TEFL TEST: WHAT IS IN THE TEST AND HOW IS IT SCORED?

TOEFL Tests - What is in the Test and How is it Scored?

Executive summary about TOEFL Test Preparation by Mark Fellows

The 'Test of English as a Foreign Language', or (TOEFL) was designed to assess an individual's understanding and use of English in an academic environment. Tests can be conducted in 'paper-based-tests' (pBT) or 'internet-based-tests' (iBT). For those of you wondering how a TOEFL score is calculated, this article provides a brief overview of the key-components used in assessing scores.

What you need?

Both Internet-based-tests and paper-based-tests are conducted in controlled environments at authorized test centers. To register for a test, contact your nearest test center which can be found with a simple Internet search. With over 4500 test centers worldwide, hopefully you will find a center near you. Follow the link at the bottom of the article.

Stage 1

Reading: 25% of overall score.

Duration: 60-100 minutes.

Test comprises: Reading 3-5 passages, and answering 12-14 questions.

This assessment comprises reading between 3-5 passages of approximately 700 words in length and answering questions associated with the text. All passages are academic in nature.

Following reading the text, test-takers answer a series of questions to check their understanding. Questions relate to: main context, ideas, inferences, key information, vocabulary and essential information. The subject content requires no previous knowledge, as indeed it does for all subsequent tests.

Stage 2

Listening: 25% of overall mark

Duration 60-90 Minutes

Test comprises: Listening to 6-9 passages and answering 5-6 questions.

This section comprises listening to 6 passages, 3-5 minutes in length and answering questions relating to the passage. The passages are academic in nature, normally comprising student conversations or lectures and discussions.

Each audio recording is heard only once and test-takers are permitted to take notes while they listen. Each conversation has an associated 5-6 questions to answer which are intended to measure an ability to understand: main ideas, key details, intentions and purpose and attitude of the speaker.

Stage 3

Speaking: 25% of overall score

Duration: 20 Minutes

Test comprises: 6 tasks and 6 questions

This section comprises 6 tasks of which 2 are independent and 4 integrated.

For the independent tasks, test-takers answer questions on familiar subjects.

Test-takers are assessed on their capacity to answer questions spontaneously and to relay their ideas clearly and coherently. The audio recordings are of academic-type situations.

In the integrated tasks, test-takers are required to utilize skills and answer questions from reading and listening material, and are given a little time to prepare themselves before beginning to speak.

Stage 4

Writing: 25% of overall score

Duration: 55 minutes

Test comprises: 2 tasks and 2 questions

This section measures the test-taker's ability to write in an academic environment. The test consists of 2 tasks, 1 integrated and 1 independent.

In the integrated task, candidates read a passage and listen to an audio recording of the same subject. They are then required to write a summary of the key points of the passage and relate them to the audio recording.

In the independent task, candidates are required to write an essay, expressing their opinion on a topic rather than purely responding to choice.

Stage 5

The scores of the four individually assessed tests are collated to form a final score. There is no pass or fail scores, but educational establishments and employers may require certain scores to meet entry level requirements.

For a paper-based-tests scores range from 200-677, and a score in excess of 600 are very good.

For Internet-based-tests scores range from 0-120 and a scores above 97 are considered very good.

TOEFL Preparation - 5 Key Things

Executive summary about How to Prepare for the TOEFL by Tim Dickeson

Deciding on how to prepare for the TOEFL is probably the most important thing you will investigate before taking the TOEFL.

Many TOEFL preparation courses have set structures that they go through with the classes and there are also TOEFL preparation books which you can use and follow.

However over my English teaching experience and more importantly the experience I have gained teaching TOEFL, I have come to learn that regardless of which ever method you use, it is extremely important to understand 5 key things which you must incorporate into your TOEFL preparation.

1) TOEFL Sections - Having a comprehensive understanding of the format and structure of the TOEFL so you know exactly what to expect.

2) Question Types - Learning the different question types so you are familiar with how the question will be presented to you.

3) Answering System - Developing a system for answering the different question types to minimise time and assist structuring your answers correctly.

4) Answer Analysis - Analysing what makes a high scoring answer so you are familiar with what you also need to do to produce a high scoring answer.

5) English Skills - Increasing your vocabulary and grammar skills to increase your score

Don't take a chance on the TOEFL. If you work on all of these areas as part of your TOEFL preparation, you will substantially increase your confidence going into the TOEFL and increase your ability to get a high score.

WHAT IS TOEIC?

Some Independent students ask what TOEIC test is. Here we post quite concise information about it. We also put a summary about how to prepare the TOEIC test from ezinearticles.com. We hope to see the benefits taken by Independent students from this information.

The TOEIC Tests

the global standard for assessing English proficiency for business

Summarized from  ets.org/toeic

The TOEIC tests:

• Help businesses build a more effective workforce
• Give job seekers and employees a competitive edge
• Enable universities to better prepare students for the international workplace

Organizations and job seekers around the world trust TOEIC scores to help them get ahead of the competition.

For more than 30 years, the TOEIC® test has set the standard for assessing English language skills used in the workplace. Today TOEIC® test scores are used by over 10,000 companies, government agencies and English language learning programs in 120 countries, and more than 6 million TOEIC tests were administered last year.

