QA from the TOEFL Propell Workshop, April 2019

QA from the TOEFL Propell Workshop, April 2019 Last month I was fortunate enough to get invited to the most recent Propell Workshop for the TOEFL iBT Test. This workshop is given occasionally by ETS to provide information and assistance to TOEFL teachers. If you happen to be a TOEFL teacher, I do recommend attending the workshop. While a lot of the information given is somewhat introductory in scope, you will leave the course with a collection of printed resources that go into detail about how the test is graded, and a couple of books full of exercises and activities you can use in the classroom. Moreover, youll get a neat certificate that might impress your students or potential employers.For me, the best part was that attendees could ask questions to the ETS representatives and presenters about the test. Thats what I want to share with you today. So heres what I remember (these are my words, paraphrased from what I remember):Question: Are students penalized (punished) for using templates in the writing and speaking sectio ns?Answer: Never. This was emphasized again and again. I think ETS gets this question a lot.Question: What is considered plagiarism? Answer: Plagiarism is when students use content that is memorized in advance of the test (explanations, personal examples, etc).Question: How is this plagiarism detected?Answer: If the graders think that something is memorized, it is sent to a scoring leader who compares it to a database of commonly used answers (that is, if you gave the exact same answer as someone else did in the past, you will punished)Question: Can students be punished for using profanities or abusive language?Answer: Yes. You may get a score of zero. Dont swear.Question: Do the graders have any secret guidelines other than the published rubrics for scoring?Answer: No. They have the same rubrics as in the Official Guide and they have sample answers of each score (benchmarks). They have no other guidelines.Question: How is it now possible to get speaking scores (like 25 poi nts) that were previously impossible?No answer.Question: Can you still get a perfect score if you dont use all of the provided time answering a speaking question?Answer: Yes.Question: When, exactly, will MyBest Scores start?Answer: August 1, 2019.Question: When MyBest Scores starts, will it include tests results from August 2017 to August 2019?Answer: Yes.Question: Does ETS know how many schools will accept MyBest scores right away? Do they have a list of accepting schools?Answer: No.Question: When answering a multiple choice independent writing question, is it okay to just pick one choice and ignore the others in the essay?Answer: Yes.Question: Do graders know they are rescoring an answer? Do they know what the original score was?Answer: Yes, but they dont know the original score.Hello AgainSo, thats what I was able to get from ETS last month. I was given the opportunity to send more questions via e-mail, but Im not too optimistic theyll get back to me. I will write again if they do, however!