TOEFL iBT - any experience?

john83, BSN, RN · May 11, 2006

I've heard of this new english exam (TOEFL iBT) that doesn't require TSE. It is similar to IELTS. The good thing is that there is a way to by-pass the spoken band minimum requirement by being active in CGFNS certification. This way, we only have to meet the minimum total score.
Any comments?

Yes, unless you intend to use it for visascreen...Spoken band has never been required in any way in the past in the cgfns certification, either toefl cbt(before) or ielts academic overall band score only...Speaking like IELTS or TSE and now TOEFL ibt is required for the visascreen.

Still the same, more expensive, because the evaluators are still the tse/ets people. IELTS IS HIGHLY RECOMMENDED OVER THE ETS SERIES. It gives you more flexibility in terms of countries that accept it, plus the evaluators are more generous than the tse/est people. That is based from my actual experience. May God bless on us all on our exams!

suzanne4, RN · May 11, 2006

The new TOEFL exam, the iBT, includes the speaking section with it. It is the same TSE that has been around for years, it is just now included in the one exam.

Immigration requires that for the green card.

And sorry, the English required for the CGFNS Certificate does not bypass the requirements for immigration. Not sure where you are getting your information from, but it is wrong.

If you try to take shortcuts it will come back to bite you.

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If you are fromt he Philippines, you have a much better chance of passing the IELTS, than the TOEFL series. It is your money.

FutureUSRN · May 12, 2006

news releases

2005 news releases

cgfns will process english scores from toefl ibt for its certification and visascreen™ programs

philadelphia, pa — november 22, 2005 — the commission on graduates of foreign nursing schools (cgfns) announced today that it has begun to accept toefl ibt english scores on behalf of those applicants who are taking the new internet based testing english exam. cgfns will continue to accept the previous toefl,twe and tse scores if they are less than 2 years old.

cgfns and its division, the international commission on healthcare professions (ichp), will begin using the toefl ibt minimum passing scores that were first proposed by the department of health and human services (dhhs) based on score information from educational testing service (ets), the administrator of toefl ibt.

as of november 21, 2005, the following total and speaking section scores will be utilized as acceptable minimum passing scores for toefl ibt:

registered nurses, clinical laboratory scientists, (medical technologists) speech language pathologists, audiologists and physician assistants: total 83 and speaking 26
clinical laboratory technicians, (medical technicians) and practical/vocational nurses, (lpn/lvn): total 79 and speaking 26
occupational therapists and physical therapists: total 89 and speaking 26

these scores are subject to change when a final decision or announcement is published by the department of homeland security, citizenship and immigration services (uscis) regarding the approval of minimum passing toefl ibt scores for the designated healthcare professions.

for registered nurses active in the cgfns certification program, (cp) only a passing total score is required.

toefl ibt scores already received by the cgfns/ichp are being matched to applicants.

about toefl ibt:

educational testing service (ets) has developed this new internet based version of the toefl, (toefl ibt) which will measure all four skills of communication: reading, writing, listening, and for the first time speaking. a new scoring scale has been established that will contain one total score on a scale of 0-120 and four skill scores each on a scale of 0-30.

for a list of where the toefl ibt is being administered, visit the learners and test takers section of the toefl website at www.ets.org/toefl.

lawrence01 · May 12, 2006

People can take whatever English exams they want.

IELTS is just highly recommended because it's more affordable and flexible. It's accepted in most countries and majority of US states. TOEFL, is accepted in the whole of US since it's an American company but beyond the US it's not. That's why most Filipinos like IELTS over other exams. Affordable and accepted almost everywhere.

uberdoog · Jun 5, 2006

The TOEFL (paper-based and computer-based tests) used to be hampered by the separation of the speaking component to the TSE (Test of Spoken English) with the consequence of jacking up the total cost to the test taker.

