Month: May 2024

Language Testing Cartel?

Posted on by TOEFL Resources

I spotted a wonderful article by Graham Witcomb in Intelligent Investor a couple of weeks ago about IDP and the language testing industry in general.

In it, Witcomb notes:

“In theory, there’s still choice. In practice, language testing operates as a cartel with tremendous pricing power. For their own convenience, governments typically pick just a few companies to run tests for immigration, so exam takers can’t shop around as they would for other goods and services.”

Sure, there may be a cartel, but stiff competition has eroded the profitability of individual testing firms in recent years:

“IDP would be a fantastic business were it not for one major weakness in its business model — its gatekeeper status isn’t earned, it’s ordained. Governments decide who its language gatekeepers will be, and they can take that privilege away in a heartbeat, or dilute its value by offering other companies the same deal.”

This is what I’ve been saying here for most of the past year.  Competition has finally arrived.  More competition is en route.  The old monopolies are dead or dying.  A lot of individuals whose livelihoods are affected by the ebb and flow of the IELTS monopoly might pile in to object, but it’s true.

Regarding Canada in particular, Witcomb notes:

“The new testing options will erode IDP’s market share. If the company’s SDS share slips from 100% to 70%, it would mean 80,000-110,000 fewer tests; at $300 per test, a 2-4% drop in total revenue would be the result and a slightly higher fall in net profit due to fixed costs. But with four new competitors, market share losses over the long term could be much higher than we’ve assumed here. We wouldn’t be surprised if IDP’s market share eventually settles below 50%.”

Witcomb astutely points out that lowered language requirements for Canada will also reduce the number of repeaters in the years ahead.

Despite all of this, Witcomb seems more bullish on IDP’s prospects than I am.  He suggests that cartel-like pricing will keep profits high despite market share losses.  He may be correct. But as I have noted here before, DET is coming, and they aren’t going to charge $300 per test.

It is only a matter of time.

Witcomb doesn’t touch on it, but as I have noted here before IDP’s long-term viability is somewhat dependent on its ability to create a “next-gen” IELTS which can compete with DET. The three-headed nature of the IELTS program may complicate that.

Changes in the Official Guide to the TOEFL, 7th Edition – The Tests

Posted on by TOEFL Resources

And, finally, here are changes to the practice tests in the new Official Guide to the TOEFL.   Note that all of the academic discussion questions are new.  They have not appeared elsewhere.

You can read the whole blog series on changes at the following links: chapter one, chapter two, chapter three and four, chapter five, the tests.

Test One

Reading section: “Geology and Landscape” and “The Expression of Emotions” have been removed.  A new reading, “Birdsongs and Calls” has been added.

Listening section: No changes

Speaking Section: No changes

Writing section: The integrated question about altruism has been removed and replaced with a new question about biofuels has been added.   An academic discussion question has been added.

Test Two

Reading section: “Feeding Habits of East African Herbivores” has been removed.

Listening section: No changes

Speaking Section: No changes

Writing section:   An academic discussion question has been added.

Test Three

Reading section: “The Depletion of the Ogallala Aquifer” has been removed.

Listening section: One lecture and one conversation have been replaced with new ones.  Don’t ask me why.

Speaking Section: No changes

Writing section:   An academic discussion question has been added.

Test Four

Reading section: “Lightning” has been removed.

Listening section: No Changes

Speaking Section: No changes

Writing section:  An academic discussion question has been added.

Changes to the Official Guide to the TOEFL, 7th Edition – Chapter 5

Posted on by TOEFL Resources

Next up, a list of changes in Chapter 5 of the Official Guide to the TOEFL.  This chapter is wonderful.

You can read the whole blog series on changes at the following links: chapter one, chapter two, chapter three and four, chapter five, the tests.

Again, note that I am focusing on changes other than the big test revisions that were implemented in July of last year.

Page 192-193: The example question about teamwork (which was quite inaccurate) has been replaced with a new question about “vitrified forts.”

Page 194:  The guide used to say “typically, an effective response will be 150 to 225 words.”  It now says “typically, an effective response will contain a minimum of 150 words.”

Page 194:  The guide now notes that “the lecture usually contradicts or disagrees with the information in the reading passage.”

