I’m O'Neal with the VOA Special English Education Report.

Last month, the Testing Service began using a new TOEFL. TOEFL is the used Test of English as a Foreign Language. It already the ability to read, write and understand English. The new test does more to these skills together, and also measures speaking ability.

The TOEFL examination is used by more than colleges and universities around the world. About people took the test last year. American schools generally it of foreign students admission.

E.T.S. officials say the new test better measures how well students are able to in English. Skills in reading, writing, listening and speaking are tested in . There are questions where test takers must read, listen and then speak their answer. Or listen and speak. Or read, listen and then write their answer to the question.

The students speak into a . Three to six examiners will listen to the recorded answers.

Experts have said that one of the major required abilities for attending college in the United States is speaking English well. Many times, foreign students have high scores on the TOEFL but have had problems at school because they could not speak in class.

The new test is called TOEFL "iBT," for Internet- test. E.T.S. officials say it is the first test of English to be given over the Internet.

Students have taken the new TOEFL at testing centers in the United States. It will be given on October twenty-second in Canada, France, and Italy. It will come into use in testing centers in other parts of the world next year.

E.T.S. say they expect the new test to change how English is around the world. News reports say many Asian students are worried about the new test. Their English teachers prepare them to read and write, not speak.

Companies are already offering materials for the new Internet-based TOEFL. Educational Testing Service offers a free practice test on its TOEFL Web site. The address is ets.org/toefl.

This VOA Special English Education Report was written by Nancy Steinbach. Our reports can be found online at voaspecialenglish.com. I’m XXXX O'Neal.