TOEFL scoring and q. re US.UK English

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Bill Smith - 26 Jul 2005 12:31 GMT

Friend (Germany) has asked for help preparing for her TOEFL test. I've
found several websites, some very useful, but can't find any indication
of how TOEFL is scored.
This is particularly problematic when total scores ;eading to
certificate appear to be "out of" an unknown possible score (e.g. one
person she knew scored 92, another scored about 120, and a further
problem is that "sample scored writing" (essays) on one website give
essay scores of 5, 5.5, 6, etc, but no indication of the possible - is
it 5.5 out of a possible 10, or what?

Re "version" of English, TOEFL seems very heavily directed towards
students in America or hoping to enter US universities. We would advise
our friend in use of UK English - would this disadvantage her?

Many thanks for any guidance on these,

Regards,

Bill S

(PS: Cross-posting to other .english ngs as uncertain which is best
placed to answer - sorry if this offends).

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Matthew Huntbach - 26 Jul 2005 13:21 GMT

> Friend (Germany) has asked for help preparing for her TOEFL test. I've found
> several websites, some very useful, but can't find any indication of how
[quoted text clipped - 17 lines]
> (PS: Cross-posting to other .english ngs as uncertain which is best placed to
> answer - sorry if this offends).

Answers to your questions seem to be available on the official website
for TOEFL try

http://www.ets.org/toefl/englishprograms/overview.html

and click on the "Score Reports" link.

TOEFL is a test in American English. The standard test for British English
is IELTS. Is there any particular reason your friend is taking TOEFL rather
than IELTS? It's not a big issue, British universities, for example, will
generally express their requirements for English ability for non-native
speakers as an IELTS score, but will readily accept TOEFL is it is offered
instead.

Matthew Huntbach

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Robin Bignall - 27 Jul 2005 14:22 GMT

>> Friend (Germany) has asked for help preparing for her TOEFL test. I've found
>> several websites, some very useful, but can't find any indication of how
[quoted text clipped - 33 lines]
>
>Matthew Huntbach

Signature

Robin Bignall
Hoddesdon, England

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Robin Bignall - 27 Jul 2005 22:39 GMT

[TOEFL and IELTS tests]

Heaven only knows what happened there, Matthew. I must have hit a
wrong button when going through the thread, for I have no comments on
the subject.

Signature

Robin Bignall
Hoddesdon, England

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Rose Melinis - 27 Jul 2005 22:53 GMT

TOEFL, the computer-based version, has a potential perfect score of 300.
Schools, governments, etc., set their own acceptable score level. The TOEFL,
currently, measures your listening and reading skills. The TWE is part of
the TOEFL and the maximum score for that is a 6.0.

>> Friend (Germany) has asked for help preparing for her TOEFL test. I've
>> found several websites, some very useful, but can't find any indication
[quoted text clipped - 35 lines]
>
> Matthew Huntbach

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Bill Smith - 28 Jul 2005 09:08 GMT

Thanks for the replies, which have led me towards a much better
understanding of the TOEFL test than I had last week!

I do have the TEOFL "Score User Guide" which lists criteria for essays
rating 0–6, but it doesn't provide the specifics I'm used to from UK
school examination bodies. For example, the list of "criteria" for an
essay award of 3 is:

"An essay at this level may reveal *one or more* of the following
weaknesses:

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Discussion Groups / British English / July 2005

TOEFL scoring and q. re US.UK English