an open discussion with gre & toefl

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An Open Discussion with GRE & TOEFL

Michelle Hampton Associate Director, Global Division Educational Testing Service

Clemson University Graduate School September 11, 2014


What We Will Cover Today

• Quick Overview of the GRE® revised General Test redesign and the TOEFL iBT® Test

• Best Practices for Test Score use in Admissions

• ETS® Personal Potential Index (ETS® PPI)

• Advisor Resources

• GRE® revised General Test Preparation Resources

• Recruitment tools linked to GRE scores

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Quick Overview


Redesign of the GRE® revised General Test

o Reading Comprehension − Multiple Choice – select

one answer choice − Multiple Choice – select

one or more answer choices

− Select-in-Passage o Text Completion o Sentence Equivalence

o Quantitative Comparison

o Multiple Choice, select one answer choice

o Multiple Choice, select one or more answer choices

o Numeric Entry

New question types in Verbal Reasoning and Quantitative Reasoning


A closer look at the test-taker friendly design

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GRE® score policy changes

130–170 in 1-point increments

130–170 in 1-point increments

0–6 in half-point increments

Scores are reported on the following scales:

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The ScoreSelectSM option: test takers send best scores to institutions

Retest Policy: every 21 days, up to five times within any continuous rolling 12-month period


The TOEFL iBT® Test Format

Section Description Testing Time Score Scale

Reading 3–4 passages from academic texts; 12–14 questions per passage

60–80 min. 0–30

Listening 4–6 lectures, some with classroom discussion, 6 questions each;

2–3 conversations, 5 questions each

60–90 min. 0–30

Break - 10 min. -

Speaking 2 tasks to express an opinion; 4 tasks to speak based on reading and

listening passages

20 min. 0–30

Writing 1 integrated task (write based on what is read and listened to);

1 independent task (support an opinion on a topic)

50 min. 0–30

Total - - 0–120

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TOEFL iBT ® test scores are valid for 2 years


Understanding Section Scores

• Scores in each section are not scaled against each other because they measure different skills

• A score of 22 in one skill does not represent the same level of ability as a score of 22 in another skill

• In 2013 – Reading Score of 22 = 53rd percentile

– Listening Score of 22 = 55th percentile

– Speaking Score of 22 = 57th percentile

– Writing Score of 22 = 54th percentile


TOEFL® Score Requirements

• ETS does not determine which students must take the TOEFL® test, nor does ETS establish the TOEFL score requirements institutions should use in making their decisions

• Each institution sets its own policy about whether a TOEFL score is required as well as the minimum TOEFL score they will accept

• The TOEFL test measures different skills and can provide complimentary information to the SAT ® and GRE ® tests


Using TOEFL iBT ® Section Scores

TOEFL iBT ® Section Scores contain valuable information to help differentiate applicants

Reading Listening Writing Speaking Total

Student 1 18 22 16 24 80

Student 2 20 20 20 20 80

Student 3 25 25 16 14 80

All three students have a Total Score of 80, but they have different profiles of English skills. Which student is best for your program?


Best Practices for Test Score Use in Admissions

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Elements of a CU graduate application

• Personal statements

• Letters of recommendation

• Resumes/CVs

• Test scores

– Admissions

– English proficiency

• Optional supporting materials

– Portfolios

• Transcripts (upon offer of admission)


General Guidelines for Good Score Use

• Base evaluation of an applicant’s readiness to begin academic work on all available relevant information, not solely on standardized scores – Use of multiple criteria is necessary to ensure fairness and

to balance the limitations of any single measure of knowledge, skills or abilities

• Reconsider your score requirements regularly and adjust as needed – Look for other supporting evidence of critical analysis,

ability to synthesize complex material, English proficiency in the application


GRE® Scores Are an Important Criteria in the Admissions Decision

• GRE® scores provide an objective and common measure for evaluating and comparing the qualifications of applicants with differing educational and cultural backgrounds

• GRE scores have been shown to predict success in master’s and doctoral programs

New edition is available at ets.org/gre/institutions


Most Comprehensive Data on GRE® Test Takers Worldwide

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• 534,761 unique test takers who took the GRE® revised General Test between July 1, 2012, and June 30, 2013

• Includes only those who had valid scores on all three measures

• Based on unique test takers, meaning data analysis includes test taker’s most recent scores only, even if they took the test more than once during that period Full report is available at

ets.org/gre/snapshot

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A Closer Look at Racial/Ethnic Group and Gender (U.S. Citizens)

Group Number % of Total Population

Verbal Reasoning Mean

Quantitative Reasoning Mean

Analytical Writing Mean

American Indian 1,892 1 150.9 147.4 3.6

Asian 21,538 6 152.9 153.8 3.8

Black 27,388 8 146.7 143.3 3.3

Mexican 9,104 3 149.9 146.7 3.6

Puerto Rican 3,077 1 149.4 146.3 3.4

Other Hispanic 12,599 4 150.5 147.4 3.6

White 230,623 68 154.1 150.7 3.9

Other 12,224 4 154.2 150.3 3.9

No Response 17,337 5 150.7 148.0 3.6


Something to Consider

The GRE ® Analytical Writing section and the TOEFL iBT® Writing section measure different skills

