TOEFL iBT wrITinG TesT

This afternoon, students in the department of Languages, Literatures and Linguistics were given the chance to take part in the new sample of TOEFL iBT test, and I was one of the students there taking the test. How could I miss this great offer?! The sample test contains only the writing part of the test. The results will not be reported or copied; however, the professor that helped giving the test will be able to read through our writings, and hopefully she will be able to tell us what she thinks of our writing.

The test was divided into two parts. The first part was just like the traditional writing test. It gives a two or three-line description of an idea, and the test takers are asked to write down if they agree or disagree about it. Furthermore, reasons and explanations are required to support their idea. 30 minutes are given for the first part. The second part was the new writing test, which is actually already giving out in the formal test. Frankly, I was really surprised by the new writing test. Whoever thought of this way of testing is really a genius... in my opinion. The new test will take three steps to complete. Firstly, we are given 3 minutes to read a half-page length essay. A tape-recording will be played following the reading. At this time, the essay should be covered, and are not allowed to be seen. However, a piece of blank paper is given in advanced for the test takers to take down notes. After completing the first two steps, test takers are asked to start answering a question on the other side of the page. 20 minutes are given for this part.

The essay question for the first part was "It's better to take the most difficult and challenging classes in college, even if you may not get the top grade (mark) in them". Of course I disagreed with this statement. And I think I did a pretty good job on supporting my ideas. For this reason, I'm kind of looking forward to hearing what the professor thinks about my writing. The second part was more challenging and more interesting. It integrates the skills of reading, listening and writing into a 20-minute test. The note-taking skill could also be a vital skill in this part of test, too. It's exactly like the way we learn in the reality. You do the readings and prepare for the class at home, go to class and listen to the lecture and take down notes during that time, and eventually there will be a test on what you've read on the textbook, and what you've learnt from the lectures in classes. I am totally impressed. If creating the way to assess how much the students have learnt can be called an invention, this new test is so far the greatest inventory I've ever known. But, to most of the Asian students, it could be really hard to prepare this part of test. Good luck, future TOEFL iBT test takers!!