TOEFL

TOEFL

1.     What is TOEFL?

·         The TOEFL test is an internationally accepted standard of English that measures the academic English proficiency of a non-native speaker of English.

·         The TOEFL test is required by more than 7,000 colleges, universities and licensing agencies in 110 countries throughout the world.

2.     TOEFL test

TOEFL test measures an academic English language proficiency of non-native speakers. The test is to be taken by those who whish to enter English-speaking institutes of higher education. The test is recognized by more than 8 500 colleges and universities (including the 100 top universities in the world) in more than 130 countries, inclusive of Canada, Great Britain, Australia and the USA. Not only persons interested in education abroad need to take the test, but also those who seek for an English-speaking job as well as your test scores may be required by such institutions as licensing bodies, government agencies, businesses and scholarship programs.

For the first time the idea of necessity of such a test was come up with a national council, which included the representatives of thirty government and private organizations. The test was initially developed at the Centre of Applied Linguistics under the guidance of Stanford University. The first “test-drive” was taken by the Modern Language Association in the USA in 1964. In the next year The College Board and ETS (Educational Testing Service) took a responsibility for a continuation for the TOEFL program. In 1973 the GRE board of advisers joint these two organizations. Now TOEFL is officially administered by ETS.

There are three forms of taking TOEFL tests: a paper-based test (TOEFL pBT test), commuter-based (cBT) and internet based (TOEFL iBT). To the point, the latter one gradually replaced other types of test-taking. Nowadays TOEFL pBT is taken only in the regions with no Internet access.

3.     TOEFL Origin 

·         The TOEFL test is a registered trademark of Educational Testing Service (ETS) and is administered worldwide.

·         The test was first administered in 1964 and has since been taken by more than 23 million students.

·         The test was originally developed at the Center for Applied Linguistics led by the linguist, Dr. Charles A. Ferguson.

4.     Purpose of TOEFL 

·         TOEFL measures the ability of non-native speakers of English to use and understand English as it is spoken, written and heard in college and university settings.

·         As opposed to the TOEIC test (TEST OF ENGLISH FOR INTERNATIONAL COMMUNICATION) that measures the use of English in a business context, the TOEFL test has an academic focus. 

5.     Who uses the TOEFL test?

·         Students who want to study further: For non-native speakers who hold degrees or diplomas from post-secondary institutions in English speaking countries.

·         Academic institutions: To determine academic readiness and make admissions decisions for international applicants.

·         Individuals who are applying for professional licensure or certification.

·         Many government, licensing and certification agencies, as well as exchange and scholarship programmes also use TOEFL scores as a decision-making tool.

6.     Benefits of the TOEFL test

·         Widely available and easily accessible.

·         Regarded as the international standard and industry leader.

·         The test is administered under secure conditions and is highly reliable; hence, scores can be used confidently to make high-stakes decisions.

·         The TOEFL test has different versions that are used in different countries. But all versions are equally valid and reliable  and are developed and administered based on the stringent ETS Standards for Quality and Fairness.

7.     TOEFL Format

The TOEFL test is available in two ways:

·         International Testing Program

            TOEFL CBT (computer-based or iBT)

            TOEFL P&P (paper based)

·         Institutional Testing Program

Pre TOEFL (paper based)

TOEFL ITP (paper based)
 

8.     Paper Based TOEFL 

The PBT TOEFL test comprises three sections plus a  30-minute writing test (the Test of Written English): 

·         Listening Comprehension measures the ability to understand English

·         Structure and Language measures the ability to recognize language that is appropriate for standard written English

·         Reading Comprehension measures the ability to understand non-technical reading matter in English

Time	TOEFL	Section
35 minutes	50 multiple choice questions	Listening Comprehension
25 Minutes	40 multiple choice questions	Structure and Written Expression
55 Minutes	50 multiple choice questions	Reading Comprehension
30 Minutes	1 essay question	Test of Written English (TWE)

    
Overview of Paper-Based TOEFL

9.     Purposes of ITP TOEFL

·         Assigning individuals to English courses at the appropriate level of difficulty

·         Determining proficiency in English at the beginning and end of courses of study in English

·         Determining if nonnative speakers of English have a sufficient command of the language to participate in a study abroad program

·         Providing students an opportunity to become acquainted with the multiple-choice test format

·         Completing a graduation requirement

·         Assessing proficiency of faculty and other professional- level staff

10.                         iBT TOEFL

Timing	Number of Questions	Test Section
60-100 minutes	3-5 passages, 12-14 questions each	Reading
60-90 minutes	4-6 lectures, 6 questions each	Listening
20 minutes	6 tasks: 2 independent and 4 integrated	Speaking
20 minutes 30 minutes	1 integrated task 1 independent task	Writing

11.                        TOEFL Score 

·         The raw score for each section is converted by statistical means to a number on what is called the TOEFL test scale.

