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rubiagirl · 05-21-2008, 01:13 PM

Hello everybody,

First of all I would like to congrat MaryJane and Machinegy. I'm sure MaryJane that you will get next time the maximum score.

It will be great if you can share with us some tips that you've used on test preparation and/or test exam.

Once again, congratulations and LadyJane

.

actustat · 05-21-2008, 01:30 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by machinegy

After reading LadyJane's post, I found out the score was available. I was so nervous to see it, so I took my contact lenses out and looked at the screen with my eyes almost closed to see the individual numbers one by one. But wow. I couldn't believe my eyes because the score was much higher than I had expected. As I mentioned earlier in the post, I thought I did terrible on the test. I was nervous and distracted because it was my first test, too. Anyways, long story short I am so very thankful for the result I've got.

R: 29 L: 28 S: 29 W 29 Total: 115

I am lucky to find this website and get much much information.
I thank you all and I really do.
I will try to post up the tips I've used soon evenif they may not be too helpful.
You guys are the best!

Congratualtions machinegy your scores are excellent. I gave the TOEFL on May 9th and I'm very tense about my results as I could not complete my reading passage and missed out the last question (worth 2 points) in two passages..I am very very tense and need a score above 100...I think the other sections were ok...Not sure about speaking though.Had fumbled a little on the first question..

Trav · 05-21-2008, 02:03 PM

Congrats all who scored high... You all deserved it!!!!

I have some reservations..... We have evidenced many people receiving great scores in late April & early May 2008. I am not going to disclose my scores here for personal reasons, but I think in the long run the great scores we are seeing right now are going to disappear. I'm trying to convince myself that ETS might have validated the scoring mechanism for TOEFLiBT, but my inner gut instinct guides me that this thing might not be long lasting as few days from now we will see people complaining about their results. I have been there and done that, so I understand what this is all about. To prove my point go to page 5 of ETS' score data report (link below) to get information about the realities on the ground. 89th percentile rank for the 26 speaking score is unbelievably high. This is a language test, not an Aerospace Engineering test.

Here's the link for ETS score data summary report for TOEFLiBT for the year 2007. http://www.ets.org/Media/Research/pdf/71943_web.pdf

My personal experience with TOEFLiBT is that in order to be among the "blessed" 89th percentile, you need to attempt the test at the right time... How would you know that this is the right time? NOBODY KNOWS!!!!!. If you happen to attempt the test at the wrong time, you will never score high NO MATTER WHAT. To prove my point again, try to register for the test in July and see how much you're gonna score. This is a language test.. It shouldn't be handled this way.

FYI, TOEFLiBT is losing popularity. Many colleges & universities are now accepting IELTS as an alternative english proficiency test. Check IELTS website for info about the number of US institutions that have accepted IELTS for this year alone.. You will not believe your eyes

Stay tuned for more news regarding the sudden death of TOEFLiBT....

Solved · 05-21-2008, 02:17 PM

I got my scores too! No more waiting! 30-29-30-29, so total 118. I'm very pleasantly surprised!

rubiagirl · 05-21-2008, 03:42 PM

Hello Solved!

First of all congratulations!

Could you please provide us with some advice regarding test preparation?

Thank you!

Solved · 05-21-2008, 03:59 PM

I'm afraid I can't help too much. I just tend to do well on standardized tests. On that regard, though, I think that the key is to analyze enough tests until you really understand what they want from you, and focus on that. Many times the choices in, say, the reading section did not make absolute sense to me (I was leaning towards more than one, which is why I posted here originally worrying about the first reading passage), but what helped me was to have a clear image of the test. E.g. the answers that seem a little too harsh or too negative are not correct, they always assume that the author is inherently nice. So if you can be aware of what the test wants from you and how it works internally, you'll be one step ahead.

I wouldn't recommend the book that I used to prepare (Cambridge), it was merely adequate.

LadyJane · 05-21-2008, 04:16 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Solved

I got my scores too! No more waiting! 30-29-30-29, so total 118. I'm very pleasantly surprised!

congrats, you are the best!
mashinegy such a good job!
thanks rubaigirl, testprep

machinegy · 05-21-2008, 11:45 PM

Quote:

Congrats all who scored high... You all deserved it!!!!

I have some reservations..... We have evidenced many people receiving great scores in late April & early May 2008. I am not going to disclose my scores here for personal reasons, but I think in the long run the great scores we are seeing right now are going to disappear. I'm trying to convince myself that ETS might have validated the scoring mechanism for TOEFLiBT, but my inner gut instinct guides me that this thing might not be long lasting as few days from now we will see people complaining about their results. I have been there and done that, so I understand what this is all about. To prove my point go to page 5 of ETS' score data report (link below) to get information about the realities on the ground. 89th percentile rank for the 26 speaking score is unbelievably high. This is a language test, not an Aerospace Engineering test.

Here's the link for ETS score data summary report for TOEFLiBT for the year 2007. http://www.ets.org/Media/Research/pdf/71943_web.pdf

My personal experience with TOEFLiBT is that in order to be among the "blessed" 89th percentile, you need to attempt the test at the right time... How would you know that this is the right time? NOBODY KNOWS!!!!!. If you happen to attempt the test at the wrong time, you will never score high NO MATTER WHAT. To prove my point again, try to register for the test in July and see how much you're gonna score. This is a language test.. It shouldn't be handled this way.