ETS woke up to a rude awakening when the IELTS provided a test that integrated all 4 components at nearly half the cost of the combined TOEFL + TSE... with none of the nonsense of sending bank drafts halfway across the world if you didn't have a credit card and everyone knows even the Bushmen of Africa have 'em (NOT!). ETS changed all that (after nearly 7 years of pigheaded holding out!) and are pretending that the PBT and CBT were nothing but bad dreams (PBT? CBT? Whazzat?).

If you're still in the Philippines, the IELTS is up, running, and easy to apply to. The TOEFL iBT is still in its introductory stages (the workshop activities of H.A.Cervantes evidence this).

But to really answer the question about experiencing the iBT, nope. Haven't met anyone who has yet.

bebe13 · Aug 9, 2006

i'm also seeking information about the TOEFL iBT. unfortunately for me, TOEFL is the only english test accepted by the Illinois BON, where i'll be applying, so that leaves me with no choice. among the 3 ways of TOEFL --- computer-based, paper-based and internet-based ---- i'm considering the TOEFL internet-based coz it includes the speaking test [like in the IELTS] and that would mean a savings of $125 for a separate TSE - which i will be needing for the visa screen. am i correct in saying so? will i really be able to save for the TSE expense or a separate TSE is really a must for the visa screen? please enlighten me on this. i'm not even sure if my questions have sense at all...

thank God we have this site!!! im getting a lot of help here...

kathykaye · Aug 9, 2006

i took toefl cbt last year and TSE last Feb.

Some says toefl-iBT has lot of speaking and writing questions..

i think the passing rate in recorded speaking exams are lower than exams who have actual (one-on-one) interview.

suzanne4, RN · Aug 10, 2006

The issue that most of you are not paying attention to, and is the most important.

Where most Filipinos have problems with the exams are with the speaking section. TOEFL still does it be machine for that section. IELTS uses a real human and it is one on one. That is what makes it easier to get thru for most and why I always recommend the IELTS series over any other.

The US government has a language requirement when you need to get a Visa Screen Certificate to use for the green card, and they permit either the IELTS series, or the TOEFL series.

The other issue is that there are few states that still actually want proof of passing the TOEFL exam before they will permit you to write the NCLEX exam. None of them accept the IELTS exams.

depress nurse · Apr 8, 2010

HI everyone- any Foriegn (international) graduate nurse took TOEFL exam? What are the preparation? Is it hard? PLS! HELP!!! :eek: :bugeyes: :hdvwl:

depress nurse · May 17, 2010

HI bebe13 have you taken the TOEFL iBT test already? how was it? any tips or advice? I could really use it pls!! my anxiety is rising don't know whay it can't be that bad right? hope to hear from you - thank you.

mark polee · May 18, 2010

i took TOEFL-iBT last May 2008. 5 times power interruptions due to a typhoon.

i could say that it is convenient and calming... but my experience with the speaking part is way far with IELTS... i do have a lot of regrets why i wasnt able to indicate that IELTS will submit my score to CGFNS... i didnt follow up.. so it ended EXPIRED and need to take it again.

i failed the speaking part of TOEFL-iBT... CGFNS requires 26, i got 24... My friend who is a Registered PT (RP and US) failed with a score of 25. He worked in states for 10 years already... but failed to meet the passing score.

in the speaking part of TOEFL-iBT, it is divided in 3 parts... forgive me if i cant specify... you will listen to a converstation and you will narrate the points. another part is you will be reading an article and narrate the points. and the third part, you would listen to a long story and read a passage then you would summarize the point, indicating the difference between what's in the article and with the one you've listened to. i find it difficult, considering the time pressure, and irrelevant to test your ability to communicate. to speak, yes relevant as a measure, but how you communicate, nah!!!

IELTS, you would be facing a facilitator, and will ask you general questions that mostly relevant with your interest. It was like, you have the freedom to express your self, based on your interest... Human interaction, so i think it should be the best measure to test whether you could really communicate using english.... because i believe, when you encounter someone, all things are impromptu... based on instincts.

i think CGFNS should consider this matter... they are different testing administrators with different sets of criteria in grading or evaluating test.