What you need to know about the ETS tests

The test section will be revised and new information will be added soon. This is a first draft of the future section on ETS tests.

"I have passed TOEFL. When will I go to America?" or "Do I have to go to Netherlands to register for GMAT?"
These are only 2 of numerous stupid questions people ask about Standartized Tests(hey, don't ask me, I have no idea what standartized means). Some people think that all they have to do to go to the US is take one little tiny TOEFL exam. If you think the same way, just go chill at the weather reports page and come back later...

Ok, if you're still with us and ready 4 somethin' more than weather reports and my comments, take a look at this outline on the (CAT) Computer Adaptive Tests (hey, is it only me who thinks that CAT sounds like some cheap shoes?).

Test of English as a Foreign Language (TOEFL) computer based test.

Does the phrase "Only through my dead body" tell anything to you? Well, the point is that if you want to go to the USA to study, you MUST take the TOEFL exam, unless you have a High School diploma from english-speakin' country. So relax, concentrate and take a moment to read this:

In all countries except those listed below, the TOEFL CBT will replace the paper-based TOEFL test beginning July, 1998. A least the following countries will not have the TOEFL CBT until the year 2000 but will continue to offer the paper-based TOEFL until then: Bangladesh; India/Bhutan; Laos; Peoples Republic of China; Cambodia; Japan; Macau; Taiwan; Pakistan; Hong Kong; Korea; Mongolia; Thailand; Vietnam

ETS has been administering the Test of English as a Foreign Language (TOEFL) worldwide as a paper and pencil test since 1964. The purpose of the Test of English as a Foreign Language is to evaluate the English proficiency of people whose native language is not English.(it'z you). TOEFL is considered an essential test because most colleges and universities in the U.S., Canada, and other English-speaking countries use TOEFL scores as part of the admission process for foreign students. Additionally, many businesses use TOEFL scores as part of their recruitment process for prospective employees whose native language is not English. However taking TOEFL is only a minimum requirement set by American colleges and universities and you will most certainly have to take some other tests: SAT I/II, GRE or GMAT(see further).

The profile for TOEFL candidates is quite diverse. TOEFL candidates come from various age groups, education levels and social backgrounds. They include job applicants at the professional level, and international students at the secondary, undergraduate, and graduate level. For many applicants, the scores they achieve on the TOEFL exam will determine whether they can receive scholarships, participate in study-abroad and professional licensure programs or acquire employment in English-speaking countries.

TOEFL will be a very high-volume computer based test internationally. We project that initially a total of about 400,000 tests will be given annually worldwide (200,000 at international locations and 200,000 domestically.) By the year 2000, when the above countries start offering the TOEFL CBT, that number will go up to about 1 million. We hope that by having this information early on, you will be better equipped to meet the challenges of responding to students' requests. Starting in early spring 1998 (approximately mid-March), candidates will be able to get more information about the TOEFL CBT from the bulletin and from the Internet site: http://www.toefl.org

The TOEFL CBT (Computer Based) replaced the paper-based TOEFL test and, unlike the paper-based TOEFL, the TOEFL CBT has the Test of Written English (TWE) incorporated into it (Note: Candidates who wish to take the Test of Spoken English (TSE) exam will still need to take that test separately.)

The TOEFL CBT will be approximately 4.5 hours long and will consist of four sections:

• Listening - A computer-adaptive section which measures the ability to understand English as it is spoken in North America. This section tests comprehension of main ideas, supporting ideas, important details, and inferences. You will both see and hear the questions before the answer choices appear.
• Structure - A computer-adaptive section that measures the ability to recognize language that is appropriate for standard written English. The language tested is formal, rather than conversational. When topics have a national context, they refer to United States or Canadian history, culture, art or literature. However, knowledge of these contexts is not needed to answer the questions.(Don't buy this one, cause when I had my TOEFL there was a whole damn paragraph about the digestion of some insect and I couldn't even understand half of it and questions to it).
• Reading - A non-adaptive section which measures the ability to understand non-technical reading matter(short passages similar to academic texts used in North American colleges and universities). You will have to answer several questions on the content of each passage.
• Writing - A non-adaptive section which measures the ability to write in English on an assigned topic. Candidates will compose an essay in English, which they may either hand-write or type on the computer.

The TOEFL CBT Bulletin will be available to candidates in early spring (approximately mid-March, 1998). Candidates will be able to get bulletins at educational organizations, U.S. advising centers, and all other locations where paper-based TOEFL bulletins have been distributed in the past. The bulletin will describe what tools the candidates can use to prepare for the TOEFL CBT. Candidates will be able to start registering for the TOEFL CBT after mid-June, 1998, at the Regional Registration Centers listed in the bulletin. Testing will start at the end of July, 1998. Candidates can register by phone, fax or mail and should follow the registration guidelines listed in the bulletin. You can obtain such a bulletin at the Educational Advising Centers in Kyiv, Lviv, Odessa or Dnipropetrovsk, or order it directly from the ETS here.

