TOEFL prep

What is TOEFL Essentials?

March 5, 2021 By Danijela

What we know right now

As of early 2021, ETS has announced its “newest kid on the block” – TOEFL Essentials. The information available at the beginning of March 2021 is as follows:

The new test is shorter (1-1/2 h) and cheaper (100 – 120 USD)
It’s adaptable (which means the questions in some sections change depending on the test-taker’s skill level)
Just like TOEFL ibt, it tests 4 basic language skills (Listening, Reading Speaking and Writing). However, the tasks are shorter and faster paced.
Unlike TOEFL iBT, which is entirely academic, about 1/2 of TOEFL ESSENTIAS tests General English
One part of the test, called “Foundational Skills” focuses on the Vocabulary Knowledge and Sentence Construction (in other words, Vocabulary and Grammar)
The Speaking Section now contains a “Virtual Interview“, a simulation of a conversation with a pre-recorded interviewer
There is an additional 5-minute personal video statement at the end (luckily, this is not scored)
The scoring is different from any other TOEFL test so far. The TOEFL Essentials total score is on the scale of 1- 12, which is based on the average section score (also on the scale of 1-12). The “Foundational Skills” score is reported separately, in percentages.
TOEFL Essentials will be available as an “at home” only test.
3 free sample tests should come out in May 2021
The official TOEFL Essentials will become available in August 2021 (in the beginning, only once a week, later 3 times a week)

How similar is TOEFL Essentials to other versions of TOEFL?

Based on the information that has become available in early March this year, as well as my extensive experience with TOEFL exams, this newest version of the test appears to be somewhat similar to the old TOEFL CBT (in terms of their adaptability).

In terms of scoring, it actually resembles the scoring of the IELTS exam (another very popular English Proficiency test).

It’s easy to predict that the test takers will jump at the opportunity to take this version of TOEFL, but it remains to be seen which academic institutions will choose to accept the TOEFL Essentials score.

Are you an Internationally Trained Professional?

March 14, 2019 By Danijela

The term “Internationally Trained Professionals” (also known as Foreign Professionals) is fairly new. It refers to Professionals with degrees from non-English speaking countries who wish to pursue their career in English Speaking counties. Many International Professionals are in the Medical field. Some of them are physicians, surgeons, pharmacists, dentists, nurses or physiotherapists. Other typical professions include engineers, teachers, instructors, university lecturers, MBAs.

English Proficiency requirements for Internationally Trained Professionals

In North America, most International Professionals are required to take an Academic English Proficiency test in order to continue working in their field.

Even if they are already working in the field, many International Professionals have to take TOEFL or IELTS so they can obtain or renew their Professional Licence. This is a very common case with pharmacists.

Finally, the third most common reason that some International Professionals need a particular TOEFL or IELTS score, is to apply for Graduate studies (Master’s Degree and Doctoral Degree programs).

Why are Internationally Trained Professionals different from other TOEFL takers?

Internationally Trained Professionals are mature test takers. They typically have very busy schedules and juggle multiple responsibilities: their families, jobs, education. That doesn’t leave a lot of time for test preparation, especially the one-size-fits-all kind of preparation.

On the other hand, Internationally Trained Professionals already have extensive higher education (albeit, not in English). Unlike the high school students aiming at Undergraduate studies in the English speaking countries, these serious test takers have very specific needs. They require customized and personalized test preparation.

Test preparation courses vs custom TOEFL preparation

Most online and offline test preparation programs have the one-size-fits-all approach. They offer generic courses which expect the student to adjust to them (in terms of the skill focus, learning style, length of study, pacing, etc.) That might work for younger students who still have a lot of time to devote to their test preparation (and their parents who are willing to pay for multiple trendy courses).

However, Internationally Trained Professionals know better; they understand that each test taker has a unique set of strengths and weaknesses. They also know that those can be identified only by an experienced, professional teacher/tutor and and addressed through individual instruction.

The many versions of TOEFL exam

May 26, 2018 By Danijela

There is a lot of confusion surrounding the various versions of TOEFL exam. Let’s look at them chronologically.

