随着新托福考试的日益临近，社会上越来越多的考生和培训机构纷纷表示了强烈的关注，也纷纷在各大网站和报纸上做了对新托福的各种分析。但是这些分析存在许多不准确甚至是失实的地方，所以笔者在仔细阅读了ETS出版的新托福官方指南和ETS在其官方网站上所提供的各种有关新托福的重要信息之后；在认真做了ETS官方网站上的免费模拟题目和付费模拟题目之后；在悉心研究了国外多家著名的考试辅导书籍出版机构，如Longman、Kaplan、Princeton等出版的多本权威的关于新托福的辅导书籍和大量模拟题目之后，决定对新托福做一次深度的剖析。
一、新托福执行的具体时间安排：
2005年10月1日，ETS在其官方网站www.ets.org上正式发布了有关在全球范围内引入新托福考试的时间安排表（TOEFL-IBT worldwide introduction schedule），这份文件明确指出将会在2006年5月在中国大陆地区推出TOEFL_iBT即新托福考试。很快，在2005年11月14号ETS与中国教育考试认证中心 (China’s National Education Examinations Authority (NEEA))达成协议，确定双方将会在未来的7年以内共同合作大力推广新托福的考试。目前ETS和NEEA已经决定在中国的北京、上海、成都、重庆、大连、广州等30个城市设立新托福的考场。
二、新托福的考试形式和考试时间：
1. 新托福考试由四个部分组成，恰好覆盖了四种基本的英语语言技能：听、说、读、写。考试的时间大约是三个半小时，并且在听力部分结束之后，学生会有10分钟的短暂休息时间。其具体考试形式和考试时间见下表：
Next Generation TOEFL@iBT
Section
Content
Number of
Questions
Approximate
Time
Reading
3-5 passages
36-42
60-100 minutes
Listening
2 conversations
4 lectures
34
60-90 minutes
Speaking
2 independent tasks
4 integrated-skills task
6
20 minutes
Writing
1 integrated-skills task
1 independent task
2
50 minutes
2. 新托福的五个重要特点TOEFL iBT Highlights:
(1) TOEFL iBT measures receptive and expressive skills equally, 新托福对于英语的接受信息能力（客观题）和表达信息能力（主观题）给予了同等的重视。一半的分数分配在阅读和听力上面---这两部分主要考查了考生的接受信息的能力，另一半的分数分配在了口语和写作上面---这两部分主要考查了考生表达信息的能力
(2) TOEFL iBT measures integrated skills, 新托福更加侧重于综合英语能力的测试。在原有作文考查形式的基础上增加了综合技巧写作测试，而在新增的托福口语中有多达4道题目（口语部分一共6道题目）的综合技巧测试。
(3) TOEFL iBT contains no Structure section，新托福没有单独的语法考试，但是会在其它考试部分中测试考生对语法知识的掌握，例如要求考生在口语部分和写作部分正确地应用英语语法方面的规则。
(4) TOEFL iBT uses more authentic language in the reading and listening passages, 新托福将会在阅读和听力测试中使用更加真实和符合现实语言环境的语言。笔者就曾在新托福模拟题目的综合技巧口语测试题目中听到了带有印度口音和澳大利亚口音的学生的对话。
(5) TOEFL iBT allows note-taking, 新托福允许做笔记。而能否有效地做笔记将会在很大程度上影响考生在听力、口语、综合作文方面的得分。
3. 由此可见，新托福和以前的托福考试之间存在以下四点重要差别：
(1) Note taking is allowed throughout the test在整个考试中都允许做笔记；
(2) Speaking skills are evaluated口语能力的测试被纳入到考试中；
(3) Some questions involve integrated skills, such as reading-listening-speaking有些问题是综合性的问题；
(4) Knowledge of grammar is not tested separately but is tested indirectly in all sections of the test语法知识不再直接考察，但是会间接考察。
三、深度剖析新托福考试
1、新托福考试的第一个部分是阅读部分，阅读部分有3到5篇文章，每篇文章有12到14道题目。在阅读部分中，阅读文章出现在电脑屏幕的右边（这和GRE机考形式恰好相反，因为在GRE机考阅读部分，阅读文章出现在电脑屏幕的左边），而相应的题目出现在电脑屏幕的左边。因为文章很长，大概有675到725个单词，所以需要借助于滚动条的托动才能看到全文。在阅读部分，考生可以通过点击Next button向前浏览所有的问题，也可以通过点击Back button回视前面的问题，并返回到文章的最开头。托福阅读部分还拥有一个review功能的按键，通过点击Review button考生将会在Review Screen看到所有的问题，和看到这些问题的状态---answered, not answered, not yet seen。此外，新托福阅读部分一个非常glossary的特点是：A word in blue in a passage indicates that a definition is available for the word. Clicking on the word brings up this definition。最后，新托福的阅读部分还有一个Help button，考生点击这个按键之后，将会得到a list of topics for which helpful explanations are available。
READING SECTION
Reading Text
Time Allowed
Length of Passage
Number of Questions
Passage 1
20 minutes
600-750
12-14
Passage 2
20 minutes
600-750
12-14
Passage 3
20 minutes
600-750
12-14
Passage 4 & 5
20 minutes
600-750
12-14 each
There may be five reading passages in some versions of the test.
