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Alexius
Joined: 20 Dec 2006
Posts: 14
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 Posted: Wed Jan 17, 2007 5:01 pm Post subject: TOEFL IBT - Waiting Lists Due to the New System |
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Just a quick heads-up, here.
As I am sure you all know, the new TOEFL IBT is here at last, and the system has changed in weird and wonderful ways.
What isn't so well known is that there are now far fewer places available. The CBT was administered six days a week; the IBT, at the moment, is only available once or twice a week (Fridays & Saturdays). That means the chances of getting a seat for the exam at short notice are considerably slimmer.
According to an e-mail I had in answer to a query I sent to a representative of ETS Europe, candidates ought to be booking their place three to four months in advance to be on the safe side. This is significantly more than it used to be, and folk are getting caught out.
So, check it out (this is the internet - I could be a scare mongering sociopath) and make sure your guys know to book well in advance.
And hey - let's be careful out there!  |
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dmb
Joined: 12 Feb 2003
Posts: 8397
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| Posted: Wed Jan 17, 2007 5:06 pm Post subject: |
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| I haven't been involved in TOEFL(hideous exam) in a few years but is the only place to do the CBT that place in Nisantasi on Rumeli Cad.? Can't remember the name. The trend nowadays seems to be(in my experience) a move away from TOEFL to BULATS... that's why I don't know. |
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Golightly
Joined: 08 Feb 2005
Posts: 877
Location: in the bar, next to the raki
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| Posted: Wed Jan 17, 2007 5:21 pm Post subject: |
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Pah! I spit upon TOEFL and its c.rap listening tests!
*"Mrs. Brown bought a $20 dress for only $10!"
"What does the man imply?"
a) she got a bargain
b) she is a cheapskate charity shop scrounger
c) Mr. Brown wears dresses
d) who gives a tinker's titty?* |
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Alexius
Joined: 20 Dec 2006
Posts: 14
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| Posted: Wed Jan 17, 2007 5:38 pm Post subject: |
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| Quote: |
| I haven't been involved in TOEFL(hideous exam) in a few years but is the only place to do the CBT that place in Nisantasi on Rumeli Cad.? |
Actually, they are moving towards a more decentralised approach; lots of small venues hosted by schools and colleges rather than one big specialised centre.
Problem is there aren't enough of them yet to compensate for the fewer sessions.
Under the old system, there could be as many as 26 sessions per calender month; now, I believe, it is typically four to eight. That is one hell of a discrepancy.
The new exam is worth looking at as it is definite improvement on the CBT; the new integrated writing/speaking, reading and listening sections are especially interesting. That said, it remains a university admissions test, inappropriate for folk learning English for any other walk of life. Unfortunately, its fame has eclipsed all other contenders, so that is that. |
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Golightly
Joined: 08 Feb 2005
Posts: 877
Location: in the bar, next to the raki
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| Posted: Thu Jan 18, 2007 12:37 am Post subject: |
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| Alexius wrote: |
Unfortunately, its fame has eclipsed all other contenders, so that is that. |
Balls. IELTS is rapidly eclipsing it. American universities have (begrudgingly) begun to accept it as the international benchmark, and despite its faults it's significantly superior to TOEFL, as it has a greater emphasis on global academic study skills. It's still not a patch on the FCE and CAE, both of which provide a far more complete and rigorous examination of a student's ability in English, in my opinion. TOEFL is a complete anachronism. In my recent experience, there have only been Turkish students and a handful of people from Hong Kong who have put any worth on it. Everyone else wants IELTS. |
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dmb
Joined: 12 Feb 2003
Posts: 8397
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dmb
Joined: 12 Feb 2003
Posts: 8397
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| Posted: Thu Jan 18, 2007 5:17 pm Post subject: |
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b*gger. I am meeting a new student on Tuesday. The info I have is that she is an elementry student at Koc Uni(in Hazirlik) and has already had 420(I guess on pbt) What does that mean? She wants TOEFL classes. Can anyone fill me in on this IBT nonsense, materials, methodolgy or anything. Also a question for people with Koc experience. Does elem. mean she started at elem in Sept. and has had 4 months of tuition but the class level remains the same name.
I know that ITU had a meeting today with a rep from ETS about the new system but everyone I know there decided to give it a miss.
HELP
I have looked on the website but like the TOEFL exam it isn't too user friendly |
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Golightly
Joined: 08 Feb 2005
Posts: 877
Location: in the bar, next to the raki
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| Posted: Thu Jan 18, 2007 7:34 pm Post subject: |
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420 on PBT is roughly IELTS 4, or to put it another way, just enough English to scrawl your name on a cheque and a contract commiting you to a 3-kur system.  |
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thrifty
Joined: 25 Apr 2006
Posts: 1665
Location: chip van
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| Posted: Sat Jan 20, 2007 1:45 pm Post subject: |
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| do you speak english is looking hard for 50 new units. |
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Alexius
Joined: 20 Dec 2006
Posts: 14
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| Posted: Sat Jan 20, 2007 7:11 pm Post subject: |
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IELTS is in many ways a better exam, but...the guys have to do what is required of them, and that unfortunately is usually TOEFL or one of the atrocious Turkish exams like KPDS.
IELTS is not so well-known out there on the mean streets, so it is seldom requested by institutions or businesses. That's a pity, but there we go.
And, of course, anyone making a bid to work or study in the states is stuck with it. |
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