Proficiency+tests

commissioned by Taiwan's Ministry of Education in 1999 [|GEPT Online School]
 * General English Proficiency Test** (GEPT, 全民英語能力分級檢定測驗, or 全民英檢 for short)
 * The GEPT Elementary level is presumed to be appropriate for students who have studied English through junior high school.
 * The GEPT Intermediate level is seen as suitable for high school graduates or university freshmen.
 * The GEPT High-intermediate level is thought to be suitable for university graduates majoring in English.
 * The GEPT Advanced level test is considered adequately difficult that only someone with a graduate degree from a university in an English-speaking country would be able to pass it.

**Test of English as a Foreign Language** (**TOEFL)** http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/TOEFL

Internet-based Test
Since its introduction in late 2005, the **Internet-based Test (iBT)** has progressively replaced both the computer-based tests (CBT) and paper-based tests (PBT), although paper-based testing is still used in select areas. The Writing section measures a test taker's ability to write in an academic setting and consists of two tasks: one integrated task and one independent task. In the integrated task, test-takers read a passage on an academic topic and then listen to a speaker discuss the same topic. The test-taker will then write a summary about the important points in the listening passage and explain how these relate to the key points of the reading passage. In the independent task, test-takers must write an essay that states, explains, and supports their opinion on an issue, supporting their opinions or choices, rather than simply listing personal preferences or choices. Responses are sent to the ETS OSN and evaluated by four raters.
 * Writing**

**Test of English for International Communication (TOEIC)** http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/TOEIC

TOEIC Speaking & Writing Test
The TOEIC Speaking & Writing Test was introduced in 2006. Test takers receive separate scores for each of the two tests, or can take the Speaking test without taking the Writing test. The Speaking test assesses pronunciation, vocabulary, grammar, and fluency, while the Writing test examines vocabulary, grammar, and overall coherence and organization. The tests are designed to reflect actual English usage in the workplace, though they do not require any knowledge of specialized business terms. The TOEIC Speaking Test takes approximately 20 minutes to complete; the TOEIC writing test lasts approximately 60 minutes. Each test has a score range between 0-200, with test takers grouped into eight proficiency levels.

[|TOEIC Taiwan]

**Graduate Management Admission Test (GMAT)** http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Graduate_Management_Admission_Test

Analytical Writing Assessment
The Analytical Writing Assessment (AWA) section of the test consists of two essays. In the first, the student must analyze an argument and in the second the student must analyze an issue. Each essay must be written within 30 minutes and is scored on a scale of 0–6. The essay is read by two readers who each mark the essay with a grade from 0–6, in 0.5 point increments. If the two scores are within one point of each other, they are averaged. If there is more than one point difference, the essays are read by a third reader. The first reader is IntelliMetric, a proprietary computer program developed by Vantage Learning, which analyzes creative writing and syntax of more than 50 linguistic and structural features. The second and third readers are humans, who evaluate the quality of the examinee's ideas and his ability to organize, develop, and express ideas with relevant support. While mastery of the conventions of written English factor into scoring, minor errors are expected, and evaluators are trained to be sensitive to examinees whose first language is not English. Each of the two essays in the Analytical Writing part of the test is graded on a scale of 0 (the minimum) to 6 (the maximum): Over the 3 years concluding in March 2011, the mean score has been 4.4.
 * 0 An essay that is totally illegible or obviously not written on the assigned topic.
 * 1 An essay that is fundamentally deficient.
 * 2 An essay that is seriously flawed.
 * 3 An essay that is seriously limited.
 * 4 An essay that is merely adequate.
 * 5 An essay that is strong.
 * 6 An essay that is outstanding.

** Sentence Correction **
The Sentence Correction section tests a test taker's knowledge of [|American English] grammar, usage, and style. Sentence correction items consist of a sentence, all or part of which has been underlined, with five associated answer choices listed below the sentence. The first answer choice is exactly the same as the underlined portion of the sentence. The remaining four answer choices contain different phrasings of the underlined portion of the sentence. The test taker is instructed to choose the first answer choice if there is no flaw with that phrasing of the sentence. If there is a flaw with the original phrasing of the sentence, the test taker is instructed to choose the best of the four remaining answer choices Sentence Correction questions are designed to measure a test taker's proficiency in three areas: correct expression, effective expression, and proper [|diction] C//orrect expression// refers to the grammar and structure of the sentence. //Effective Expression// refers to the clarity and concision used to express the idea. //Proper Diction// refers to the suitability and accuracy of the chosen words in reference to the dictionary meaning of the words and the context in which the words are presented.

**Graduate Record Examinations** (**GRE**) http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/GRE The analytical writing section consists of two different essays, **an "issue task" and an "argument task"**. The writing section is graded on a scale of 0-6, in half-point increments. The essays are written on a computer using a word processing program specifically designed by ETS. The program allows only basic computer functions and does not contain a spell-checker or other advanced features. Each essay is scored by at least two readers on a six-point holistic scale. If the two scores are within one point, the average of the scores is taken. If the two scores differ by more than a point, a third reader examines the response. The test taker will be able to choose between two topics upon which to write an essay. The time allowed for this essay is 45 minutes. Issue topics are selected from a pool of questions. The test taker will be given an "argument" and will be asked **to write an essay that critiques the argument.** Test takers are asked to consider the argument's logic and to make suggestions about how to improve the logic of the argument. The time allotted for this essay is 30 minutes. Arguments are selected from a pool of topics.
 * Analytical writing section**
 * Issue task**
 * Argument task**