Page 6 - TEST BOOK

Implications for Test Takers

The changes made in the TOEFL iBT have important implications for test takers. The TOEFL
iBT is a far more holistic test than earlier forms of the TOEFL, and test takers will have to be
truly proficient in English in order to succeed. In earlier forms of the TOEFL it was possible
to “study for the test.” Specifically, it was possible for students with relatively high grammar
and vocabulary abilities, but with poor communicative abilities, to do relatively well on the
TOEFL. This will no longer be a realistic option. Students who possess poor communicative
abilities in English will have little chance of success on the TOEFL iBT. Therefore, it is
essential to master the fundamentals of English before beginning to study specifically for
the TOEFL iBT. Furthermore, the test also requires the application of English skills to
authentic academic purposes, meaning that good study skills, which exist in any language,
are also important. You most likely already possess these skills, but utilizing them in a
foreign language is far more challenging and requires practice. Specifically, you will need to
be proficient in note taking, paraphrasing, summarizing, and synthesizing information from
multiple sources.

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