TOEFL - Test Of English as a Foreign Language: TOEFL is a standardized test of English for academic purposes, and is commonly used in university programs as a benchmark of proficiency in English for entrance requirements. The TOEFL representative in Japan is CIEE, Council on International Educational Exchange.
The test is designed and administered by Educational Testing Service (ETS), and TOEFL is a registered trademark of ETS. It was developed to address the problem of ensuring English language proficiency for non-native speakers wishing to study at U.S. universities. It has become an admission requirement for non-native English speakers at many English-speaking colleges and universities. Additionally, institutions such as government agencies, licensing bodies, businesses, or scholarship programs may require this test. A TOEFL score is valid for two years and then will no longer be officially reported.
Three Types of TOEFL Test
1. PBT (Paper Based Test)
2. CBT (Computer Based Test)
3. IBT ( Internet Based Test)
1. PBT (Paper Based Test)
PBT-TOEFL is the first type of TOEFL Test released by ETS. PBT-TOEFL system still uses paper and/or sheets of paper and answer sheets that must be filled with 2B pencil.
The test lasts for 2 to 2.5 hours and The materials tested are:
• Listening
• Structure, and
• Reading
A score range of PBT is 310-677.
2. CBT (Computer Based Test)
CBT-TOEFL is the second form of TOEFL TEST replacing PBT-TOEFL. CBT-TOEFL doesn't use paper any more, but computer. All test materials are stored in computer and the Test is directly done in computer, too. CBT was firstly issued in 1998.
The test lasts for 2 to 2.5 hours and the materials tested are:
• Listening
• Structure
• Reading, and
• Writing
A score range of CBT is 0 - 300.
3. IBT (Internet Based Test)
iBT-TOEFL or also known as Next Generation (NG) of TOEFL TEST is the latest form of TOEFL Test issued by ETS. ETS did many changes in the test format and system. iBT-TOEFL uses computer media connected to Internet in Test process. Thus, the test participants can directly be on-line with the ETS and the answer test questions are also on-line, too.
The test lasts for 4 hours and the materials tested are:
• Listening
• speaking
• writing, and Reading
A score range of iBT is 0-120.
How TOEFL® Test Scores Are Used
Most colleges use TOEFL scores as only one factor in their admission process. Each college or program within a college often has a minimum TOEFL score required. The minimum TOEFL iBT scores range from 61 (Bowling Green State University) to 100 (MIT, Columbia, Harvard). A sampling of required TOEFL admissions scores shows that a total TOEFL iBT score of 74.2 for undergraduate admissions and 82.6 for graduate admissions may be required. ETS has released tables to convert between iBT, CBT and PBT scores.
For institutions that have defined the level of English-language proficiency required for a particular course of study, official TOEFL® test scores can be used to help determine if:
· A student may begin academic work with no restrictions
· student may begin academic work with some restrictions, including concurrent work in English-language classes
· A student is eligible to begin an academic program within a stipulated period of time but is assigned to a full-time English-language program first
· A student's official status cannot be determined until he or she reaches a satisfactory level of English-language proficiency. This decision will require the student to pursue full-time English-language training.
Such decisions should never be based on TOEFL scores alone. All relevant information should be considered.
TOEIC
TOEIC Definition
TOEIC - Test Of English For International Communication: TOEIC is a test of English that concentrates more on English for business purposes. TOEIC is commonly used in Japan as a benchmark of proficiency in English when applying for employment (although this practice has not escaped criticism from prominent experts in language testing).
The Test of English for International Communication (TOEIC) measures the ability of non-native English-speaking examinees to use English in everyday workplace activities.
