TOEFL iBT 2024-2025 Information Bulletin

In this episode of the TOEFL Speaking Prep Podcast for the AI Era, we dive deep into the official TOEFL iBT 2024-2025 Information Bulletin to uncover the critical updates every test taker should know. From strategic insights on retaking the test to how AI tools like MySpeakingScore are transforming TOEFL preparation, we break it all down for you.

Discover:

• Why the three-day waiting period between retakes is actually an opportunity.
• How global accessibility issues are being addressed through AI-driven solutions.
• The role of SpeechRater AI in providing personalized feedback and practice.
• Game-changing security measures like biometric voice ID to ensure fairness.
• Tips to prepare smarter, not harder, with the help of cutting-edge technology.

Whether you're gearing up for your first TOEFL attempt or looking to improve your scores, this episode is packed with actionable insights to help you succeed. Tune in and learn how to leverage AI and strategic preparation to master the TOEFL!

Source

Free TOEFL Speaking practice:

• My Speaking Score

Free resources:

• TOEFL Speaking Course
• SpeechRater Blog
• SpeechRater Knowledge Base

Social:

• Follow us on Facebook
• Subscribe on YouTube

My Speaking Score serves 000s of users across the globe by helping them data-power their TOEFL Speaking prep.

Transcript

All right, so let's jump into this TOEFL deep dive. 

You ready? Today we're taking a look at the TOEFL IDT and how it's changing with all this new AI stuff. We're going to be using the TOEFL IDT 2024-2025 Information Bulletin. It's the official one.

(0:44 - 0:58)
It's got a ton of info, like it's a goldmine, but honestly, it can be a little tough to get through it all. So that's what we're here for, to help break it down and stuff. Yeah, we'll pull out the important stuff and help you figure out what it all means for your TOEFL journey.

(0:58 - 1:08)
Okay, so let's start with something that might surprise you. Okay. Did you know that the bulletin says that there's no limit on how many times you can retake the TOEFL? Really? Yeah, but there's a catch.

(1:09 - 1:18)
There's a three-day waiting period between each try. Oh, okay. It seems like a small thing, but it actually says a lot about like the whole idea behind the test.

(1:18 - 2:20)
Huh, I see what you mean. It's like they want you to really prepare, you know. Like not just keep taking it over and over, but to like actually analyze how you did figure out your weak spots, and then really focus on improving before you try again. 

Yeah, exactly. And you know, that's super important for the speaking section. It can be a real challenge for people, especially if English isn't their first language. 

Right, so it's not about like memorizing stuff for tricks. It's about actually getting better at English. Yeah, for sure. 

But here's where it gets interesting. The bulletin also mentions that the TOEFL fee changes based on where you are. Like your location. 

What's up with that? Well, that brings up a big problem with these kinds of tests. Global accessibility. Like how easy is it for everyone to take it? You know, the cost of the TOEFL can be a huge barrier for students in some countries. 

Yeah, that's true. So it makes you think about fairness, and if everyone really has the same chance to reach their academic goals. Kind of a bummer to think about. 

But hey, maybe technology can help fix that. Oh, yeah, for sure. One of the coolest things happening with TOEFL prep is all the new AI stuff.

(2:21 - 2:36)
Absolutely. AI is making those fancy test prep resources available to way more people. Doesn't matter where they live or how much money they have. 

Yeah. One example is MySpeakingScore. It's a popular TOEFL speaking prep tool that uses SpeechRater AI.

(2:36 - 3:02)
More than a hundred thousand students are using it to get better at speaking English. Wow. That's a lot of people. 

So how does it work? I mean, how can AI make you a better speaker? It's like having your own personal speaking coach who's available all the time. That's basically what MySpeakingScore does. Oh, wow. 

You record yourself answering speaking questions, and the AI checks it out. It gives you feedback on your pronunciation, your fluency, vocabulary, grammar, all that. That's amazing.

(3:02 - 3:09)
Especially for students who can't afford, like, a real tutor. Right. It shows how AI can make good test prep available to everyone.

(3:09 - 3:28)
So it's not just about giving feedback. MySpeakingScore also has personalized practice exercises and tips based on what you need to work on. Exactly. 

Like having a custom learning plan right there on your computer or phone. This is also cool. It seems like AI is not only changing how people prep for the TOEFL, but also making it fairer for everyone around the world.

(3:29 - 3:40)
Totally. And it goes way beyond just the TOEFL AI has the potential to totally change how we learn. Making those personalized learning experiences available to anyone, no matter who they are or where they're from.

(3:41 - 4:03)
It's a really exciting time to be learning new things. But let's get back to the TOEFL. OK. 

The bulletin says that you get, like, unofficial scores for the listening and reading sections right after the test. Yeah. How is that even possible? Well, that's AI in action. 

AI algorithms are crazy fast and accurate. They can analyze and score those sections, like, instantly. So you get to see how you did right away.

(4:03 - 4:17)
Oh, that's nice. It must really help with the anxiety. Definitely. 

And it helps you decide if you need to take the test again or if you're good to move on to other parts of your application. So AI isn't just a tool to get ready for the test. It's part of how they score it, too.

(4:19 - 4:39)
This is wild. Makes you wonder what other things AI will do with the TOEFL in the future. Well, let's not get too ahead of ourselves. 

We still have plenty to talk about, about what's happening right now. Right. Let's take a quick break and then we'll be back to discuss all the security measures they're using to make sure everything's fair and to prevent cheating in this new AI powered testing world.

