TAST

[knok]

I emailed ETS and asked about how the TSE was rated. This was the answerin quote)

"The TSE program does not publish official study materials. In addition
to
utilizing the Sample Test on our web site, you may want to take the
TOEFL
Academic Speaking Test (TAST) for additional practice. TAST evaluates
the
English speaking proficiency of students whose native language is not
English.

TAST:

Provides expert evaluation from ETS, the makers of TOEFL
Builds confidence in academic English speaking skills
Provides essential practice for the speaking section of the next
generation
TOEFL test

All you need is a computer and a telephone to take TAST. Just call a
special
telephone number and take the test over the phone any time. Once the
test is
scored by ETS, you will receive a descriptive score report that can be
viewed on our Web site. Feel free to visit the TAST web site at
http://www.ets.org/tast/learners/index.html for complete information."

Please email or contact ETS directly if you have any question. If anyone uses the services of TAST, please let others know how it goes. Thanks!

For me, I decided to hire a special tutor to improve the speaking and the TSE score. Even though I received the master degree in the US and am getting the second master degree soon, I am stuck with this process.

I have been in the US for 5 years. I speak English at home. I am always nervous to speak with strangers. The culture difference makes me aware of how to give the responses. I always think in 2 layers to answer the TSE questions. It was wrong. I guess that you should make it easy. Give an answer in elementary school level. Do not analyse or try to give scientific answer. Think that you talk to a merchant or cashiers in the supermarket, not to college professors.

[vicki ti-in]

Hello:

Just to give some additional information: TAST is not free. You must purchase a test ID number and that number is good only once. While the TAST is a very good tool to get more specific information on what needs to be improved, you will not receive any specific recommendations on how to effect that improvement.

Knok is absolutely correct in assessing that the TSE is simply conversation. You must practice your conversational skills in English. That is the long and the short of it.

Those that struggle the most with the TSE are those that are familiar, or well versed in academics. They believe that every question deserves a well-prepared, analytical, response. Nothing could be further from the truth. Please witness the thousands who passed TOEFL with excellent scores but fail to pass the TSE. The more intelligent you attempt to be in taking the TSE the lower your score. It is all about your conversational abilities, or skill, and nothing about your intelligence.

Vicki vickii@**************.org