The TOEFL (Test of English as a Foreign Language) score is one of the most important admission requirements for international students to get the path to college and graduate school. All American universities use the TOEFL score to evaluate the international student’s language skill. However, now that test method has changed to iBT (Internet-based test) that entirely different the before method PBT (paper-based test). Some people say that the new iBT is better than PBT while others think that iBT is a mistake, especially on test center capacity(European Educators Predict Chaos if ETS Expands Internet-Based English Test to 100 Countries”, 2006, para 4). In my personal opinion, I think the new iBT more beneficial than the PBT for several reasons: iBT is a better evaluating how well applicants can communicate in English, iBT help students perform better in university, iBT can feedback applicants ability on speaking, listening reading and writing.
The iBT is the better way to evaluate how well applicants can communicate in English. Communication skill is essential to success in school. According to Justin Pope in his article “Agency Overhauls English Proficiency Test”, stated that “in recent years, many of the 5,200 English-speaking colleges and universities that use the exam have grown concerned the test fails to identify students who master only “textbook” English. There have also been complaints from undergraduates who can’t understand the foreign graduate students teaching their classes” (2005, para 3). Thus, How to evaluate the Communication skill of international students is very important thing on TOEFL.
One more advantage of iBT is that it will help students perform better in university. In Article “New TOEFL pattern may help students”, claimed that “iBT will help English instructors link teaching and learning with testing to help students perform better in academic institutions” (2005, para 2). The iBT is measures all four skill of speaking, listening reading and writing; moreover, these question are similar to reality school life. In the same time, candidates allowed note-taking throughout the entire test. As a result, students will improve their performance in university. For example, when students are in the class, they need to listen, read, discuss, and take notes. In addition, students need all four skills in daily life. Therefore, iBT help candidates to develop a higher level of English ability in school and daily life.
The third benefit of iBT is that iBT have performance feedback on score reports and score results are provided online within 15 days of after the test. The performance feedback is very useful to improve candidates’ English ability on speaking, listening reading and writing. Because the feedback will show up weak point of candidate and suggest candidate how to improve their skills. For example, I had been taken two times iBT exam. After 15days, I can find out my TOEFL score online and know my weakness in the speaking, listening reading and writing. Thus, I can select my strategy on study schedule to improve my chief defects.
In conclusion, despite some critics on test center capacity, iBT still more beneficial than PBT based on emphasis on communicative competence, question contents near campus life and effective feedback report. However, ETS (Educational Testing Service) actually has completed more than 30,000 iBT test centers in the world. For this reason, iBT would be quickly to settle down in orderly operation and would be more beneficial to international students.
Reference
European educators predict if ETS expands internet-based English test to 100 countries. (2006, February 3). The Chronicle of Higher Education, 52(22), 47. Retrieved October 6, 2006 from LexisNexis.
New TOEFL pattern may help students. (2005, November 7). Global News Wire-Asia Africa Intelligence Wire. Retrieved October 6, 2006 from LexisNexis.
Pope, J. (2005, September 23). Agency overhauls English proficiency test. Associate Press Online. Retrieved October 6, 2006 from LexisNexis.
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