Unfavorable competition has prompted TOEFL to "change its face"
It is understood that since June 65438+ 10, 2003, the number of TOEFL candidates has shown a sharp downward trend, and the number of applicants in mid-June 165438+ 10 is the lowest level since TOEFL started in Beijing. It is estimated that the total number of TOEFL students in Beijing in 2003 was about 6.5438+million, while the total number in previous years was close to 30,000. In the heyday of TOEFL, the total number of candidates in one year exceeded 654.38+10,000.
TOEFL is cold, IELTS is hot. IELTS is a comprehensive test of candidates' English listening, speaking, reading and writing ability, which brings great challenges to TOEFL. IELTS scores are becoming more and more popular in the world: there are 103 institutions of higher learning in Britain that recognize IELTS scores; Australian student visa applications only recognize IELTS scores and no longer recognize TOEFL; ; Immigration bureaus in Canada, Australia, New Zealand and other countries regard IELTS test scores as the only standard to test the English language ability of skilled immigrants and other immigrants. There are also 380 universities in the United States that have announced their acceptance of IELTS scores.
If you are poor, change it. ETS announced that TOEFL will be completely transformed in September next year. However, competitors, IELTS examiners have repeatedly reiterated that the types of questions will not change in recent years. According to the person in charge of the IELTS test, with the increasing number of people taking the IELTS test in China, rumors about the changes of the IELTS test questions or contents frequently appear. The person in charge said that before the new question type is officially put into use, the IELTS organizer will announce the news in advance and introduce the new question type in detail.
Where is the change of the new TOEFL?
Can the new TOEFL change the decline of the old TOEFL in China? ETS is optimistic about this, and the relevant person in charge of ETS said, "we believe that the majority of candidates and educational institutions will actively recognize these changes." In the process of developing the new TOEFL, we have been working closely with many educational institutions to ensure that the new TOEFL test can reflect the requirements of colleges and universities for the use of English in practical teaching. We have great confidence in the new TOEFL test, and we have learned great interest and positive feedback from China and other markets. The diversity of test questions and the change of the number of test questions will make candidates feel that the new TOEFL test is more accurate and fair than any other listening and reading test. "
Regarding the changes in the new TOEFL, ETS said that the new TOEFL test focuses on candidates' communication skills, not just their ability to use English. Candidates can participate in online learning community, which can help candidates improve their test scores and really improve their language ability. In addition to grades and scores, candidates will get more feedback and know what they need to improve. In order to better help candidates get familiar with the new TOEFL test questions, ETS will launch a fully simulated version of the new TOEFL test and its learning materials on its website in July 2004.
Who will win the competition between IELTS and new TOEFL?
As an expert in overseas exam training, Wang Haibo, the head of the North American "Trust" project of the Foreign Examination Department of New Oriental School, said that English training has always followed the exam, and the new TOEFL has not yet started, so the training market will not change. Last year, the number of TOEFL students dropped to a low point in China, and the amount of TOEFL training also dropped to the lowest level in history. He predicted that there would be an exam climax this year, and many students would catch the last bus of the old TOEFL exam. Wang Haibo believes that the new TOEFL will organically combine the original listening, reading and speaking test contents, such as reading before writing, or listening before speaking, so as to scientifically examine the language communication ability. Although there are more than 300 universities in the United States that recognize IELTS, we should know that there are more than 3000 universities in the United States, and the scope of IELTS recognition in the United States is very limited. In Canada, 65,438+0,000% colleges and universities recognize TOEFL, and half also recognize IELTS.
There are also views that IELTS will gradually replace TOEFL as the "boss" of overseas exams. Zhang Yongqi, president of Global IELTS School, thinks that in terms of the number of candidates, there were 20,000 students taking the IELTS test in China in 2000, and the number increased from 200/kloc-0 to 40,000, and it is estimated to reach 80,000 in 2003. It is estimated that the number of IELTS candidates in 2004 may exceed100000, which indicates that IELTS may replace TOEFL. He analyzed that the IELTS test will maintain a growth period of about five years. In recent years, in addition to being widely recognized by schools in Britain, Canada, Australia and other countries, more and more American universities have changed their enrollment requirements that only recognize TOEFL and GRE scores, and IELTS scores can also be applied to American universities.
The dispute between TOEFL and IELTS is beneficial to candidates.
Zhang Hao, director of the Commonwealth Examination Program of New Oriental Foreign Studies Department, analyzed that TOEFL and IELTS, one is the traditional concept test, which examines the traditional teaching methods; One is the current advanced examination mode, which tests communicative language. The emergence of the new TOEFL will promote the common development of the two overseas exams, rather than the superficial competition. After the TOEFL is changed, it is actually a good thing for candidates. In the past, reviewing TOEFL and preparing for IELTS are two completely different review methods and learning systems. At present, both exams focus on practical ability, and both listening, speaking, reading and writing are required, which is beneficial to students. Even if the country of study changes, if you have IELTS scores, you need to retake the TOEFL, and the review is not very big. And now many foreign universities recognize TOEFL and IELTS at the same time. (Text/Round Zhao Yuan)