教育类Some people think that teachers should be responsible for teaching students to judge what is right and wrong so that they can behave well. Others say that teachers should only teach students academic subjects. Discuss both views and give your opinion. （2006.3.18考题）Some people believe that university students should be required to attend classes. Others believe that going to classes should be optional for students. Which point of view do you agree with? Use specific reasons and details to explain your answer. ( Topic 14 from 185 TOEFL topics)
科技类There are social, medical and technical problems associated with the use of mobile phones. What forms do they take? Do you agree that the problems outweigh the benefits of mobile phones?（2006.1.14考题）Do you agree or disagree with the following statement? Technology has made the world a better place to live. Use specific reasons and examples to support your answer. ( Topic 82 from 185 TOEFL topics)
文化类Some people think museums should be enjoyable places to attract and entertain young people, while others think the purpose of museums should be to educate, not entertain. Discuss both sides and give your own opinion. （2006.8.4考题）If you were asked to send one thing representing your country to an international exhibition, what would you choose? Why? Use specific reasons and details to explain your choice. ( Topic 98 from 185 TOEFL topics)
社会类Housing shortage in big cities can cause severe social consequences. Some people think only government action can solve this problem. To what extent do you agree or disagree？（2006.5.13考题）Every generation of people is different in important ways. How is your generation different from your parents’ generation? Use specific reasons and examples to explain your answer. ( Topic 174 from 185 TOEFL topics)
环境类Some people believe that air travel should be restricted because it causes serious pollution and uses up the world's fuel resources. To what extent do you agree or disagree? （2006.2.18考题）Some people believe that the Earth is being harmed(damaged) by human activity. Others feel that human activity makes the Earth a better place to live. What is your opinion? Use specific reasons and examples to support your answer. ( Topic 29 from 185 TOEFL topics)
从话题范围来说，雅思和新托福的区别比较明显。虽然从1989年就开始了雅思考试，而且它进入中国市场也有将近10载，但是官方从来没有公布过雅思议论文话题的题库。在中国大陆培训市场上所流传的题库多是经由考生回忆，考生或者老师整理起来的。虽然在二、三年前，雅思议论文曾经出现过重复考题现象较多的情况，但是随着2006年5月取消了原来的90天考试限制，雅思的试梯研发力度加大，新的雅思议论文话题层出不穷。比如2006.2.18号的考题目“Some people believe that air travel should be restricted because it causes serious pollution and uses up the world's fuel resources. To what extent do you agree or disagree?”就是一道新出的考题，也是学生觉得比较难以把握的题目。新托福考试的议论文则完全沿用了原来的老托福的题库。所有的托福议论文考题一共有185题。新托福考试采用了网考的形式后只是在输入方式上从笔考变为了键盘输入，但是考试的题目则完全取自于185题的题库，有时也会发生考题重复的情况。并且至今也没有官方声明说新托福的议论文考试将会来自于185题库外的新题。
这类题目通常会含有 “ Do you agree or disagree with the following statement?” 的指令。要求让考生对特定的一件事情选择赞成或不赞成的观点并进行论证。题号有：2，8，10，23，27，28，34，37，38，39，40，41，49，53，54，55，58，60，61，63，66，68，72，74，76，77，81，82，83，88，94，97，99，102，119，120，122，123，125，126，131，133，134，136，137，148，150，153，162，173，175
2．二选一
这类题目通常会含有 “ Some people think……, others think……. Which do you prefer?”的指令。要求学生在两个不同观点或事件中选取其中一点进行支持并论证。题号有：4，9，11，13，14，17，19，20，29，31，32，33，35，44，45，47，50，51，56，57，64，65，67，71，73，75，78，92，95，100，101，104，105，107，108，109，110，111，112，114，115，117，118，121，124，127，128，129，135，138，140，143，144，145，146，157，158，160，163，167，177，181，184，185
Task Responsefully addresses all parts of the task
presents a fully developed position in answer to the question with relevant, fully extended and well supported ideas
