The performance of native speakers of English and ESL speakers on the computer-based TOEFL and GRE General Test

Abstract

The purpose of this study was to replicate previous research on the construct validity of the paper-based version of the TOEFL and extend it to the computer-based TOEFL. Two samples of Graduate Record Examination (GRE) General Test-takers were used: native speakers of English specially recruited to take the computer-based TOEFL, and ESL test-takers who routinely took the computer-based TOEFL recently. Native speakers performed well on the TOEFL, relative to ESL test-takers and to the maximum possible scores on the test, and varied less in their test performance than did ESL test-takers. TOEFL scores were moderately or highly correlated with the computer-based GRE General Test scores for both groups of test-takers. Regressions of the GRE General Test Verbal scores on the TOEFL scores for ESL test-takers were nonlinear, and the regressions of the other GRE General Test scores were linear. And trends in the variances of the GRE General Test Verbal scores associated with TOEFL scores were also nonlinear, and the trends were either unsystematic or negatively linear for the other GRE General Test scores. All of the ndings are consistent with previous results with the paper-based TOEFL, support the construct validity of the computer-based TOEFL, and underscore its usefulness in interpreting the performances of ESL test-takers on admissions tests for English-speaking test-takers.