Posted by TCYonline.com on June 1, 2010
What: The TOEFL is now the most widely recognised English-language assessment worldwide with more than 7,500 colleges and universities in more than 130 countries (including the US, Canada, UK and Australia accepting it as an accurate and comprehensive measure to assess the English-language proficiency of non-native speakers.
About the test
The TOEFL test is the only English-language assessment that incorporates both human and automated scoring to provide a fair and valid measure of an applicant’s ability to communicate in English. Moreover, every TOEFL test is scored by a network of reviewers who are continuously monitored to ensure objective and reliable scores.
The TOEFL test is available at more than 4,500 test administration sites in 165 countries. Students can now receive their scores online within two weeks, making the testing process more efficient and user friendly.
A complete listing of the more than 7,500 colleges and universities that currently accept TOEFL scores can be found at the TOEFL Destinations Directory (http://ets.org/Media/Tests/TOEFL/pdf/univ0708.pdf). More information regarding the TOEFL test, including registration, study tips, and sample questions, is available on the TOEFL Go Anywhere website (http://www.toeflgoanywhere.org/).
Source: http://getahead.rediff.com
Posted by TCYonline.com on August 25, 2008
Mr. Kevin McLaven
Practice is the key to good band-scores and Indian students should make frequent use of the English language to improve their communication skills, says British Council’s IELTS head in India, Mr. Kevin McLaven, in an exclusive interview with TCYonline.com, the largest teacher-student platform in the country. Mr. McLaven is the First Secretary (Education Services), British Council Division, British High Commission, New Delhi.
Excerpts from the interview:
Q. Do you think the present system of testing English language skills is effective enough in view of the changing education scenario, with the coming in of the Internet?
Ans: The standards, marking and monitoring of IELTS have been formalized after extensive worldwide research. Research is continuous and ongoing and the partners invest heavily in ensuring that the test standards are effective in measuring the true-to-life English language proficiency of the candidate and suit the needs of receiving institutions. The face-to-face speaking test, which sets IELTS apart from competitor tests, is widely recognized as the most effective indicator of an individual’s oral communication ability.
As the fastest growing test of English language competency in the world and with over a million people taking the test every year, the position of IELTS as market leader is testimony to its continued relevance. Today, more than 6,000 education institutions, faculties, government agencies and professional organisations around the world recognize IELTS scores as a trusted and valid indicator of ability to communicate in English.
Recognitions from the US institutions has mushroomed in recent years and today IELTS is recognised by over 1,700 US universities and professional bodies including all Ivy League institutions.
Candidates can take either the pen or paper or the computer-based version of the test depending on the version they are most comfortable with.
Q. How soon are you going to phase out the pen and paper methodology?
Ans: We plan to continue with the pen and paper version of the test for the foreseeable future.
Q. There is a common misconception among test aspirants in India that the British Council exam is tougher as compared to that of IDP Australia. What you have to say?
Ans: Globally there is just one IELTS test and there is no such thing as a “British Council IELTS” or “IDP IELTS”. On a given test date, candidates write answers to the exact same question paper irrespective of whether the test is administered by British Council or IDP. The question paper is the same for all cities not only across India but across several other Asian countries. British Council and IDP are two of the three partners whose responsibility it is to manage or administer the test. The third partner is University of Cambridge. The administration, marking and examiner monitoring policies are the same globally.
Q. Students are also of the belief that the British Council marking is strict.
Ans: The marking policy is the same globally and independent of whether the test is administered by British Council or IDP. Monitoring of the results of Indian candidates by Cambridge ESOL has demonstrated that there is no statistically significant difference in the band scores of candidates taking the test with British Council and IDP.
Q. Out of the four IELTS modules, the Indian students find Reading the toughest. How they should tackle this problem?
Ans: All the modules are set at a same level of difficulty. If a candidate finds a particular module or section difficult then one needs more practice in that section. The free preparatory material provided by British Council on registration should help in this regard.
Q. What about the introduction of point five bands in Writing and Speaking modules? Students have a strong feeling that since the time this system has been introduced, not many students are able to meet their requirement of getting 7 bands in each module. Why not scrap this new system?
Ans: The half band scoring in Writing and Speaking was introduced following feedback from receiving institutions that they would like a more accurate measure of a candidate’s abilities in these areas. Analysis of candidates’ results has shown that there has been no statistically significant change in candidates’ scores after the introduction of the half bands in Writing and Speaking.
Q. Sometimes a student has to appear many times to meet his requirement in each module, why not consider his previous result while preparing his new one?