Coherence and Cohesionuses cohesion in such a way that it attracts no attention
skillfully manages paragraphing
Lexical Resourceuses a wide range of vocabulary with very natural and sophisticated control of lexical features; rear minor errors occur on as ‘slips’
Grammatical Range and Accuracyuses a wide range of structures with full flexibility and accuracy; rare minor errors occur only as ‘slips’
雅思9分文章评分标准解读：
1．在第一项的任务完成度中，对于9分文章的要求有2个。第一，它必须完全解答作文问题中所提出的问题。第二，必须对所提出的观点进行充分合理的延伸和论证。在这一点上，雅思议论文的9分文章和8分文章相差无几。而在7分文章中，对于这一项的要求则改变为: presents, extends and supports main ideas, but there may be a tendency to over-generalize and/or supporting ideas may lack focus.’也就是说，考生在能表达和延伸支持论点的情况下，允许犯一些诸如“以偏盖全 ” 或者在支持论点的时候缺乏重点的情况。
2．在第二项的关于“连贯和一致”的评分标准中，对于考生的语言使用能力则已经开始趋向于真正的英语为母语国家的作者。这一点，从它对于连接方法的要求上就可见一斑。“使用连接手段须不露痕迹” 而8分的文章对于这点的标准就降为 ‘sequences information and idea logically’。 中国考生可以比较熟练的使用一些连接词或者连接手法，但是做到不露痕迹却是有着一定难度的。7分的文章对这点的要求则和第一点一样，在考生能够使用一定范围的连接手段的情况下，允许犯一些诸如使用不足或者过度使用的错误。在第二项的另一个要求中要求9分的文章能够有技巧的使用“同义转换”。所谓“有技巧”，和先前所指的“不露痕迹”有着近似的含义。也就是说，考生不需要挖空心思去想要用多少种不同的词去表达同一个意思，写作的过程中自然而然的就能表现出来。而在这一项评分标准的第二点: 技巧性的分段, 考验的则是考生对于写作层次感的掌握.值得一提的是,对于分段的要求8分的描述为: ‘ uses paragraphing sufficiently and appropriately’;而7分的则是: ‘presents a clear central topic within each paragraph’. 我们都知道西方人写文章使用演绎法比较多，就是说在一个段落一开始用一个中心句进行概括,然后在段落中用不同的细节进行论证和展开. 但是,这个中心句质量的好坏，它能不能很好的起到概括全段的作用, 如果不是对语言技能运用非常娴熟的考生基本上只能做到7分. 离 ‘skillfully’还是有一定距离的。有的英语为母语国家的作者写的文章在我们中国人看来好象并不是套用这么一个固定模式,但是却是其承转合的非常有技巧的.
3．在对词汇的要求上, 雅思9分的文章要求所使用的词不仅地道, 而且要自然,符合英文文章的写作习惯. 笔者对此理解为: 能写出这类文章的考生,可能需要掌握诸如中文中的 “成语”的贴切使用. 即使是中译英很在行的考生要做到这一点恐怕也是有一定难度的. 我们可以从这一项的8分描述得到一些结论. 8分的词汇使用也是需要丰富的词汇资源,但是如果能够精确的传递意思,即使有一些选词或者搭配上的错误也没关系. 学习英语时间长的人都知道,有很多动词和副词的搭配,在英语的表达中起到了非常重要的作用.而这些词组的含义区别往往就体现在它们后面所跟的副词上. 就比如说set, 这个单词有很多副词可以连接,比如set up, set out, set apart, set aside等等.如果能够正确且地道的使用好这类词组,文章就会显得地道一些.但是即使是功底比较好的中国考生,对于这些词的使用也不是百分之百的有把握. 因为没有把握,所以会出现搭配错误, 或者就是直接的中译英的情况.这样要拿到满分就显得比较困难了. 当然, 9分的文章也是允许有错误的, 但是这种错误仅仅局限于作者的 “笔误”上.
SCORE 5 RUBRIC: An essay at this level largely accomplishes all of the following:
■Effectively addresses the topic.
■Is well organized and well developed, using clearly appropriate explanations.
■Displays unity, progression, and coherence.
■Displays consistent facility in the use of language, demonstrating syntactic variety, appropriate word choice, and idiomaticity, though it may have minor lexical or grammatical errors.
新托福5分文章评分标准解读：
新托福议论文的评分标准相对于雅思来说分类不是很清晰，评分比较的global， 也就是说，是看重文章整体给人的感觉。而且在一开始说到的 ‘largely accomplishes all of the following’中也可以看出，同样是在议论力度和语言交流质量上对考生提出要求，新托福的议论文得到满分的机会较之雅思要更大一些。新托福官方对于这个评分标准隐含意义的诠释为：‘ Clearly responds to and develops the topic. The writing does not wander; instead, the main point or progression of ideas is clear and consistently reinforced with relevant details and examples. The writer connects all ideas, and so the reader does not have to guess at intended meaning. In addition, the writing contains a range of grammatical structures, words, and English expression, and for the most part these are appropriately used.’ ‘Such a fluent and complex response is not flawless, however. There may be times when the grammar or spelling is incorrect, or a word form is not used accurately. An independent essay does not have to be perfect to receive a score of 5, as long as the errors are occasional or minor, or do not interfere with the reader’s understanding. Those that receive a score of 4 also have clear, well-written essays, but there are more flaws and the ideas are less developed.’