(4:40 - 4:52)
Stay tuned. We're back and still diving deep into the TOEFL, IBT, and you know how AI is changing everything. It really is incredible how fast things are moving.

(4:52 - 5:13)
But with all this AI stuff in the TOEFL, it makes you think, how do they keep things fair? Yeah. How do they stop people from cheating? Right. Well, that's a super important question. 

And the Bulletin actually talks about it. They've got some pretty serious security measures in place. Okay. 

Like what? They take photos of everyone taking the test. They do fingerprinting. And get this, they even use biometric voice ID.

(5:13 - 5:25)
Biometric voice ID. Whoa. What is that? It's like a technology that analyzes your voice, like all the little unique things about it to make sure it's really... Oh, so they know it's not someone else taking the test for you.

(5:25 - 5:38)
Exactly. It's like a fingerprint, but for your voice. Wow. 

That's pretty intense. They're really serious about security. Oh, yeah. 

They have to be. As AI gets more advanced, people are going to try to find ways to cheat. True.

(5:38 - 5:46)
So they got to stay ahead of the game and make sure everything's fair for everyone. I get it. But all this security stuff must make taking the test even more stressful.

(5:47 - 5:51)
I can see why you'd feel that way. Yeah. But remember, all these measures are there to protect you.

(5:52 - 5:53)
Okay. Yeah. That's great.

(5:53 - 6:03)
Make sure that your scores really show what you know and that no one's getting an unfair advantage. That makes sense. It's easy to forget about the human side of things when you're talking about all this tech stuff.

(6:03 - 6:07)
Yeah, for sure. And that brings us back to my speaking score. Oh, right.

(6:08 - 6:22)
AI is important for scoring and security, but it's also being used to make test prep more accessible and personalized. Right. Imagine walking into that testing center feeling totally confident and prepared because you've had access to the best resources.

(6:22 - 6:35)
That would be awesome. Speaking of my speaking score, can we talk more about how it actually helps you improve? I know it gives feedback, but like what kind of feedback? It's like a super detailed report card on your speaking. It doesn't just tell you what's right or wrong.

(6:35 - 6:44)
It breaks down your pronunciation. It tells you exactly which sounds you need to work on. It looks at your fluency and points out any weird pauses or hesitations.

(6:45 - 6:53)
And it checks your vocabulary to see if you could be using better words. So it's not just about grammar and pronunciation. It's about becoming a better speaker overall.

(6:54 - 7:00)
Exactly. It helps you develop the skills you'll need to do well on the TOEFL and in any situation where you need to use English. That's a great point.

(7:01 - 7:15)
It's not just about passing a test. It's about setting you up for success in school and your career. Right. 

And that's where AI is so powerful. It takes something as complicated as learning a language and makes it easier to understand and more personal. So anyone can do it no matter where they are.

(7:16 - 7:25)
This is really inspiring. But let's get back to the TOEFL for a sec. The Bulletin also has some interesting things to say about retaking the test and how it encourages you to prepare strategically.

(7:26 - 7:37)
Definitely. We talked earlier about that three day waiting period between retakes. Yeah. 

It's not meant to be a bad thing. It's actually a really good opportunity. We're back and wrapping up our TOEFL iBT deep dive.

(7:38 - 7:55)
It's been really interesting to see how AI is changing things up. But with all this new stuff, I think it's important to remember what it means for, you know, the people taking the test. Oh, absolutely. 

It's not about the technology itself. It's about how it can help you reach your goals. My speaking score is a perfect example of that.

(7:55 - 8:09)
Yeah. You mentioned that three day waiting period between retakes is like a good thing. Can you explain that a bit more? Sure. 

Think of it like a study break. You just finished the test. You have those unofficial scores for listening and reading.

(8:09 - 8:21)
And you probably have a pretty good idea how you did on speaking and writing. So instead of jumping right back in and taking it again, use those three days to really look at what you need to work on. So it's about being smart, not just trying over and over.

(8:22 - 8:30)
Exactly. And that's where something like my speaking score can be super helpful. Say you had trouble with fluency in your speaking responses.

(8:30 - 8:47)
You can use my speaking score to practice specific things that'll help you speak more smoothly. That sounds a lot better than just practicing random speaking stuff. Right. 

And because it uses AI, it can create those exercises just for you. Like having a tutor who knows exactly what you need. It's all making sense now.

(8:47 - 8:59)
The TOEFL might be a standardized test, but the way people are getting ready for it is becoming way more personalized because of AI. Definitely. And that personalization is what can solve those global challenges we talked about earlier.

(9:00 - 9:28)
Students from all over the world with different levels of access to resources can now get high quality test prep that's made just for them. So it's making things more fair for everyone. Exactly. 

And as AI gets even better, we're going to see more and more cool tools and resources that will help people learn and make education available to everyone. It's a really great time to be a student. Today, we covered a lot from the details of retaking the TOEFL to how AI is changing the way people prepare and how it's even used to score the test.

(9:28 - 9:40)
It's been a fun deep dive, and we hope you learned something useful that'll help you with your TOEFL journey. Before we go, we want to leave you with one last thought. We've seen how AI is changing the TOEFL, but it's doing so much more than that.

(9:41 - 9:49)
Think about how AI could change the future of education and how we test people. The possibilities are endless. Really makes you think.