Ans: Although currently, there is no facility for candidates to take modules independently of one another, it is up to the receiving institutions as to how they use the results.
Q. Is it possible to issue more than one TRF to students as sometimes they have to apply for more than one university?
Ans: British Council sends up to 5 TRFs free of cost to receiving institutions. A nominal charge is levied if candidates want to send their TRF to more than five universities or if they inform us of the names of the institutions after the test date.
Q. How can Indian students improve their English language and communication skills?
Ans: Practice and frequent use of the language will help candidates in this regard. Taking classes (not just IELTS preparation but courses to improve their overall communication skills) at a reputable training institute will also be beneficial.
Q. Do you have any message for Indian test aspirants?
Ans: Practice for the test but also aim to develop those skills where you are less strong. Think of your preparation not just as a means of getting the desired band score but as a life long investment to enable you to become a more effective communicator in English
Posted by TCYonline.com on June 11, 2008
Study in the United Kingdom may be expensive but it is the best in the world, says Mr. Dan Chugg, the First Secretary and the official spokesman of the British High Commission in New Delhi, in recent exclusive phone-interview with TCYonline.com.
We also spoke to Ms. Gurpreet Wadhera, Head, English Programs at BetterThink, Ludhiana, the language division of Top Careers & You (TCY), an education company with 34 centres in North India.
These experts throw light on various issues concerning a prospective Indian student desiring to pursue his/her studies in the land of the Cambridge and the Oxford.
Q 1. How much weightage do you give to the Indian education from the visa point of view?
DAN CHUGG: A degree from an Indian university is as good as one from any other country and we give it the same weightage. For example, under the points system, students get points for having a (graduation) degree or a post-graduation degree. He gets the same amount of points as he gets from the Indian university or from the British or French university. Well, our eligibility criteria are very simple. If somebody comes to us with a letter saying he has been accepted by a UK university, got a place to stay and have a proof of enough funds, he is given a student visa.
Q 2. Is work experience mandatory for students pursuing their MBA after graduation?
DAN: It entirely depends on the course. Some courses would expect a student to have a work experience before going for an MBA study. On the other hand, some MBAs in the UK are deliberately designed for mid-career professionals but other MBAs would be free to take students straight from the university.
Q 3. How does the knowledge of English language affect a student’s job prospects in Britain?
DAN: I think, firstly it affects him as a student. To be able to study in the UK he must have a sufficient knowledge of English to enable him take the course. If his English is very poor then it would be very difficult for him to get the required qualifications. Following that, if he is looking for a job it would depend on what kind of job he will be doing and how good his English needs to be. For some jobs he needs to speak perfect English and for others English may not be that important.
GURPREET WADHERA: It is pertinent for a student to have a good knowledge of the English language. He should be really good at all the four modules — Reading, Writing, Listening and Speaking. No wonder, the High Commission wants a student to show a good English proficiency by requiring him to clear an IELTS test. A good preparation is the key. I always advise my students to visit TCYonline.com for free online practice tests and IELTS strategies to improve their command over the language and thereby obtain a good band score.
Q. 4. How far is the British accent important for jobs in the UK?
DAN: I don’t think the British accent is important at all. It is important that he should be able to communicate well.
GURPREET: The Indians have a neutral accent which is accepted universally. An ability to communicate well in English is more important. Accent can be developed later when the student starts living in that country.
Q 5. Is IELTS compulsory for everybody? Does the UK accept TOEFL score as well?
DAN: For an admission into a UK education institution, they (universities) need a proof that an Indian student can speak appropriate English. But if the university doesn’t set any minimum standard, we would expect the student to have at least the level of IELTS of 5.5 minimum score or an equivalent level to that. It would be fine if he has a TOEFL score instead. We have set the standard and if he is not able to score, we feel that he won’t be able to complete the course. So, we don’t give him a visa.
GURPREET: IELTS basically is a test of English language that proves the proficiency of a candidate in this language. It is mandatory for a native of any non-English speaking country if he wants to live in the UK at any status. A minimum 5.5 band score is accepted to go to the UK. This score proves the minimum level of understanding of this language that helps the student communicate and complete his studies. TOEFL is also accepted by some of the universities.
Q. 6. Are any scholarships available for bright Indian students who may not be financially that strong?
DAN: Yes, there are lots of scholarships available from universities who have their independent scholarship schemes. So, it would be appropriate for the students to try and find out what types of scholarships are available for them. The British Government also offers a few scholarships. It has got the Chevening scholarship scheme, a very prestigious scheme for very outstanding candidates; a scholarship from the Cambridge university, and there are also some Commonwealth scholarships.
