Current Trends

1
Current Trends Developments inEducational
Testing ServicesAdmissions Testing

• Edward J. Kelly
• Educational Testing Service
• Ekelly_at_ets.org
• Phone [phone]
• Fax [phone]

2
Major Tests Administered by ETS

• Graduate School Admission
• GMAT (Graduate Management Admissions Test)
• GRE (General and Subject - 8 disciplines - Tests)
• EXADEP
• TOEFL
• Undergraduate Admission
• SAT I II
• Major Field Tests
• Teacher Assessments
• Praxis

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The SAT? Program
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SAT I Reasoning Test (SAT)

• A 3-hour admissions test
• Scores help predict how well a student is likely
  to do in the first year of college
• Colleges use scores and other criteria to
  determine how well prepared students are to do
  college-level work

www.collegeboard.com
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What the SAT Measures

• Verbal and mathematical reasoning abilities
• These abilities are
• related to successful performance in college
• developed over a long period of time
• developed both in and out of school

www.collegeboard.com
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SAT II Subject Tests

• 22 one-hour tests
• 5 general areas
• Measure knowledge and skills in particular
  subjects
• Primarily multiple-choice questions
• Can take up to 3 tests at one administration

www.collegeboard.com
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How to Register

• Online at www.collegeboard.com
• Test center assignment at time of registration
• Paper Registration Form
• Fax Registration Form (international only)
• Re-registration available by phone

www.collegeboard.com
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Administration Dates Fees through January 2005

• Dates
• October 9, 2004
• November 6, 2004
• December 4, 2004
• June 4, 2004
• January 22, 2005

• Fees
• SAT Reasoning Test 29.50
• SAT Subject Test
• Writing Test 17.00
• Language Test
• w/ Listening 18.00
• All other subjects 8.00
• Add the 17.00 Basic Registration fee to the
  total fee for the Subject tests

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Administration Dates Fees after January 2005

• Dates (New SAT)
• March 12, 2005
• May 7, 2005
• June 4, 2005

• Fees
• SAT Reasoning Test 41.50
• SAT Subject Test
• Language Test
• w/ Listening 18.00
• All other subjects 8.00
• Add the 17.00 Basic Registration fee to the
  total fee for the Subject tests

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For More Information

• For test registration, preparation, statistics,
  and research reports, visit the College Boards
  Web site
• www.collegeboard.com

John Dumont
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Graduate Record Examinations
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The GRE Testing Program

• The General Test
• Verbal, Quantitative and Analytical Writing
• Subject Tests

• Biochemistry, Cell Molecular Biology
• Biology
• Chemistry
• Computer Science

• Literature in English
• Mathematics
• Physics
• Psychology

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Changes in 04-05 Testing Year

• On-line registration for computer-based General
  Test
• On-line registration for paper-based General Test
• CBT Authorization Voucher Request Form is now
  downloadable at www.gre.org/codelst.html.
• Changes in bulk shipments of the 2004-05 GRE
  Bulletin

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Reminders

• Repeater Policy
• Test Fees 2004-05
• Domestic Foreign
• General Test 115 140
• Subject Tests 130 150

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GRE Test Preparation Material

• Free test preparation materials upon registration
• GRE PowerPrep software
• Practice General Test Book
• Subject Test Practice Books
• Available at www.gre.org/pracmats.html
• GRE Practicing to Take the General Test 10th
  Edition (21.00 plus shipping)
• Available at www.ets.org/store.html

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GRE Test Preparation Services

• Enhanced Diagnostic Service (15)
• Online evaluation of strengths and weaknesses, to
  help guide test preparation
• Available at grediagnostic.ets.org

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GRE Test Preparation Services

• ScoreItNow! Online Writing Practice (10 for two
  essays)
• Select either the practice option or the test
  experience option
• Available at www.ets.org/scoreitnow

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GRE Test Preparation Services

• Criterion Online Writing Evaluation Service
• Offers group rates for test prep, with portfolios
  of student work and opportunity to track student
  progress
• More information at www.ets.org/criterion

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Possible Changes Being Consideredfor GRE General
Test

• Verbal and Quantitative changes are planned for
  October 2006
• Changes are being considered for Analytical
  Writing (No timeline at this point)

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Possible Changes Being Consideredfor GRE General
Test (Continued)

• Goals
• Increase the validity of the General Test
• Address security concerns
• Provide faculty with better information on
  applicants performance
• As more information becomes available, it will be
  posted on www.gre.org

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For More Information about GRE Tests and
Services...