根据题目的回答方式，我们可以把新托福中的阅读题型分为三种：
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A. Click on One Answer: For this multiple-choice type of question, you will choose the best of four possible answers；
B. Add a Sentence: For this type of question, you will click on a square to add a sentence to the passage. 这种插入句子题的文章中有4个“■”，然后题目给考生一句话，问考生这句话应该插在文章中哪一个所标“■”的地方。一般，题目的提问方式是这样的：Look at the four squares [■] that indicate where the following sentence could be added to the passage；
C. Drag Answer Choices: For this type of question, you will use the mouse to drag text to complete a summary or table.一般，题目的提问方式是这样的：An introductory sentence for a brief summary of the passage is provided below. Complete the summary by selecting the THREE answer choices that express the most important ideas in the passage. Some sentenced do not belong in the summary because they express ideas that are not presented in the passage or are minor ideas in the passage. This question is worth 2 points。
但是，根据测试的内容来看，新托福的阅读部分共有13种不同题型，而这13种不同题型可以被分为三大类（Language Use, Basic Comprehension, Reading to learn），其详细内容见下表：
Language Use: These questions generally fall at the beginning of set for a passage. Language-use questions constitute about half of the total Reading section questions.
Inferring word meaning from context
7 to 10 per test
Locating a referent
3 per test
Defining a key term
1 to 2 per test
Understanding rhetorical function
3 to 4 per test
Paraphrasing
2 to 3 per test
Understanding coherence
3 per test
Basic Comprehension: These questions constitute roughly a third of the total Reading section questions.
Understanding details
8 to 10 per test
Drawing an inference
3 to 4 per test
Identifying the main idea
1 per test
Reading to learn: These questions generally fall at the end of the set for a passage. There are about 5 total reading-to-learn questions in the Reading section.
Inferring the author’s opinion or attitude
1 per test
Understanding details as they relate to the main idea (multiple choice)
1 per test
Understanding details as they relate to the main idea (schematic table)
1 per test
Summarizing the most important points
2 per test
在新托福的官方指南中，关于题型的介绍有这样一段介绍是值得我们关注的：All the language use questions refer to a word, sentence, or paragraph in the reading passage. Whenever a question refers to a particular word or sentence in the passage, the word or sentence is highlighted. You don not need to search for it. Detail questions on TOEFL iBT identify the particular paragraph in which the answer can be found, so you do not need to scan the passage in order to find the location of an answer to a detail question.也就是说以后的阅读不再考察问题定位的能力，这大大降低了题目的难度。
2、新托福考试的第二个部分是听力部分，听力部分有两个对话，每个对话之后有5个问题需要回答；听力部分在两个对话之后还有四个短的lecture, 2 of which include student comments，
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每个lecture之后还各有6个问题需要回答。在听力考试的电脑屏幕上方有一个Volume button，能够被考生随时用来改变headphone输出的音量大小。考生在听力考试部分使用频率最高的是OK and NEXT button，on choosing an answer for a question, you must click NEXT then OK to proceed to the next question. The OK button serves to confirm each answer choice, as it is not possible to return to any question in the Listening section，即听力部分一旦确定选择答案并进入下一道题目后是不可能再返回前面的题目的。在对话和讲座进行过程当中，关于人物学术环境的图片会出现在电脑屏幕上，这些图片能够提供一些关于对话或者讲座内容的有用线索。在对话或者讲座结束之后，问题将会按顺序一个一个地出现在屏幕上，每一个问题出现在屏幕上的同时还会由narrator朗读出来，尽管问题的选项这时候并没有出现在屏幕上。需要注意的是：A few Listening section question types require listening again to an excerpt from the conversation or lecture. In these cases, a photo appears on the screen as the excerpt plays。最后在听力部分也有Help button in all sections takes you to a list of topics for which helpful explanations are available。
LISTENING SECTION
Type of Audio Text
Length of Audio Text
Number of Questions
Conversation 1
2-3 minutes
5
Conversation 2
2-3 minutes
5
Lecture 1
3-5 minutes
6
Lecture 2
3-5 minutes
6
Lecture 3
3-5 minutes
6
Lecture 4
3-5 minutes
6
Extra Audio Texts
2-5 minutes each
5-6 each
There may be an extra conversation and two extra lectures in some versions of the test.