Page 194:  The question prompts for the integrated task have been revised to emphasize that the lecture challenges the reading.  A new prompt called “solutions and their weaknesses” has also been added

Page 194:  The “as you write your response” section is updated to include new “the best way to organize the response…” tips about how to organize the essay properly.

Page 196:  The word count change is repeated.

Page 197-198:  This section on how responses are scored is all-new.  And it is beautiful.  Among other things, it notes:

“It is important to include all the most important details from the lecture, not only the main ideas”

“Within each body paragraph, consider devoting the first sentence or two to summarizing the idea the reading is expressing, and then explain in detail how the lecture responds to that idea”

“You should devote most of each paragraph to conveying information from the lecture”

“A concluding paragraph for your essay is typically not necessary”

Page 201-205:  There are sample responses for the new integrated writing task (see above)

Page 205+: The new WAD task is described.

Changes in the Official Guide to the TOEFL, 7th Edition – Chapters 3 and 4

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Moving along, here’s a quick list of changes to Chapters 3 (Listening) and Chapters 4 (Reading) in the new Official Guide to the TOEFL.  Again, I’m focusing on stuff other than the major changes to the test that started back in July.

You can read the whole blog series on changes at the following links: chapter one, chapter two, chapter three and four, chapter five, the tests.

Chapter 3

Pages 122-123:

“Painters and Painting” is added as a potential lecture topic.

“Computer Science” is removed as a potential lecture topic.

“TV/Radio as mass communication” is now “media broadcasting and digital media as mass communication.”

Chapter 4:

Page 171:  Again, the length of the reading passage in question #2 is listed as 90-115 words.

Page 177:  Same as above, for question #3.

Page 178:  The sample reading for question #3 is now a single paragraph (same content, though)

Page 189:  Again, the reading passages are listed as 90-115 words.

Duolingo 2024 Q1 Results

Posted on by TOEFL Resources

Duolingo just released its 2024 Q1 earnings report.

Revenue from the Duolingo English Test was 12.8 million dollars in the quarter.  That’s a 28% increase from the same quarter last year.  Note that the test cost $10 less at that time.

My math (revenue/$59 price tag) suggests that the test was probably taken about 217,000 times in the quarter. That’s a new high. The previous high was Q1 2023, when the test was probably taken about 203,000 times.

Those are just estimates, though. The real numbers are different since some people paid less than $59 (there is a discount when two registrations are purchased at the same time) and others paid more (results can be processed faster for an extra fee).  Still others paid nothing at all via the Duolingo Access Program.

As noted here a few days ago, the overall volume of the PTE Test declined slightly in this same period.

I believe that the DET generates about 7.6% of Duolingo’s overall revenue.  It is easy to forget that the DET is just a small piece of the company.

Changes in the Official Guide to the TOEFL, 7th Edition – Chapter 2

Posted on by TOEFL Resources

Moving along, here are all of the major changes to Chapter 2 of the new Official Guide to the TOEFL.  This chapter covers the reading section of the TOEFL test.

You can read the whole blog series on changes at the following links: chapter one, chapter two, chapter three and four, chapter five, the tests.

Throughout the chapter, the “how to recognize” stuff for each question type has been rephrased to emphasize that questions are based on single paragraphs instead of on the whole article.

Page 37:  again, “historical” articles are now referred to “historical and biographical narrative” articles.

Page 38:  The frequency of “reference questions” is reduced from “0 to 2 questions per set” to “0 to 1 questions per set.”

Page 38:  Again, “fill in a table” questions are not referred to.

Page 45:  The book includes a more detailed description of what an “inference” actually is.

Page 58:  The old book had the following practice sets:  “The Origins of Cetaceans” and “Desert Formation” and “Early Cinema” and “Aggression” and “Artisans and Industrialization” and “Swimming Machines.”  

The new book has: “Impact of Railroad Transportation in the United States” and “Desert Formation” and “Early Cinema” and “Water and Ocean Life” and “Frederick Taylor and United States Industry” and “The Distribution of Plants and Animals.”

This means that all of the passages with with fill-in-a-table questions have been removed.  Note that the “Artisans and Industrialization” set also had an inference question that required reading of the whole passage.

