Hey Kony,
iBT, CBT, PBT
These are the 3 different types of TOEFL test that exist worldwide and they are similar but slightly different.
The first test to appear was PBT, which was tested at RUPP for a long time and was also for a long time the only version of TOEFL available. This is
Paper Based Test and you do the test by using pen and paper. The sections on this test are Reading, Listening, Sentence Correction and the option of TWE ( the written essay ). Many students used to take this test at RUPP and not have to do the written part of the test as it was only optional and not necessary to get a TOEFL score. Usually only the students who intended to study abroad in the US did the TWE ( writing section ).
This version of the test is still used in Cambodia when you apply for scholarships, such as JDS or the recent Ministry of Finance English language test for the ACCA scholarships. The PBT is easy to administer and easy to mark as the Reading, Listening and Sentence correction sections are either right or wrong.
The PBT became the CBT in some countries in the late 1990's. This is the
Computer Based Test and was basically the PBT but done on a Computer. This version of the test has never been offered in Cambodia. The sections on the test were the same as the PBT and if the student was to do the TWE ( the written essay ) it was necessary to be able to type as the essay needed to be typed into the computer.
The new version of the test,
iBT means Internet Based Test and it is done all on computer using a secure network on the internet. It means that it is now much easier for an institution to become a testing centre and that is why in recent months there have been many schools and institutions offering iBT test as a new test centre. The iBT does not need to be marked on-site and all the students work is sent via the computer via the internet to America to be marked at the ETS Headquarters in New Jersey.
The important point about
iBT is that is is a NEW test and is now much more difficult that both the PBT and CBT. This is because it now tests all the 4 macro-skills, Listening, Reading, Writing and Speaking as compulsory. The sentence correction part of the test has been taken out. The other important thing to note is that iBT TOEFL includes not only independent tasks, but also integrated tasks, and this is what makes it so difficult for second language students.
An independent task is where only one macro-skill is tested, this is similar to IELTS. When you read, you are tested only on the reading you have read and you have to answer questions to check your comprehension of the test. When you Listen, you only have to listen and answer questions, when you speak, you only have to answer the questions relating to speaking. The difficult part of iBT is the integrated task. Here you are asked to do more than one macro skill at the same time. For example, you may read an article, listen to a person giving his opinion and then you either have to write or speak your answer based directly on what you have just read and listened too. This makes iBT a bit tricky as it is difficult to learn skills for dealing with this integrated tasks. It becomes very important to make sure that the TOEFL trainer or teacher has an academic background in order to be able to teach the correct stragegies to deal with this kind of integrated task.
Both the PBT and CBT only had independent tasks. IELTS only has independent tasks. So iBT TOEFL has become a more accurate test of academic English, which is good; but harder in general for most students, so you need to prepare well to get a good score.
Only iBT test is available at all test centres in Phnom Penh these days, so before you spend 140usd to take the test, make sure you are ready and are familiar with all the different parts of the test and the skills you need to get a high score. A good idea is to buy an iBT TOEFL book and practice yourself when you start. This means you can see how hard the test has now become and be clearer about which English language skills and test taking strategies you need to learn about to do well on the test.
Hope that helps,
Keep us updated with your progress and research into iBT on this forum.
Have fun,
Paul
P.S : The 5steps team is currently doing research into iBT and are in the process of writing a new iBT book to help specifically with the integrated tasks part of the iBT. Keep logging into the website or listen to us on the radio to keep up with the latest iBT and IELTS news.
