有意义，因为考试有计数器专门动态显示字数，为的是让考生对自己的字数做到心里有数。而且两篇文章都有了推荐字数。所以，我的建议是超过这个建议字数，虽然不用超过太多。（Integrated Task超过150，Independent Task超过300）
最后，关键是内容，而不是数量。不要为了求字数而导致文章很啰嗦。
"Suggested length is between 150 to 225 words. You will not be penalized if you write more, so long as what you write answers the question." [OG, P253]
"An effective response is typically about 300 words long. If you write fewer than 300 words, you may still receive a top score, but experience has shown that shorter responses typically do not demonstrate the development of ideas needed to earn a score of 5. There is no maximun word limit. You may write as much as you wish in the time alloted." [OG, P258]
"The length is not considered."