I spotted at least one reference question, by the way.  That is found in “Early Cinema.” That question type is not dead yet!

Changes in the Official Guide to the TOEFL, 7th Edition – Chapter One

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My copy of the Official Guide to the TOEFL (7th edition) finally arrived.  As with previous editions, I will spend the next week taking a quick look at every chapter so that I can note all of the changes.  I’ll start today with Chapter One, which introduces the test in a general way.  Note that I won’t spend too much time talking about big-picture stuff (that is, the changes to the test from last year) since those are obvious.  I’m going to focus on smaller details that most readers might not notice.

You can read the whole blog series on changes at the following links: chapter one, chapter two, chapter three and four, chapter five, the tests.

Page 4:  Deleted the following study advice:  “select all the pronouns (he, him, they, them, and others) and identify which nouns each one refers to in the passage

Page 5: Added a reference to  New Zealand accents appearing on the test.

Page 5: Deleted this description of the headphones:  “test takers wear noise canceling headphones”

Page 5:  The test format chart is updated, of course.  Frustratingly, it uses the same “estimated timing” that ETS uses in its marketing materials so that it can claim that the test takes less than two hours to complete.  For instance, it notes that the “estimated timing” of the reading section is 35 minutes, when in reality it is 36 minutes long.

Page 6: No more references to confirming listening answers in the UI of the test.

Page 8: Description of possible reading passages changed from “historical” to “historical and biographical narrative” 

Page 8:  Shows that the reading article is now on the left side of the screen, and the questions on the right

Page 9/10:  The “category table” reading question is no longer mentioned (important)

Page 13:  “the pictures that accompany the lecture help you to know whether one or several people will be speaking”  changed to “pictures on the computer screen are intended to help you identify the roles of the speakers”

Page 15:  Listening questions worth more than one point are mentioned:  “Most questions are worth one point.  Some questions, however, are worth two points.  Special directions will indicate which, if any, questions are worth two points.  No more than one such question will appear on any test.” (important)

Page 18: campus situation reading passage changed from 80-110 words to 90-115 words.  (back in the 4th edition this was 75-100 words).  Likewise, General/specific reading passage length changed from 80-110 words to 90-115 words.

Page 20:  The following description of the integrated writing task has been deleted: “Test takers write a summary in connected English prose of important points made in the listening passage, and explain how these relate to the key points of the reading passage.  Suggested response length is 150-225 words; however, there is no penalty for writing more as long as it is in response to the task presented.” It has been replaced with:  “Test takers express information in an organized, logical and coherent manner.”

Page 21:  Updated score report description

Page 34:  Updated score report timeline.

 

DET Advisory Team, Australia

Posted on by TOEFL Resources

I saw this interesting article in The Koala yesterday. It mirrors what I’ve observed happening in Australia – since the beginning of 2024 I’ve noticed Duolingo’s Australian office bringing some really talented people into the fold. They are working hard to increase acceptance of DET scores.

Says the article:

“Reflecting on Duolingo’s entry into the Australian market, Blacker noted that Duolingo is working on gaining Australian government acceptance for visa purposes, however, he expressed optimism and cited the overwhelmingly positive response from institutions across the sector and a willingness to accept the DET where possible.”

Earlier, I predicted government acceptance of the DET by governments in 5 to 10 years. I’ve mentioned Australia as being the trickiest of all cases, and acceptance there probably coming closer to the end of that time period. But maybe we’ll see some movement before 2034.

When I mention government acceptance of DET to insider-ish people the response is generally “Nah, never going to happen.” Or “Never going to happen unless X, Y and Z happen first.”

This sort of head-in-sand approach to score use can be risky. Just ask all the ETS folk who were darn certain that American schools would stop accepting the DET once the pandemic ended.

TOEFL Voucher / Coupon Code Tracker for 2024 – Latest Discounts

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Welcome to the TOEFL Coupon Code Tracker. Be sure to check the comments below for codes shared by readers.   Note that I also track GRE coupon codes, which are much more common nowadays.

Update:  Test takers located in Australia can try the code TOEFLAUS2024 to get a 20% discount.  Register before November 1.

Update:  The code SUMMER24 will get you a 20% discount in some countries in Europe, the Middle East and Africa.  I don’t know exactly which ones.  Registration must be completed before September 20, 2024.

