Michael Goodine's Blog, page 39

Changes in Official TOEFL iBT Tests – Volume 1

Here’s a quick summary of changes to “Official TOEFL iBT Tests Volume 1.” I’ll dig into the second volume later this month. In addition to the below, note that all of the independent writing questions have been replaced with “Writing for an Academic Discussion” questions. I didn’t spot any changes whatsoever to the speaking questions, […]

A Few More Words, Re: Password Skills Plus

Here’s the second part of my musings (originally posted on LinkedIn) on the new Password Plus Test.  Check out part one here. The reading section is more relaxed than in many other tests. I tried my very best to pick the correct answers, but used only half of the given time (70 minutes).  Compare this […]

I Took the Password Skills Plus Test!

I took the new Password Skills Plus Test from Password English Language Testing!  This is a new at-home test based upon an existing product that has been offered to institutions for some time.  The owners of the test reached out to me and offered a free voucher, which I couldn’t turn down.  Today I’ll share […]

You Should Read More – Part 45!

I read a whole bunch of random things this month! Most importantly, I read the newly-released seventh edition of the Official Guide to the TOEFL.  The guide was heavily revised for this edition, which came as a pleasant surprise.  For my complete coverage of what was changed, start reading here.  Next month I’ll dig into […]

“Although” vs “Despite”

Although “Although” is a subordinating conjunction.  It is used before a subject to introduce an idea which contrasts with the main clause of a sentence. The main clause usually indicates something unexpected or surprising.  Like this: “Although I studied really hard, I didn’t pass the test.” “Although he is rich, he isn’t happy.” Or like […]

“The” and Physical Environments

This one is tricky, so I’m going to start by quoting Michael Swan: “The is used with a number of rather general expressions referring to our physical environment – the world around us and its climate.  The suggest that everybody is familiar with what we are talking about.” Do you get what he means?  This […]

Electric vs Electronic

My students are often puzzled about when to call something “electric” (like “electric car”) vs when to call something “electronic” (like “electronic dictionary”).  The difference is subtle, but basically it amounts to this: Electric: This term is used for devices or systems that use electricity to perform a basic function. For example, an “electric car” […]

How to Convert Raw Reading and Listening TOEFL Scores to Scaled Scores

Students often ask questions like: “If I get 17 answers right in the reading section, what is my final score?” The answer, of course, is something like: “I have no idea. Every test is different!” The best I can do is share this chart from the new Official Guide to the TOEFL.  Check it out: […]

Memory Usage: TOEFL and GRE Home Editions

Today I’ll highlight another potential pain point with at-home testing. Before taking the at-home TOEFL and GRE tests, test-takers must pass a system check which examines their software and hardware. Most parts of the check are very easy to pass. However, test-takers with one particular set-up seem to encounter a specific problem. Based on several […]

TOEFL and Aadhar Card

Someone should update the TOEFL India site. It still states that the Aadhar card is acceptable ID when taking the TOEFL, even though ETS rescinded that policy about 13 months ago. I still hear of people getting turned away at tests center because they lack acceptable ID. I suppose this oversight is one reason for […]