FYI, TOEFLiBT is losing popularity. Many colleges & universities are now accepting IELTS as an alternative english proficiency test. Check IELTS website for info about the number of US institutions that have accepted IELTS for this year alone.. You will not believe your eyes

Stay tuned for more news regarding the sudden death of TOEFLiBT....

not trying to argue with you or offend your idea but...sounds like you're trying to say that the score we've got could be more of a luck rather than some pure skills..meaning if we're to take one in june or july, it's almost guaranteed that we'll do poorer?

Trav · 05-22-2008, 01:41 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by machinegy

not trying to argue with you or offend your idea but...sounds like you're trying to say that the score we've got could be more of a luck rather than some pure skills..meaning if we're to take one in june or july, it's almost guaranteed that we'll do poorer?

Machinegy,

I didn't intend to offend anybody. If you read my posting you'll note that I started by congratulating everybody who passed the test and said they deserved it. If you read further down you will see that I was trying to explain my experience with iBT that not many capable candidates actually score the grades that trully reflect their English skills. Yes, it is a matter of chance to attempt the test at the right time when a couple of guys score miraculously. I've been following the passing trend that's why I said we should not expect people attempting the test in July to score like those who did last month unless ETS validates iBT scoring.

If you look at the passing trend you will realize that fewer candidates acquire the passing score of 26 in the speaking section by the years. In 2006, a speaking score of 26 was on the 86th percentile; Last year, it was 89th. This is the reason why I'm skeptical that this trend will continue. I hope you understand what I'm trying to say. To prove my point, I would like to request you to come back to this website two months from now and observe the reaction from future test takers. No offense!!

machinegy · 05-22-2008, 03:46 AM

Thank you for clalifying your point, Trav. I knew your intention was not directed to offend any of us in the first place. It's just that I was curious if the score I've got truly reflects my performance correctly. I understand your points regarding the trend and do agree with you on how ETS may fail to evaluate one's true linguistic skills. Anyway, great observation and analysis! No offense was intended here, either.

05-21-2008, 02:03 PM	#33 (permalink)
Trav Within my grasp! Join Date: Jan 2007 Posts: 100	Congrats all who scored high... You all deserved it!!!! I have some reservations..... We have evidenced many people receiving great scores in late April & early May 2008. I am not going to disclose my scores here for personal reasons, but I think in the long run the great scores we are seeing right now are going to disappear. I'm trying to convince myself that ETS might have validated the scoring mechanism for TOEFLiBT, but my inner gut instinct guides me that this thing might not be long lasting as few days from now we will see people complaining about their results. I have been there and done that, so I understand what this is all about. To prove my point go to page 5 of ETS' score data report (link below) to get information about the realities on the ground. 89th percentile rank for the 26 speaking score is unbelievably high. This is a language test, not an Aerospace Engineering test. Here's the link for ETS score data summary report for TOEFLiBT for the year 2007. http://www.ets.org/Media/Research/pdf/71943_web.pdf My personal experience with TOEFLiBT is that in order to be among the "blessed" 89th percentile, you need to attempt the test at the right time... How would you know that this is the right time? NOBODY KNOWS!!!!!. If you happen to attempt the test at the wrong time, you will never score high NO MATTER WHAT. To prove my point again, try to register for the test in July and see how much you're gonna score. This is a language test.. It shouldn't be handled this way. FYI, TOEFLiBT is losing popularity. Many colleges & universities are now accepting IELTS as an alternative english proficiency test. Check IELTS website for info about the number of US institutions that have accepted IELTS for this year alone.. You will not believe your eyes Stay tuned for more news regarding the sudden death of TOEFLiBT.... Last edited by Trav : 05-21-2008 at 02:34 PM.

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05-21-2008, 01:13 PM	#31 (permalink)
rubiagirl Trying to make mom and pop proud Join Date: Apr 2008 Posts: 11	Hello everybody, First of all I would like to congrat MaryJane and Machinegy. I'm sure MaryJane that you will get next time the maximum score. It will be great if you can share with us some tips that you've used on test preparation and/or test exam. Once again, congratulations and LadyJane .

05-21-2008, 02:17 PM	#34 (permalink)
Solved Trying to make mom and pop proud Join Date: May 2008 Posts: 24	I got my scores too! No more waiting! 30-29-30-29, so total 118. I'm very pleasantly surprised!

05-21-2008, 03:42 PM	#35 (permalink)
rubiagirl Trying to make mom and pop proud Join Date: Apr 2008 Posts: 11	Hello Solved! First of all congratulations! Could you please provide us with some advice regarding test preparation? Thank you!

05-21-2008, 03:59 PM	#36 (permalink)
Solved Trying to make mom and pop proud Join Date: May 2008 Posts: 24	I'm afraid I can't help too much. I just tend to do well on standardized tests. On that regard, though, I think that the key is to analyze enough tests until you really understand what they want from you, and focus on that. Many times the choices in, say, the reading section did not make absolute sense to me (I was leaning towards more than one, which is why I posted here originally worrying about the first reading passage), but what helped me was to have a clear image of the test. E.g. the answers that seem a little too harsh or too negative are not correct, they always assume that the author is inherently nice. So if you can be aware of what the test wants from you and how it works internally, you'll be one step ahead. I wouldn't recommend the book that I used to prepare (Cambridge), it was merely adequate.

05-22-2008, 03:46 AM	#40 (permalink)
machinegy Trying to make mom and pop proud Join Date: Apr 2008 Posts: 13	Thank you for clalifying your point, Trav. I knew your intention was not directed to offend any of us in the first place. It's just that I was curious if the score I've got truly reflects my performance correctly. I understand your points regarding the trend and do agree with you on how ETS may fail to evaluate one's true linguistic skills. Anyway, great observation and analysis! No offense was intended here, either.

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