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What's Better About the New TOEFL Speaking Section
What's Better About the New TOEFL Speaking Section
In September 2005, ETS will introduce a Speaking section on the next generation TOEFL test that will take language testing to a whole new level.
The Speaking section will consist of six tasks, two independent speaking tasks and four integrated tasks. The two independent speaking tasks require the test taker to take a position on a topic and support it based on personal experience. Of the integrated tasks, two will integrate speaking with reading and listening; another two will integrate speaking with listening only. These integrated tasks represent both academic and campus-based social situations in which a student will use English. In their responses, test takers must integrate and synthesize the information they have listened to and read.
The responses to the tasks will be evaluated using the speaking rubrics (scoring standards), which focus on delivery (intelligibility), language use, and topic development. Each response is rated on a scale of 0 to 4. The sum of ratings for the six responses is converted to a scaled score of 0 to 30.
The new TOEFL Internet-based test (TOEFL iBT) will be administered at secure test centers. Internet-based delivery makes it possible to capture test takers' spoken responses digitally and forward them to ETS's Online Scoring Network for evaluation. ETS will train and certify raters to score the speaking responses.
This approach improves upon previous testing methods in a number of ways.
High Degree of Validity
A speaking test that is used to make admissions decisions must be authentic and reflect the complex speaking tasks people experience every day. The strategy that ETS developed to establish testing that follows real-life application was based on an extensive analysis of the kinds of language tasks students encounter in a university setting. The full report, TOEFL Monograph 21: The Reading, Writing, Speaking, and Listening Tasks Important for Academic Success at the Undergraduate and Graduate Levels can be downloaded for free at www.ets.org/ell/research/toeflmonograph.html.
ETS believes a combination of independent and integrated tasks more accurately assesses the four facets of English language proficiency: reading, listening, writing and speaking. It also reflects the integrated-skills approach being used by the English-language teaching community.
Exceptional Reliability
To be consistent and reliable, there must be scrupulous adherence by the raters to a common set of standards for all test takers. Some major tests re-train and re-certify their raters only once a year or so, and often the raters are from the same country as the test taker, which can result in their being too lenient on scoring.
With the TOEFL iBT Speaking section, a different rater reviews each of the six total tasks, resulting in exceptional scoring reliability.
In addition, ETS raters must calibrate each time they begin rating, and they must re-calibrate after taking breaks. Raters are evaluated throughout the day to make sure they are rating accurately, and if they are not on target they must retrain and recalibrate before continuing. This rigorous monitoring ensures quality control and consistency in applying the scoring standards. For the new test, all this will take place on the Online Scoring Network. Raters from around the world will apply the same standards and will be evaluated regularly for accuracy.
Unquestionable Objectivity
While some believe that a face-to-face interview is most authentic because it is interactive, this method of testing can actually result in less objectivity. Because interviewer styles can greatly impact test performance, factors such as personal chemistry, mood, energy level, and gender can greatly impact the interaction. TOEFL iBT provides test takers with an equal opportunity to perform to the best of their ability by allowing every test taker to have the very same testing experience. This kind of objectivity is critical when institutions are using the scores to make admissions decisions.
Quick Online Results and Performance Feedback
ETS is continuing to focus on improving services for all. With the new TOEFL iBT, ETS will report scores online that test takers and the institutions they designate as score recipients can access. The online score reports will be posted 15 business days after a test is taken. Test takers' score reports will include performance feedback that will identify those skills learners need to improve.
If you would like to listen to Speaking sample questions and responses, join the TOEFL Practice Online community and access these samples for free.
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