Expansion of the TOEFL Policy Council
To further the interests of TOEFL examinees and
educators at secondary schools, Julia To Dutka, Executive Director of the TOEFL Program at
the Educational Testing Service, has announced that for the first time a representative of
secondary education will serve as a member of the TOEFL Policy Council. Eileen Penman,
Counselor and Senior Dean at the American School in London has accepted an appointment to
the Council beginning as of spring 1999. Ms. Penman also chairs the Guidance and
Counseling Committee of the European Council of International Schools (ECIS).
TOEFL Secondary School Advisory Group
Students at secondary schools around the world
account for 30 to 40 percent of all students who take the TOEFL. In addition to this
population's significant size, unique factors characterizing the secondary school
population such as age, mobility, and financial dependence require consideration by the
TOEFL program as it implements new policies and procedures during the transition to
computer-based testing. To respond effectively to the needs of this constituency, the
TOEFL Policy Council has established a Secondary School Advisory Group, composed of
secondary school counselors from domestic and international public and private
institutions (including two ECIS members), college admissions professionals, and staff
from nonprofit educational membership organizations. Coordinated by staff of the TOEFL
Program at ETS, the Advisory Group met in January to develop specific recommendations for
consideration by the Executive Committee of the Policy Council. Two TOEFL Program staff
members have been assigned to work especially with secondary schools. If you have any
questions or comments, contact Eileen Tyson () or Terry Axe ().
TOEFL Bulk Registration for Secondary Schools
To respond to the needs of secondary school
administrators who must register ten or more students to take TOEFL at a computer testing
center, the TOEFL program announces procedures for bulk registration. A school that wishes
to register groups of candidates for the same testing site may do so by submitting bulk
registrations and payments to the appropriate Regional Registration Center. Candidates,
whenever possible, will be scheduled to take the tests in groups within a limited time
frame. Bulk registration requires advance planning, so please be sure to request the bulk
registration forms for fall 1999 testing now. To receive more information and bulk
registration forms contact Pat Dragert via e-mail at pdragert@ets.org or via fax at (609)
279-9146.
ACT to Put Tests On-Line
ACT Inc. is working with computer-technology
company Electronic Data Systems to offer an alternative format for its college admissions,
professional certification, and licensure tests by the end of 1999. ACT, which administers
the ACT, LSAT, and MCAT, among other tests, will provide testing materials and training to
colleges, universities, businesses, and other institutions interested in giving the tests
on-line. The institutions seeking the services will provide the facilities and computer
hardware for administration. Electronic Data Systems is arranging a system to report
scores, assess fees, and monitor security.
For more information, contact the ACT National
Office, 2201 North Dodge Street, P.O. Box 168, Iowa City, IA 52243-0168; Telephone: (319)
337-1000; Fax: (319) 339-3021; Web: .
Introducing the GRE Writing Assessment
The new GRE Writing Assessment will be introduced
in October 1999, offered independently of the GRE General and Subject Tests. The
assessment consists of two complementary analytical writing tasks: a forty-five-minute
"Present Your Perspective on an Issue" task and a thirty-minute "Analyze an
Argument" task. For the first task, test-takers construct an argument by making
claims and providing evidence supporting their position on an issue; for the second, they
critique someone else's argument by assessing its claims and evaluating the evidence it
provides. The Writing Assessment is not a test of specific content knowledge, and there is
no single best way to respond.
The GRE Writing Assessment will be available
year-round at all Educational Testing Service computer-based testing centers. There will
be an option for test takers to handwrite essays. The test will cost $50 for individuals
testing in the United States, U.S. territories, Puerto Rico, and Canada and $60 for
individuals elsewhere.
Visit the GRE Web site at for more information, including sample essays, task
directions, scoring guides and essay reader comments. You may also send e-mail inquiries
and comments to .
Additional information, including test preparation materials, will be forthcoming in GRE
publications and on the GRE Web site.
