TOEFL iBT: Philosophy and content

• The exam is quite different from the CBT (Computer-based Test) and PBT (Paper-based Test) versions
• Focuses on a person’s ability to use spoken English
• Measures one’s ability to learn and integrate information from more than one source
• It is not a new mode of delivery
• It is a different test measuring communicative competence in an academic setting with breakout scores for listening, reading, speaking, and writing

Focuses 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 students actually use language in a university classroom

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.

New Generation TOEFL iBT

• Linear, not computer-adaptive
• Note taking allowed in all sections of the test
• No separate tutorial – instructions throughout the test
• Test time: 4.0 hours
• All four sections taken in one day
  • Reading
  • Listening
  • Break
  • Integrated Speaking
  • Integrated Writing

Reading Section (3 academic reading passages with questions)

• Some familiar TOEFL CBT question types
• Some new question types
  • Fill in a table or prose summary
  • Paraphrasing
  • Questions worth more than one point
• New glossary and review features

Listening Section (2 conversations with 2 speakers, 4 lectures, 2 include classroom dialogue)

• Will use a variety of native English accents
• Some familiar TOEFL CBT question types
• Some new questions measure understanding of a speaker’s attitude or purpose

Integrated Speaking Section (6 questions in total)

2 independent tasks about familiar topics

• Responses based on personal experience or opinion
• No additional information needed to answer

For example:
“Some students study for classes individually. Others study in groups. Which method of studying do you think is better for students and why?”

4 integrated tasks that require more information to answer

• 2 Reading/Listening/Speaking tasks
• 2 Listening/Speaking tasks
• Responses based on what was read and heard
• Academic and campus-based material
• Short listening and reading material

Integrated Writing Section (2 writing questions)

• 1 independent task
  • Response based on personal experience or opinion
  • Similar to essay on current TOEFL CBT & PBT tests
• 1 Reading/Listening/Writing task
  • Short academic listening and reading material
  • Response based on what was read and heard

Integrated Writing Section – Scoring

• Each essay is scored on a 0 – 5 scale
  • total section score is 0 –30
• Trained raters evaluate ability in:
  • topic development – demonstrate understanding, make clear connections, and convey relevant information
  • organization – present a well-organized response
  • language use – control of grammar and word choice

Scoring

The IBT score range is 0 to 120. An IBT score of 80 compares to a 213 CBT or 550 PBTscore

The New Scores

The score report sent to universities will show:

• Four skill scores
  • Reading 0 – 30
  • Listening 0 – 30
  • Integrated Speaking 0 – 30
  • Integrated Writing 0 –30
• A total score: 0 – 120

The New Scores – More Than Just a Number

Student score reports will contain:

• Four skill scores
• A total score
• Feedback on their performance to help them improve in the future

This information can be useful to students and their English teachers.

Test Delivery

• Administered via official Internet-based testing (iBT) network – More access than ever before
• Security measures to ensure test integrity and score authenticity
• Fixed administration dates, not continuous testing

Test Dates

• The IBT has set test dates; it is not administered on demand.
• Note that not all testing sites may offer the IBT on all test dates

TOEFL iBT Authorized ETS Test Centers

• Sofia
• Plovdiv
• Varna
• Rousse
• Blagoevgrad

TOEFL iBT Test Fee

The fee for TOEFL iBT testing in Bulgaria is USD 240.

Registration

For registration information, visit www.ets.org

Improving Service

Good news!

• New TOEFL scores reported online free of charge 14 days after the test – no need to wait for mail delivery
  • paper score report will also be mailed
  • printable
• Universities can view scores online in 14 days

For More Information visit: www.ets.org/toefl и www.toeflgoanywhere.org.