Update: Galvanize Test Prep has an RS 2005 discount code for Indian test-takers and a $10 code for everyone else on their website. Scroll down a bit and you’ll see it. Today is June 29, 2024 and it still works!

Update:  Test-takers in Japan can use the code PREP24TOEFL to save $24.50 on their registration.  I think the code is valid until February 28, 2024.

Update: Cialfo, which I guess is some sort of admissions agent, has a coupon code good for a 10% discount on their site. I’ll make you visit them to find it.  The code is right at the top of the page.  It seems to work worldwide.  Today is December 24, 2023.  Merry Christmas, folks!

Update: My man John Healy went to the big ETS event in Italy and discovered the code ITAGBVNEWTOEFL20, which is good for a $20 discount on registrations made before December 31 2023.  Valid in Italy only, I guess.

Update:  ETS Global released TOEFL Coupon codes good for a 25% discount in twenty countries. They are valid for registrations done before December 31, 2023 and seem to be for the home edition only. The list of countries is a curiously mixed bag, but thankfully it includes Nigeria, Turkey and Egypt where currency issues have resulted in serious challenges for test-takers in recent months.

Update:  According to the official TOEFL page, you can use the code TOEFLTeam23 to get a $25 discount until November 22.

Update:  You can get a $10 discount code from Galvanize Test Prep if you fill out their form. I won’t share the code here since I respect their desire to gather customer contact information.

Update:  I got an email from ETS India that says students in India can use the code CCTOEFL to get a discount of INR 1500 on their test registration.  It is October 15 as I write this.  Update:  ETS sent me an email on March 23, 2024 to say that this one still works.

Update:  The code STA2023 seems to be working nowadays.  It is October 5 as I write this.

Update:  The code TOEFLSUMMER23 should provide a 20% discount on your registration.  ETS has blasted this all one all over the place.  I even got it via text message on my phone.  How’d they even get my number?  The fine print says this one can be used only 500 times, though, so act fast.  It also says that it must be used for a registration date before August 31. Edit:  This may only work for people who have already taken the test at least once.

Update:  the ETS Facebook account says that SOCL20 will work until the end of June.  Try it while you can.  And try it in July in case it gets extended.  This may no longer work in every country, but it is certainly worth trying.

Update:  It is May 9 and SOCL20 is still working for me, and for others.  This code might not work in every country, but it works in quite a few.  Try it to save $20 on your registration.  It is promoted heavily on the ETS social media channels for India.

Update:  It is April 14, and SOCL20 is still working for me. Some people have reported failure.  Let me know.  In any case, ETS is still advertising it on Facebook and LinkedIn.

Update: According to ETS social media, The SOCL20 coupon code has been extended to the end of April.  Use it to save $20.

Update:  It is March 21 and the SOCL20 code has been refreshed.  That means it works again worldwide.  Try it to save $20.  The same code works when registering for the GRE, by the way. This code is repeated almost every day on the Official TOEFL India Facebook page so check there now and then for coupons.  

Update:  Our friends at EdAgree have a limited number of coupon codes to distribute.  Check out how to claim one of them.  Note that today is March 16.  They will probably all be gone in a few days.

Update:  It is March 4, 2023 and the SOCL20 code still works worldwide. It provides a $20 discount on TOEFL test registrations. Use it while you can, folks! 

Update:  Students in India should try BNB20 to get a $20 discount on their TOEFL registration.  I think this one is only good for India, but it could be worth trying if nothing else works.  Let me know in the comments if you can get it to work.  I got it from this weird YouTube video.

Update: Use the code SOCL20 to get a $20 discount.  Again, I don’t know when this code expires and I don’t know how many times it can be used.  I got it from a guy on Facebook.  But it works right now (January 28, 2023) and it seems to be good around the world.

Update: Use the coupon code FB20 to get a $20 discount.  I don’t know when this one expires.  I don’t know how many times it can be used.  I got it from a random dude on Twitter.  But it works right now (January 9, 2023).

Update:  Use the TOEFL coupon code EDUSA30 to get a $30 discount on registrations completed before January 6, 2023.  The test should be completed before November of this year.  Read the terms and conditions.