TOEFL PBT

The Paper Based TOEFL exam is the oldest version of the test. It had served well for over 40 years, before being replaced by the newer versions (TOEFL CBT, iBT and ITP). Although ETS stopped administering TOEFL PBT, if you took this version of the test less than two years ago, your score might still be valid.

TOEFL PBT had the following sections: Reading, Listening, Structure (grammar) and optional Writing (known as TWE)

In my experience, a few non-English speaking countries have adapted parts of TOEFL PBT and used them for their own evaluation, in the recent past.

TOEFL CBT

The Computer Based TOEFL exam was a relatively short-lived version of the test. This was the first computerized TOEFL exam. It was used in the late 1990s and early 2000s, for the same purposes we use TOEFL iBT today.

TOEFL CBT had the following sections: Reading, Listening, Structure (the adaptive Grammar section) and Writing (independent essay only).

Not too many people know about this version of TOEFL (except for those who took it during its short life span, and those who used to teach test preparation)

TOEFL iBT

Most TOEFL takers today are required to take TOEFL iBT, if they are planning to study or work as Professionals, in North America and some English Speaking countries outside of North America

TOEFL iBT was introduced in 2005-2006. It was the first version of the TOEFL exam to contain the Speaking section and the mandatory, two-part, Writing section. Up until then, Speaking was not among the skills tested.

The need for assessing the Speaking and Writing skills was brought about by the rapid globalization of Higher Education and increased mobility of International Professionals.

After decades of research and thousands of ESL students who have ‘fallen through the cracks” of the North American Higher Education system, it became obvious that the older versions of TOEFL did not measure these productive skills. The passive skills ( Reading , Listening and Structure) were not enough, when students had to attend academic lectures, participate in projects and discussions , and produce academic papers. Thus TOEFL iBT was born. The universities and other academic institutions finally had a tool they could use to evaluate international students’ Functional Academic English.

From the technical standpoint, the spread of the Internet was definitely what contributed the most to establishing TOEFL iBT as we know it. It enabled the creation of standardized Official Testing Sites, all over the world, while keeping the scoring objective (not dependent on individual local examiners)

TOEFL ITP

Although it is, in essence, the revamped version of the PBT, this version of the TOEFL exam was based on the need to have a credible ESL assessment for Academic institutions in non-English speaking countries, where English has become the language of Academic studies. According to the ETS Official Site, it is mostly used for placement, progress monitoring, exit testing and admissions to certain programs in some non-English speaking countries. You can find more details here.

TOEFL ITP has the following sections: Listening Comprehension, Structure and Written Expression and Reading Comprehension. You can get more information on the content here.

This version of TOEFL is a traditional, paper-based, multiple choice test. Because it can be taken at schools and other institutions and administered by local staff, it is more affordable than TOEFL iBT. If you would like to learn more about the Administration and Scoring for the TOEFL ITP, read this.

Since this version of TOEFL relatively new, there are few preparation resources. You can find the list of available resources here.

TOEFL Paper-delivered Test

This is the latest revision of the pen-and-paper version of TOEFL exam. It is administered in parts of the world where testing via the Internet is not possible.

This version of TOEFL has the following sections: Reading, Listening and Writing. Yes, you read that right, no Speaking section. Other than that, it is very similar to TOEFL iBT. You can get more information about the TOEFL Paper-delivered Test here.

Starting your TOEFL preparation

October 18, 2017 By Danijela

TOEFL preparation – where to start

If you are reading this, you most likely already know that YOU HAVE TO TAKE THE OFFICIAL TOEFL EXAM. You might also know what your required score is. However, you are probably not sure where to start. So, like most modern people, you turn to the internet for advice. As soon as you start searching for ‘TOEFL’ or ‘TOEFL preparation’ you get overwhelmed by the sheer volume of related ‘suggestions’ (aka advertising).

Granted, the introduction of Social Media to the world of test preparation has made the access to TOEFL preparation resources easier than ever. Anyone with a PC or a mobile device can now download hundreds of documents, applications and other practice tools. However, that can be the proverbial ‘double edged sword’ – how do you know which resource is credible?

