A Kind of TOEFL Test

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.

https://www.google.com/url?sa=t&rct=j&q=&esrc=s&source=web&cd=1&cad=rja&uact=8&ved=0CB8QFjAA&url=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.ets.org%2FMedia%2FResearch%2Fpdf%2FTOEFL-SUM-0506-CBT.pdf&ei=HKYFVeCQIcO_uASikoCICQ&usg=AFQjCNHdNy1C4w6drEGPTZ2P5W_XB0CIVA&sig2=93qaPQQlWbdYaptpX0yu-w&bvm=bv.88198703,d.c2E

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Test_of_English_as_a_Foreign_Language