Michael Goodine's Blog, page 33

IRCC Announces Language Test Requirement for PGWP

IRCC has announced that language score requirements will be added to the PGWP application process.  University graduates will need a score equivalent to CLB level 7 and college graduates will need a CLB level 5 equivalent. A list of acceptable tests hasn’t been given, but one imagines that IELTS General, CELPIP and PTE Core scores […]

Home Edition Hilarity!

This account of a remote proctor making a test taker run a gauntlet of increasingly inane security checks was recently shared on Reddit.  It made me chuckle.  I love how the situation continues to escalate, until the test taker is required to leave his flat and show the proctor the elevators in his building. Any […]

Going to India Next Week!

I’ll visit Chandigarh next week. I’ll be there roughly September 22 to September 27. After that, I will be somewhere else. I’m interested in learning about B2B relationships involving testing firms and organizations based in India. That’s something I’ve not paid enough attention to in recent years even though it is a pretty big deal. […]

Spies Try to Cheat on the Duolingo English Test!

The Duolingo English Test blog includes a new post about how “a team of former spies with years of experience in espionage, intelligence, and covert operations” were hired “to exploit the DET in any way they could.”  It’s a good post, but only scratches the surface of what I’d like to read on the topic. […]

Review: Mometrix TOEFL iBT 2024-2025

I picked up Mometrix Media’s “TOEFL iBT 2024-2025 Preparation Book” a few months ago. TOEFL books by real publishers are hard to come by these days, so I think it is important to check out the small press stuff like this which frequently shows up in the Amazon charts.  As I write this, Mometrix’s book […]

Some TOEFL/IELTS/PTE Google Trends

These Google Trends graphs for the past ten years are mildly interesting. They hint at an increasingly competitive market for English testing in India (but one impacted by forces beyond the control of testing companies). They also hint at a gradual embrace of the IELTS in East Asia markets where the TOEFL has traditionally been […]

I Will Take the TOEFL Real Soon!

I’m scheduled to take the TOEFL iBT next week.  Big thanks to my friends at ETS for providing a voucher.  The test hasn’t changed since July of last year, and my test will be proctored by Meazure Learning/ProctorU, so I probably won’t have much to report post test. But do let me know if there […]

I took the EnglishScore Speaking Test!

A few days ago I completed the speaking module of the British Council’s EnglishScore Test.  This module is unlocked after completion of the “Core Skills” module.  The test, which is free, takes about 30 minutes to complete.  A verified digital certificate can be purchased for $24.99.  Like the other two EnglishScore modules, it is a […]

MET/IELTS Concordance Study

Michigan Language Assessment  is conducting a concordance study that will compare MET and IELTS (academic) scores. Individuals who have recently taken the IELTS or will take the IELTS in the near future are invited to apply to join the study.  Those selected for the study may be eligible for a free in-person administration of the […]

A Positive Take on SELT Changes

Mere moments after inviting comments about the positive impact of proposed changes to the SELT program, I noticed an article from Amy Baker on the topic. Among other things, Baker’s article touches on: The potential for enhanced security. A move away from the perception that some tests are “easier” than others. More transparency for test […]