Get to know the latest changes to the TOEFL

by Joe Yu

You've probably heard that the Educational Testing Service (ETS) has recently made some changes to the TOEFL (Test of English as a Foreign Language) which are supposed to improve your experience as a test taker and increase your chances of meeting university admission requirements. This new version of the test took effect on August 1, 2019, and is now only three hours long, which is 30 minutes less than the old test. It has fewer questions in the Reading and Speaking sections, and fewer lectures in the Listening section. One benefit according to ETS is a reduction in test-taking fatigue which is likely to lead to better test performance. ETS maintains that while the new version has less testing material it retains its quality and its ability to assess how prepared you are for academic coursework. Here is a breakdown of the changes.

CHANGES TO THE FOUR SECTIONS:

The READING SECTION now only has 10 questions per passage, while keeping the same number of passages for both short and long versions of the test. Plan to spend 18 minutes per passage and pace yourself appropriately. Because the question types are the same, you may continue using old study materials to practice for the test. 

The LISTENING SECTION now has one less lecture while keeping the same number of conversations and number of questions for each listening. The short version will only have 3 lectures, instead of the 4 in the old test; the long version will have 4 lectures, instead of the 6 in the old test. As in the reading section, you may continue to use old study materials as question types on the listening section remain the same.

The SPEAKING SECTION now only has 4 tasks. Questions 1 and 5 from the old version were the ones eliminated, leaving the new test with 1 independent question and 3 integrated questions. Preparation and speaking times stay the same.

Another change in the SPEAKING SECTION is in how ETS scores your recorded answers. Now your answers will be assessed by both human evaluators and a SpeechRater scoring engine. ETS had been using their scoring engine for their practice tests online since 2006 and have been analyzing its capabilities. You can find more information about the SpeechRater engine at the ETS website here: https://www.ets.org/research/topics/as_nlp/speech/

There were no changes made to the WRITING SECTION, so you will continue responding to the integrated task for 20 minutes and to the independent task for 30 minutes.

CHANGES TO SCORE REPORTING: 

In addition to the reduction in test material and test length, ETS is also now reporting your "superscores," which they are calling "MyBest Scores." This new feature shows both your scores for the test you just took as well as the best scores that you’ve received in each section in the last two years. ETS reports that 70% of universities wanted this feature, and this gives you better chances of meeting program admission requirements as your superscores for each section will also add up to a higher total score. However, as not all universities accept MyBest Scores, ETS recommends checking your school’s website to check their policy on accepting superscores.

CHANGES TO PREPARATION, REGISTRATION, & TESTING:

In addition, ETS says they are adding more testing slots at participating testing centers and for those of you who are not morning people, afternoon testing schedules are also now available. If you have taken the test before, you are supposed to notice a better registration experience online with easy access to test prep and testing resources. Last, the TOEFL Official App will be available in a number of countries starting September 2019 and in the U.S. in October 2019. The app is said to provide even greater convenience with everything that you need to register and prepare for the TOEFL in the palm of your hand.

For more information on the new version of the TOEFL, visit ETS at https://www.ets.org/toefl/better_test_experience

Tips for TOEFL: The Reading Section

The reading section seems like it would be the most simple.  It’s the first one, so you are fresh and energized.  You can do back and check your answers (which you canNOT do on the listening section) and the text is right in front of you!  All you have to do is choose the correct answer!

However, consistently this is the section that my students have the most trouble with.  I have had many students who will always finish their reading practice exercises with tons of time to spare.  But suddenly when they are at the test center, they almost always run out of time!  Here are some tips and tricks I have learned to help with the reading section.

Manage your time

You have either 60 mins to complete 3 reading passages or 80 minutes to compete 4.  That sounds like plenty of time!  BUT it is not.  Do NOT spend more than 20 minutes on any of the passages.  There is a clock on the screen to help you.  Look at it frequently, and when you are practicing before the test, try to do 2 passages in 30 minutes as an exercise to help you push the pace.  This brings me to the next tip...

Practice on a computer

My students are always amazed by how much time it takes to click back and forth between the passage and the questions.  Get used to this by using the ETS published books to practice using the CD and a computer beforehand.  Flipping the pages of a book and moving a mouse around a screen actually take up different amounts of time!

Identify the type of question

This doesn’t help everyone, but most textbooks spend a decent amount of time introducing the type of questions that are asked.  Vocabulary questions, factual information questions, inference questions and negative factual information questions are just a few categories that often come up.  Learn what all of that means, and if you get stuck on a question try to think about what category it is and how that could help you find the correct answer. 

Pssstt...there is a trick to the summary questions!

A summary is not a piece of information. 

Vocabulary

The reading section can trip up the most prepared student if they run into a word they have never seen before.  Do not think that means memorizing every word in the dictionary!  Of course you should study vocabulary words, particularly from sample reading exercises in various textbooks, but you should also learn how to understand the word in context, and separate longer words into parts so you can recognize the root of the word. 