·         The total paper-based TOEFL test score is reported on a scale that ranges from 310 to 677.

·         The total iBT TOEFL test score is reported on a scale that ranges from 0 - 120.

·         What constitutes an acceptable TOEFL score depends entirely on the requirements of each institution.

·         There is no specific passing or failing score.

12.                         The score ranges 

The paper based TOEFL score ranges are listed below: 

Score Range	Test Section
31 – 68	Listening Comprehension
31 – 68	Structure/Written Expression
31 – 67	Reading Comprehension
310 – 677	Total Score

The  iBT TOEFL score ranges are listed below: 

Score Range	Test Section
0 – 30	Listening
0 – 30	Reading
0 – 30	Speaking
0 – 30	Writing
0 – 120	Total Score

13.    Regulations of Ministry of Higher Education and Scientific Research for TOEFL IPT and Training Courses 

·         A license from ETS should be obtained to carry out the TOEFL test

·         English centers in Iraqi Universities should provide a training courses entitled “How to prepare for TOEFL exam”.  to prepare students and scholars for TOEFL exam.

·         The training course comprises of ten week intensive English language lectures (three days per week and three hours per day).

·         The cost of the course is ID 275,000

14.  Ministry of Higher Education and Scientific Research Scores.

PhD	MSc or Diploma	Subject
520	500	English Language Departments  Group
480	430	Medical Group
450	410	Engineering Group
430	390	Pure Sciences Group
430	390	Agriculture and Vetrinary Sciences Group
410	370	Management and legal Sciences Group
390	350	Humanities Sciences Group

15.                         TOEFL Preparation Programme

We offer in English Learning Unit (ELU) a 90 –hour programme which focus on the development of test-taking skills and strategies through:

·         Listening practice.

·         Reading and Vocabulary practice.

·         Speaking practice

·         Structure practice

·         Writing practice

16.                         Other English Courses 

We also offer at our ELU other English courses depending on English Proficiency Levels:

·         Advanced: Able to clearly communicate any idea in English. Able to understand conversations and lectures with minimal difficulty for university-level study on completion of advance level.

·         Intermediate: Able to understand most questions and statements at normal speaking speed. Able to sustain a conversation with a native speaker about topics familiar to the student.

·         Elementary: Able to understand and respond to simple questions and directions from a native speaker. Able to participate in brief conversations on everyday topics.
 

17.                         ETS (Educational Testing Service)

A nonprofit ETS, founded in 1947, develops, administers and scores more than 50 million tests annually — including:

·         the TOEFL® and TOEIC® tests,

·         the GRE® General and Subject Tests

·         and The Praxis Series™ assessments — in more than 180 countries, and at over 9,000 locations worldwide.
 

What is the GRE? 

 The Graduate Record Examination (GRE) consists of two separate tests:

  - the General Test and

  - the Subject Test in psychology.

The General Test is composed of three parts--verbal, quantitative, and analytical writing. The verbal and the quantitative tests each yield a separate score between 200-800.

Scores on the analytical writing test are reported in ½-point increments along a scale of 0 to 6.

  The Subject Test, required by only some programs, measures knowledge of psychological concepts that are essential to graduate study; it also yields a score of from 200-800.

  - It is essential that you do well--at least 550 on each test.
 

Additional ETS services 

Educational Testing Service offers:

·         consulting services,

·         technical assistance,

·         custom assessments,

·         in-depth research,

·         and other solutions

for school districts, institutions, businesses and government agencies throughout the world.

ETS License

·         TOEFL® — Test of English as a Foreign Language™

  The TOEFL test measures the ability of nonnative speakers of English to communicate in English in the college or university classroom. Test scores are used in the admissions process at more than 7,000 academic institutions throughout the world.

·         TOEFL® ITP — Institutional Testing Program

  The TOEFL ITP measures English-language proficiency at the intermediate-to-advanced levels and is used for academic placement, progress evaluation, exit testing and other situations that do not require a secured testing environment.

·         GRE® — Graduate Record Examinations®

  The GRE tests measure skills that assist graduate schools, business schools and departments with admissions activities, guidance and placement, program evaluation and selection of fellowship recipients. 

Sources :

http://uotechnology.edu.iq/archivenews/seminar/TOEFL%20power%20point.pptx.

http://toefl-test.ru/en/