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 helenshuntley@yahoo.com 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 Test Section # of Questions Timing Reading 3-5 passages, 12-14 questions each 60-100 minutes Listening 4-6 lectures, 6 questions each 2-3 conversations, 5 questions each 60-90 minutes BREAK 10 minutes Speaking 6 tasks: 2 independent and 4 integrated 20 minutes Writing 1 integrated task 1 independent task 20 minutes 30 minutes 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 [...]... 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... 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... 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... 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... 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... 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... 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:... 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     1 2 3 11-14... 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 . An Overview of International Tests iBT TOEFL, IELTS Helen Huntley Senior English Language Fellow 2007-08 Ministry of Education and Training,. New multiple choice question type: attitude, degree of certainty, purpose  Replaying of portions of listening Speaking Section I Academic Speaking Skills