MyEnglish^© Assessment

MyEnglish^© Assessment offers a Placement Test and a Final Test.

Placement Test

The Placement Test includes Grammar activities, Reading activities and a written assignment. A Student Plan is prepared for students who take the Placement Test. The score can be used to determine the appropriate course Level for a student. To purchase any MyEnglish^© products and services, click HERE.

Final Test

The Final Test includes Grammar activities, Reading activities and a written assignment. The score can be used to determine the progress in grammar and writing students have made. Students who complete a Level of MyEnglish^© with an average score of 80% typically show a two grade level improvement in their writing. To purchase any MyEnglish^© products and services, click HERE.

Students are requested to take the Placement and Final Tests through a school or college so that a local supervisor could administer the Test. They take about two hours each.

MyEnglish^© Writing Standards

MyEnglish^© Standards are based on IELTS and TOEFL Writing Standards. IELTS has aligned its writing standards with careers that require general writing skills and academic writing skills.

IELTS

The Bands developed by IELTS identify the writing requirements for various careers. IELTS tests the complete range of English language skills including Academic and General Training in writing. Academic is suitable for candidates planning to undertake higher education study. General Training is suitable for candidates planning to undertake non academic training or work experience, or for immigration purposes. IELTS is accepted by most Australian, British, Canadian and New Zealand academic institutions. American academic institutions are increasingly accepting IELTS for admission purposes. IELTS is accepted by many professional organizations.

9 Expert User Has fully operational command of the language: appropriate, accurate and fluent with complete understanding.

8 Very Good User Has fully operational command of the language with only occasional unsystematic inaccuracies and inappropriacies. Misunderstandings may occur in unfamiliar situations. Handles complex detailed argumentation well.

7 Good User Has operational command of the language, though with occasional inaccuracies, inappropriacies and misunderstandings in some situations. Generally handles complex language well and understands detailed reasoning.

6 Competent User Has generally effective command of the language despite some inaccuracies, inappropriacies and misunderstandings. Can use and understand fairly complex language, particularly in familiar situations.

5 Modest User Has partial command of the language, coping with overall meaning in most situations, though is likely to make many mistakes. Should be able to handle basic communication in own field.

4 Limited User Basic competence is limited to familiar situations. Has frequent problems in understanding and expression. Is not able to use complex language.

3 Extremely Limited User Conveys and understands only general meaning in very familiar situations. Frequent breakdowns in communication occur.

2 Intermittent User No real communication is possible except for the most basic information using isolated words or short formulae in familiar situations and to meet immediate needs. Has great difficulty understanding spoken and written English.

1 Non User Essentially has no ability to use the language beyond possibly a few isolated words.

0 Did not attempt the test No assessable information provided. The language requirements for various careers are identified in the chart below.

Band	Linguistically demanding academic courses e.g. Medicine, Law, Linguistics, Journalism, Library Studies	Linguistically less demanding academic courses e.g. Agriculture, Pure Mathematics, Technology, Computer-based work, Telecommunications	Linguistically demanding training courses e.g. Air Traffic Control, Engineering, Pure Applied Sciences, Industrial Safety	Linguistically less demanding training courses e.g. Animal Husbandry, Catering, Fire Services
9.0-7.5	Acceptable	Acceptable	Acceptable	Acceptable
7.0	Probably Acceptable	Acceptable	Acceptable	Acceptable
6.5	English study needed	Probably Acceptable	Acceptable	Acceptable
6.0	English study needed	English study needed	Probably Acceptable	Acceptable
5.5	English study needed	English study needed	English study needed	Probably Acceptable

TOEFL

TOEFL, which is available in 180 countries, is the world's largest and most well-known English proficiency evaluation test. Its purpose is to measure the English proficiency level of non-native speakers of English. It is also a general requirement for anyone who is not a native speaker of English and wants to study in the US or Canada. Some government agencies and scholarship programs also require students to take the TOEFL test.

The TOEFL score ranges from 0 to 670 for the paper-based exam, and 0 to 300 for the computer-based. The 660/670 score corresponds to a native-like and college-level proficiency. The required score for graduate programs in the U.S. ranges from 500 to 600, with the great majority requiring a 550 score.

The corresponding scores are as presented in the following chart. This chart can be used to plot the required TOEFL scores required for different careers as outlined in the IELTS chart.

The International English Language Testing System (IELTS), is the standard test used by British universities to assess the English language proficiency of applicants whose first language is not English. Like TOEFL, it consists of four components: listening, speaking, reading and writing. Because it includes a fairly rigorous test of both of the productive skills (speaking and writing), many selectors feel that the IELTS gives a clearer picture of an applicant's proficiency than the TOEFL. (Source: University of Sheffield, http://www.shef.ac.uk/eltc/toefl98.html)

The University of Melbourne conducted a study that looked at the usefulness of IELTS and TOEFL (the two main measures of ELP used for selection to universities in Australia) respectively as predictors of readiness for the Australian academic context. Data was collected on students' IELTS and/or TOEFL scores and Grade Point Average. The study showed that the "relationship between GPA and IELTS scores was found to be moderately strong whereas the correlation between achievement and TOEFL score was relatively weak." These results appear to be consistent with the results of previous studies. (Source: Volume 2, Paper 3: A Comparison of IELTS and TOEFL as Predictors of Academic Success by Kathryn Hill, Neomy Storch and Brian Lynch.)

TOEFL and MyEnglish^©

TOEFL stresses the cognitive approach to writing as represented by Flowers and Hayes (1981, 1984). In other words, TOEFL recognizes that nonnative English writers need cognitive writing skills similar to native English writers. This approach places a special emphasis on the thinking skills that good writers use when they write.

The developers of MyEnglish^© followed a cognitive approach to writing, including the work of Flowers and Hayes. This focus is reflected in the Reading assignments which stress an understanding of different text structures for comparing, analyzing, etc. A cognitive approach is also reflected in the rubrics used by trained scorers when they score essays and reports.

Structure and written expression as measures in TOEFL refers to the formal structural and grammatical usage in standard English.

In order to complete the multiple choice and fill-in-the-blank questions in TOEFL on structural and grammatical usage, students require a good understanding of English grammar. MyEnglish^© offers 80 self scoring grammar assignments which cover all commonly used grammatical constructs.

Students who take the Computer-Based Test of English as a Foreign Language must also compose a written essay that counts towards part of their structure score. TOEFL focuses on knowledge and experience based writing task (e.g. the independent writing task). The independent writing task includes eight types of essay questions:

• Agree/ Disagree - This type of question lists an opinion and asks if you agree with it or not, then explain
• Choice/ Preference - This type of question lists two options and asks you to take a side, then explain your choice
• Compare/ Contrast - You need to compare and/or contrast 2 or more things/views
• Good/ Bad - First decide which is good, and then explain. Sometimes you need to discuss both sides (advantages/disadvantages)
• If/What - What will do you in a certain scenario?
• What/How - Answer the topic question then explain your answer
• Why - Answer the topic question then explain your answer
• Describe - Describe something or a phenomenon