The computer revolution, which has already transformed society in hundreds of ways, is also changing the way students of English take language proficiency tests.
After being tested around the world for 18 months, a computer-based version of TOEFL is coming to Taiwan next fall. TOEFL, which stands for "test of English as a foreign language," is a popular way for students of English to gauge their abilities and is used in many countries.
According to a spokesperson for the Educational Testing Service (ETS), the company plans to introduce a computer version of TOEFL in Taiwan next October.
The normal print version of TOEFL will be offered as scheduled next July, August and September, she said.
"The switch to computers is an evolutionary effort," said Daphne Liu (
"The environment is quieter and more comfortable where each examinee has a personal earphone, computer and work station."
Candidates need not have previous computer experience to take the test.
"To assure that an individual's test performance is not influenced by a lack of computer experience, ETS has developed animation tutorials to teach the computer skills needed to take the test. These tutorials contain graphics and animation and are very simple to use," she said.
Liu added that according to a study conducted by ETS researchers, there has been no evidence of any adverse effects on performance due to a lack of computer experience.
"More than 10,000 Taiwanese examinees have taken computer-based tests outside Taiwan since it was introduced in 1998," she said. "Their performances were not adversely affected by this mode of testing."
The computer-based test was first introduced in July 1998 in many countries around the world, with over three million examinees taking the test the first year.
Unlike the print version of TOEFL, which is given seven times a year, computer-based tests will be available on a continuing basis year round. The test will be administered at special computer test centers set up across Taiwan by Sylvan Prometric, Inc.
Candidates may choose convenient dates and locations, with venues of the test centers to be announced next spring.
The test will consist of four sections: listening, structure, reading and writing. The writing section is a new feature where every test taker will be required to write an essay, with an option of typing it or writing it out by hand, Liu said.
"The listening and structure sections are computer-adaptive, which means they are tailored to each test-taker's ability level," Liu said. "If the examinee correctly answers the first question, the next question will typically be more difficult. Conversely, if the examinee answers incorrectly, the next question will typically be less difficult."
Because the test has changed, scoring scales have changed as well. Section scores are from 0-30, and total scores are from 0-300.
At the end of the exam, examinees may view their score results for every section except the essay part since essays will be scored by trained raters, Liu said. Score reports will be mailed two weeks after the test if the essays are typed and five weeks if the essays are handwritten, she said.
TOEFL made its debut in the US in 1964; it was introduced in Taiwan the following year.
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