GRE® Analytical Writing Section

• Two writing tasks

– Analyze an Issue

– Analyze an Argument

• Measures critical thinking and analytical writing

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TOEFL iBT® Writing Section

• Two writing tasks

– Independent – support an opinion

– Integrated – integrate and organize information from a text and a lecture

• Measures command of vocabulary and grammar,

• and ability to organize, connect and develop ideas

• Some analysis and synthesis but does not

• measure higher levels of critical reasoning skills


Complimentary Scores

The TOEFL iBT® Writing score supplements the GRE ®

Analytical Writing score The TOEFL iBT® score may help faculty determine whether a

low score on the GRE® Analytical Writing section indicates: – Low English writing skills or – Inability to evaluate and critique arguments


Getting Additional TOEFL® Information

The TOEFL® Test and Score Data Summary

• Summarizes performance of TOEFL® test takers based on a variety of criteria, including mean scores and percentile data

• Provides guidance for interpreting test-taker performance

• Based on data from previous testing year

• Annual publication available for download from the Research section of the TOEFL website (www.ets.org/toefl/research)

http://www.ets.org/toefl/research


Elements of your graduate application

• Personal statements

• Letters of recommendation

• Resumes/CVs

• Test scores

– Admissions

– English proficiency

• Optional supporting materials

– Portfolios

• Transcripts (upon offer of admission)


ETS® Personal Potential Index (ETS® PPI)

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ETS® Personal Potential Index (ETS® PPI)

Focused on the six areas that graduate deans and faculty have identified as important for success in graduate study:

Knowledge and Creativity

Teamwork

Planning and Organization

Communication Skills

Resilience

Ethics and Integrity

• Convenient, easy to use web-based tool

• Evaluators who a prospective applicant selects provide feedback about him or her on six attributes

• The unique information contained in the ETS® PPI Evaluation Report complements the information provided by GRE® scores and transcripts

• Free to institutions

• All GRE® revised General Test registrants can send four free ETS PPI Evaluation Reports

An opportunity to learn more about a prospective applicant’s strengths


How the ETS® PPI Works

1. Applicant selects evaluators

2. Evaluators rate applicant

3. ETS creates Evaluation Report

4. ETS sends Evaluation Report

Free to receiving institutions

1. Applicant

2. Evaluator

3. ETS

4. Institution


The ETS® PPI Evaluation Report Provides Great Insight

The ETS® PPI allows programs to compare applicants and identify those who are more likely to persist and succeed

The Evaluation Report contains:

• Individual evaluator ratings

• Mean ratings

• Evaluator comments


Advisors Resources


New GRE® Advisors Kit for Educators and Advisors

• Designed to help advisors and educators give students everything they need to know about test registration, preparation, sending scores and more!

• Includes easy-access printable brochures, posters, easy links and more

• Some materials available in multiple languages

• All downloadable from ets.org/gre/advisorkit


• We are pleased to announce this jam-packed new webinar series which brings key facts, details, tips and strategies taken from ETS’s renowned test preparation workshop directly to you in time-friendly video modules • Perfect for individuals who conduct test preparation workshops on campus

• Introduction to the GRE® Program • An Overview of the GRE® revised General Test • A Closer Look at the GRE® Verbal Reasoning Measure • A Closer Look at the GRE® Quantitative Reasoning Measure

• A Closer Look at the GRE® Analytical Writing Measure

Registration is now open for 2014 webinars!

Sign up at

ets.org/gre/educatewebinars

New GRE® Educate Video Series for Educators and Advisors


Remind Faculty and Staff to Sign up for GRE® eUPDATE newsletter

• To get the latest news, updates, webinar dates and more, encourage all faculty and staff to sign up for the GRE® eUPDATE newsletter.

ets.org/gre/update


GRE® revised General Test Preparation Resources

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GRE® Scores Are an Important Criteria in the Admissions Decision


Tools to help you prepare

ets.org/gre/prepare

FREE Official test preparation

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Tools to help you prepare (continued)

Official test preparation available for purchase

ets.org/gre/prepare

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Hear what other test takers are saying

• Join the conversation on the official GRE® revised General Test page on Facebook® or on Sina Weibo

• Connect, engage and hear from others who are planning to take the GRE revised General Test

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Recruitment Tools linked to GRE® Scores


GRE® Search Service Helps You Reach Potential Applicants

The GRE® Search Service is a one-of-a-kind

database of individuals who have taken a

decisive step toward pursuing an advanced degree

• Reach prospects who have demonstrated graduate-level

readiness through their GRE® test performance • 500,000+ individuals around the world who have opted-in to

receive information about programs like yours • ONLY degree-granting graduate and business schools and

organizations that provide graduate-level fellowships have access to this powerful database


Recruit a Diverse Class

Select from about 30 criteria to EXPAND

your pool or REFINE your recruitment strategy

• Be cost efficient in your recruitment, knowing individuals have already taken a decisive step toward pursuing an advanced degree.

• Identify potential candidates using GRE® score bands and UGPA academic performance criteria.

• Recruit a diverse class for graduate or business school programs using demographic and geographic data, academic disciplines and more!


Criteria


GRE® Program Provides Free Help with Recruitment Outreach, too

• GRE® page on Facebook® has about 300,000 followers from around the world

• Tell us about your on-campus events and we’ll post on our page


ETS Staff are Ready to Help

The Client Relations team is available to help with your institution’s GRE®- and TOEFL®-related needs:

• Campus visits • Student fairs • Student presentations

• Webinars • Prompt responses to

questions and resolution of concerns


South Carolina Representative

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Michelle Hampton, Associate Director

Global Client Relations

ETS - Princeton, NJ

[email protected]

609-683-2187

mailto:[email protected]

an open discussion with gre & toefl

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