English Language Skills Testing

Testing one’s English language skills

— Photo: G. Krishnaswamy

A PREREQUISITE: A UK Education Fair in progress. TOEFL scores are accepted by more than 6,000 colleges, universities and licensing agencies.

The Test of English as a Foreign Language (TOEFL) evaluates and certifies the English language proficiency of people whose native language is not English.

The scores in this test are accepted by more than 6,000 colleges, universities and licensing agencies in more than 135 countries, including the U.S., Canada, the U.K., Australia and New Zealand. Many institutions insist on TOEFL scores as a prerequisi te for determining the eligibility for admission or for the award of scholarships. The scores are also used by employers for ensuring the language skills of their overseas recruits.

The test is conducted globally by the Educational Testing Service (ETS), a private, non-profit organisation devoted to educational measurement and research, primarily through testing. (ETS Corporate Headquarters, Rosedale Road, Princeton, NJ 08541 USA, Phone: 1-609-921-9000, fax: 1-609-734-5410, web site: www.ets.org).

Those planning higher studies abroad should gather details of TOEFL, prepare systematically for the test and secure good scores in it. The scores are valid for two years from the test date.

In India, TOEFL follows the Internet-based Test (iBT) style.

The test measures skills in reading, listening, speaking and writing and requires you to combine two or more of these skills to respond to questions in the test. For example, you might read a passage or listen to a lecture in English and then write or speak your answers in English.

Structure of iBT

•Reading section: three to five passages from academic texts; approximately 700 words long; 12-14 questions per passage; time: 60 to 100 minutes; questions: 36-70; score: 0-30.

•Listening section: 4-6 lectures, some with classroom discussion; each 3-5 minutes long; 6 questions each. 2-3 conversations; each 3 minutes long; 5 questions each; time: 60-90 minutes; questions: 34-51; score: 0-30.

•Break: 10 minutes

•Speaking: two tasks to express an opinion on a familiar topic; four tasks to speak based on what is read and listened to; time: 20 minutes; questions: 6 tasks: score: 0-4 points converted to 0-30 score scale.

•Writing: one task to write based on what is read and listened to; one task to support an opinion on a topic. 50 minutes; questions: 2 tasks; score: 0-5 points converted to 0-30 score scale.

•Total score: 0-120.

What will be tested?

•The ability to understand English as it is spoken in North America.

•The ability to recognise language that is appropriate for standard written English.

•The candidate’s ability to understand non-technical reading material.

•The ability to write in English on an assigned topic.

You have to take the entire test in one go. Piecemeal appearance is not permitted. To earn a score in the test, you must answer at least one question in the reading section; answer at least one question in the listening section; write at least one essay in the writing section; and finish at least one task in the speaking section.

TOEFL iBT is administered through a computer from a secure Internet-based testing network. Instructions for answering questions are given within each section. There is no computer tutorial. Each test taker receives items that cover the full range of ability. You can take notes throughout the entire test.

Tasks

The reading section measures your ability to understand university-level academic texts. You should not get worried, if you are unfamiliar with a topic. The passage contains all the information needed to answer the questions.

Academic reading entails the following purposes—scanning a text to locate key facts; improving speed and fluency in reading; comprehending the contents of the text; making references; appreciating the organisation of the text; understanding relationships among ideas; summarising the information gathered through reading; and appreciating the thread of the ideas in a passage.

There will be 3-5 passages each with nearly 700 words. 12-14 questions will be asked on each passage. The passages may come under any of the three classifications—exposition, argumentation or historical.

You must read through or scroll to the end of each passage before receiving questions on that passage. Once the questions appear, the passage will be seen on the right side of the computer screen. The questions will be on the left.

The listening section measures your ability to understand spoken English in academic settings. You should be comfortable in listening to lectures and conversations and comprehending effectively what is being heard.

Listening entails the following purposes—grasping key points as well as details; appreciating a speaker’s approach and attitude; appreciating a speaker’s purpose and the extent of his certainty; appreciating how well the matter is organised; appreciating the relationships among the ideas presented; establishing cause and effect; comparing and contrasting; linking different points in what is being heard; recognising digressions; and recognising introduction and conclusion in lectures.

There are different question formats in the listening section—multiple-choice questions with four options and a single correct answer; multiple-choice questions with more than one answer; and questions that require us to order events or steps in a process matching.

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