THE Educational Testing Service (ETS) has launched a new online speech sample service. The service allows admissions officials at the 7,000 TOEFL score-using institutions worldwide to hear an actual speech sample for any applicant submitting TOEFL Internet-based Test (TOEFL iBTTM) scores.
The sample is a 60-second audio clip taken from one of the four integrated tasks on the TOEFL iBT test. Integrated tasks, which require people to combine their English-language skills, are representative of their ability to communicate effectively in an academic setting. Speech samples are available for any test taken on or after June 12, 2009, and will remain available for two years after the test date.
“We offer this service to help university officials get a clearer picture of a candidate’s ability to communicate in English. Score users at business schools and those admitting international teaching assistants will find this new service a valuable addition to their decision-making process,” says Teresa Sanchez-Lazer, the executive director of TOEFL product management.