对话部分和讲座部分是按随机顺序出现的，其中对话常常是发生在一个学生和一个教授或者other university staff member, such as a librarian, counselor, administrative assistant, and so on。这些对话通常都是属于问题解决类型的，即学生需要得到别人的帮助，并且学生必须解释他或她的需求，这样才能得到他或她想要的帮助，当然也有一些人会主动帮助他人的情况。
讲座的内容涉及的范围很广，The lectures are on a range of topics, covering anything from American history, art, and business to hard science topics such as chemistry and geography to social science topics such psychology and sociology。但是讲座方面的题目的回答并不需要具有相关的专业知识，这一点是符合公平出题原则的。
根据回答题目的方式，可以把听力题目分为六种：
A. Click on One Answer: For this multiple-choice type of question, you will choose the best of four possible answers. When you click on an oval, the oval will darken that is your choice；
B. Click on Two Answer: For this type of question, you will click on two answers. And you will click on boxes instead of oval；
C. Listen Again to Part of the Text: For this type of question, you will hear part of the audio again；
D. Click on a Picture: For this type of question, you will click on a picture or part of a picture；
E. Drag Answer Choices: For this type of question, you will use the mouse to drag text to complete a list, table, or summary；
F. Click on a Table: For this type of question, you will click on boxes in a table。
但是，根据测试的内容来看，新托福的听力部分共有7种不同题型，而这7种不同题型可以被分为三大类（Language Use, Basic Comprehension, Reading to learn），其详细内容见下表：
Language Use
Understanding a speaker’s implication
3 to 5 per test
Understanding an idiomatic expression in context
1 or 2 per test
Understanding rhetorical function
5 or 6 per test
Basic Comprehension
Identifying the main idea (lectures only)
4&nbs
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p;per test
Understanding details
12 to 14 per test
Drawing an inference
3 to 5 per test
Listening to learn
Summarizing the most important points (lectures only)
2 per test
由此可见听力部分的测试涉及到以下六个方面能力的考察：
Skill
Number of Questions (test with 6 texts)
Identifying the Topic and Main Idea
4-6
Listening for Details
8-12
Determining Attitude and Purpose
8-12
Making Inferences and Predictions
4-8
Categorizing Information
1-2
Summarizing a Process
1-2
Total Number of Questions
34
笔者在分析了听力部分的考题和考察要求后，给出了一些一般性的听力测试策略：
A. 在考试前：
a) Work on building your vocabulary；
b) 大量练习多听各种种类的学术性谈话，例如，recordings of real lectures, videotaped documentaries, and educational television programs.大多数在托福听力中的讲座都主要涉及到natural science, the social sciences, the arts, and business，所以多听些相关的材料有助于build comprehension；
c) Work on developing efficient note-taking skills；
d) 熟悉六种不同的问题类型，知道如何回答它们；
e) 了解托福听力考试中，各种button的作用和使用机制；
B. 在考试中：
a) 在听对话和讲座的过程中，focus on overall meaning and purpose, listen for key words and concepts that are repeated throughout the piece；
b) 在做听力笔记时，只需要记下关键的terms and concepts，不要让做笔记这件事分散你的注意力；
c) 对于multiple choice questions, 注意排除法（process of elimination）的使用；
3、新托福考试的第三个部分是口语测试部分：口语测试部分与前面两个部分最大的不
