[Talk Series] Scoring High on the TOEFL | What Changed in the New TOEFL & Its Credibility, Explained by an ETS Representative & Teacher Huang Li

This article covers the highlights of the talk “[Study Abroad Talk] Scoring High on the TOEFL | TOEFL Prep & Test Updates, Explained by an ETS Representative & Teacher Huang Li!” Watch the recording 👉 https://reurl.cc/3X85b0

The TOEFL is run by ETS (Educational Testing Service), the world's largest nonprofit assessment organization. ETS is responsible for several major international tests, including the TOEIC, TOEFL Junior and GRE, and its mission is to advance education and career development worldwide through accurate assessment. In a talk, ETS representative Ami and Teacher Huang Li of Wordgod (字神帝國) discussed the latest changes to the TOEFL and how to prepare for it. The changes aim to improve the test experience and efficiency, make the TOEFL more flexible and better suited to modern education, and give test takers around the world a fairer, more scientific standard of assessment.

This article records what the two speakers said about the latest TOEFL changes, the test's features and how widely it is recognized around the world. Let's take a look～

TOEFL changes and features

The TOEFL has gone through some major changes in recent years, aimed at improving the test experience, shortening the test and assessing test takers' English more accurately.

1. All unscored extra questions removed: The TOEFL used to include some unscored extra questions, which undoubtedly added pressure and burden for test takers. These questions were mainly used to try out new items, but since test takers couldn't tell which ones were unscored, they had to give every question their all. ETS has now removed them, making the test leaner. Test takers can focus on the questions that actually count, which cuts out unnecessary pressure.

2. The 10-minute mid-test break removed: Under the old schedule, test takers had a mandatory 10-minute break after finishing part of the test. The break gave them a moment to relax but also broke the flow of the test. ETS has now removed it, making the test more compact so test takers can finish faster and save overall test time.

3. A shorter test overall: The total length of the TOEFL has gone from about 3 hours to 2 hours. This makes the TOEFL the shortest of the major English tests worldwide. That's clearly good news for test takers, who can finish more efficiently and avoid the fatigue of a long test.

4. Reading section: The TOEFL Reading section used to have three passages; now it has two. Each passage is about 700 words and tests reading comprehension and academic English. The change lightens the reading load and keeps the test focused on assessing core skills.

5. Writing section: The Writing section changed the most. The old TOEFL Writing section had two tasks: Independent Writing and Integrated Writing. Independent Writing has now been replaced by an Academic Discussion task. The new task simulates an online class discussion, which better reflects modern education. Test takers have 10 minutes to discuss an academic topic and put forward their own view. The format tests not only writing ability but also critical thinking and academic discussion skills.

In the talk, Ami explained the reasons and goals behind these changes in detail. She stressed that they are meant to make the test flow more sensible so test takers can show their true level in less time. Teacher Huang Li also shared a view: the changes not only reduce pressure on test takers but also make the test fairer and more scientific.

The four main sections of the TOEFL:

1. Reading: The Reading section has two passages of about 700 words each, 35 minutes in total. It mainly tests whether you can understand and analyze academic texts effectively. Each passage is followed by 10 multiple-choice questions to answer in limited time. Topics vary across the natural sciences, social sciences and humanities. You aren't expected to have specialist knowledge; the range of topics is there to see whether you have good reading comprehension.

2. Listening: The Listening section no longer has unscored extra questions and takes 36 minutes in total. It includes 3 lectures and 2 conversations and mainly assesses whether you can understand English in typical classroom and campus situations. You need to pay attention to the speaker's attitude, views and how pieces of information connect, and take notes that help you answer the questions.

3. Speaking: The Speaking section has four tasks, 16 minutes in total. Each task simulates real-life and academic situations. You prepare based on the on-screen instructions and answer within the time limit. This section mainly assesses expression, pronunciation and intonation, sentence structure and fluency.

4. Writing: The Writing section has two tasks, Integrated Writing and Academic Discussion, 29 minutes in total. Integrated Writing asks you to combine a lecture you hear with a passage you read and write an essay. Academic Discussion asks you to discuss an academic topic and put forward your own view. This section mainly assesses writing, argumentation and critical thinking.

The TOEFL's global credibility

The TOEFL is very widely recognized around the world, which makes it the first choice for many students and institutions. Here's how it is recognized globally:

1. United States: The TOEFL is accepted by 100% of US universities. Every US university, Ivy League schools included, accepts TOEFL scores as proof of English proficiency. According to a survey, 90% of US universities prefer TOEFL scores, which means students with high TOEFL scores have a bigger competitive edge when applying to US universities.

2. Other English-speaking countries: Beyond the US, universities and colleges in the UK, Australia, New Zealand and other countries also widely accept TOEFL scores. Institutions in these countries usually set specific TOEFL score requirements, so test takers should set their target score based on the schools they're applying to.

3. Non-English-speaking countries: In some non-English-speaking countries, such as France and Germany, many higher education institutions that offer English-taught programs also accept TOEFL scores. These schools usually ask applicants for TOEFL scores to show they can study in an English-taught environment.

4. Global recognition: The TOEFL is recognized in more than 160 countries, by more than 13,000 universities and colleges. This broad recognition makes TOEFL scores an important tool for students applying to schools abroad. Whether you're applying for a bachelor's, master's or doctoral degree, the TOEFL is a key measure of your English.

From what Ami and Teacher Huang Li shared about the latest TOEFL changes and prep strategies, we can see that the new TOEFL is designed to improve the test experience and efficiency. Changes include removing unscored extra questions and the mid-test break, shortening the overall test, and redesigning the Writing section to emphasize academic discussion. As for recognition, the TOEFL is accepted in more than 160 countries by more than 13,000 universities and colleges, showing its credibility and influence as a test of English proficiency.

The next article will focus on TOEFL prep resources and test-taking tips. If you're interested, keep an eye out for the latest articles from the TOEFL talk ~

Want the full picture of what the speakers shared? Go watch the talk recording 👉 https://reurl.cc/3X85b0