The iBT and How It’s Different from the PBT | Magoosh TOEFL Blog
A few years ago, most TOEFL testing centers switched from a paper-based test or computer-based test to an Internet-based test, called the iBT. The PBT is now offered in relatively few countries: Afghanistan, Angola, American Samoa, or Aruba, Barbados, Belize, Bhutan, Brunei Darussalam, Burkina Faso, Burundi, Chad, Comoros, Congo, Democratic Republic of the Congo, Djibouti, Eritrea, Fiji, Gaza Strip, Iraq, Kazakhstan, Kyrgyzstan, Liberia, Libya, Madagascar, Malawi, Maldives, Marshall Islands, Martinique, Micronesia, Myanmar, Namibia, Netherlands Antilles, Niger, Rwanda, Saudi Arabia, Sierra Leone, South Africa, Sudan, Suriname, Syria, Tanzania, Togo, Tonga, Turkmenistan, and Zimbabwe. If you live elsewhere, the iBT is likely to be the only test-taking option you have. Differences Between the iBT and the PBT
The PBT and the iBT differ in more ways than the medium. Since the iBT was only released e621 in 2005, there is still conflicting e621 information regarding the format of the tests. Here are some of the major differences you need to be aware of.
The skills tested are even different, reflecting a change in the expectations of higher education in general. Both tests have four basic sections, including Reading, Writing, and Listening. But while the PBT has a Structure (i.e. grammar) section, the iBT replaces this with Speaking. Grammar isn t tested directly on the iBT at all, but rather is tested indirectly through the writing and speaking sections.
In terms of length, the PBT is about an hour shorter than the iBT. This is mainly due to the fact that the reading sections on the iBT are much longer (about 700 words instead of 300), and the iBT requires two essays instead of one.
One of the most interesting changes is the addition on the iBT of integrated tasks, which require you to work with a written source and a spoken source at the same time. Many integrated tasks will give you a reading sample that informs you of a topic, then a listening sample that presents an opinion. Another type of integrated task will present you with two opinions, one written and one spoken, and then ask you to compare them.
When you finish the iBT, you will receive not only your score, but some feedback on your strengths and weaknesses so you can improve your score. This feedback isn t personalized, per se, but it is specific to the level you achieved. This Performance Feedback will also include tips on preparing for a retake, should you choose to do so.
About the Author Kate has 6 years of experience in teaching foreign language. She graduated from Sewanee in 2012, where she studied and taught German, and recently returned from a year spent teaching English in a northern Russian university.
Magoosh blog comment policy : To create the best experience for our readers, we will approve and respond to comments that are relevant e621 to the article, general enough to be helpful to other students, concise, and written with correct grammar and spelling! :) If your comment was not approved, it likely did not adhere to these guidelines. If you are a Premium Magoosh student and would like more personalized service, you can use the Help tab on the Magoosh dashboard. Thanks!
<a e621 href="http://magoosh.com/gre/files/2013/09/magoosh_friend_badge.png"><img src="http://magoosh.com/gre/files/2013/09/magoosh_friend_badge.png"></a> Check out our Magoosh Badge Program to find out more!
A few years ago, most TOEFL testing centers switched from a paper-based test or computer-based test to an Internet-based test, called the iBT. The PBT is now offered in relatively few countries: Afghanistan, Angola, American Samoa, or Aruba, Barbados, Belize, Bhutan, Brunei Darussalam, Burkina Faso, Burundi, Chad, Comoros, Congo, Democratic Republic of the Congo, Djibouti, Eritrea, Fiji, Gaza Strip, Iraq, Kazakhstan, Kyrgyzstan, Liberia, Libya, Madagascar, Malawi, Maldives, Marshall Islands, Martinique, Micronesia, Myanmar, Namibia, Netherlands Antilles, Niger, Rwanda, Saudi Arabia, Sierra Leone, South Africa, Sudan, Suriname, Syria, Tanzania, Togo, Tonga, Turkmenistan, and Zimbabwe. If you live elsewhere, the iBT is likely to be the only test-taking option you have. Differences Between the iBT and the PBT
The PBT and the iBT differ in more ways than the medium. Since the iBT was only released e621 in 2005, there is still conflicting e621 information regarding the format of the tests. Here are some of the major differences you need to be aware of.
The skills tested are even different, reflecting a change in the expectations of higher education in general. Both tests have four basic sections, including Reading, Writing, and Listening. But while the PBT has a Structure (i.e. grammar) section, the iBT replaces this with Speaking. Grammar isn t tested directly on the iBT at all, but rather is tested indirectly through the writing and speaking sections.
In terms of length, the PBT is about an hour shorter than the iBT. This is mainly due to the fact that the reading sections on the iBT are much longer (about 700 words instead of 300), and the iBT requires two essays instead of one.
One of the most interesting changes is the addition on the iBT of integrated tasks, which require you to work with a written source and a spoken source at the same time. Many integrated tasks will give you a reading sample that informs you of a topic, then a listening sample that presents an opinion. Another type of integrated task will present you with two opinions, one written and one spoken, and then ask you to compare them.
When you finish the iBT, you will receive not only your score, but some feedback on your strengths and weaknesses so you can improve your score. This feedback isn t personalized, per se, but it is specific to the level you achieved. This Performance Feedback will also include tips on preparing for a retake, should you choose to do so.
About the Author Kate has 6 years of experience in teaching foreign language. She graduated from Sewanee in 2012, where she studied and taught German, and recently returned from a year spent teaching English in a northern Russian university.
Magoosh blog comment policy : To create the best experience for our readers, we will approve and respond to comments that are relevant e621 to the article, general enough to be helpful to other students, concise, and written with correct grammar and spelling! :) If your comment was not approved, it likely did not adhere to these guidelines. If you are a Premium Magoosh student and would like more personalized service, you can use the Help tab on the Magoosh dashboard. Thanks!
<a e621 href="http://magoosh.com/gre/files/2013/09/magoosh_friend_badge.png"><img src="http://magoosh.com/gre/files/2013/09/magoosh_friend_badge.png"></a> Check out our Magoosh Badge Program to find out more!
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