同在于整个测试部分的计时都是pre-set, that is , unlike in the Reading and Listening sections, you do not choose when you have finished one question and are ready to move to the next. Instead, you have a given amount of time to listen to the task, prepare your response, and respond before the next task begins.对话和讲座是任务中的一部分，并且有相关的学术环境人物图片的出现，但是这些图片不会提供任何的关于对话和讲座的信息，也当然不可能提供任何的关于问题回答的信息。同样在口语部分也有Help button in all sections takes you to list of topics for which helpful explanations are available.在整个口语测试部分当中包含了6个覆盖相当主题范围的任务，任务1和任务2是independent speaking tasks---you respond to short prompt by speaking about a familiar topic.这两个任务对考生口语能力的评分标准主要是表达是否清晰、连贯、有逻辑性 (you are scored on your ability to speak clearly and coherently)，具体而言考生在这两个任务中需要证明自己的以下四种能力 (In your responses, you must demonstrate your ability to)：
A. state and support an opinion;
B. develop points with appropriate details and explanation;
C. express ideas coherently;
D. make yourself understood by speaking clearly and fluently.
考生的回答，将会有两个评判老师分别给出自己的评分，评分的范围在1到4分，4分是最高分，当然如果考生没有对问题做出问答，考生将得到0分。
任务3到任务6是综合能力的考察任务，考生会首先读到或听到一段文字，然后考生根据之前听到的和读到的内容发表自己的看法。考生可以在读和听的时候做出相应的笔记来帮助自己的回答。而这几个任务的评分标准除了上面说提到的表达是否清晰、连贯、有逻辑性，还要评估考生是否具有合成、加工、总结自己听到、读到的信息来表达的能力 (you are scored on your ability to speak clearly and coherently, as well as your ability to accurately synthesize and summarize the information you’ve read and heard)。具体而言考生在这四个任务中需要证明自己的以下四种能力 (In your responses, you must demonstrate your ability to )：
A. convey relevant information from one or two sources;
B. develop points with appropriate details and explanation;
C. express ideas coherently;
D. make your understood by speaking clearly and fluently.
考生的这部分回答，也将会有两个评判老师对你的每个任务的回答，给出自己的评分，评分的范围同样是在1到4分，同样如果考生没有回答也将会得到0分。考生这4个任务的得分最终将和前面的两个任务得分加在一起，并且被转化成0到30分(converted to a Speaking section score of 0 to
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30)。
其口语考试部分的考试时间见下表：
SPEAKING SECTION
Question
Reading Time
Listening Time
Preparation Time
Speaking Time
Independent Task1
------
------
15 seconds
45 seconds
Independent Task2
------
-------
15 seconds
45 seconds
Integrated Task1
45 seconds
1-2 minutes
30 seconds
60 seconds
Integrated Task2
45 seconds
1-2 minutes
30 seconds
60 seconds
Integrated Task3
------
1-2 minutes
20 seconds
60 seconds
Integrated Task4
-------
1-2 minutes
20 seconds
60 seconds
需要注意的是，在每一个口语测试任务当中，考生都可以听到，同时看到问题。考生将会有15-30秒的时间准备，在电脑屏幕正中间有clock会告诉考生剩余的准备时间，而当准备时间完后，考生会听到beep声，the beep is your signal that the recording time will begin immediately。关于口语六个任务的overview见下表：
Time
Task
1
15 seconds to prepare
45 seconds to speak
Speak about a familiar topic
2
15 seconds to prepare
45 seconds to speak
Express and support an opinion based on a familiar experience
3
30 seconds to prepare
60seconds to speak
Read an announcement (of 100 words or less) about a university life topic, listen to a conversation (about one minute in length) on the same topic, then respond to a question by summarizing what you have read and heard
4
30 seconds to prepare
60 seconds to speak
Read an academic passage (of 100 to 125 words), listen to a lecture (about one and a half minutes in length) on the same topic, then respond to a question by summarizing what you have read and heard and by expressing and supporting an opinion on the topic
5
20 seconds to prepare
60 seconds to speak
Listen to a conversation (about one and a half to two minutes in length) between two students discussing some type of problem and two positions or solutions, then respond to a question by summarizing what you have heard and by expressing and supporting an opinion on the topic