TOEFL preparation – the best place to start

When in doubt, it’s always best to start at the source – in this case, the official ETS website. You can trust this site to give you all the necessary information about the TOEFL exam, as well as point you to some credible resources.

The first time you visit the official site, you need to create a free account. This is going to be the place for all your future communication with ETS. Once you have an account in place, you will get access to the basic information about the official exam, including the test dates, times and locations. You will also be able to register and pay for your future test . It’s worth mentioning that you can register for the official test months in advance; so, don’t hesitate to create your account early on, even if you are not planning to take the test for another year. Having an account, right from the start, will save you a lot of headache, because you won’t have to wonder whether the resources they recommend are credible or not. THEY ARE.

Having the ETS account will also help later on, in the final stage of you TOEFL preparation. After you have done a lot of practice, you might discover that you need some professional help. At this point, you will be so familiar with the right strategies and the typical TOEFL content, that you’ll immediately see the difference between the true TOEFL preparation professionals, and the self-proclaimed ‘TOEFL experts’.

TOEFL preparation for mature test takers

If you are an Internationally Trained Professional, or an adult TOEFL taker in general, you know that TIME is your most precious commodity. You are probably already juggling your family responsibilities, at least one job, your other studies, and more. You are barely finding time to sleep, let alone figure out what resources to use for practice, which study groups to join, whose advice to trust…. Since you cannot physically be at work and at a language school at the same time, you are most likely to opt for self study with an online/offline TOEFL preparation resource, or a private language tutor. However, that might just cause even more confusion.

TOEFL preparation – self-study

There is nothing wrong with self-study, at least in the beginning. You can learn the general test format and the basic strategies, from many traditional resources (yes, the good, old-fashioned books!). You can also find a lot of the same content online, in countless documents, courses and applications The advantage of self-study, of course, is that you decide when and how much to study. Given enough time and the right resources, you might even get your target score, with little or no help from others.

TOEFL preparation – when you need help

With most TOEFL takers, there comes a time when they need professional help. This is where it gets confusing and overwhelming, again. Unfortunately, there is no shortage of self-proclaimed ‘TOEFL experts’ out there. A lot of people, especially those active in the Social Media, think that “passing” the official test makes them an expert in TOEFL preparation. The truth is, what works for some, does NOT work for everyone; what might have helped them get their target score, may not help you get yours. So, when these individuals offer their advice for free, rest assured that is exactly how much that advice is worth – nothing. The wrong advice can actually cause more damage, than help.

On the other hand, even a qualified English teacher/tutor can do some damage, if he/she doesn’t specialize in TOEFL preparation. Although your tutor might be a native English speaker, that DOES NOT guarantee that she/he knows the test requirements and expectations. It’s like asking your Physician to perform brain surgery – they might understand the basic concepts and the theory, but if they have never performed a complex surgery before, you probably wouldn’t choose to be their first case.

Finding the qualified instructor

The only way to find out if a teacher/tutor is credible or not, is to spend time combing through background information yourself.

One of the best signs that someone IS a TOEFL PREPARATION PROFESSIONAL, is his/her WEBSITE. An up-to-date TOEFL teacher/tutor cannot function without a website, these days. Visiting an experienced professional’s website might also be very useful for you, since you are likely to find great FREE ADVICE in her/his BLOG posts.

Another option is to look through a LinkedIn profile, if there is one; this is probably the most reliable source of information on a person’s professional background . A person’s LinkedIn profile is basically their online resume. It often includes endorsements and recommendations from their coworkers, students/clients, which is what makes the information credible .

There are also other Social Media that you should check, when looking for a professional TOEFL teacher/tutor. Most TOEFL professionals now have a Facebook Page and/or a Facebook Group . The Facebook Page usually has reviews and testimonials posted by past clients/students. The Facebook Group is sometimes a great place to connect with the teacher and other TOEFL takers, in a less formal manner.

Making sure you “click” on a personal level

Last, but definitely not least, make sure that you can openly communicate with the tutor/teacher of your choice. If you are a mature test taker, you probably won’t appreciate being treated like a high school student. Instead, you should choose someone who has extensive experience working with adult, mature clients and professionals.