TOEFL是美国在1960年代研发的一项标准化测试,其中文简称为托福,英文全称为 The Test of English as a Foreign Language (英语作为外语的测试)。项目成立之初,这项测试在全国英语作为外语考试委员会(The National Council on the Testing of English as a Foreign Language)的主持下进行开发设计。该委员会当时是一个由三十多个公共和私人机构合作成立的临时工作组,这些机构关注英语作为第二语言使用者的语言水平,尤其关注那些希望入进入以英语作为交流媒介学术场景接受教育的第二语言使用者的学术场景英语使用能力。
Discrete components of language skills and
knowledge
Multiple-choice items assessing vocabulary,
reading comprehension, listening comprehension, knowledge of correct English structure and grammar
A Suite of TOEFL Tests From 1979–2005
Original constructs (listening, reading, structure, and grammar) retained but two additional constructs added — writing and speaking ability
In addition to multiple-choice items assessing the original constructs, separate constructed-response tests of writing and speaking were developed —TWE®test and the TSE® test.
The TOEFL iBT Test From 2005 to Present
Communicative competence — the ability to put language knowledge to use in relevant academic contexts
Academic tasks were developed that require
the integration of receptive and productive skills such as listening, reading, and writing or speaking, as well as multiple-choice items for listening and reading.
–The Evolution of the TOEFL Test Construct and Content Over Three Stages of Development –Source by ETS | Table by The Alphabet
此外,为了评估英语实际沟通能力的需要,ETS开发了独立的口语和写作测试。这些模块初始推行时只面向较少数量的申请人,以满足特定机构的要求。口语部分,最初被称为“口语英语测试(Test of Spoken English)”的TSE主要是为了评估国际研究生作为教学助理职位的考虑而开发的。在TSE测试中,考生录制了对特定语言功能提出的预录问题的口头回答,然后由经过培训的评分员使用TSE评分标准进行评分。
写作部分,初始时被称为“书面英语测试(Test of Written English)”的TWE于1986年引入,包括一个针对简短问题或主题的单篇文章写作。TWE测试要求考生发展和组织思想,并使用适当的英语词汇和语法表达这些思想。最初,TWE测试作为托福考试的必选组成部分进行,但每年只在五个特定场次提供。