iBT

3rd December
This is an interesting document from ETS about the iBT exam. It gives you information on the format of the test (page 8) as well as tips on how to answer each section (pages 31-35), criteria for awarding marks in speaking and writing (pages 46-48). Take a little time to look at it.

There is also an interesting iBT tour [|here].

1st December
I have been asked to put some essay titles on the wikispace. You will find them below.

In this integrated essay question, you will be asked to read a short passage from a textbook and then listen to part of a short lecture about the same topic. The ideas in the textbook and the lecture will not agree. After you read the question, you write an essay that included information from both the reading and the lecture.
 * Integrated question 1**

You will have 20 minutes to plan, write and revise your esay. Typically, a good reponse will require that you write 150-225 words.


 * Read this passage**

In his classic book //The Interpretation of Dreams// published in 1900, Sigmund Freud identified wish fulfillment as the origin of many dreams. For example, a student who is concerned about taking an important exam may dream about the exam, or, more likely, some type of symbol for the exam will appear in a dream. Since thoughts must be translated into concrete images, dereams are expressed in pictures rather than in words. Freud advanced the notion of dream symbols, that is, images with deep symbolic meaning in the case of the exam, it might be expressed as an obstacle or a hurdle in a race. In the case of reams whils sleeping, they offer a compromise, that is, a way for the wish to be expressed safely.

According to Freud, dreams can be viewed as a way to reaveal the unconscious. To that end, there are tw levels to every dream, including themanifest content, which is obvious and direct, and the latent content, which is symbolic. To return to the example of the student's dream, the manifest content would be the hurdle in the race, but the latent content would be the exam that is in the dreamer's subconscious. Because some whishes and desires are too disturbing or too socially inappropriate to surface from the unconscious to the conscious mind, the symbols that are employed may make the wish difficult to expose. The student may actually want to cheat in order to succed on the exam but in a dream borrowing a friend's book may be a more acceptable way to express that desire. In a sense, the dream serves to protect the mind from a conflict in the unconscious.


 * Listen to this recording**

Sorry. I can't upload the file!! Please get them from me on Thursday.

Essay question: Summarize the main points in the lecture, contrasting them with the ideas in the reading passage.

In this independent essay question, you will be asked to write an essay about a familiar topic. This may be a place, a person, a possession, a situation, or an occasion. After you read the question, you will state your opinion and then explain why you have that opinion.
 * Independent essay 1**

You will have 30 minutes to plan, write, and rivis your essay. Typically, a good response will require that you write a minimum of 300 words.

Some students apply for admission only to their first-choice school, while others apply to several schools. Which plan do you agree with, and why? Be sure to include details and examples to support your opinion.
 * Task**
 * state your opinion
 * explain the reasons for your opinion
 * Question**

In this integrated essay question, you will be asked to read a short passage from a textbook and then listen to part of a short lecture about the same topic. The ideas in the textbook and the lecture will not agree. After you read the question, you write an essay that included information from both the reading and the lecture.
 * Integrated question 2**

You will have 20 minutes to plan, write and revise your esay. Typically, a good reponse will require that you write 150-225 words.


 * Read this pasage**

According to the neular hypotheses, between 4 and 5 million years ao, a large cloud of dust and gas collected around the region in which the current solar system is positioned. Although similar clouds of dust and gas referred to as nebulae are relatively common and may be found throughtout the galaxy, in this cloud as much as 99 percent of the material consisted of hydrogen and helium, and all other naturally occurring elements were also included in small proportions.

Gravity initiated a collapse in the cloud, which in turn caused it to spin rapidly. This spinning resulted in a disk shape with a rounded middle and flat edges. Random regions exerted a stronger gravitational pull and solid elements gegan to connect and, ultimately, to break apart into small objects called planetesimais ranging in size from a few feet to a few miles. As these planetesimais collided and captured each other, distinct masses concentrated in areas approximately where the planets are now found.

At the same time that the planets were forming, the Sun began to transform itself into a star. The star, which had retained almost 99 percent of the nebula's original mass, radiated light and heat. The planets nearest the center, which we call the terrestrial planets, were formed from materials that did not disintegrate at higher temperatures, wheras the planets farther away, called the Jovian planets, contained virtually the same mix of helium, hydrogen, and trace elements as the original nebula and were able to condese at much lower temperatures. Asteroids and comets were also swirling around the system, including matter that was not collected by collision with a planet or the graviational pull of a planet. The fact that the orbits of all the planets lie near the same plane is further evidence of the solar system's rapid rotation when the nebular cloud began to flatten out.