6
20 seconds to prepare
60 seconds to speak
Listen to a lecture (about one and a half to two minutes in length) on an academic topic, then respond to a question by summarizing and expressing information based on what you have heard
根据回答问题的方式，笔者将其分为以下两种类型：
A. Reading---Listening---Speaking；
B. Listening---Speaking。
通过以上的分析和介绍，这里笔者总结出了一些关于口语测试的一般性的口语测试策略：
A. 在考试前：
a) Work on building your spoken vocabulary, practice using transitions---connecting words and expressions---to make your speech more fluent and coherent；
b) Work to improve your pronunciation. Pay special attention to stress and intonation；
c) 纪录下你的声音然后自己反复听的同时，也让别人听，看看别人是否能够清楚地知道你在说些什么；
d) 多听各种关于学术化环境下的英语材料，such as university lectures, documentaries, and in-depth radio news programs，然后在听这些材料的时候，不断地练习做笔记的方法，同时也不断地练习总结你自己的话和你听到的各种信息；
e) 了解托福口语考试中，各种button的作用和使用机制；
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B. 在考试中：
Independent Tasks:
a) Use the preparation time wisely. Read the question carefully and note everything that it asks you to do. Think about what you want to convey in a simple, organized way. Write down a simple plan of a few key details or examples that you want to include；
b) During the recording time, speak clearly into microphone. Pronounce words carefully, especially important content words. Speak at a normal speed---not too fast and not too slow. Keep the structure of your sentences fairly simple. Use appropriate transitions, such as first, second, next, also, finally and most importantly；
c) 关注你剩余的时间，调整好你的说话频率，让你把想说的一切东西都说出来。
Integrated Tasks:
a) 在你读短文章时，关注于文章的主旨大意，不要试图记住每一个细节，没有必要；
b) 当你听对话或者讲座时，也同样只需要关注于major ideas, and listen for key words and concepts that the speaker emphasize or repeat；
c) Take notes only about the information that will be important to remember: key points, examples, and reasons. Do not try to write down everything you hear. Do not allow your writing to detract from your listening；
d) Use the preparation time wisely. Read the question carefully and note everything that it asks you to do. Do not try to write a response. Review your notes, and concentrate on what you will say. Plan to state and support two or three points。
4、新托福考试的第四个部分即最后一个部分是写作部分，写作部分包含了两个任务需要考生作答。两个写作部分的任务所相关的主题对于国际考生都是适合的，所以考生没有必要掌握关于任何主题的相关专业知识，Both writing questions are about topics that are appropriate for international students. You do not need special knowledge of any subject to respond to the questions。同样在写作部分也有Help button in all sections takes you to list of topics for which helpful explanations are available。其考试时间见下表：
WRITING SECTION
Question
Reading Time
Listening Time
Writing Time
Integrated Task
3 minutes
2-3 minutes
20 minutes
Independent Task
------
------
30 minutes
第一个任务是一个综合能力的测试，考生要求首先读和听一段文字，然后基于听到的和读到的信息写一篇相关内容的文章，在听和读的时候允许考生做笔记，记下那些重要的有助于自己后面写作的重要信息。这部分的评分标准主要是how well you select and correctly present information form the lecture as it relates to information in the reading passage, as well as on how well you write generally。具体而言在这一部分，In your response, you must demonstrate your ability to
A. organize ideas effectively in answering the question;
B. draw requested connections between the lecture and the reading;
