1.3 TOEIC TEST ANALYSIS OF THE ITEM TYPES IN THE CLASSIC TOEIC TEST,...

3.1.3 TOEIC test analysis Of the item types in the classic TOEIC test, the error recognition items were determined to be the least appropriate from the point of view of current language proficiency theories. Therefore, this item type which used to be tested English grammar was eliminated and replaced with text-completion questions in part 6. Thus, the percent of questions on grammar in the re-designed TOEIC test decreases compared with those in the classic TOEIC one. Accordingly, the researcher made an analysis of ten TOEIC tests in the book titled “Longman Preparation Series for the New TOEIC Test, More Practice Test, Fourth Edition” to know whether grammar is employed or not and how many percentage of test items is. Through the process of survey and analysis, statistical data related to English grammar in part 6 is expressed as follows: Table 10.a The number of grammar test items in Part 6 of TOIEC test Test Test items Test 10 9456781 3 2 Frequencies (f) 4 6 6 4 3 5 7 5 7 5 Percentages (%) 8 11 11 8 6 10 13 10 13 10 42 Test 1Figure 10.a Test 2

8%

10%

Test 3

11%

13%

Test 4Test 5Test 6

10%

6%

Test 7Test 8Test 9Test 10Looking at Table 10.a, it is apparent that there will be 3–7 questions on grammar (accounting for 1.5% - 3.5%) in part 6. In addition, based on the statistics of New Real TOEIC staff

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, 14-16 questions on grammar (equal to 7%-8%) will be included only in part 5. Accordingly, in a new TOEIC test, the percent of test items on grammar fluctuates between 8.5 % (equal to 17 test items) and 11.5% (equal to 23 test items). The table also shows that the total number of grammar test items in 10 TOEIC tests is 52 test items making up 44.33 % in the total of 120 test items in part 6.

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The staff of New Longman Real TOEIC Book did a research before publishing it.

43 Percentages (%) Frequencies points(f) GrammarTable 10.b The number of grammar test items and grammar points in Part 5, 6 of TOIEC test21 46 Tenses 1 2 Possessive adjective 1 2 Comparison 3 6 Conditional sentences 4 9 Passive voice 0 1 Parallel structure 21 46 Prepositions 6 13 Conjunctions 3 7 Determiners 0 1 Modal verbs 4 9 Word order 8 18 Gerund and the infinitive 11 25 Phrasal verbs 0 1 Reflexive pronouns 1 2 Relative clauses 4 8 Adjective 1 2 Reported speech 5 12 Causative forms 1 2 Questions 2 4 Imperative sentences 1 2 Adverb 3 6 Noun 44 Figure 3.1.3.b Tenses Possessive adjectiveComparison Conditional sentencesPassive voice Parallel structure Prepositions ConjunctionsDeterminers Modal verbsWord order Gerund and the infinitivePhrasal verbs Reflexive pronounsRelative clauses AdjectiveReported speech Causative formsQuestions Imperative sentencesAdverb Noun

1%

2% 1%

4%

1%

3%

5%

21%

1%

0%

1%

1%

3%

4%

21%

0%

3%

6%

0%

To achieve the above statistical data, the researcher did an analysis of ten TOEIC tests in the book titled “Longman Preparation Series for the New TOEIC Test, More Practice Test, Fourth Edition” As seen in Table 10.b, there are 22 grammar points and 224 test items listed above are used to evaluate learner‟s English grammar proficiency. In the total of 520 test item in part 5, 6, the number of grammar test items accounts for 45 .01%. Two grammar points: tenses and proposition are tested the most (46 test items) and the frequency of phrasal verbs and gerund and the infinitive is relatively high (25 and 18 test items respectively). However, there is the very low rate of other test items of grammar points, such as relative clauses (2 test items), imperative sentences (4 test items), possessive adjectives (2 test items), comparison (2 test items), etc. and only 1 test item on reflexing pronouns and modal verbs are consisted of. 45