Update: Use the coupon code TOEFLNEW to get a $30 discount on TOEFL registrations completed before January 4, 2023.  Read the terms and conditions.

Update: Use the coupon code TST30TOEFL to get a $30 discount on TOEFL registrations completed before December 31.  Read the terms and conditions before use.  This one comes from TSTPrep, so be sure to give them some love.  The code can only be used 500 times, so don’t dilly dally.

Update: Use the coupon code TOEFL2023 to get a $30 discount on TOEFL registrations completed before January 4, 2023.  This code is direct from ETS!  It can only be used 1000 times, so don’t delay.  Check out the terms and conditions.

Update: Participants in the EdAgree Virtual University Fair on December 13/15 of this year will receive a TOEFL coupon code.  I recommend signing up even if you don’t plan to attend in person, as the contents will be available online after the fact, and I think the code is sent by email later on.  They will also give away a free TOEFL registration to one lucky participant.  Click to register.

Update: According to the Official TOEFL Facebook page you can use the code GUILIA30 to get a $30 discount on TOEFL registrations completed before December 14.  Be sure to read the terms and conditions. Only 500 people can use the code, so it might not last until December 14.  Use it while you can.

Update: Study in USA will probably give away a $30 code at this free online event on November 30 .  Register now to attend.  If ETS publishes the code on their social media after the fact I’ll share it here as well.  Be sure to follow Study in USA on Eventbrite when you register, as many of their events include a code.

Update: ETS just released a bunch of “Black Friday” coupon codes for the TOEFL iBT.  Students in Brazil, Canada, Colombia, and the United States can save $47 if they register before November 28.    In Brazil, use code TOEFLCYBERBR.  In Canada use TOEFLCYBERCA.  In Colombia use TOEFLCYBERCO and in the United States use TOEFLCYBERUS.  Each can only be used by only 500 people. Click for terms and conditions.

Update: I think that all attendees of the free EdAgree Test Prep Workshop on November 29 will get a $30 coupon code for the TOEFL iBT.   You can find registration details over here.  You probably have to attend (online) to get the code, but I recommend registering even if you don’t plan to attend since it might also be sent via email.  I won’t share the code here unless it goes out on social media.

Update:  According to the Official TOEFL Facebook page you can save $30 by using the coupon code “SPORTS30” if you register before November 18, 2022.  Check out the terms and conditions.

Update:  Study in the USA has a new worldwide code that is valid until October 21.  It isn’t on social media now, so you should visit their site to get it.  Just click and scroll to the end of the article.

Update:  According to ETS Japan, students in Japan can use the coupon codes “ETSJ1026” and “TOFURE1026” to save $46 when they register in October.  I think they have an unlimited number of uses.

Update: According to the Official TOEFL Facebook page, you can use the coupon “COLLEGE30” to get a $30 discount on TOEFL iBT registrations, and “COLLEGE10” to get a $10 discount on TOEFL Essentials registrations.  This will be valid until September 29, or until the maximum number of uses has been reached.  Also be sure to check out the terms and conditions.

Update:  According to the Official TOEFL Facebook page, you can use the coupon code “JULIANA30” to get a $30 discount on TOEFL registrations completed before September 22 of this year.  Be sure to read the terms and conditions.

Update: You can use the coupon code “CHOICE30” to get a $30 discount on TOEFL registrations completed before September 7.  You don’t need to take the test before then… you just need to register for it. Once again, this code comes from a partnership between ETS and Study in the USA, so be sure to check them out.   You should also read the terms and conditions.

Update: You can use the coupon code “JENNIFER30” to get a $30 discount on TOEFL registrations made before August 23.  This code comes from a partnership between ETS and Study in the USA, so be sure to check them out.  You should also read the terms and conditions.

Update: ETS Japan has distributed a bunch of codes for use in Japan.  Try SAYAKA22TOEFL (link) or TOFURE22TOEFL (link) or ETSJ22TOEFL (link) to get $61 off your registration until September 15 (or while supplies last).

Update: You can use the voucher code “DARREN30” to get a $30 discount on TOEFL registrations until July 26, 2022. Just enter the code at the final screen in the registration process. Go ahead and read the terms and conditions over here. This code was provided through a partnership with Study in the USA, so be sure to visit them.

