Hello

 

You have received this newletter because you chose to subscribe to it on www.toeic.eu. We thank you for you interest in the TOEIC test and in ETS Europe, and hope that you find this newsletter interesting and informative.

 

In this first issue, you will find the latest news on the TOEIC test. We have also included an article that tells you everything you need to know about the test - why you should take it, how to take it and what you need to keep in mind before taking the test. We have also included a few TOEIC test tips for you, as well as a case-study on how an international company, Bristol Myers Squibb, uses the TOEIC test as a part of its HR processes.

 

So read on to find out more. For information on the TOEIC test, please visit www.toeic.eu .

In this section, we give you a few tips of what to look out for on the TOEIC tests, since it is not always evident what the correct answer should be.

 

Part II - Question response

Tip: Listen for the context of the question

 

(Woman) What time does the training session start?

(Man)

(A) I don’t think it will rain today

(B) Right after lunch

(C) It leaves at eleven

 

Answer

The words "training", "raining" and "train" sound similar. However, the clue is the word "session". Therefore, only choice (B) can be correct.

 

Part III: Short Conversations

Tip: The answer may not be given directly

 

Man: Are you going directly to the airport after the meeting? It would be great if you could give me a ride.

Woman: Sorry, but I’m not leaving until tomorrow. I had to change my flight because I have a meeting tonight with an important client.

Man: That’s OK. I can take the shuttle bus.

Why can’t the woman give the man a ride to the airport?

(A) Her flight was cancelled.

(B) She is staying one more day.

(C) Her car broke down.

(D) The airport is too far.

 

Answer

The woman is not leaving until tomorrow. Therefore, (B) is the best choice.

 

Part V: Incomplete Sentences

Tip: Learn set expressions in English.

 

The hotel is ____________ located near the amusement park and a shuttle bus to the park is provided.

(A) affordably

(B) conveniently

(C) strongly

(D) thoroughly

 

Answer

The expression "conveniently located" is a common expression in English. Therefore, (B) is the best choice.

 

 

Part VI: Error Recognition

Tip: Be careful about the use of indefinite articles.

 

Their lawyer gave them (A) an excellent advice (B) on the wording (C) of the contract (D) with the computer supplier.

 

Answer

Advice is a non-count noun, so it cannot be preceded by an indefinite article. The sentence should read: "Their lawyer gave them excellent advice …". Choice (B) is the best answer.

 

 

Part VII: Reading Comprehension

 

Tip: Determine what is implied in the reading passage.

 

As a frequent guest of the hotel, we are pleased to invite you to enjoy a meal on us by using the enclosed voucher for $50. Redeemable in our restaurant, this coupon is extended to you on your next visit to the hotel and expires on August 30. Valid Sunday through Thursday after 5 pm. Simply present your voucher on being seated at your table and we will deduct $50 from your bill. Voucher cannot be reissued if lost or stolen.

For what can the voucher be used?

(A) Room service

(B) Breakfast

(C) Lunch

(D) Dinner

 

Answer:

The coupon is valid after 5 pm in the restaurant. Therefore, (D) is the best choice.

What is the TOEIC® test?

The Test of English for International Communication™ (TOEIC®) is the world’s leading language proficiency test for business English and is used by over 8,000 organisations worldwide. It provides a reliable and valid measure of an individual’s English language capability.

 

It is not an exam that you pass or fail; rather it is a measure of competency at different levels.

 

Why should I take the TOEIC test?

• It is an internationally recognised and accepted certification, and therefore a valuable credential that facilitates your access to a broader job market
• Test scores are an objective assessment of your level of English proficiency
• If you take a language course to improve your language skills, you can use the TOEIC test to measure the progress that you make

How do I register for a test session?

Access to a TOEIC test is easy. Individuals can take the test under secure conditions at an ETS Europe accredited public test centre. To find a public test centre in your region visit our website. Here you will find a list of centres which offer the TOEIC test at scheduled dates. You can contact a test centre of your choice, with the following details:

• Your name and email ID
• Date on which you want to take the test
• Contact telephone number

You will then be directly contacted by the test centre to register you for a test session.

 

What is the format of the test?

The test itself is a 2-hour multiple-choice paper that consists of 200 questions divided into two sections - Listening and Reading. Candidates are required to respond to each question by marking one of the letters (A), (B), (C), or (D).

 

The Listening section consists of:

• 4 parts containing 100 questions administered by audio cassette or CD
• You will be asked to answer questions based on a variety of statements, questions, and short conversations in English
• Lasts approximately 45 minutes

The Reading section includes:

• 3 parts testing how well you understand written English
• You will read a variety of materials and respond to 100 questions based on the content of the material
• Lasts approximately 75 minutes

At the end of the test session candidates will be given another 30 minutes to complete the TOEIC background questionnaire. Candidates should allow a minimum of 2.5 hours for the whole session.

 

How will I get my scores?

Test papers are returned to ETS Europe for scoring. Scores are determined by the number of correct answers in each section, which is then converted into a scale score. You will be:

• awarded separate marks for the written and oral comprehension sections, as well as a total TOEIC score
• given a score report of your results
• provided with a TOEIC ‘can-do-table’ that can be included with your CV to communicate your TOEIC score (the can-do table is a matrix that allows you to find a fit between your score and job-related tasks)
• Given a TOEIC certificate stating details of your TOEIC score, including date of test

Your scores are directly sent to you. If you take the test as part of a company training programme, your results could be sent to the company instead.

