Although a mainland version of the at-home standardized test is still in the works, the TOEFL ITP Plus, exclusively for mainland test-takers, has already taken the lead in launching.
On the 14th of this month, ETS briefly introduced this test in its official launch statement: "The TOEFL ITP China version is identical in format, content, and scoring to the traditional TOEFL ITP test administered by institutions. However, the China version has further enhanced test security to ensure the same level of integrity as the TOEFL iBT, and added a secure, reliable video speaking interview."
Officials also noted that the sole registration portal for TOEFL ITP Plus is now open on the official TOEFL Chinese website (toefl.cn), and the first administration will take place on May 30.
Let's first review what the traditional ITP test covers.
Traditional TOEFL ITP Test
The traditional TOEFL ITP stands for TOEFL Institutional Testing Program.
Like the well-known TOEFL iBT, the ITP is one of ETS's flagship products. It assesses students' comprehensive language analysis abilities in three areas: listening comprehension, reading comprehension, and structure and written expression.
The test takes about 115 minutes and contains 140 questions across these three sections.
Specifically, the listening section has 50 questions; students choose the best answer after listening to short conversations, longer conversations, and integrated passages.
The reading section also has 50 multiple-choice questions, testing vocabulary recognition and passage analysis skills.
How the China-Exclusive ITP Plus Differs
By now, you may have noticed that the traditional TOEFL ITP does not include a speaking section! To address this, in the China-exclusive ITP Plus version, ETS entrusted speaking assessment to Vericant, a widely trusted third-party interview service provider, in the form of a video speaking interview.
Unlike the TOEFL iBT speaking section you're familiar with, all speaking questions in ITP Plus will be random, without a predetermined question bank, so the effectiveness of memorized scripts may be reduced.
However, regardless of how questions change, the core evaluation criteria remain consistent. Test-takers should still pay attention to wording, logic, and fluency.
The structure and written expression section has 40 questions, comprising two types: structure questions (multiple-choice) and written expression questions (writing).
Summary
TOEFL ITP Plus = Traditional TOEFL ITP Written Test + Vericant Third-Party Video Speaking Interview.
Refer to the chart below for test duration and score range:
Although it all tests English, ITP Plus differs somewhat from the iBT, which may leave those forced to switch tracks feeling a bit lost.
ETS is well aware of this and generously offers free official prep materials, including an electronic version of the ITP Official Guide and practice questions. Students anxious to earn scores should head over to ETS's official online resources soon!
Finally, ETS is also paying close attention to the acceptance of the ITP China version.
The latest official answer states: "Currently, institutions including Ivy League member Columbia University, New Ivy Carnegie Mellon University and Emory University, top liberal arts college Amherst College, and Rotterdam School of Management, Erasmus University—one of the world's top business schools—have all indicated they will accept the TOEFL ITP China version."
However, different programs/schools within the same university may adopt different policies regarding TOEFL ITP Plus acceptance, so please take note.
Below is the list of universities (or schools) that accept this test, as published on the official TOEFL website as of May 26:
ETS is currently in close communication with global institutions regarding acceptance, and has already received positive feedback.
If your target school has not yet appeared on the list, you can wait for further announcements on the official TOEFL website or contact the institution directly to inquire.
CheersYou（清柚教育） will continue to bring you more updates on the TOEFL ITP Plus China version.