C. develop ideas with appropriate examples and explanation
D. display unity and coherence;
E. use English words and sentences effectively
考生的这部分回到要求的字数一般在150到225个字，而且考生的回答会有两个评判老师分别做出相应的评判，其分数范围在1到5分之间，其中5分是最高分。如果考生没有做出任何的回答，或者回答没有用英语写作，将会做0分处理。
第二个任务是independent writing task---you write an essay on a familiar topic based on a short prompt。而这部分对考生的评分标准主要是how well you address the topic, as well as how well you organize the essay and use vocabulary and grammar。具体而言在这一部分，In your response ,you must demonstrate your ability to
A. organize ideas effectively in answering the question;
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B. state and support an opinion;
C. develop ideas with appropriate reasons, examples and personal experience;
D. display unity and coherence;
E. use English words and sentences effectively
考生的这部分回到也会有两个评判老师分别做出相应的评判，其分数范围在1到5分之间，其中5分是最高分，同样如果考生没有做出任何的回答，或者回答没有用英语写作，将会做0分处理。最后考生这两个写作任务的得分会加起来并被转换成0到30分 (The total number of points you earn for both writing questions will be converted to a Writing section score of 0 to 30)。其具体考试的内容见下表：
Time
Task
1
3 minutes to read
2 minutes to listen
20 minutes to write
Read an academic passage (of 250 to 275 words),
Listen to a lecture (up to two minutes in length) on the same topic, then respond to a question by summarizing what you have read and heard
2
30 minutes to write
Write about a familiar topic
通过以上的分析和介绍，这里笔者也对写作部分给出了一般性的写作测试的策略：
A. 在考试前：
a) 多听各种关于学术化环境下的英语材料，such as university lectures, documentaries, and in-depth radio news programs，然后在听这些材料的时候，不断地练习做笔记的方法；
b) Working on building your vocabulary. Practice using transitions---connecting words and expressions---to make your writing more coherent；
c) Become familiar with the types of writing questions that appear on the TOEFL；
d) 熟悉英语键盘，练习英语打字；
e) Become familiar with the TOEFL testing tools, such as Copy, Cut, and Paste. Practice using these keys to move text and make corrections
四、新托福的考试评分
新托福的评分报告将会包含以下三个部分：
A. a separate score of 0 to 30 for each of the four language skills;
B. a total test score of 0 to 120;
C. a TOEFL CBT score and TOEFL paper test score comparison。
需要注意的是，在阅读部分，正确答案一般都得1分的原始分，但是有些问题会值2到4分，这些问题的具体原始分值会在题干中明确指出；在听力部分，正确答案一般也是得1分的原始分，但是有些问题会值2分的原始分，这些问题的具体原始分值会在题干中明确指出；在口语部分，每个任务的原始得分在0到4分；在作文部分，每个任务的原始分在0到5分。每个部分的原始分都会被转化为0到30分的标准分，所以总分的标准分是120分。
其具体信息见下表：
NEXT GENERATION TOEFL IBT
Section
Number of Questions
Raw Points per Question
Total Raw Points
Scaled Section Score
Reading
36-42
1-4
42-46
30
Listening
34
1-2
34-36
30
Speaking
6
1-4
24
30
Writing
2
1-5
10
30
Total Test Score
120
这些分数与以前的托福考试分数的大致对应关系见下表：
TOTAL SCORE COMPARISON
Next Generation TOEFL IBT
TOEFL CBT
Paper-based TOEFL TEST
120
300
677
100
250
600
80
213
550
61
173
500
46
133
450
五、新托福我们到底需要考多少分？
最近ETS在其官方网站上公布了在全球范围内对新托福考试的调研结果，其数据如下：评估的总人数是2720人，在阅读部分平均得分是17.04分相当于笔考老托福的52分，样本标准差为6.99，阅读部分的最高得分是满分30分；在听力部分平均得分是16.98分相当于笔考老托福的52分，样本标准差为6.95，听力部分的最高得分是满分30分；在口语部分平均得分是16.97分，样本标准差是6.98，口语部分的最高得分是满分30分；最后在写作部分的平均得分是16.05分，样本标准差是6.67，写作部分的最高得分也是满分30分。
基于这样的情况，笔者咨询了美国的近200所高校，他们的反馈是他们对新托福的入学分数的要求在80到95分之间，也就是笔考老托福的550到587分之间，可见虽然新托福的考试难度有所增加，但是美国各高校的录取分数线也有了不同程度的降低
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