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.