You will need to get this from me, I have not been able to upload it.
 * Listen to the recording**

In this independent essay question, you will be asked to argue both sides of an issue an then take a stand for one side.
 * Independent essay 2**

You will have 30 minutes to plan, write, and rivis your essay. Typically, a good response will require that you write a minimum of 300 words.

Some students like to take distance-learning courses by computer. Other students prefer to study in traditional clasroom settings with a teacher. Consider the advantages of both options, and make an argument for the way that students should organize their schedules.
 * Question**


 * This is the iBT page**

http://www.ets.org/portal/site/ets/menuitem.1488512ecfd5b8849a77b13bc3921509/?vgnextoid=bcc6ba9623546110VgnVCM10000022f95190RCRD&vgnextchannel=4d71a1e13bf36110VgnVCM10000022f95190RCRD

You should also have a look at [|this site] where you will also find some practice tests.

Timetable for the TEOFL iBT
4-6 lectures with 6 questions each || 60-90 mins || 4 integrated tasks || 20 mins || 1 independent task - 300 to 350 words || 20 mins 30 mins ||
 * Test Section || Questions || Time ||
 * Reading || 3-5 passages with 12-14 questions || 60-100 mins ||
 * Listening || 2-3 conversations with 5 questions each
 * BREAK ||  ||   ||
 * Speaking || 2 independent tasks
 * Writing || 1 integrated task - 150 to 225 words

3 - Speaking
During the test you will be presented with **6 speaking** questions.

You may make notes as you listen, but these are not graded. Some questions ask for a response to a reading passage and a talk or a lecture. The reading passages and the questions are written, but most of the directions will be spoken.

Your speaking will be evaluated on bothe the **fluency** of the language and the **accuracy** of the contenct. You will have 15-20 seconds to prepare and 45-60 seconds to respond to each question. A good answer will require the full response time.

Listening - question - preparation time: 15 secs - recording time: 45 secs Reading time: 45 secs - listening to a student - question - preparation time: 30 secs - recording time: 60 secs Reading time 45 secs - listening to a lecture - question - preparation time: 30 secs - recording time: 60 secs Listen to a short conversation - question - preparation time: 20 secs - recording time: 60 secs Listen to part of a lecture - question - preparation time: 20 secs - recording time: 60 secs
 * 3.1- Independent speaking**
 * Integrated speaking (reading and listening)**

Trained markers listen to each of the speaking reponses listening for: language level; answering the question. Each answer is assigned a number of 0-4. The scores for all six responses are averaged and converted to a total section score 0-30.
 * 3.2 - How is the speaking section scored?**

The talk answers the topic question. The point of view or position is clear. The talk is driect and well-organised. The sentences are logically connected. Details and examples support the main idea. The speaker expresses complete thoughts. The meaning is easy to comprehend. A wide range of vocabulary is used. There are only minor errors in grammar. The talk is within a range of 125-150 words.
 * The marker is looking for the following characteristics**:

4 - Writing
During the test you will write two essays.

4.1 - The **integrated essay** askes for your response to an academic reading passage and a lecture on the same topic. You may take notes as you read and listen, but notes are not graded. You may use your notes to wrote the essay. The lecture will be spoken, but the directions and the questions will be written. You will have **20 minutes** to plan, write and revise your response. A good **integrated essay** topic answer will require that you write **150-225 words**.

The **independent essay** usually asks for your opinion about a familiar topic. You will have 30 minutes to plan, write and reise your repsonse. A good **independent essay** topic answer will require that you write **300-350 words.**

Trained markers read your essays and assign them a number 0-5. If there is disagreement about your score, a team leader will also read your essays. The scores for each essay are combined and converted to a section score 0-30
 * 4.2 - How is the writing section scored?**

The essay answers the topic question. Inaccuracies in the content are minor. The essay is direct and well-organised. The sentences are logically connnected. Details and examples support the main idea. The writer expresses complete thoughts. The meaning is easy to comprehend. A wide range of vocabulary is used. The writer paraphrases **in his/her own words**. The writer credits the author with wording. Errors in grammar and idioms are minor. The academic topic essay is within a range of 150-225 words.
 * The marker is looking for the following characteristics:**