GURPREET: Definitely, scholarships are available for intelligent candidates. Students can check with the University for the Scholarships available and their eligibility criteria.
Q. 7. Can students go for a part-time job along with their studies? If yes, how easy or difficult it is for a student to find a job in your country?
DAN: A student can work part-time in the UK if he is studying for more than six months. He can work for up to 20 hours a week and full-time during vacations. Regarding how easier it is to find a job, depends where he is living, what kind of job he is looking for, and how skilful he is. So, it very much depends on the situation. Any types of jobs are available. For a post-graduate student there can be lecturing or tutoring at his university. Students with very specialized skills like IT and business professionals can get high-level jobs during vacations in city companies. Undergraduates can get those kinds of jobs generally the British citizens do during vacations.
GURPREET: Students can work part-time if they are enrolled for a course for duration of more than six months. Different jobs are available for undergraduate and graduate students. If a student has the skill level that is in demand in that particular area he is living in, it won’t be difficult for him to find a suitable job
Q.8. Which universities and courses are in high demand these days?
DAN: I think it varies from university to university. It is very difficult to say if one course is in high demand. While it is also true that some of the universities like Oxford, Cambridge and Kings College London, etc. are in high demand. On the other hand, some lesser known universities offer very good education and extremely good courses. And admission into them is not quite difficult. In the UK you can take an admission to any course you want to, provided, of course, you qualify for it. The courses cover absolutely everything imaginable, from Law to Engineering to Medicine to media studies to Journalism, etc.
GURPREET: There are various universities offering a number of courses. It won’t be right to say that some particular courses are more in demand in the UK. This depends on the student which course he wants to go in and also the kind of skill set he wants to develop in himself.
Q. 9. Don’t you think the recent immigration law changes are ‘too scary’ for oversees students?
DAN: I don’t think why it should be. The recent immigration changes should have made it in fact less scary, more transparent and easier. If you go to the website (www.ukvisas.gov.uk) will come to know about the criteria you need to fulfill before applying for Visa. People get an idea whether they would be able to fulfill those criteria or not.
GURPREET: The UK immigration demands for a minimum level of English language so that the prospective immigrants are able to work and understand that culture well. I think things are quite clear and transparent under the new system. Before applying for immigration to the UK, the candidate can well assess whether he is eligible for immigration or not.
Q. 10 How easy or difficult it is to settle down (permanent residency) in Britain?
DAN: You can’t get a permanent residency just because you been a student there. You have to have lived in the UK as a worker on a work-permit for a right number of years before you get a settlement visa. Your time spent as a student doesn’t count towards those years…Well, it is unlikely that a student qualify for a permanent residency. First he has to apply for a work permit. He has to work in the UK for several years before he can apply for residency…Currently, students can get one year work-permit, after they finish their studies, but as of this summer this is going to change. Now the students will get a two-year work-permit.
Q. 11. How would you rate the UK, the US and Australia from the student’s perspective?
DAN: Well, the UK has some of the very best universities in the entire world. Going by the recent rankings of global universities, three of the top five universities of the world are in the UK. If you look at some of the universities by the subject-area, the UK is very top on the list. There is no doubt that the UK has some of the very best universities in the world. From a student’s perspective, if you want a very high quality education, they are nowhere nearly comparable with the UK. Some people are concerned that the UK is expensive and they can get cheaper education elsewhere. I must say, if you really want good education probably the UK is the best. We still offer more student visas than the Australians issue every year — issued 23,000 student visas last year. It is true that Australia is growing in importance for the Indian students, but one of the reasons is it is cheaper to study in Australia than the UK. Slightly more students go to the USA than the UK may be because it is a bigger country and has more universities….
Q. 12. What’s your experience, do you think the Indian students assimilate well into the UK culture?
DAN: We find that of all the students in the UK, those of the Chinese and the Indian origin do better than anybody else. And that includes the people who have been brought up in the UK. They contribute a huge amount … they are very able students and very hard-working and give very good results in the end.
Q. 13 Do you have any message for Indian students planning to pursue their studies in Britain?
DAN: My message to the Indian students would be to do a lot of preparation in advance. They should make sure to know what courses the universities are offering. Look for the sources of funding and available scholarships at the British Council website. I suggest the students to leave lots of time to apply for the courses, funding, visa and booking a flight because there are a lot of processes to go through.
