TOEFL TEST BASICS

WHAT IS THE COMPUTER-BASED TOEFL TEST?

In July 1998, Educational Testing Service (ETS) introduced the computer-based TOEFL test in the United
States, Canada, Latin America, Europe, the Middle East, Africa, and selected Asian countries. According to
ETS, the computer-based test will eventually completely replace the paper test. Some parts of the TOEFL
will be a linear computerized test, which is scored the same way as a paper test. Other parts of the TOEFL
will be a computer-adaptive test (CAT).

WHAT IS A COMPUTER-ADAPTIVE TEST?
A computer-adaptive test (CAT) is—as the title says—adaptive. That means that each time you answer a
question, the computer adjusts to your responses when determining which question to present next. For
example, the first question will be of moderate difficulty. If you answer it correctly, the next question will
be more difficult. If you answer it incorrectly, the next question will be easier. The computer will continue
presenting questions based on your responses, with the goal of determining your ability level.
It is important to understand that questions at the beginning of a section affect your score more than
those at the end. That’s because the early questions are used to determine your general ability level. Once
the computer determines your general ability level, it presents questions to identify your specific ability
level. As you progress farther into a section, it will be difficult to raise your score very much, even if you
answer most items correctly. That’s because the later questions affect your score less, because they are
used to pinpoint your exact score once the computer has identified your general ability level. Therefore,
take as much time as you can afford to answer the early questions correctly. Your score on each section is
based on the number of questions you answer correctly, as well as the difficulty level of those questions.
You need only minimal computer skills to take the computer-based TOEFL. You will have plenty of
time at the test center to work through a tutorial that allows you to practice such activities as answering
questions, using the mouse, using the word processor (which you will need for your essay responses), and
accessing the help function.
The computer-based tests are given at designated universities, binational institutes, ETS field offices,
and Sylvan Technology Centers all over the world. The cost of the TOEFL test is US$110.

WHAT KINDS OF QUESTIONS WILL BE ON THE COMPUTER-BASED TOEFL TEST?
Like the paper test, the computer-based TOEFL will have three sections:
1. Listening (40–60 minutes, 30–50 questions, CAT)
2. Structure (15–20 minutes, 20–25 questions, CAT)
3. Reading (70–90 minutes, 44–60 questions, linear)
Some questions will be similar to those on the paper test, whereas others will be very different. The
Listening and Reading questions will include question types that are designed specifically for the computer.
An essay will also be included that can be handwritten or typed on the computer.

HOW ARE THE COMPUTER-BASED TOEFL SCORES CALCULATED?
The computer-based TOEFL reports separate scores for each of the three test sections. The Listening is
scored as a CAT. The Structure section is scored as a CAT and on the basis of the essay. The Reading
section is scored as a linear test. The scores for all three sections are factored into a scaled total score, just
like on the paper-based test.
The range of possible scores on each of the three multiple-choice sections is from 0 to 30. The range for
the entire test will be from 0 to 300. (The range on the paper version is from 200 to 667.)

TEST-TAKING TIPS FOR THE CAT SECTIONS OF THE
COMPUTER-BASED TOEFL TEST

The purpose of TOEFL Success is to help you prepare for all forms of the test. You will increase your
chances of scoring high on the TOEFL by being completely familiar with the content and format you will
encounter on test day. The strategies and review sections of this book, as well as the practice tests,
provide lots of opportunity to review relevant content. Keep in mind the following test-taking tips, most of
which are unique to the CAT format.

• Understand the directions for each question type. Learn the directions for each type of question.
The directions in this book are similar to those on the actual test. Understanding the directions for
each question type will save you valuable time on the day of the test.
• Focus on answering the questions at the beginning of Sections 1 and 2 correctly. Remember that
questions at the beginning of a section affect your score more than questions at the end. Be
especially careful in choosing answers to questions in the first half of both the quantitative and
verbal sections. Once the computer determines your general ability level with these initial questions,
you will be unable to dramatically improve your score, even if you answer most of the
questions toward the end correctly.
• In Sections 1 and 2, be completely sure of each answer before proceeding. With a CAT, you must
answer each question as it is presented. You cannot skip a difficult question and return to it later
as you can with a paper test. Nor can you review responses to questions that you have already
answered. Therefore, you must be confident about your answer before you confirm it and proceed
to the next question. If you are completely stumped by a question, eliminate as many answer
choices as you can, select the best answer from the remaining choices, and move on.
• Pace yourself. To finish all sections, you will need to work both quickly and accurately to complete
each section within the time constraints. You will still receive a score, even if you do not complete
all of the questions in a section.

Questions and Answers about the TOEFL Test
Q: What is the TOEFL test?
A: TOEFL stands for Test of English as a Foreign Language. The TOEFL test is designed to measure the
English-language ability of people who do not speak English as their first language and who plan to
study at colleges and universities in North America. Educational Testing Service (ETS) of Princeton,
New Jersey, prepares and administers the TOEFL test. This organization produces many other standardized
tests. Although there are other standardized tests of English, the TOEFL test is, by far, the most
important in North America. ETS has offered this examination since 1965. Each year, almost a million
people take the TOEFL test at testing centers all over the world.

Q: What format does the computer-based test follow? How long does it take to complete?
A: The computer-based test is divided into four sections: Listening, Structure, Reading, and Essay Writing,
each with its own time limit. The four sections are always given in the same order. Before the actual
test, you must take a tutorial that demonstrates the computer skills needed to take the test. This part is
ungraded, of course, and untimed. Most test-takers take approximately 40 minutes to complete this
section. The first three sections consist mainly of multiple-choice questions, while Essay Writing is a
single essay-writing item.

Q: What are the main differences between the paper-based test and the computer-based test?
A: The first three sections of the computer-based test generally have fewer items. For example, on the
most recent version of the paper-based test, there are 40 Structure items, whereas on the computerbased
version, there are 20 to 25. Another difference is the use of visuals in the Listening section.
There are also some new “computer-unique” item types in Listening and Reading Sections.