Overview of International Tests

An Overview of
International Tests
iBT TOEFL, IELTS
Helen Huntley
Senior English Language Fellow 2007-08
Ministry of Education and Training,
Hanoi, Vietnam
[email protected]
http://helenshuntley.com/
iBT TOEFL
Why Change the Test?
3 Important Reasons:

Speaking has been added

Focus on the ability to communicate
Measures not only how much the student knows about English, but how well he or she can use it

Uses integrated tasks that reflect how language is actually used
Integration of Skills & Tasks
What are integrated tasks?

Questions that require use of more than one skill at a time
Read/listen/speak
Listen/speak
Read /listen /write

They give us a better picture of how well the student can communicate in English.
iBT Test Format
Internet-based test delivered in secure testing centers on fixed dates
Test time: 4 hours
No computer tutorial – instructions given in each section
Not computer adaptive
Note-taking allowed
Microphone used for the Speaking section
Typing required for the Writing section
Human raters used for Speaking and Writing sections
Timing of Sections
Reading Section I
Academic Reading Skills
1. Reading to find information
Scanning for key facts/information
Reading fluency and rate
2. Basic comprehension
Understand main idea, major points and details, vocabulary in context, pronoun references
Make inferences
3. Reading to learn
Recognize organization and purpose
Understand relationships between ideas
Organize information into a category chart or summary
Infer the connection of ideas in the text
Reading Section II
Length: approx. 700 words each
Categories of academic texts
Exposition
Argumentation
Historical /biographical event/narrative
Question Formats
4 choices – single answer
4 choices – single answer to insert a sentence
‘reading to learn’ Qs with 4+ choices and 1+ answer
Reading: New Features
Reading to Learn questions
sorting/recognizing organization/relationships
category chart
summary
Paraphrase questions
multiple choice of correct paraphrase of a sentence from text
Glossary
special purpose words and phrases
Listening Section I
Academic Listening Skills (lectures/conversations)
1. Listening for basic comprehension
Comprehend main ideas/important details
2. Listening for pragmatic understanding
Recognize a speaker’s attitude/degree of certainty
Recognize a speaker’s function or purpose
3. Connecting and synthesizing information
Recognize the organization of information
Understand relationships between ideas
Make inferences and draw conclusions
Make connections
Recognize topic changes, examples, digressions, aside statements, introductions, conclusions
Listening Section II
4-6 lectures, 3-5 minutes long (500-800 words)
2-3 conversations, 3 minutes long, 12-25 exchanges
Pictures on screen to assist listening
Categories of academic listening tasks
Monologue by professor
Interactive lecture
Conversations in an academic setting
Question Formats
4 choices – single answer
4 choices – 1+ answers
Ordering of events or steps in process
Matching objects or text to categories in chart
Listening: New Features
Note taking is allowed
Conversations/lectures longer
Language more natural
One lecture in British/Australian English
New multiple choice question type: attitude, degree of certainty, purpose
Replaying of portions of listening
Speaking Section I
Academic Speaking Skills
1. In classrooms
Respond to questions
Participate in academic discussions with other students
Synthesize and summarize what they have heard or read
Express their opinions on topics under discussion
2. Outside the classroom
Participate in casual conversations
Express their personal opinions
Communicate in campus situations
Speaking Section II
Speaking: Independent Tasks
1. Personal preference
Express and defend a choice from a given category (important person, events, activities)
Prep time: 15 secs; response time: 45 secs

2. Choice
Make and defend a personal choice between two contrasting behaviors
Prep time: 15 secs; response time: 45 secs



Speaking: Integrated Tasks I
Read/Listen/Speak
1. Campus situation
Reading passage on campus-related issue
Listening passage on same issue
Test taker summarizes the speaker’s opinion within the context of the reading passage
Prep time: 30 secs; response time: 60 secs

2. Academic course topic
Academic reading passage defines a term, process, idea
Excerpt of lecture provides examples and specific information on same topic
Test taker combines information to talk on topic
Prep time: 30 secs; response time: 60 secs

