Educational Exams
(TOEFL & IELTS)
Ahmad Joudaki
Shaham Sharifian
ETS
Educational Testing Service :
-
GRE : Graduate Records Examination
TOEFL : Test of English as a foreign language
TOEIC : Test of English for International Communication
TSE : Test of Spoken English
TFI : Test de français international
- GMAT : Graduate Management Admission Test
- IELTS : International English Language Testing System
TOEIC
Test of English for International Communication :
It measures the everyday English skills of people
working in an international environment.
Nonnative English speakers take the test to demonstrate
their English language skills when applying for new
positions and obtaining credentials.
TSE
Test of Spoken English :
measures the ability of nonnative speakers of English to
communicate effectively. The test is used for employment,
graduate assistantships, licensure, and certification
purposes.
If you are a student or working professional with English
as your second language, you may be asked to take the
test to demonstrate how well you can speak in English.
GMAT
Graduate Management Admission Test
The GMAT exam is a test of general skills and abilities that
you have acquired over time. It helps business schools
assess the qualifications of applicants for advanced
study in an MBA program, business or in other graduate
management programs.
GRE
Graduate Records Examination
- General test
- Subject test
GRE General Test
• Analytical Writing — tests taker's ability to
- support ideas with relevant reasons and examples.
- sustain a well-focused, coherent discussion.
- control the elements of standard written English.
• Verbal Reasoning — tests taker's ability to
- analyze and evaluate written material and
synthesize information obtained from it.
- recognize relationships between words and
concepts.
• Quantitative Reasoning — tests taker's ability to
- understand basic concepts of arithmetic, algebra,
geometry, and data analysis.
GRE General Test (cont.)
Section
Number of Questions
Time
Score
Analytical
Writing
1 Issue Task
45 min
0-6
Analytical
Writing
1 Argument Task
30 min
0-6
Verbal
30
30 min
200-800
Quantitative
28
45 min
200-800
GRE Subject Test
Eight Disciplines :
• Biochemistry, Cell and Molecular Biology
• Biology
• Chemistry
• Computer Science
• Literature in English
• Mathematics
• Physics
• Psychology
GRE Computer Test
I) SOFTWARE SYSTEMS AND METHODOLOGY
40%
A. Data organization
B. Program control and structure
C. Programming languages and notation
D. Software engineering
E. Systems
GRE Computer Test (cont.)
II) COMPUTER ORGANIZATION AND ARCHITECTURE
15%
A. Digital logic design
B. Processors and control units
C. Memories and their hierarchies
D. Networking and communications
E. High-performance architectures
GRE Computer Test (cont.)
III) THEORY AND MATHEMATICAL BACKGROUND
40%
A. Algorithms and complexity
B. Automata and language theory
C. Discrete structures
GRE Computer Test (cont.)
IV) OTHER TOPICS
5%
numerical analysis, artificial intelligence, computer
graphics, cryptography, security, …
What is the TOEFL test ?
Test Of English A Foreign Language is a Standardized test
that evaluates the English Proficiency of people whose
native language is not English. Nearly 2400 education
institutes in the United States and Canada require TOEFL
scores from each applicant. The TOEFL tests the ability
to understand North American English.
What do I need to know ?
The TOEFL is getting harder and harder all the time. You
will need to have a good understanding of English. You
will need to be able to listen, read, and write for the
TOEFL.
TOEFL parts
Writing Section
Listening Section
Structure Section
Reading Section
Speaking Section ( in future )
Writing
Writing Section :
1 Essay
Test of Written English (TWE)
30 min.
Listening
Listening Section :
40 - 50 questions
- Short conversations
- Long conversations
- Short talks
50 - 60 min.
Structure
Structure Section :
40 - 45 questions
- Incomplete sentences
- Written expressions
25 - 30 min.
Reading
Reading Section :
45 - 60 questions
70 - 90 min.
FAQs
• How can I raise my TOEFL score ? And how long
does it take ?
• How much does the TOEFL cost ?
• Where can I take the TOEFL ?
• How can I register for the TOEFL ?
• Who administers the TOEFL test ?
• How can Rescheduling, Cancelling and Refunding
be done ?
CBT & PBT
• What's the difference between the computer
TOEFL and the paper TOEFL?
• Which TOEFL is easier? The computer TOEFL or
the paper TOEFL?
• Can I still take the paper TOEFL instead of the
computer TOEFL?
• Should I type or handwrite the essay for the
computer TOEFL?
CBT & PBT
TOEFL Paper
TOEFL Computer
625 - 677
263 - 300
600
250
575
232
550
213
525
196
500
173
475
152
450
133
425
113
Under 425
Under 113
Eligibility & Fees
Test Fee/Service
Amount
TOEFL Computer-Based Test
US$140 (includes 1
examinee score record and
4 score recipients)
TOEFL Paper-Based Test
US$140 (includes 1
examinee score record and
4 score recipients)
Additional Score Report
Requests
US$17 (per recipient)
Essay/TWE Rescoring
US$50
TOEFL Paper Answer Sheet
Rescoring
US$25
New version of the TOEFL
• The test questions are now more focused on academic
topics.
• There is no structure section anymore
• You will have to compose two essays in the writing
section instead of one .
• The new TOEFL test also measures your speaking ability.
What is IELTS ?
• International English Language Testing System
It is a test for evaluating the English language skills of
non-English speaking candidates. It assess the candidate’s
ability to understand written and spoken English in
academic and social contexts.
Who should take IELTS ?
Applying to most Canadian, British, Australian, and New
Zealand academic institutions
It may be required to prove an official IELTS score in
order to seek immigration to some countries. ( Canada,
Australia, New Zealand, …)
IELTS Versions
• The Academic Module
• The General Training Module
The two versions do not carry the same weight and are not
interchangeable
IELTS Format
section
parts
questions
time
Listening
4
40
30 min
(Academic or General)
Reading
3
40
60 min
(Academic or General)
Writing
2
-
60 min
Speaking
1
-
11–14 min
IELTS score
• Results are returned to the candidates two weeks after
the test date. Candidates will receive scores on a band
scale from 1 to 9, including a score for each module of
the test in addition to an overall score. Results are valid
for two years.
Interpret the IELTS score
• 9 : EXPERT USER
• 8 : VERY GOOD USER
• 7 : GOOD USER
• 6 : COMPETENT USER
• 5 : MODEST USER
• 4 : LIMITED USER
• 3 : EXTREMELY LIMITED USER
• 2 : INTERMITTENT USER
• 1 : NON USER
• 0 : DID NOT ATTEMPT THE TEST
Compare IELTS score with TOEFL
TOEFL Paper
TOEFL Computer
IELTS Equivalent
625 – 677
263 - 300
7.5 - 9
600
250
7
575
232
6.5
550
213
6
525
196
5.5
500
173
5
475
152
4.5
450
133
4
425
113
3.5
Under 425
Under 113
Under 3.5
IELTS schedule for 2006
• When can you take IELTS at ILI?
- April 27, 2006
- May 25, 2006
- June 29, 2006
- July 27, 2006
- August 24, 2006
- September 28, 2006
- October 26, 2006
- November 30, 2006
- December 14, 2006
The IELTS test fee as is now $245.00
Resources
www.ets.org
www.ielts.org
www.testmagic.com
www.testden.com
www.britishcouncil.org
www.imagebank.com
TOEFL Guideline Books
Finé