教育類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考題）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)
科技類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考題）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)
文化類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考題）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)
社會類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考題）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)
環境類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考題）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)
從話題範圍來說，雅思和新託福的區别比較明顯。雖然從1989年就開始瞭雅思考試，而且它進入中國市場也有將近10載，但是官方從來沒有公佈過雅思議論文話題的題庫。在中國大陸培訓市場上所流傳的題庫多是經由考生回憶，考生或者老師整理起來的。雖然在二、三年前，雅思議論文曾經出現過重複考題現象較多的情況，但是隨着2006年5月取消瞭原來的90天考試限製，雅思的試梯研發力度加大，新的雅思議論文話題層出不窮。比如2006.2.18號的考題目“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?”就是一道新出的考題，也是學生覺得比較難以把握的題目。新託福考試的議論文則完全沿用瞭原來的老託福的題庫。所有的託福議論文考題一共有185題。新託福考試採用瞭網考的形式後隻是在輸入方式上從筆考變爲瞭鍵盤輸入，但是考試的題目則完全取自於185題的題庫，有時也會發生考題重複的情況。並且至今也沒有官方聲明說新託福的議論文考試將會來自於185題庫外的新題。
這類題目通常會含有 “ Do you agree or disagree with the following statement?” 的指令。要求讓考生對特定的一件事情選擇贊成或不贊成的觀點並進行論證。題號有：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
2．二選一
這類題目通常會含有 “ Some people think……, others think……. Which do you prefer?”的指令。要求學生在兩個不同觀點或事件中選取其中一點進行支持並論證。題號有：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分文章評分標準解讀：
1．在第一項的任務完成度中，對於9分文章的要求有2個。第一，它必須完全解答作文問題中所提出的問題。第二，必須對所提出的觀點進行充分闔理的延伸和論證。在這一點上，雅思議論文的9分文章和8分文章相差無幾。而在7分文章中，對於這一項的要求則改變爲: presents, extends and supports main ideas, but there may be a tendency to over-generalize and/or supporting ideas may lack focus.’也就是說，考生在能錶達和延伸支持論點的情況下，允許犯一些諸如“以偏蓋全 ” 或者在支持論點的時候缺乏重點的情況。
2．在第二項的關於“連貫和一緻”的評分標準中，對於考生的語言使用能力則已經開始趨向於真正的英語爲母語國傢的作者。這一點，從它對於連接方法的要求上就可見一斑。“使用連接手段須不露痕迹” 而8分的文章對於這點的標準就降爲 ‘sequences information and idea logically’。 中國考生可以比較熟練的使用一些連接詞或者連接手法，但是做到不露痕迹卻是有着一定難度的。7分的文章對這點的要求則和第一點一樣，在考生能夠使用一定範圍的連接手段的情況下，允許犯一些諸如使用不足或者過度使用的錯誤。在第二項的另一個要求中要求9分的文章能夠有技巧的使用“同義轉換”。所謂“有技巧”，和先前所指的“不露痕迹”有着近似的含義。也就是說，考生不需要挖空心思去想要用多少種不同的詞去錶達同一個意思，寫作的過程中自然而然的就能錶現出來。而在這一項評分標準的第二點: 技巧性的分段, 考驗的則是考生對於寫作層次感的掌握.值得一提的是,對於分段的要求8分的描述爲: ‘ uses paragraphing sufficiently and appropriately’;而7分的則是: ‘presents a clear central topic within each paragraph’. 我們都知道西方人寫文章使用演繹法比較多，就是說在一個段落一開始用一個中心句進行概括,然後在段落中用不同的細節進行論證和展開. 但是,這個中心句質量的好壞，它能不能很好的起到概括全段的作用, 如果不是對語言技能運用非常娴熟的考生基本上隻能做到7分. 離 ‘skillfully’還是有一定距離的。有的英語爲母語國傢的作者寫的文章在我們中國人看來好象並不是套用這麽一個固定模式,但是卻是其承轉闔的非常有技巧的.
3．在對詞彙的要求上, 雅思9分的文章要求所使用的詞不僅地道, 而且要自然,符闔英文文章的寫作習慣. 筆者對此理解爲: 能寫出這類文章的考生,可能需要掌握諸如中文中的 “成語”的貼切使用. 即使是中譯英很在行的考生要做到這一點恐怕也是有一定難度的. 我們可以從這一項的8分描述得到一些結論. 8分的詞彙使用也是需要豐富的詞彙資源,但是如果能夠精確的傳遞意思,即使有一些選詞或者搭配上的錯誤也沒關係. 學習英語時間長的人都知道,有很多動詞和副詞的搭配,在英語的錶達中起到瞭非常重要的作用.而這些詞組的含義區别往往就體現在它們後麵所跟的副詞上. 就比如說set, 這個單詞有很多副詞可以連接,比如set up, set out, set apart, set aside等等.如果能夠正確且地道的使用好這類詞組,文章就會顯得地道一些.但是即使是功底比較好的中國考生,對於這些詞的使用也不是百分之百的有把握. 因爲沒有把握,所以會出現搭配錯誤, 或者就是直接的中譯英的情況.這樣要拿到滿分就顯得比較困難瞭. 當然, 9分的文章也是允許有錯誤的, 但是這種錯誤僅僅局限於作者的 “筆誤”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.
新託福5分文章評分標準解讀：
新託福議論文的評分標準相對於雅思來說分類不是很清晰，評分比較的global， 也就是說，是看重文章整體給人的感覺。而且在一開始說到的 ‘largely accomplishes all of the following’中也可以看出，同樣是在議論力度和語言交流質量上對考生提出要求，新託福的議論文得到滿分的機會較之雅思要更大一些。新託福官方對於這個評分標準隱含意義的诠釋爲：‘ 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.’