• http//www.gre.org
• gre-info_at_ets.org
• 1-609-771-7670
• GRE Program
• Educational Testing Service
• P.O. Box 6000
• Princeton, NJ 0851-6000

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Graduate Management Admission Test (GMAT)
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News About the GMAT Test

• Paper-based GMAT testing -Saturday, October 23,
  2004 (Only Muskie candidates
  will take the paper-based test on February 5,
  2005)
• Mobile testing available in 12 locations in
  2004-05
• Check www.mba.com for a list of all international
  testing locations and dates.

24
News About the GMAT Test

• Bulletins available in July
• Extended time period - will cover July 2004
  December 31, 2005
• (not 2006 as in handout)
• Test fee - currently 225 U.S. dollars but may
  change in July 2004.
• Check www.mba.com for new test fees beginning
  July 1, 2004.

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News about the GMAT Test

• Mean total score is 528 on a 200 to 800 scale.
• This year about 225,000 tests will be
  administered worldwide.
• 45 of test takers are citizens of countries
  other than the U.S.

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Test Prep Materials for the GMAT Test

• Available at www.mba.com
• GMAT Paper Tests (set of three) 25.00
• Essay Insightsm online scoring service for the
  Analytical Writing Assessment 20.00
• The Official Guide for GMAT Review -
• 10th Edition 29.95, plus shipping and
  handling,

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Test Prep Materials for the GMAT Test

• Available through ETS with registration
• GMAT POWERPREP
• CD provided free to all CAT test registrants
  also available as a free download from
  www.mba.com.
• The Official Guide for GMAT Review - 8th
  Edition
• Provided free to all paper-based candidates who
  register through ETS.

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Test of English As a Foreign Language
(TOEFL)Test of Spoken English (TSE)
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Whats New for TSE?

• Real time online registration
• Instituted charge for returned checks - 20
• No change in test fee - 125
• 90 of all test centers now give the test via IVR
  interactive voice response

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TOEFL and TSE Bulletins

• Standard format for TSE and TOEFL Bulletins
• At a Glance page added
• Registration
• Disabilities
• Test Preparation Material
• On the Test Day
• Changes in bulk shipments

31
TOEFL Bulletin

• Bulletin in effect July 2004- September 2005,
  when the next generation TOEFL test begins
• Test dates and locations in the bulletin are for
  July 2004 - June 2005
• Test center list for July August 2005 to be
  sent next spring
• TOEFL bulletin reduced from 40 to 31 pages

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Whats New for TOEFL?

• Online registration for computer-based (CBT) and
  paper-based (PBT) TOEFL
• Not available in Nigeria
• Web site revised in March www.ets.org/toefl
• www.toefl.org still accessible
• Criterion Online Writing Evaluation Service ESL
  version in September
• Testing in Iraq and Iran

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Whats New for TOEFL?

• Fees
• No change in test fee - 130
• No change in fee for additional score reports -
  15
• Increased fee for reinstatement of cancelled CBT
  score - from 10 - 20
• Decreased fee for returned checks - from 25 to
  20

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Next Generation TOEFL
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Next Generation TOEFL

• Coming in September 2005
• Assesses all four language skills
• Listening
• Speaking new!
• Reading
• Writing

36
Next Generation TOEFL

• Focuses on the ability to communicate
• Measures not only how much the student knows
  about English, but how well he or she can use it
• Uses integrated tasks that reflect how students
  actually use language in a university classroom

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Next Generation TOEFL

• What are integrated tasks?
• Questions that require use of more than one skill
  at a time
• Read/listen/speak
• Listen/speak
• Read /listen /write
• They give us a better picture of how well the
  student can communicate in English.