GMAT (Graduate Management Admission Test)

The purpose of the Graduate Management Admission Test (GMAT) is to measure general verbal, mathematical, and analytical writing skills that are developed over a long period of time. It is designed to help graduate schools of business assess the qualifications of applicants for advanced study in business and management. GMAT scores are used by nearly 1,300 graduate management programs throughout the world, and about 850 schools require GMAT scores from each applicant. It is offered worldwide (for any exceptions please consult the bulletin).

The GMAT CBT is approximately 4 hours long and consists of three sections:

• Analytical Writing - Analysis of an issue; analysis of an argument: measures the ability to think critically and communicate complex ideas through writing. Candidates have to type the essays;
• Quantitative - Measurement of basic mathematical skills, understanding of elementary concepts, and the ability to reason quantitatively;
• Verbal - Reading comprehension, critical reasoning and sentence correction.

The GMAT CBT Bulletin will be available to candidates in summer, but the 1997-98 bulletin is valid through September 30, 1998. Candidates will be able to get bulletins at educational organizations, U.S. advising centers, and all other locations where paper-based GMAT bulletins have been distributed in the past. The bulletin describes what tools the candidates can use to prepare for the GMAT CBT. Additional information is available on the GMAT webpage at http://www.gmat.org

Candidates are able to register for the GMAT CBT any time at the Regional Registration Centers (RRC) listed in the bulletin. Testing is continuous, three weeks each month. Candidates can register by phone, fax or mail and should follow the registration guidelines listed in the bulletin. For cancellations and reschedules, candidates should contact the RRC no later than seven days prior to their appointment. Candidates can take the GMAT once per calendar month (e.g. in March, April, etc.).

GRE (Graduate Record Examination) GENERAL TEST

The purpose of the Graduate Record Examinations Test (GRE) is to measure verbal, quantitative, and analytical reasoning skills that have been developed over a long period of time and are not necessarily related to any particular field of study. It is designed to help graduate schools assess the qualifications of applicants for graduate schools. GRE is gradually phasing out the paper-based General Test so that by fall 1999 the test will only be offered on computer. The subject tests will continue to be offered in the paper-based format.

The following sites will not be offering the General GRE CBT in 1998: People's Republic of China; Cambodia; Macau; Laos

The GRE CBT is approximately 4.5 hours long and consists of three sections:

• Verbal - Analysis of an issue; analysis of an argument: measures the ability to think critically and communicate complex ideas through writing. Candidates have to type the essays.
• Quantitative - Measurement of basic mathematical skills, understanding of elementary concepts, and the ability to reason quantitatively.
• Analytical - Reading comprehension, critical reasoning and sentence correction.

The GRE CBT Bulletin will be available to candidates in summer, but the 1997-98 bulletin is valid through September 30, 1998. Candidates will be able to get bulletins at educational organizations, U.S. advising centers, and all other locations where paper-based GRE bulletins have been distributed in the past. The bulletin describes what tools the candidates can use to prepare for the GRE CBT. Additional information is available on the GRE webpage at: http://www.gre.org

Candidates are able to register for the GRE CBT any time at the Regional Registration Centers (RRC) listed in the bulletin. Testing is continuous, two-three weeks each month. Candidates can register by phone, fax or mail and should follow the registration guidelines listed in the bulletin. For cancellations and reschedules, candidates should contact the RRC no later than two days prior to their appointment for permanent sites, and five days prior to their appointment for mobile sites. Candidates can take the GRE once every 60 days.

In general to register for the ETS tests you need to do the following:

1. Get the Registration Bulletin and read it very carefully, because it will answer most of the questions (including test dates, where to send the registration forms, etc.) you will have;
2. Fill out the registration forms you will find in the bulletin and mail them to Netherlands (except the case you will be registering by phone or on-line);
3. Receive an Admission Ticket from the ETS(if you don't receive an Admission Ticket, contact the local organisation which administers the test - ACCELS or IREX and find out whether your name is on their list. If it is, you will be allowed to take the test even without your Admission Ticket).;
4. Go to the testing center and take the test;
5. Relax and wait for the final results(also some results will be available right after you complete the test).

Also See:
ETS Tests Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ).

Look 4 the new releases on this site which are gonna tell you about SAT I/II and GRE subject tests, test takin' tips and strategies, practice questions, and lots of sh.., I mean useful stuff.

Stay tuned.

Peace.
B

This page was last updated on Aug.12, 1999