Since I’m on a roll, here’s one more item about TOEFL test takers deserving better.
Back in 2023, the TOEFL program introduced “enhanced score reporting.” This mostly consisted of AI-powered insights about various aspects of test taker performance being added to all TOEFL score reports. It was pretty cool – test takers basically got e-rater and SpeechRater reports for the answers they submitted on test day, covering things like delivery, language use and topic development. Nice, right?
Alas, it was discontinued around the end of 2024.
Sadly, the TOEFL website has not yet been updated to reflect the discontinuation of this feature.
The TOEFL website still promises that “after you take your TOEFL iBT test, you’ll receive more than just a score. TOEFL iBT enhanced score reporting provides you with personalized feedback and performance insights to help you focus future studying efforts and realize your academic dreams. You’ll receive…” And then it lists a bunch of things that are no longer provided.
Needless to say, many people pick an English test based on the information provided by the big test makers. And, of course, the test they pick likely represents a significant financial burden.
For this reason, it is incumbent on test makers to provide information that is as accurate as possible. That’s why I wrote about the Aadhaar Card slipup a few days ago, and about inaccurate pricing information a few days before that.
My friends at ETS might protest that it is hard to update their website because their webserver is a bunch of scantron machines hooked up to a modem. Regardless, they have to put in the effort. Their customers are owed as much.
One more of these stories next week and then I promise I’m done.