TOEIC Booster / Goals affect choice of replies
Lynn Stafford-Yilmaz / Special to The Daily Yomiuri
In the last Booster column (Oct. 9), we looked at the TOEFL test. This week, we turn to the TOEIC Speaking and Writing test. Today's column will offer one reader's thoughtful insight on a recent Booster column that examined ways that test-takers can achieve a high score in the TOEIC Speaking test.
The Speaking test contains six different tasks. Most of these tasks ask test-takers to respond to a given question or stimulus. For example, in one task, test-takers hear and read three interrelated questions, then they must respond to the questions.
In a recent column (Aug. 28), I proposed some simple strategies to improve one's score in the speaking test. I recommended that test-takers give a direct and definitive response. For example, if the question asks, "What is one of your hobbies?" I recommended a tidy and straightforward reply, such as, one of my hobbies is collecting model airplanes."
In response to this, one of my highly regarded readers, Prof. Hideo Oka (Tokyo University) replied, saying: "...my feeling is that your advice sounds too simplistic if you think of the many cases when you cannot give definite answers, even though the scorer might expect them. For example, in response to the first question, 'What is one of your hobbies?' it is not always possible to give a straightforward answer." (236 words)
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