TOEFL® Experience

[Nicooo]

I took my TOEFL test today and I have to tell you about my experience there. Additionally I want to know whether you had the same experience as I had or if I am a particular case.

I arrived the test center 30 min before reporting time. The reporting time started at 9.30am and all we got was a sheet of paper called "confidentiality agreement".
The test should have started at 10am but it didn't because of some server problems.
As finally all computers were logged in we could start. The staff team led one by one into the testing room. The room was kinda small and had 15 workplaces, each separated with a pasteboard.

Till now anything was fine... I mean it is not a big deal that we had a 15min delay because of the server problems, but as we got to the workplace the misery began.
I was the third in the room and I started my test directly. The only problem was that each of us had to make a 20 sec. microphone check and of course everyone had to ask some question from time to time. So as I was trying to concentrate on my first reading text the other guys were doing their damn microphone check. Due to the small room and the thin pasteboard it was almost not possible for me to concentrate for the first 8 min.

Well after this appr. 8 min I could finally concentrate for a short while.
As I was at the end of the listening passage some guys already arrived the speaking section and what the hell they had to do the microphone check again and afterwards they were speaking like there was nobody who would like to concentrate. I can't blame the other participants, because one of the staff members told us to speak loud and clear!
Trying to listing to the conversation or a class is not easy normally but while someone else is speaking next to you is even more difficult...
As I (finally) arrived the speaking section a bunch of people were talking at the same time. So we were actually talking about the same topic at the same time... that sucks!
To make it short as I was writing the integrated task in the writing section not anyone has finished his speaking section and I still had problems to concentrate.

Now my question, if I pay 200$ or respectively 140€ can I not expect to find some environmental conditions that make it possible to concentrate?
What are your experiences. Was this an exception or is it usual for taking a Toefl test? I talked to the organizer after the test and she told me the ETS says that it would be ok and that you have to take toefl like this.
After all I think the test was “ok” but whatever my result will be I know it could be better and that makes me unsatisfied!

TOEFL listening discussions: Why has the student been taking statistics?

[Gray]

Still reading, pushed the button too early... ;)
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First lesson - English, not english. I, not i. ~A student of English

[Kitosdad]

Good morning Nic, well that sounds like a total fiasco, and considering the fee that you had to pay I would say that it was totally unacceptable. After all the hard work that you have done and the anxiety of waiting to do the test. It is unbelievable.

I truly hope that your performance was sufficient to get you through. It would be a damned shame if it were not so.

Surely there is a body to whom you can complain, although I suppose they would have plenty of excuses.

The biggest laugh is that they call themselves professional.

Hoping for the best for you.

Bill.
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Keep it simple ... Keep it interesting.

[Esl_Expert]

Hello Nicooo,

Tests such as the TOEFL are administered by various different organizations and institutions, and these organizations are not part of ETS. Rather, they have simply received approval from ETS to administer the tests. Therefore, test-taking conditions are bound to vary somewhat from place to place. If the test-taking conditions for your test were grossly inappropriate, complaining to the test administrator will probably do you no good at all. Such people are fairly likely to tell you anything in order to make sure they do not lose their right to administer the test. So, you would be better off sending your complaint directly to ETS: toefl@ets.org

That said, I also think it is important to remember that, in real life, language does not occur in a vacuum. In real life, it is not at all unusual to have to deal with background noise and/or interruptions when reading or writing, and especially when speaking or listening. The ability to communicate in English despite background noise is also a valid indicator of just how good your English actually is.

Another thing to keep in mind is that neither the test administration center nor ETS can possibly have any control over whether the guy sitting next to you happens to have a voice that you personally find distracting.

For some basic information on ETS's policy regarding problems on test day, scroll down to "Problems with Giving the Test" here.

If you do decide to contact ETS directly, I would suggest providing as much detail as possible, and I would also suggest that you not write emotionally. Make it polite and business-like.

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"Education comes from within; you get it by struggle and effort and thought."

[SkiIucK]

Good day, Nicooo.

It's the same everywhere. When I sat for my test, I had similar experiences to yours.

I truly hope you will score well.

Best regards.

[Kitosdad]

ESL expert:- With respect, I think your reasoning in totally laughable.

For the fee that this young person was being asked to pay, they should have been afforded circumstances which permitted them to perform to the very best of their abilities.

By your argument they should have stood them on a box in the city centre and let them make their talk in public. Plenty of distraction there.

For crying out loud ....... They were being TESTED and awarded marks as to their abilities. Is this any way to run a business, and by the sounds of it, a damned profitable one at that? SCANDALOUS!

Kitosdad.
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Keep it simple ... Keep it interesting.

[Gray]

I agree with Bill. If they cannot provide the level of comfort needed for an exam like TOEFL, they should not authorize such centers to conduct the test.

I am surprised to see that ETS.ORG doesn't clearly highlights how to deal with it. Also, there is not a single word on whether they monitor the quality of the test centers or not.
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First lesson - English, not english. I, not i. ~A student of English

[Nicooo]

Thank you for your feedback! I cooled down the last two days, but I still think I got inappropriate test conditions.
I will complain about this circumstances and I'll do it asap. I didn't found the time to write a serious letter/email this weekend, but I'll probably find it tomorrow.

Can I ask you, Kitosdad, to read my email before I send it? I don't want to appear unprofessional by doing to many mistakes.
I don't expect something by sending an email to ETS, but I have at least to tell them what shitty experience I had.

PS: The IELTS test has a separated speaking section. I think this is definitely a better method to ensure a good test.

Good night. :wink:

[Kitosdad]

Can I ask you, Kitosdad, to read my email before I send it? I don't want to appear unprofessional by doing to many mistakes.

Of course you can Nic. PM it to me. I'll be watching for it.

Glad you have calmed down. After all of the many hours work that you put in, I think it was a fiasco.

Bill.
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Keep it simple ... Keep it interesting.

[Nicooo]

For those that are interested, I made a complaint with the help of kitosdad. I haven't got any answer yet, but I'll inform you immediatly after I got the reply.

I've got my result today. It is much better than I ever thought it could be.

Its:
Reading: 28
Listening: 26
Speaking:28
Writing: 24

Total: 106 / 120

Even if I got this result, I still feel confident that those conditions were not appropriate.
I am fortunately done with ETS now.

Nico

[Namcy]

firstly, congratulations nicoo..
I too got my result today..110/120...very happy and satisfied..however, there is one confusing thing..on the actual report, the test name displays TELXML instead of TOEFL..fail to understand that..nicoo, do u have the same term mentioned on your score report?
my scores are

Reading : 25
Listening : 25
Speaking : 30
Writing : 30
Total : 110

Thank you very much Kitosdad for all your help and encouragement..

[Kitosdad]

Namcy, both you and Nico have worked so long and so hard that it would have been a sin not for you both to have attained high marks. I'm sure that both of your parents are so happy and proud of you both, as am I.

My reward is in your success. Very well done, both of you.

Kitos.
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Keep it simple ... Keep it interesting.

[Dzunnie]

my god, after finishing reading your post, i start to be afraid of taking the test
I'' be taking toefl test next month and according to what other people in my country tell me, this happens a lot. It sounds ridiculous that when you are listening someone right next to you speaking out loud but this is reality and i think we should face it

[Esl_Expert]

[Esl_Expert]