PAPER
BASE TOEFL
and
COMPUTER
BASE TOEFL
The
meaning of TOEFL
Test of English
as a Foreign Language, is a
standardized
test of
English
language
proficiency for
non-native English language speakers wishing to enroll in U.S. universities.
The test is accepted by many English-speaking
academic and professional institutions. TOEFL
is one of the two major English-language tests in the world, the other being
the
IELTS.
TOEFL is a
trademark of ETS (
Educational Testing Service), a private
non-profit organization, which designs and administers the tests. The scores
are valid for two years; then they are no longer reported.
The
Paper-Based TOEFL Test
The prepare-based
version of the TOEFL test (TOEFL pBT) continues to be administered on specified
dates in some countries, particularly in areas where accessibility to the
Internet-based test (e.g., TOEFL iBT) is a concern. Each from of TOEFL pBT consits
of three sparately time sections; the question in each section are multiple
choice, with four possible answers or options per question. All responses are
gridded on answer sheets that are scored by computer.
·
Section 1 of the test, Listening Comprehension, measures the ability to understand
English as it is spoken in North America. The oral features of the language are
stressed, and the problems tested include vocabulary and idiomatic expression
as well as special grammatical constructions frequently used in spoken English.
The stimulus material and oral questions are recorded in standard North
American English; the response options are printed in the test books.
·
Section 2, Structure and Written Expression, measures recognition of selected
structural and grammatical points in standard written English. The language
tested is formal, rather then conversational. The topics of the sentences are
of a general academic nature so that individuals in specific fields of study or
from specific national or linguitic groups have no particular advantage.
·
Section 3, Reading Comprehension, measures the ability to read and understand
short passages that are similar in topic and style to those that students are
likely to encounter in North American colleges and universities. Examinees read
a variety of short passages on academic subjects and answer several questions
about each passage. The questions test information that is stated in or implied
by the passage, as well as knowledge of some of the spesific words as they are
used in the passage.
The total test time is
approximately two and one-half hours; however, approximately three and one-half
hours are needed for a test administration to admit examinees to the testing
room, to allow them to enter identifying information on their answer sheets,
and to distribute and collect the test materials.
Language specialists
prepare the material for the TOEFL test. The TOEFL Committee of Examineers
establishes overall guidelines for the test content and specifications. All
item spesifications, questions, and final test forms are reviewed for cultural
and racial bias and content appropriateness, according to established ETS
procedures.
The
Computer-Based TOEFL Test
In July 1998, ETS
introduced the computer-based version of the TOEFL tset (TOEFL cBT) in many
areas of the world. This move was the first critical step toward a long-term
goal of enhancing assesments by using electronic technology to test more
complex skills.
A primary goal of the TOEFL
program is to provide more extensive information that it has in the past about
candidates’ English proficiency. In response to institutions’ requests to
include a productive measure of writing, the program added a Writing section (essay) as part of each
TOEFL cBT test administration. This addition was one step toward a more
communicative test. Essay rating were integrated into section and total scores,
but were also reported separately on official score reports for informational
purposes. New types of questions were added to the Listening and Reading
sections; these new question types moved beyond multiple-choice questions.
Visuals were also added to the Listening
section, providing a significant enhancement to that portion of the test.
Two sections of the
test –Listening and Structure- were computer adaptive,
meaning the test was tailored to each examinee’s performance level. The test
started with questions of moderate difficulty. As an examinee answered each
question, the computer scored the question and used that information, as well
as the responses to previous questions, to determine the question it would
present next. As long as examinees responded correctly, the computer typically
selected questions of greater or equal difficulty. In contrast, if wxaminees
answered questions incorrectly, the computer typically selected questions of
lesser or equal difficulty. The computer was programmed to continuously find
questions of an appropriate difficulty for test takers of all performance
levels.