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Next Generation TOEFL

• Linear, not computer-adaptive
• Note taking allowed in all sections of the test
• No separate tutorial instructions throughout
  the test
• Test time 4.0 hours

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Next Generation TOEFL

• All four sections taken in one day
• Reading
• Listening
• Break
• Integrated Speaking
• Integrated Writing

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Reading Section

• 3 academic reading passages with questions
• Some familiar TOEFL CBT question types
• Some new question types
• Fill in a table or prose summary
• Paraphrasing
• Questions worth more than one point
• New glossary and review features

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Listening Section

• 2 conversations with 2 speakers
• 4 lectures 2 include classroom dialogue
• Will use a variety of native English accents
• Some familiar TOEFL CBT question types
• Some new questions measure understanding of a
  speakers attitude or purpose

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Integrated Speaking Section

• 6 questions in total
• 2 independent tasks about familiar topics
• Responses based on personal experience or opinion
• No additional information needed to answer
• For example
• Some students study for classes individually.
  Others study in groups. Which method of studying
  do you think is better for students and why?

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Integrated Speaking Section

• 4 integrated tasks that require more information
  to answer
• 2 Reading/Listening/Speaking tasks
• 2 Listening/Speaking tasks
• Responses based on what was read and heard
• Academic and campus-based material
• Short listening and reading material

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Integrated Speaking Section - Scoring

• Each question rated on a 0 - 4 scale
• total section score is 0 30
• Trained raters evaluate ability in
• topic development demonstrate understanding,
  make clear connections, and convey relevant
  information
• delivery clear, fluid, sustained delivery for
  overall intelligibility
• language use control of grammar and word choice
  

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Integrated Writing Section

• 2 writing questions
• 1 independent task
• Response based on personal experience or opinion
• Similar to essay on current TOEFL CBT PBT tests
• 1 Reading/Listening/Writing task
• Short academic listening and reading material
• Response based on what was read and heard

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Integrated Writing Section - Scoring

• Each essay is scored on a 0 5 scale
• total section score is 0 30
• Trained raters evaluate ability in
• topic development demonstrate understanding,
  make clear connections, and convey relevant
  information
• organization present a well-organized response
• language use control of grammar and word choice

47
The New Scores

• The score report sent to universities will show
• Four skill scores
• Reading 0 - 30
• Listening 0 - 30
• Integrated Speaking 0 - 30
• Integrated Writing 0 30
• A total score 0 120

48
The New Scores More Than Just a Number

• Student score reports will contain
• Four skill scores
• A total score
• Feedback on their performance to help them
  improve in the future
• This information can be useful to students and
  their English teachers.

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The New Scores More Than Just a Number

• Other information to be published
• Score descriptors
• Describe group performance in can do statements
  in each skill at major score points
• Can be helpful to identify strengths and
  weaknesses
• CBT PBT score comparison

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TOEFL Scores

• Until September 2005, test takers take the
  current TOEFL and TSE tests
• In September 2005 computer-based (CBT) and
  paper-based (PBT) TOEFL testing will stop
• CBT and PBT scores will be reported for 2 more
  years

51
Test Delivery

• Administered via official Internet-based testing
  (iBT) network
• More access than ever before
• Security measures to ensure test integrity and
  score authenticity
• Fixed administration dates, not continuous
  testing

52
Improving Service

• Good news!
• New TOEFL scores reported online free of charge
  14 days after the test
• no need to wait for mail delivery
• paper score report will also be mailed
• printable
• Universities can view scores online in 14 days
• English language schools and attending
  institutions can also view scores online
• Permission from student required

53
Improving Service

• Good news!
• Real-time online registration available for TOEFL
  CBT PBT now.

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How Can Students Prepare?

• Become familiar with the new test at
  www.ets.org/toefl
• Free view-only version available
• Online Practice Test
• Includes Reading, Writing and Listening sections
• Instant scores and performance feedback
• 20
• Free Speaking demonstration, including sample
  questions and sample responses
• Free discussion board
• Scored Speaking practice available through TAST
  at www.ets.org/tast

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TAST (TOEFL Academic Speaking Test)

• The speaking portion of the new test
• TAST Practice
• 1 form for individuals
• 2 forms for English language programs
• Academic speaking practice
• Available now to help people become aware of the
  speaking portion

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How Can Teachers Prepare?

• Emphasize all four skills
• Encourage students to communicate by integrating
  skills in the classroom
• Read/listen/speak
• Listen/speak
• Read /listen /write
• Consult the scoring rubrics for Writing
  Speaking, and sample responses on the website
• These skills are essential to a students success
  in English language university courses,
  regardless of whether she will take TOEFL.

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For More Information

• Visit us online
• www.ets.org/toefl
• Write to
• toeflnews_at_ets.org
• Identify yourself as an educational advisor