Introduction

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1. 1.Information on the TOEFL iBT

AThe Format of the TOEFL iBT

B What Is New about the TOEFLiBT?

• The TOEFLiBT is delivered through the Internet in secure test centers around the world at the same time.
• It tests all four language skills and is taken in the order of Reading, Listening, Speaking, and Writing.
• The test is about 2 hours long, and all of the four test sections will be completed in one day.
• Note taking is allowed throughout the entire test, including the Reading section. At the end of the test, all notes are collected and destroyed at the test center.
• In the Listening section, one lecture may be spoken with a British or Australian accent.
• There are integrated tasks requiring test takers to combine more than one language skill in the Speaking and Writing sections.
• In the Speaking section, test takers wear headphones and speak into a microphone when they respond.The responses are recorded and transmitted to ETSs Online Scoring Network.
• In the Writing section, test takers must type their responses. Handwriting is not possible.
• Test scores will be reported online. Test takers can see their scores online 48 business days after the test and can also receive a copy of their score report by mail.

2. 2.Information on the Writing Section

The Writing section of the TOEFL iBT measures test takersability to use writing to communicate in an academic environment. This section has two writing tasks. For the first writing task, you will read a passage and listen to a lecture and then answer a question based on what you have read and heard. For the second writing task, you will state and support an opinion in an online classroom discussion.

A Types of Writing Tasks

• Task 1 Integrated Writing Task

You will read a short text of about 250-300 words on an academic topic for 3 minutes. You may take notes on the reading passage.

After reading the text, you will listen to a lecture discussing the same topic from a different perspective for about 2 minutes. You may take notes on the lecture.

You will have 20 minutes to write a 150-to-225-word summary in response to the question.

• Task 2 Writing for an Academic Discussion Task

You will see a discussion board on a university website that comprises two students responding to a question posted by a professor.

You will have 10 minutes to read everything and to write a response to the topic in the online post. It should be at least 100 words.

B Types of Writing Questions

• Integrated Writing Task

Summarize the points made in the lecture, being sure to explain how they challenge specific claims/arguments made in the reading passage.

1. This question type accounts for almost all the questions that have been asked on the TOEFL iBT so far.

Summarize the points made in the lecture, being sure to explain how they cast doubt on specific

points made in the reading passage.

Summarize the points made in the lecture, being sure to specifically explain how they answer the

problems raised in the reading passage.

• Writing for an Academic Discussion Task

Yes or no questions: These questions require you to agree or disagree with a statement.

Preference questions: These questions ask you to state a preference between two similar things.

Open-Ended questions: These questions ask for your own thoughts or opinions on a broad topic.

C Important Features of Evaluation

• Quality of Response

In the first task, the quality of the response is about how well you integrate and relate information from the reading and listening materials. In the second task, it is about the relevance and depth of your argument.

• Language Use

Language use is about the accuracy and range of your grammar and vocabulary. In order to get good grades on the writing tasks, you should be able to use both basic and more complex language structures and choose the appropriate words.