TOEFL eNews Update UK

			April 2012

2012 is turning out to be a busy year for the TOEFL® programme. Some of our recent news includes security threat prevention, adjustment to the TOEFL iBT® score requirements, and providing new resources to make your job easier.

ETS takes security seriously and is vigilant in preventing and detecting fraud. ETS and the Hong Kong authorities worked together to apprehend three men in a scheme to impersonate test takers at a TOEFL test administration.

In other news, ETS has adjusted the TOEFL scores required by the UKBA — find out how and why this was done.

You can also check out the new resources available, including the Inside the TOEFL® Test video for the independent writing task and the mobile score comparison tool. These resources are designed to help make your job easier.

We hope you'll find these stories interesting and informative — and we welcome any feedback.

Sincerely,

Sandy Bhangal
TOEFL Client Relations Associate Director — United Kingdom
sbhangal@etsglobal.org

TOP NEWS

Three TOEFL® Imposters Arrested in Hong Kong

Recently, the authorities in Hong Kong assisted ETS in taking action against three individuals who were attempting to take the test on behalf of others during the February 25 TOEFL® test administration. Through the work of ETS's Office of Testing Integrity, we were able to identify these individuals in advance of the administration and worked very closely with the authorities to help apprehend those arrested. Test integrity has become a common topic within the academic community. Although such incidents are rare, ETS takes test security extremely seriously and executes a three-pronged approach that includes prevention, detection and communication to ensure secure and fair testing worldwide.

NEWS

UKBA TOEFL iBT® Score Adjustment

In 2006, as the TOEFL iBT® test was being introduced, ETS conducted a standard setting exercise with educators to map the new scores to CEFR levels. In subsequent years, ETS has received feedback from universities and teachers of English that the actual level of performance of students on the test is not consistent with scores identified at various CEFR levels. Based on this feedback from the field, ETS has adjusted the TOEFL scores required by the UKBA, so scores more closely reflect performance described in CEFR levels.

ETS Reports the Largest Number of Chinese TOEFL® Test Takers in History

In February, ETS announced a 19 percent increase in the number of Chinese TOEFL iBT® test takers for 2011. This represents the largest number of Chinese TOEFL® test takers in history.

The decision by the United Kingdom Border Agency's (UKBA) acceptance of the TOEFL test for visa purposes, will likely further increase the number of Chinese individuals taking the TOEFL test in 2012.

TOEFL® Test Makes Impact on China

A recent Beijing Review article looks at the TOEFL® test's influence on Chinese students who dreamed of studying abroad. For the past thirty years, the TOEFL test has played a major role in influencing Chinese test takers to study abroad. When the TOEFL test was first introduced in China, most test takers had government support or were visiting scholars. Now the market consists mainly of self-funded students looking to study overseas to gain a competitive edge in the job market. By providing fair and reliable scores, the TOEFL test is able to help make students' dreams of studying abroad come true.

RESOURCES

Comparing TOEFL® Test Scores to IELTS® Scores Just Got Easier

In 2011, ETS created a research-based score comparison tool to make it easier for you to compare TOEFL iBT® scores to the IELTS® academic module. To help you make the best admissions decisions for your institution even faster, ETS has released a mobile version of this great score comparison tool.

Visit the TOEFL® Programme at Upcoming Events

The TOEFL® programme will be attending conferences all over the world. Be sure to stop by our booths, speak to a representative and get information on the latest TOEFL developments.

In This Issue

Top News
News
Research
Resources

Valuable Sites

TOEFL Website
TOEFL Go Anywhere
Download Library
Scores
Destinations Directory (PDF)
Contact Us

Feature of the Month

Inside the TOEFL® Test Videos

Inside the TOEFL® Test is a series of five videos providing an in-depth review of the Writing and Speaking sections of the TOEFL iBT® test. Our video for this month features the independent writing question. This task asks the test taker to write a response to a general issue based on the test taker's knowledge and experience. The issue is preceded by a question asking "Do you agree or disagree with the following statement?" Test takers are asked to use specific reasons to support their answers. For a closer look, watch the video now.

Upcoming TOEFL Test Dates

Below are the upcoming test dates and cities for the UK. Please note that not all test centres participate on every testing date.

Birmingham
Sat., Apr 14, 2012
Fri., Apr 20, 2012
Sun., Apr 22, 2012
Fri., Apr 27, 2012
Sat., Apr 28, 2012
Sat., May 05, 2012
Sat., May 12, 2012
Fri., May 25, 2012
Sat., May 26, 2012

Blackpool
Sat., Apr 14, 2012
Sat., May 05, 2012
Sat., May 26, 2012

Bournemouth
Fri., Apr 20, 2012
Fri., May 25, 2012

Cambridge
Sat., Apr 14, 2012
Sat., May 05, 2012
Sat., May 26, 2012

Cardiff
Sat., Apr 14, 2012
Fri., Apr 20, 2012
Fri., Apr 27, 2012
Sat., May 05, 2012
Fri., May 25, 2012
Sat., May 26, 2012

Essex
Sat., Apr 14, 2012
Fri., Apr 20, 2012
Fri., Apr 27, 2012
Sat., May 05, 2012
Fri., May 25, 2012
Sat., May 26, 2012

Gants Hill
No Dates Currently Available

Hounslow
Sat., Apr 14, 2012
Fri., Apr 20, 2012
Sun., Apr 22, 2012
Fri., Apr 27, 2012
Sat., Apr 28, 2012
Sat., May 05, 2012
Sat., May 12, 2012
Sun., May 20, 2012
Fri., May 25, 2012
Sat., May 26, 2012

Ilford
Sat., Apr 14, 2012
Fri., Apr 20, 2012

Leeds
Fri., Apr 20, 2012
Fri., May 25, 2012

London
Sat., Apr 14, 2012
Fri., Apr 20, 2012
Sun., Apr 22, 2012
Fri., Apr 27, 2012
Sat., Apr 28, 2012
Sat., May 05, 2012
Sat., May 12, 2012
Sun., May 20, 2012
Fri., May 25, 2012
Sat., May 26, 2012

Manchester
Sat., Apr 14, 2012
Fri., Apr 20, 2012
Sat., May 05, 2012
Fri., May 25, 2012
Sat., May 26, 2012

Oxford
Sat., Apr 14, 2012
Sat., May 05, 2012
Sat., May 26, 2012

Richmond
No Dates Currently Available

Wiltshire
Sat., Apr 14, 2012
Fri., Apr 20, 2012
Fri., Apr 27, 2012
Sat., May 05, 2012
Fri., May 25, 2012
Sat., May 26, 2012

ETS — Listening. Learning. Leading.®

Copyright © 2012 by Educational Testing Service. All rights reserved. ETS, the ETS logo, LISTENING. LEARNING. LEADING., TOEFL and TOEFL IBT are registered trademarks of Educational Testing Service (ETS) in the United States and other countries. IELTS is a registered trademark of the University of Cambridge ESOL Examinations Syndicate. 19379

ETS | Rosedale Road | Princeton, NJ 08541