Workplace assessments that meet business needs

TOEIC test questions simulate real-life situations that are relevant to the global workplace. Score reports provide accurate, meaningful feedback about a test taker's strengths and weaknesses, along with a description of the English language strengths typical of test takers performing at various score levels. This allows employers to:

• Relate test scores to the tasks employees may perform on the job
• Use the descriptions to inform critical hiring and placement decisions
• Select the employee with the English-language abilities the job requires

Additionally, ETS's ongoing research helps ensure that the TOEIC tests are accurate and relevant to today's changing global workplace, which helps internationally competitive companies hire, place and promote the right candidates year after year.

Standardized testing means reliable results

TOEIC test scores provide accurate, reliable measurement of English proficiency — they can be compared regardless of where or when the test is administered. For example, last year's scores of a test taker in Japan can be compared with this year's scores of a test taker in Korea. Because test takers of any background can be compared fairly, companies can use the TOEIC tests to make the most informed decisions and build a more diverse workforce.

Equal opportunity for all test takers

ETS ensures standardized test conditions give test takers equal opportunity to demonstrate proficiency.

• Test administrations adhere to strict guidelines to ensure a consistent and fair test-taking experience.
• A scoring process held to the highest quality-control standards results in the most reliable and valid scores available.

The Next Step in TOEIC Preparation

Executive summary about TOEIC Test Preparation by Robert P Phipps

The idea of focused training has entered the arena of the TOEIC Test. OnlineEnglish have captured the market by applying focused training techniques to business English language training with special concentration on preparation for the TOEIC test.

Training on the website is unique and commences with a TOEIC estimate test. The test has been developed and tested over 3 years and is designed to analyze a person's English proficiency related to the TOEIC test. The results of the estimate test are shown graphically on what OnlineEnglish call "the performance monitor"

The performance monitor shows students a graph of their ability for each question type in the TOEIC test. Students can then train and improve by completing hundreds of TOEIC exercises grouped understandably into question type categories. Naturally this focused training provides faster improvement results than just broad training techniques.

This area supports training and helps participants develop their Basic English skills.

Students can copy and paste texts from newspapers and magazines into the exercise and it will automatically create a challenging missing word exercise, allowing the student to further improve vocabulary, grammar and sentence structure.

The test is based upon the real test and really gives students "the feel" they need to overcome any disadvantages.

The story goes on because the training website is far from passive as every student will get the support privately by email from a qualified TOEIC trainer and authorized TOEIC administrator.

To finalize our look at this unique TOEIC training and preparation area, students will receive weekly emails with information, examples, interesting comments and homework.

Continually updated, OnlineEnglish put the true meaning back into the word TOEIC Preparation.

 
 

TOEFL AND IELTS

TOEFL or IELTS - Which is Better?

Executive summary about TOEFL and IELTS by Walton Burns

One of the most frequent questions I hear is which test is easier or which test is better. The IELTS test administrated by the British Councils, the University of Cambridge, and IELTS Australia or the TOEFL? Pick the test you think will be easier for you to complete.

Structure of the TOEFL

As of last year, official TOEFL is almost universally given in the iBT (Internet Based Testing) format.

Reading

The TOEFL Reading section asks you to read 4-6 passages of university level and to answer multiple-choice questions about them (multiple-choice means you choose the answer from provided options). Questions test you on comprehension of the text, main ideas, important details, vocabulary, inferring, rhetorical devices and style.

Listening

The Listening Section presents long 2-3 conversations and 4-6 lectures. Speaking

The Speaking section is recorded. Two questions will ask you to summarize information from a text and a conversation--and may ask your opinion as well. Two questions will ask you to summarize information from a short conversation. Again, the topics of the conversations are always university-related.

Writing

Finally, there are two short essays on the TOEFL.

IELTS Structure

The IELTS contains the same 4 sections, Reading, Listening, Speaking and Writing, but the format is very different.

Reading

The variety of questions on the IELTS is quite broad, and not every text will have every question type. One question type asks you to match headings to paragraphs in the text. There may be multiple-choice questions that ask you about key details. Finally, some questions are short-answer but the answers will be taken directly from the text itself.

Some questions come before the text and may not require careful reading to answer.

Listening

The IELTS has four listening sections. There are two writing tasks on the academic IELTS.

Speaking

The first part of the test will be a brief introductory conversation followed by some short questions about familiar topics.

Writing

There are two writing tasks on the academic IELTS. The first asks you to summarize a table or chart in about 300 words. The second task asks you to present your opinion on a statement about a fairly open topic.

British versus American English

While both the UK and the US accept both tests, and while British English and American English are not as different as some think, the fact of the matter is the IELTS tends to use British English and the TOEFL uses exclusively American English. If you are more comfortable with US English, the TOEFL is a good bet but if you are used to British English and accents, you'll do better on the IELTS.

Multiple choice versus Copying Down

For the reading and listening sections, TOEFL gives you multiple-choice questions, whereas IELTS generally expects you to copy down words from the text or the conversation word-for-word. Multiple-choice questions will tend to be require slightly better abstract thinking, but the IELTS favors people who have good memories and think more concretely. Of course, the TOEFL is also more predictable than the IELTS. If you like talking to people, the IELTS is a better bet. Finally, the speaking and writing sections of the TOEFL are graded holistically. The IELTS by contrast is marked by individual criteria and you are scored individually for grammar, word choice, fluency, logic, cohesion, and a dozen other criteria. The IELTS will not overlook bad grammar.