Test
of English as a Foreign Language or TOEFL /ˈtoʊfəl/ toh-fəl, is a standardized
test of English language proficiency for non-native English language speakers
wishing to enroll in U.S. universities.
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.
History
In
1962, a national council made up of representatives of thirty government and
private organizations was formed to address the problem of ensuring English
language proficiency for non-native speakers wishing to study at U.S.
universities. This council recommended the development and administration of
the TOEFL exam for the 1963-1964 time frame. The test was originally developed
at the Center for Applied Linguistics under the direction of Stanford
University applied linguistics professor Dr. Charles A. Ferguson. TOEFL test
was first administered in 1964 by the Modern Language Association financed by
grants from the Ford Foundation and Danforth Foundation.
In
1965, The College Board and ETS jointly assumed responsibility for the
continuation of the TOEFL testing program.
In
1973, a cooperative arrangement was made between ETS, The College Board, and
the Graduate Record Examinations board of advisers to oversee and run the
program. ETS was to administer the exam with the guidance of the TOEFL board.
A. The Computer-Based
TOEFL test. (CBT)
At the beginning of July 1998, The Computer-Based TOEFL test
was introduced in certain areas of the world. The Computer-Based TOEFL
has four sections: Listening, Structure, Reading and Writing.
The Listening section measures the test taker's ability to
understand English as it is spoken in North America, including
frequently used vocabulary, expressions and grammar. The Structure
section measures the ability to recognise language that is appropriate
for standard written English. The Reading section uses passages to
measure the ability to understand non-technical reading material, but
new tasks that require the test taker to become more closely involved
with the text have been developed. The Writing section measures the
person's ability to generate, organise and support ideas using standard
written English in an essay.
The essay rating is combined with the
Structure section score to create a compiled Structure/Writing scaled
score. The essay rating constitutes one-half of the Structure/Writing
scaled score. The computer-based test is reported on a new score scale.
This new score scale has been designed to distinguish scores received
on the computer-based TOEFL from those received on the paper-based
test. For the computer-based test, the examinee receives four scaled
scores: Listening (0 to 30), Structure/Writing (0 to 30), Reading (0 to
30), and a total score (000 to 300). The three section scores and a
total score are reported on the score report. The essay rating is
integrated in the Structure/Writing score; in addition, the score on
the essay is reported as an independent rating on the report.
Students should be asked for at least 233, or 250 or above
for linguistically more demanding courses. 213 may be acceptable for
some courses. The score on the essay is reported as an independent
rating on a scale of 1 to 6, where a score of 4 is described as
demonstrating minimal competence in writing. A score of 4.5 or 5.0 should
normally be required or 5.5 if proficiency in writing is important.
B. The traditional
Paper-Based TOEFL test (PBT)
The
paper-based version of the TOEFL test (TOEFL pBT) continues to be administered on
specifi ed dates in some countries, particularly in areas where accessibility
to the Internet-based test (e.g.,TOEFL iBT) is a concern. Each form of TOEFL
pBT consists of three separately timed sections; the questions in each section
are multiplechoice, with four possible answers or options per question. All
responses are gridded on answer sheets that are scored by computer.
1.
Listening Comprehension (30 – 40 minutes)
The Listening section consists of 3 parts. The first one contains 30
questions about short conversations. The second part has 8 questions
about longer conversations. The last part asks 12 questions about
lectures or talks. The 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.
2.
Structure and Written Expression (25 minutes)
The Structure and Written Expression section has 15 exercises of
completing sentences correctly and 25 exercises of identifying errors. The
structure and written expression measures recognition of selected structural
and grammatical points in standard written English. The language tested is
formal, rather than conversational. The topics of the sentences are of a
general academic nature so that individuals in specifi c fi elds of study or
from specifi c national or linguistic groups have no particular advantage.
3.
Reading Comprehension (55 minutes)
The Reading Comprehension sections has 50 questions about reading passages. 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 specifi c words as they are used in the
passage.
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