Month: August 2023

Interview with a TOEFL Test-Taker

Posted on by TOEFL Resources

I interviewed my friend Han Joon Lee about what test takers in Korea feel about the new TOEFL and about TOEFL prep in general in Korea. People seem to really dig the conversation so I’ll share it here.  The video is below. A few highlights:

  1. He really likes the new test, and so do all of the test-takers he has talked to.
  2. That said, people aren’t enamored of the shorter writing task.
  3. The R/L passages seemed quite challenging.
  4. He had no idea that the break was removed. That caused problems. He’s not the only person to be surprised by this change.
  5. The TOEFL is still popular in Korea, though not as popular as in the past.
  6. TOEFL scores in Korea have increased more than in almost any other country since the iBT was introduced. We talked about the reasons for that.
  7. Some of the highest TOEFL requirements in the world (117+) are required for domestic admissions in Korea.
  8. There is still a heavy use of memorized content among test-takers in the country.
  9. Test prep in Korea is still mostly domestic. Few people are reaching out to tutors or companies outside the country.

Viewers seem to mostly like the chat about how TOEFL prep is approached in Korea, so I’ll reach out to some more contacts around the world for similar chats. When I finish traveling in August I’ll try to record something with a trusted contact in China which is probably the biggest market for the test.

Duolingo Stats Re: Diversity of Applicants

Posted on by TOEFL Resources

I saw some statistics from Northeastern University today. From 2020 to the present, 20% of students submitting Duolingo English Test scores to that university have come from underrepresented minority groups. Meanwhile, just 7% of applicants submitting TOEFL scores and 4% of applicants submitting IELTS scores have come from underrepresented groups.

I’ve written many times here about how the high costs of taking traditional English tests (the TOEFL costs as much as $450 to take) means that such tests can reduce the diversity of applicant pools at universities. These statistics speak to that obvious reality.

I understand that traditional tests will never be as cheap as the Duolingo English Test, but there are certainly things that can be done to lower their costs (and their sometimes onerous post-test fees).

More on the TOEFL not Being Accepted in Australia

Posted on by TOEFL Resources

The PIE News has reported on the pause in acceptance of TOEFL scores for Australian visa applications.

Says the PIE:

“The enhanced version of the test, launched on July 25, is being reviewed by [the Department of Home Affairs] and the test is not being accepted for visas during the evaluation. ETS noted that it is not clear how long the review will take and emphasised that the test is still accepted by Australian universities.”

Says Rohit Sharma of ETS:

“ETS has submitted the enhanced test to Australia’s Department of Home Affairs to be reviewed as part of a standard process the Department takes to evaluate English language tests. We commend the DHA for this thorough review which ensures that its high standards for measures of English proficiency are upheld.”

The article notes that scores from before July 26 can still be used for visas. It also notes that scores from after July 26 can still be used to gain admission to a university in Australia.

That said, applicants ought to remember that until the DHA completes its review a second test score may be needed to actually get a visa.