More free TOEFL test materials (all sections of the test)

I recently came across a whole stash of free TOEFL test practice materials at this link.

I only really had time to check out some of the speaking tests. The positive is that the creator of this site has managed to very accurately replicate the actual TOEFL test browser format, including the automatic timer function (so it will be good for you in terms of getting a great feel for the actual test experience.

On the negative side, many of the actual recordings for the listening sections come out quite muted and difficult to hear without turning your volume settings up ultra high. Even then, it's distracting because the narration sections are clear and set at a higher volume - so one minute you'll be straining to hear the speakers in a dialogue, and then the narrator will come on and blast your eardrums out! Also, despite the great timing functions, you can't actually record your performance or listen to yourself afterwards.

Still, as I said, it can still be great practice, on account of the close resemblance to the actual TOEFL browser and automatic timing functions. There are also a lot of tests and practice items to go through, including all the other parts of the test (reading, listening and writing as well as speaking).

One note of caution: I don't know how long these materials can/will stay available up on the web. The site maker has not documented where the original materials came from - so there is a good chance they have been burned, copied and uploaded illegally using some other source. Maybe (hopefully) I'm wrong there, but generally speaking I would expect to see rights/copyright asserted if the site owner had made or organized the making of all these materials privately... 

 

 

Comments

[victor]

I think the copyrights for these materials are very clear in the footer of the flash program. These are the learning resources for students in their university. The tutorial movies in the website also show you how to use the ED Toefl iBT software to create your own tests.

[Jason Renshaw]

Hi Victor,

Right - thanks for that clarification!

So these tests (as in, each and every piece of material) were written and recorded by personnel in your department?

Just listening to the directions at the start of the speaking section - as well as instructions before and after questions - it sounds precisely like (as in the actual narrator) the sound track I've heard in published materials from a major publisher.

If you've established copyright, that means you have made all the scripts and recordings yourself, or outsourced them to professional voice recorders, or obtained permission from a publisher to feature their materials in your test. If you have uploaded or copied anything to feature in your test without permission, then - sorry to say - you are basically breaking the law and could be charged with piracy (or worse).

It doesn't matter if they are learning resources for a university, or free and public. If any of that material is not yours or not yours to distribute without permission, then it's dodgy.

What you've made on that site looks great - but I won't fully endorse it if I can't be sure they are 100% legitimate...

Can you clarify this, according to the comments I've made above? If this is truly all your own material, or material you have the formal rights to distribute, then it is sensational!

All the best,

~ Jason