Computer Era Arrives For TOEFL in 1998 - Mouse To Replace Pencil For International Students

Oct 2, 2026

Uploaded by Muffet

Computer-based TOEFL is introduced as part of the TOEFL 2000 project, beginning in summer 1998 for test takers in many countries. The format shifts from pencil to computer, targeting more responsive English proficiency assessment. The test will run in four sections—Listening, Structure, Reading, and Writing—with new or improved question types. Listening uses personal headphones with visual context; Structure emphasizes standard written English; Reading involves deeper text engagement; Writing assesses idea generation and organization and allows handwriting if needed. Listening and Structure become computer adaptive, testing is offered year-round across 300+ centers, and score reporting is faster with a new four-part scaled score including integrated essay rating.

LanguageEnglish

CategoryExam

FormatPDF

Pages3

Reading Time8 min

AccessFree to download

Overview of the 1998 Computer-Based TOEFL Transition

TOEFL 2000 Background and Purpose

Four-Section Test Structure

Listening Section Changes

Structure Section Changes

Reading and Writing Changes

Computer-Adaptive Administration

Test Availability, Appointments, and Score Reporting

New Score Scale and Concordance Study

Tutorial and Computer Familiarity Measures

Volume 21, Number 4, Spring Issue 1998 41 Computer Era Arrives For TOEFL in 1998: Mouse To Replace Pencil For International Stu dents 2 Beginning in Summer, 1998, students taking the Test of English as a Foreign Language (TOEFL® ) in many countries will leave their No. 2 pencils behind and use a computer instead. This change is part of an evolutionary effort to create a new and better generation of English proficiency tests. The transition of TOEFL to computer is part of a project called TOEFL 2000 which began in 1993. It reflects the beliefs of the TOEFL Policy Council and Educational Testing Service (ETS® ) that the computer offers new opportunities for better English proficiency assessment that is more responsive to test takers and score users. Use of performance-based questions will also provide schools with better information about an international student’s ability to understand and use English. The computer-based TOEFL will be administered in four sections: Listening, Structure, Reading and Writing. Most sections will have new or improved question types by using computer technology. The Listening section will continue to measure the test taker’s ability to understand English as it is spoken in North America, including frequently used vocabulary, expressions and grammar. With the computer-based version, test takers will now listen to dialogues, talks and group discussions through personal headphones while they see context-setting visuals on the computer screen. The Structure section will measure the ability to recognize language that is appropriate for standard written English. The Reading section will still use passages to measure the ability to understand non-technical reading material, but new tasks that require the test taker to become more closely involved with the text have been developed. The Writing section will measure the person’s ability to generate, organize and support ideas using standard written English in an essay. In order not to disadvantage people who lack keyboard skills, test takers may handwrite or type the essay. The essay rating will now be combined with the Structure section score to create a compiled Structure/Writing scaled score. The essay rating will constitute one-half of the Structure/Writing scaled score. Another improvement is that the Listening and Structure sections will be computer adaptive. Test takers receive questions that are appropriate for their performance level. The section begins with a question of average difficulty. If the 2 Information supplied by the Educational Testing Service, P. O. Box 6155, Princeton, NJ 08541-6155, U.S.A. For updated information on the computer-based TOEFL, please check the TOEFL Web site [at www.toefl.org](at www.toefl.org). 42 MEXTESOL Journal test taker answers the question correctly, the next question will be one that fulfills the test design and will typically be of the same or higher difficulty level. If the test taker answers incorrectly, the next question will be one that fulfills the test design and will typically be of the same or lower difficulty level. Thus, all subsequent questions presented are based in part on the test taker’s performance on previous questions and in part on the test design. Computer-based TOEFL will be offered worldwide at Sylvan Technology Centers® , specified university test centers, ETS field offices and other locations worldwide. Testing will be available year-round at more than 300 test centers around the world. Test takers will make appointments by calling either their local test center or Regional Registration Center. The appointments can be made within a few days of testing. However, test takers should consider admission deadlines and call early to maximize chances of getting preferred test dates atthe most convenient center. The entire testing experience will also improve as test takers will sit in private carrels where they will use volume-controlled headphones. Score reporting will

FAQs

What change did TOEFL introduce for 1998 test takers?

Beginning in summer 1998, many countries would administer TOEFL on computers rather than with No. 2 pencils. The transition aims to create a new, better generation of English proficiency tests.

How are the four TOEFL sections administered in the computer-based version?

The computer-based TOEFL consists of Listening, Structure, Reading, and Writing. Each section uses computer technology to introduce new or improved question types and, in some sections, to support adaptive delivery.

How does the score reporting work and what is different about the score scale?

Computer-based TOEFL uses a new score scale to distinguish it from the paper-based exam. Test takers receive four scaled scores for Listening, Structure/Writing, Reading, and a total score, and the essay rating is integrated into the Structure/Writing score while also being available as an independent rating.

Oct 2, 2026

Uploaded by Muffet