Vocabulary: trip up  v. to confuse push the pace expression to increase the rate of something

Part II: Tips for TOEFL, the Speaking Section

by  Mia Della Pietra (native New Yorker)

Mia teaches TOEFL Preparation and other courses at NYLC's Upper West Side location. She was born and raised in NYC and lived in Thailand for two years training Muay Thai (Thai boxing) and teaching English.  Now she enjoys meeting students from a wide variety of cultures and backgrounds and loves finding the humor in the challenges of learning English. In her free time, she watches mixed martial arts, hangs out with her two cats, and eats as much boxed macaroni and cheese as she can.   

The speaking section of the TOEFL is comprised of 6 different tasks.  Each one of them will test you on a slightly different skill.  The six tasks always follow the same order, so you can anticipate what kind of question is coming, although you cannot anticipate the topic.  Here is a breakdown of the six tasks, and how to deal with each one!

Tasks 1 and 2: Independent Speaking

The Independent Speaking questions will ask you to respond to a question about a familiar topic.  Task 1 will ask for a response to an open ended question eg: If you could travel to any city in the world, where would you go?  

Task 2 will give you two options, and you will have to choose one and defend why you have chosen it eg: Do you think it is better for men and women to study together, or do you think they should be educated separately?

Tip for tasks 1 and 2: Do not make a list! You only have time to make 1 point, and develop it.  So don’t go through all the different reasons why you want to visit Bangkok, the food, the people, the culture, the history etc.  Instead focus on one thing, and then talk about why that would be important for you.  Be as specific as possible with your examples.  The more narrow the focus, the more likely you will have enough time to discuss it fully.  

TOEFL Preparation Dos & Don'ts

by Mia Della Pietra

Congratulations!  You have decided to take the TOEFL.  More importantly, you have decided to study for it!  The TOEFL (Test Of English as a Foreign Language) can be quite intimidating.  The test preparation books are huge, and the test score is incredibly important for your academic career.  But don’t worry! Here are some tips to get you through studying for the TOEFL with as little stress as possible!


DO research.
The maximum score on the TOEFL is 120.  However, the TOEFL does not have a “passing” or “failing” score. There is only the score that you need to get in order to apply to the academic program at the college or university of your choice.  The first step is to find out what the required score is.  Some students need a 60, some students need 100, and there is a huge difference between those two scores.  Find out what score you need, and tell your teacher!  Only then can they give you a more accurate assessment of how much studying you will need to do.

DO practice realistically.
The TOEFL is done on a computer, so the essays are typed.  The speaking section involves students recording themselves for a short, specific amount of time.  Therefore, while handwriting an essay for 2 weeks or speaking for hours to your friends might improve your overall English ability, it might not help your TOEFL score.  When you practice writing your essays, actually write the essay in the amount of time given on the test (20 or 30 minutes), and don’t use any programs that have autocorrect or spell check!  You won’t have those tools on the real test.  For the speaking section, record yourself with your phone speaking for 45 seconds or 1 minute.  Then play it to a friend and see if they can understand you.  Practice like you are really taking the test.

Student Spotlight: Ivana Minoska, TOEFL Star

We are very proud of New York Language Center student, Ivana, for her excellent score of 106 on the TOEFL exam!

Ivana is visiting from her home country of Macedonia and has studied with NYLC since October of 2015. She is currently pursuing a Master in International Relations and Law. She is almost finished with her degree and is waiting to submit her Master’s thesis upon her return home.

After a cultural exchange program in Minnesota, Ivana decided that she wanted to allocate some of her time to improve her English further.  She loved her Mid-Western summer and decided then that she wanted to study in an American university—but first needed a great TOEFL score! Her goal is to complete her next educational endeavor at an American university. She is looking at law and masters programs at a few universities throughout the tri-state area. Her TOEFL score has given her more opportunities to the types of programs she will apply to, as well as her eligibility for scholarships. Ivana advises other TOEFL students to read newspapers (she reads both national and local papers) and to resist the temptation to use subtitles when watching TV. 

  

NYLC Students Participate in a Statewide Essay Contest

New York Language Center recently held an essay contest at our Midtown, Upper West Side, and Jackson Heights branches. Students in the  High Intermediate, Advanced, and Post-Advanced classes were invited and encouraged to participate. The topic was on technology and essays were supposed to comment on the following quote:

"Technology gives us power, but it does not and cannot tell us how to use that power. Thanks to technology, we can instantly communicate across the world, but it still doesn't help us know what to say." Jonathan Sacks (1984-present)


On May 15th, 2015, the winners were announced and awarded with certificates and gift cards. The remaining contestants, who gathered together with their classmates to cheer on the winners, did not expect to be rewarded, as well, for their creative efforts. In the end, each and every student who submitted an essay received a gift card. Moreover, each essay will compete in an essay contest for all ESL students across New York State this coming summer! We wish our students the best of luck!!!

Scroll down for a list of the winners.