 

What else do I need to know?

Before taking the test, it is mandatory for test takers to read the TOEIC examinee handbook - full test centre procedures and regulations are provided here. You can download a copy of the TOEIC examinee handbook from www.toeic.eu.

 

On test day, bring along an acceptable and valid identification document that carries your signature and photograph; this is necessary to be admitted to the test centre.

 

For more information, as well as a list of ETS Europe test centres in your region, please visit www.toeic.eu.

ETS Europe will be conducting CEF workshops between the 9th and 21st of October, in Berlin, Germany. The objective of the workshops is to benchmark the scores of the TOEFL® iBT (Test of English as a Foreign Language™ internet-Based Testing), the TOEIC® iBT (Test of English for International Communication™ internet-Based Testing), and the TOEIC Bridge tests to the levels of the Common European Framework of Reference (CEF).

 

Participating in this workshop will be professionals from universities, language schools, policy-making bodies and research programmes. They will work together with ETS staff through a judgmental standard-setting process to determine a score range on each test that corresponds to the test performance of candidates whose language skills are at different levels on the Common European Framework. The TOEFL workshop will be held between the 9th and 13th of October, and the TOEIC and Bridge workshops will be held between the 16th and 21st of October.

 

At the completion of the workshop, participants will receive a certificate of attendance.

 

If you are interested in participating in these workshops, please contact us and we will send you the registration form. ETS will cover your travel and accommodation expenses and also arrange for a per diem fee. If necessary, we will help you make travel arrangements to Berlin, and book a hotel room for you in Berlin for the duration of the workshop.

 

After a decade of research and millions of dollars in development, the new Test of English for International Communication (TOEIC) premiered end of May in Japan and Korea. More than 260,000 test takers participated in this historic event.

 

The new test, a redesigned version of the TOEIC, reflects the work of ETS test development experts in both measuring how English is actually used in the business environment, and maintaining the score scale of the current TOEIC test.

 

The new test will be rolled out all over the world, country by country. It is slated to be launched in Europe in the second half of 2007. Meanwhile, the current TOEIC test continues to be valid and an accepted standard of measurement worldwide. All TOEIC versions are equally valid and reliable.

 

"There has been tremendous enthusiasm and excitement about the launch of the new test because it now reflects how people communicate in practical, everyday circumstances," explains Paul Ramsey, Senior Vice President of ETS’s Global Division. "The research we conducted among the businesses and corporations that use TOEIC confirmed they wanted assessments that reflect authentic tasks such as those encountered in the global business environment. We have given them what they wanted."

 

"The changes we’ve made to the TOEIC test will increase the test’s value to individuals seeking success in the international business arena," says ETS President and CEO Kurt Landgraf. "And it will help companies determine whether their employees have the English-communication skills to ensure that success."

 

Listening section enhancements include four major changes:

• a decrease in the number of photograph questions in Part I
• the use of recorded as well as written questions in Part 3 (conversations) and Part 4 (short talks)
• a shift from individual questions to sets of questions in Part 3 (conversations)
• the adoption of different accents of English, as spoken in the U.S., Great Britain, Canada and Australia, in the recording

Reading section enhancements include three major changes:

• the elimination of Part 6 (error recognition questions) of the current TOEIC test
• the addition of passage-based sentence completion questions (Part 6) to sentence completion items (Part 5)
• the inclusion of some reading sets of questions based on two inter-related passages (Part 7)

 

Please note, that the current TOEIC test continues to be valid and reliable and an accepted standard of measurement. All TOEIC versions are equally valid and reliable worldwide.

The new and updated TOEIC Examinee handbook is now available online. The handbook is a must-read for all test takers before they appear for a test session. It contains information on the TOEIC test - the format and the different sections of the test - as well as sample questions. It also contains an FAQ, as well as an example of the background questionnaire that is required to be filled out by each candidate at the test centre.

 

The handbook contains an entire section on "Preparing to take the TOEIC test" that tells candidates how to prepare for the test-taking experience, including which identification documents to bring to the test session, how to answer the test in an efficient manner, etc.

 

It is mandatory for potential test takers to read the handbook prior to taking a TOEIC test. It familiarises them with the test-taking process, reminds them of the different things they need to keep in mind, and thus, reduces stress levels.

 

Download the latest version of the TOEIC examinee handbook.

Challenge: Improving English language skills among management

As a global leader in the pharmaceutical and healthcare industry, Bristol-Myers Squibb Thailand is committed to the development of their staff. A large part of this development includes ensuring that they have the right level of English language skills to communicate with co-workers, clients and vendors globally. As English proficiency was a key requirement for managers, they needed a way to identify the existing skill level in the company and raise it.

 

Solution

Bristol-Myers Squibb chose to use the internationally known and accepted TOEIC test to evaluate and improve the English language skills of managers. Those who do not achieve a minimum score of 700 are required to participate in an in-house English Development Training programme. Every 2 years managers must show evidence of progress made, by re-taking the TOEIC test.

 

Results

Since 1997, Bristol-Myers Squibb Thailand has been using the TOEIC test to develop and raise the English language skills of managers to appropriate levels. The test has been so successful that the company is looking into expanding its usage to include new recruits as well.