You may have heard that there are many types of TOEFL, but have you ever wondered what is the difference among them? And which type is the appropriate one for you? I am another person who used to think that they are the same, but they're not!
Nowadays, TOEFL that is world-wide accepted is called TOEFL iBT, standing for TOEFL Internet-Based Test. This version of TOEFL is proceeded by computer; the questions and answers are sent via the internet. In case, some countries cannot provide the computer system for the iBT, another version of TOEFL named TOEFL pBT (TOEFL Paper-Based Test) is used instead. (For more details about types of TOEFL that are used nowadays, please refer from http://all-about-toefl.blogspot.com/2013/11/modern-toefl.html.)
For this post, let's talk about the most widely used TOEFL first.
TOEFL iBT is the most updated version of the TOEFL.The first predecessor of TOEFL is called TOEFL pBT (TOEFL Paper-Based Test). This pBT is similar to the pBT that is used in some countries nowadays in some ways. However, the obsolete pBT did not contain writing part as the modern pBT does. Thus, the old pBT had only reading, listening and grammar structure parts.Every part is in multiple choices format.
Then, ETS made a research and found out that the multiple choices format still had some weakness. The score that a test taker received did not measure his ability to study in the higher level. As a result, writing was added as another part into the test.This is because writing is another important skill for students in studying life. ETS also added the new types of questions in reading and listening (surely it made the test more difficult). They also replace the paper with the computer as a test medium, namely TOEFL cBT (TOEFL Computer-Based Test). Consequently, the listening part and grammar part became computer adaptive. This means that the current question will determine the difficulty of the next question. For example, if you answer question 2 correctly, question 3 will be adjusted to be more difficult. On the other hand, if your answer for question 2 is wrong, question 3 will become easier. However, the question that is more difficult values higher score than the question that is easier does.
While ETS continues their research, they found out that to be successful for studying (or real-life communication), students need to have good performance in four skills, reading, listening, speaking and writing. They deleted the grammar part from the test because they believe grammar is the important part that needs to be integrated in every skill of using English in real situation. Finally, ETS had improved the TOEFL and released the latest version of TOEFL as TOEFL iBT that is now used worldwide..
Next post, I'll talk about versions of TOEFL that are used nowadays.
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