English language proficiency tests
TOEFL: Test of English as a
foreign language
This is the foreign language test required for those who wish to attend
American university.
www.toefl.org (Free practice test)
A really good site for those wishing to study in the U.S. can be found
at:
http://www.edupass.org/english/ (I tend to like .org sites better than .com sites because they’re not
just out after money! This site has links to many good test study sites.
TOEIC: Test of English for
International Communication
http://www.ets.org (ETS is probably the world’s #1 academic test publisher, producing such tests as the AP, GRE, SAT, TOEFL, PRAXIS, and
others)
IELTS: International English
Language Testing System
http://www.ielts.org/ (Mainly used in Europe, Free Sample Downloads)
TEST PREP
www.davescafe.com is the world’s #1 site for English teachers, and it also has a good EFL study page for students: http://www.eslcafe.com/students/
Five other interesting English language proficiency tests used in the
U.S. are reviewed here:
http://www.ncela.gwu.edu/pubs/eacwest/elptests.htm#Descriptions
A fairly tough, but free English proficiency test is offered at:
http://www.transparent.com/tlquiz/proftest/english/tlengtest.htm
HINTS
Last winter and spring I studied day and night for a Korean language proficiency
test called the TOPIK. Naturally I had to memorize huge word lists, and practice
grammar a lot. The hardest parts were the listening and essay writing sections. Listening can be practiced with DVDs. I
found it fairly easy. Stop, repeat, stop repeat sequences helped, as did echoing
practice.
Essays though, require that you have someone – a live human –
who is fluent in the target language, edit your practice essays. It isn’t always easy to find someone to do that.
The TOPIK didn’t have a speaking test, which certainly adds a new
dimension to many of the new standardized English tests. Again, this requires
feedback from a highly skilled foreign language speaker that is willing to catch your mispronunciations and incorrect grammar
usage.
Target language “immersion” is really helpful. I went to sleep thinking in Korean language, and woke up thinking in Korean language. I avoided other native speakers.
Learning study strategies, like those on the Strategic Inventory for language
Learning (SILL test, Rebecca Oxford, 1990) help immensely.
An online version can be found at:
http://homework.wtuc.edu.tw/sill.php
http://www.dliflc.edu/academics/academic_materials/all/ALLissues/all7.pdf
LAW AND MEDICINE
LSAT: Law School Admissions
Test
One of the most difficult tests I’ve ever seen! It mainly consists of reasoning problems. This is the official
site: http://www.lsat.org/
MCAT: Medical School Entrance
Exam
This test also is rather challenging.
I did help a few people with it a few years back. There are some excellent prep books out now that include mnemonic
pictures that help a lot. The official site for the MCAT is: http://www.aamc.org/students/mcat/start.htm
