Skill 1: Decode the topic

The first and most importat step when writing an essay on the TOEFL test is to decode the topic to determine what the intended outline is. wrtting topics generally give very clear clues about how your answer should be constructed. it is important to follow the clear clues that are given in the topic when you are planning you answer. you probably will not be given much credit for a response that does not cover the topic in the way that is intended.