Affordances of TOEFL writing tasks beyond university admissions

Abstract

Abstract This review describes in brief the writing sub-sections of the internet-based Test of English as a Foreign Language (TOEFL) and discusses its use in university admissions decisions and potential use as a tool for course placement. The primary purpose of the TOEFL is to measure the academic English proficiency of non-native English speakers seeking admission to English- medium universities. The writing portion of the TOEFL consists of an independent writing task and a second writing task that requires test-takers to integrate reading, listening, and writing skills to compose a written text. Currently there is only is limited evidence supporting the use of TOEFL scores for placement (either in ESL programs or in university composition courses), but the review offers guidelines for further investigation into the TOEFL’s potential as an assessment tool for placement.