Two Types of TOEIC Tests
1. TOEIC Listening & Reading Test
The TOEIC Listening & Reading Test is a two-hour multiple-choice test consisting of 200 questions evenly divided into listening comprehension and reading comprehension. Each candidate receives independent scores for listening and reading comprehension on a scale from 5 to 495 points. The total score adds up to a scale from 10 to 990 points. The TOEIC certificate exists in five colors, corresponding to achieved results:
- orange (10-215)
- brown (220-465)
- green (470-725)
- blue (730-850)
- gold (855-990)
2. TOEIC Speaking & Writing Test
The TOEIC Speaking & Writing Test was introduced in 2006. Test takers receive separate scores for each of the two tests, or can take the Speaking test without taking the Writing test. The Speaking test assesses pronunciation, vocabulary, grammar, and fluency, while the Writing test examines vocabulary, grammar, and overall coherence and organization. The tests are designed to reflect actual English usage in the workplace, though they do not require any knowledge of specialized business terms. The TOEIC Speaking Test takes approximately 20 minutes to complete; the TOEIC writing test lasts approximately 60 minutes. Each test has a score range between 0-200, with test takers grouped into eight proficiency levels.
New TOEIC Tests
A new version of the TOEIC Listening & Reading test was released in 2006. The changes can be summarized as follows:
· Overall, passages are longer.
· Part 1 has fewer questions involving photograph descriptions.
· The Listening Section hires speakers of English from Britain, Australia, New Zealand and North America, and uses an equal distribution of the dialects. However all the voice actors for the speaking test have lived in the United States for an extended period.
· Part 6 no longer contains an error-spotting task, criticized as unrealistic in a corporate environment, instead adopting the use of a task wherein the test taker fills in blanks in incomplete sentences.
· Part 7 contains not only single-passage questions but also double-passage questions wherein the test taker reads and compares the two related passages, such as an e-mail correspondence.
IELTS
IELTS Definition
IELTS, or International English Language Testing System, is an international standardised test of English language proficiency. It is jointly managed by University of Cambridge ESOL Examinations, the British Council and IDP Education Pty Ltd, and was established in 1989.
Two Types of IELTS Test
There are two versions of the IELTS: the Academic Version and the General Training Version:
· The Academic Version is intended for those who want to enroll in universities and other institutions of higher education and for professionals such as medical doctors and nurses who want to study or practise in an English-speaking country.
· The General Training Version is intended for those planning to undertake non-academic training or to gain work experience, or for immigration purposes.
IELTS Characteristics
The IELTS incorporates the following features:
· A variety of accents and writing styles have been presented in test materials in order to minimise linguistic bias.
· IELTS tests the ability to listen, read, write and speak in English.
· Band scores are used for each language sub-skill (Listening, Reading, Writing, and Speaking). The Band Scale ranges from 0 ("Did not attempt the test") to 9 ("Expert User").
· The speaking module is a key component of IELTS. It is conducted in the form of a one-to-one interview with an examiner. The examiner assesses the candidate as he or she is speaking, but the speaking session is also recorded for monitoring as well as re-marking in case of an appeal against the banding given.
· IELTS is developed with input from item writers from around the world. Teams are located in the USA, Great Britain, Australia, New Zealand, Canada and other English-speaking nations.
SUMMARY
TOEFL
TOEFL - Test Of English as a Foreign Language: TOEFL is a standardized test of English for academic purposes, and is commonly used in university programs as a benchmark of proficiency in English for entrance requirements. Three types of TOEFL Test is PBT (Paper Based Test), CBT (Computer Based Test), and IBT (Internet Based Test). Most colleges use TOEFL scores as only one factor in their admission process. Each college or program within a college often has a minimum TOEFL score required. The minimum TOEFL iBT scores range from 61 (Bowling Green State University) to 100 (MIT, Columbia, Harvard).
TOEIC
TOEIC - Test Of English For International Communication: TOEIC is a test of English that concentrates more on English for business purposes. The Test of English for International Communication (TOEIC) measures the ability of non-native English-speaking examinees to use English in everyday workplace activities. Two types of TOEIC test is TOEIC Listening & Reading Test and TOEIC Speaking & Writing Test.
IELTS
IELTS, or International English Language Testing System, is an international standardised test of English language proficiency. It is jointly managed by University of Cambridge ESOL Examinations, the British Council and IDP Education Pty Ltd, and was established in 1989. Two types of IELTS test is the Academic Version and the General Training Version.
Reference Source:
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/TOEIC
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