I saw on the official TOEFL Facebook Page that if you enter the promo (voucher) code “VALERIA30” you can get a $30 discount when you register for the test.  This seems to work in all countries and for both the TOEFL iBT and the TOEFL IBT Home Edition.  Note that the stated expiration date is July 14, so use it soon.  Read  the terms and conditions over here.

Canada, Australia Less Popular Among International Students

Posted on by TOEFL Resources

An interesting tidbit from the Australian Financial Review:

“A survey of 11,500 prospective, applied and current students by recruitment firm IDP Education found that there has been a sharp increase in the popularity of the US as news of more restrictive policies in Australia, as well as in Canada and in the UK, have started to influence decisions.

Jane Li, IDP Education’s area director for Australasia and Japan, said the US used to rank last on a preference list of four major student destinations but has now leapt to first. Canada has gone from first to last.”

What does this mean for the business of language testing? Well, you can expect DET’s volume to increase, as you don’t really need a TOEFL, IELTS or PTE score to study in the United States. As I’ve indicated here, I work closely with a decent number of students at very good universities in the USA and most of them applied using DET scores.

Perhaps it means a slight uptick in the use of TOEFL, as that test still has strong associations with schools in the USA.

\In any case, it certainly portends a decline in the use of the IELTS test. I think the importance of Canada to IDP’s business model cannot be overstated.

TOEFL Complaint: Score Cancelled Due to Unauthorized Software

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Someone recently posted a complaint on Reddit.

You can click the image below to read it (and the boilerplate message from ETS) but basically their TOEFL scores were canceled because unauthorized software was detected during the test administration. The test taker is frustrated because the security specialist (proctor) failed to detect or shut down the software during the pre-test check. Their scores were canceled, and no refund was offered.  I’ve written about this many times here on the blog.

In my estimation, this is one of the biggest pain points test takers have experienced since the advent of at-home English testing in 2020. It has also been challenging for test makers because, as you know, bad stories spread very quickly over social media.

A variant of this pain point that was prevalent for the first three years of the at-home TOEFL was what some people dubbed the “insta-cancellation.” In such cases the proctor carried out all of the required pre-test checks. This included remotely accessing the test-taker’s system and manually shutting down unauthorized software. The proctor would then begin the test… which would immediately be terminated due to the detection of unauthorized software. No refund.

Fortunately, the insta-cancellation was entirely eliminated due to changes to the proctoring process introduced at the end of July 2023.

But by that time, reports of this (and similar) problems had already spread quite widely on social media. One could find them quite easily on the typical social media sites… but also on less traditional places like Trustpilot. Heck, once overseas test-takers learned about the BBB, they piled in there to make complaints as well. A bunch of people even left negative reviews on the Google Maps listing for the ETS headquarters in New Jersey. I believe that all of this had a very deleterious impact on the reputation of the at-home TOEFL.

It’s no great surprise that Duolingo’s marketing materials specifically mention their much more generous approach to unauthorized software. I would say that is evidence of some big brains in Pittsburgh, but even I could have figured it out. And, folks, I went to a test-optional university.

I don’t mention this to rag on ETS or to advocate for test takers. I mention it because there are still a lot of people scratching their heads and wondering why the market shifted so quickly, and why both students and institutions were so quick to embrace alternative English tests.  This is one of the reasons.

GregMat Youtube Channel is Offline

Posted on by TOEFL Resources

Some readers might have noticed that GregMat’s YouTube channel is offline.  According to Greg, that’s due to a copyright strike filed by ETS.

If anyone at ETS is reading this, listen up.  You shouldn’t do this sort of stuff.  In order for your tests to thrive you need a vibrant community of Youtubers, prep providers and book authors.  This is especially true when you’ve got a test like the GRE that is on the ropes.  I know, I know, you’re thinking “we don’t need that sort of community because we sent branded bluetooth speakers to some Instagram influencers!”  But seriously, you do need it.  Greg was your very best GRE ambassador, and was quickly becoming your best TOEFL ambassador.  Especially among people in your #1 target demo (young people from India).

Update:  The copyright-striked Vince Kotchian too. So dumb.  The dude was just on “Tests and the Rest” saying decent things about the GRE.