Speaking: Integrated Tasks II
Listen/Speak
1. Campus Situation: problem/solution
Listening to conversation about a student-related problem and two possible solutions
Test taker demonstrates understanding of problem and expresses opinion about resolving it
Prep time: 20 secs; response time: 60 secs
2. Academic course summary
Listening to an excerpt from a lecture that explains a term or concept with examples
Test taker summarizes lecture and demonstrates understanding of how examples relate to topic
Prep time: 20 secs; response time: 60 secs

Writing Section I
Academic Writing Skills
1. Independent writing
Express an opinion
Support opinion based on personal knowledge and experience

2. Integrated writing
Take notes from reading and listening
Use notes to organize ideas before writing
Summarize, paraphrase, cite information correctly
Write about the relationship between listening and reading material

Total time: 50 minutes
Writing Section II
For both writing types

Identify one main idea and several major supporting points
Plan the organization of the writing (e.g. outline)
Develop the essay with reasons/examples/details
Express information in an organized manner
Use effective transitional phrases to connect ideas
Use a range of grammar and vocabulary
Use grammar and vocabulary accurately and appropriately
Follow conventions of spelling, punctuation, layout
Independent Writing Task
Test taker writes an essay that states/explains/supports their opinion on an issue

e.g. Do you agree or disagree with the following statement? Use reasons and specific details to support your answer.

e.g. Some people believe X. Other people believe Y. Which of these two positions do you prefer/agree with? Give reasons and specific details.

Length: 300 words
Integrated Writing Task
Read/listen/write
Read short text on academic topic
Take notes on reading
Listen to speaker discussing same topic from different perspective
Take notes on listening
Test takers write summary connecting points made in the reading and listening
Length: 150-225 words
Test Scores
Listening 0-30
Reading 0-30
Speaking 0-30
Writing 0-30
Total Score 0-120

Institutional TOEFL
500 = 61
550 = 79/80
Score Reports
four skills
total score
available online after 15 business days
performance feedback
suggestions for improvement
Rating of Speaking
Digitally recorded
Scored by 3 different human raters
Each task scored on scale of 0-4

Evaluation criteria
Topic development
addressed task, conveyed relevant information, synthesized and summarized accurately
Delivery
clear and smooth, consistent, comprehensible
Language use
range and accuracy of grammar, vocabulary
Rating of Writing
Sent to ETS’s Online Scoring Network
Scored by 2 different human raters
Each task scored on scale of 0-5

Evaluation criteria
Quality of writing
organization, appropriate and correct use of grammar and vocabulary
Completeness and accuracy of content
(for integrated task)

TOEFL Practice Online

www.toefl.org

1. Registered test-takers can access a free practice test online
Practice the Reading, Writing, Listening and Speaking sections of the new test
Gives instant scores and feedback
Diagnostic reports
Discussion board
2. Get free iBT publications (English Language Teachers)
Download TOEFL iBT Tips from the Download Library
IELTS: How is it different from iBT TOEFL?
Two tracks: general training and academic
Listening and Speaking same for both tracks
Reading and Writing sections different
Marked on a band scale from 0-9: subscores are provided

IELTS Listening
30 minutes
4 sections of increasing difficulty
Answers written on question paper then transferred to Answer Sheet (extra 10 mins)
2 sections on social situations (one conversation + one monologue)
2 sections on study-related topics (one conversation + one lecture)
Range of English accents : Australian, British, American, New Zealand, Irish etc.
IELTS Reading
60 minutes
3 or 4 reading passages of increasing difficulty
40 questions
Answers written on Answer Sheet
Reading texts of 2000-2800 words
May contain diagrams or graphs
Questions types include diagram labeling, table completion, flow-chart completion
IELTS Writing
60 minutes
2 writing tasks
one summary (150 words) in response to graph, chart: approx20 mins
individual response topic (250 words): approx 40 mins
No choice of topics
IELTS Speaking
11-14 minutes
Oral interview format
Recorded
Three sections
Introductions + short answers: 4-5 mins
Individual long turn monologue: 3-5 mins
Discussion/dialogue: 4-5 mins
IELTS Score Bands
9: expert user
8: very good user
7: good user
6: competent user
5: modest user
4: limited user
3: extremely limited user
2: intermittent user
1: non-user
0: no original English used
Any Questions??

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