News! Arrests in TOEFL Hong Kong Case

Dear Members of the Higher Education Community,

I am writing today to share news of a recent event where ETS's test security measures played a vital role in identifying and stopping individuals who attempted to take the TOEFL® and GRE® tests dishonestly. On February 25, three individuals in Hong Kong who were attempting to take the TOEFL test on behalf of others were arrested. ETS's Office of Testing Integrity identified these individuals and their planned impersonation in advance and alerted test center personnel and local law enforcement.

On the day of the test, the individuals were arrested during a break in testing. They subsequently admitted their scheme to authorities, which involved attempts to test for others on both the TOEFL and GRE tests. These individuals have since been sentenced, and the culmination of this case has led to consequences for both the impersonators and those for whom they were testing. ETS is taking steps to alert institutions of TOEFL and GRE scores canceled in association with this case. Those institutions affected will be receiving notification from ETS this week.

Over our 65-year history as the world's largest educational measurement and research organization, ETS has continued to develop and expand our approach to security to ensure the validity of our test scores. Many of the test security practices pioneered by ETS have become the industry standard and have been adopted by other companies and organizations around the globe.

We continue to explore and incorporate new security methods to identify and combat security threats. We have taken measures in the registration and testing process, at test centers, and even in the way that our test content is delivered worldwide, to name a few. If you have any questions about this case or other test security issues, contact the ETS Office of Testing Integrity at TSReturns@ets.org or call 1-800-750-6991 (United States) or +1-609-406-5430 (all other locations).

We encourage you to share this information with colleagues at your institution. ETS is committed to working with institutions around the world to effectively communicate information and collaborate to ensure fair, valid and reliable assessments.

Sincerely,

Eileen Tyson
Executive Director, Global Client Relations, ETS

For more information about TOEFL and GRE test security practices, visit How ETS Protects the Integrity of the TOEFL® test or How ETS Protects the Integrity of the GRE® revised General Test.

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ESL Teaching Jobs

Africa

  Al Akhawayn University in Ifrane, AUI, Morocco.- English Teacher / Program Coordinator, Morocco

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Asia and Oceania

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  Higher Colleges of Technology, United Arab Emirates- English Faculty, United Arab Emirates

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  English Language Fellow Program- Curriculum Developer and Teacher Trainer, China

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  Shantou University, English Language Center- English Teachers Positions at Shantou University, English Language Center, China

  Higher Committee for Education Development in Iraq and Ball State University, Muncie, Indiana- Consulting Positions in Teaching English to Speakers of Other Languages (TESOL) for the Higher Commi, Iraq

  Higher Committee for Education Development in Iraq and Ball State University, Muncie, Indiana- Consulting Positions in Teaching English to Speakers of Other Languages (TESOL) for the Higher Commi, Iraq

  Akita International University- Full-time faculty needed for the undergraduate and graduate English programs, Japan

  Howdy Language School- Teacher of English as a Foreign Language, Japan

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  The University of Montana/Toyo University- English Language Instructor, Japan

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  American Universtiy of the Middle East (AUM)- ESL Instructors, Kuwait

  Sultan Qaboos Univerity- based on qualifications:Language Instructor, Senior Language Instructor, Assistant Language Lecturer, Oman

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  UNIVERSITY OF HAIL- EFL INSTRUCTORS/LECTURERS, Saudi Arabia

  Antalya International University- Full-time English Teaching Positions, Turkey

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  English Language Fellow Program- Curriculum Developer and Teacher Trainer in Latin America, Colombia

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Europe and Eurasia

  New Economic School- Lecturer of English as a Second Language, Russia

North America

  American Association of Intensive English Programs (AAIEP)- Executive Director, American Association of Intensive English Programs (AAIEP), United States

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  Auburn University at Montgomery- Part-Time English Language Proficiency Test Examiners, United States

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USA, AZ

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USA, IN

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USA, NH

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  Educational Testing Service (ETS)- Assessment Specialist, United States

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Essay Competition #2

Write an independent TOEFL essay and win a copy of my best-selling TOEFL text, Scoring Strategies for the TOEFL iBT A Complete Guide.

Rules

1. Read the following independent essay prompt.

Why do people take photographs? Use examples and reasons to support your argument.

2. Write an independent essay that answers the above-prompt.

3. Maximum 325 words (the judges will count words!).

4. Submit your essay as a Word doc.

5. Submit your essay to toefl.essay.comp@gmail.com.

6. Submit one essay only.

7. Submitted essays will receive a score but no comments.

8. The winning essay(s) will score a perfect 5.0/5.0
9. The judges reserve the right not to grant a winner.

10. The winning essay will receive a free, autographed copy of Scoring Strategies for the TOEFL iBT A Complete Guide by Bruce Stirling.

10. The winning essay will be posted on TOEFL Pro and on TOEFL Pro Facebook.

11. Deadline: midnight 3/17/12

Good luck!

What is a good TOEFL iBT Score?

What is a good TOEFL iBT score? My TOEFL students ask me that question all time, and I always reply, "What score do you need?"

For example, let's say you want to apply to Yale or Princeton or Colombia. These are top schools. The best. That means you need to get the highest TOEFL iBT (not PBT!) score possible. The rule with these schools is the higher, the better. 100/120 at least. Why? Because you're not just competing against Americans. You're competing against the world. And remember: Your TOEFL score is only one part of your admissions package. For these schools, you must be the best in your class - your country! You must also demonstrate leadership or some other special talent that separates you from everybody else. To get into these schools, perfect grades and a perfect TOEFL score are not enough. What makes you special? That is what Yale and Princeton and M.I.T. want to know.

Note: Harvard does not require a TOEFL score. Submitting one is optional (read Harvard's TOEFL policy). Why? Good question. I guess Harvard figures if they let you in, you're pretty much a genius and already speak fluent English - and a couple of other languages - so why test your English. Note: As a university, Harvard is often ranked #1 in the world, right up there with Cambridge and Yale.

Okay, so you don't want to go to Yale. You want to go to a regular school. In that case, before you take the TOEFL iBT, contact the school and find out what TOEFL score you need, then aim for it. For example, if you need 79/120, and you score 79/120 on the TOEFL test, 79 is a good score. If you need 90/120, and you score 90/120 on the TOEFL test, 90 is a good score. However, if you only score 82/120...? Not so good.

As you can see, a good TOEFL score is the score you need. Don't stress out thinking, "I want 100! I want 100!" if you only need 79. You're not trying to impress your friends (though scoring 100 would be totally cool!) You are trying to get into an English-speaking school or trying to get a professional license, whatever the case may be.

Remember: "Wanting" is different from "needing." A good TOEFL score is not the score you want. It is the score you need.

Remember: Before you take the TOEFL test, contact the school(s) or licensing agency you are applying to and find out what TOEFL score they require.

Want a good TOEFL score? Click on the book.