THE DIFFERENCES BETWEEN TOEFL, TOEIC, IELTS, and PTE

Ever wonder the difference between the these prominent English tests for university admittance?  The TOEFL, IELTS, TOEIC & the new PTE are the most common English tests administered at this time and prospective test-takers might wonder the differences between them.  Here’s a quick 101 on the differences between each.

• TOEFL: Otherwise known as the Test of English as a Foreign Language, this exam is currently the most common for non-native English speakers. The TOEFL is often a requirement at most colleges and universities in the U.S., Canada and other English-speaking countries. In addition, government agencies, licensing bodies, businesses or scholarship programs might also require the TOEFL. At this present time, an individual’s TOEFL score is valid for two years and then subject for re-evaluation after the two-year period.
  The TOEFL itself was first administered in 1964 and has been taken by more than 23 million students since then. There are two most common forms of the test, the Internet-based Test (iBT) and paper-based (PBT). The iBT test is comprised of four sections: Reading, Listening, Speaking & Writing. The PBT is made up of four sections, as well: Listening, Structure & Written Expression, Reading Comprehension & Writing. The iBT has a total of 120 points, whereas the PBT ranges between 310-667 points.
  
• IELTS: Otherwise known as the International English Language Testing System, the IELTS is administered by the University of Cambridge ESOL Examinations, the British Council & IDP Education. There are two primary versions of the IELTS: the academic version & the general training version. Basically, the academic version is meant for students who want to enroll in universities and other higher education institutions, as well as for medical professions, such as doctors or nurses who need to work or study in an English-speaking country. The general training version is meant for those looking to gain work experience or for purely immigration purposes.
  Similar to the TOEFL, an IELTS score is valid for two years. While both the academic version and the general version differ in terms of content, their structure is the same, dividing the test into three parts: Listening (40 minutes), Reading (60 minutes) and Writing (60 minutes). A brand is given along with a score, ranging form the high score of an “Expert User” to the lowest score of the “Non User.” The top three countries the test is administered in are China, India and Pakistan.
  
• PTE: The New Pearson Test of English (PTE) was launched in October 2009. Its main differences from the TOEFL include:
  
  • automated speech and writing scoring providing consistent and accurate grading
  • score reports offering recorded speech samples to admissions offices at universities worldwide
  • challenging question types including filling blanks, matching items, selecting multiple answer choices in the same question
  • results will be available online in just five days
  • the fee will range from $150-$220, depending on each country
  Similar to the TOEFL test, the Pearson Test of English (PTE) will test in all four sections: reading, writing, listening and speaking.
  
• TOEIC: The TOEIC is an acronym for the Test of English for International Communication. As quoted from the TOEIC website: “The TOEIC is an English language test designed specifically to measure the everyday English skills of people working in an international environment.” The point system ranges from 10 to 990 points and the test itself is two hours in length, multiple choice, testing listening comprehension and reading comprehension.
  The TOEIC gives certificates to those who take the test, with different colors differentiating the range of advanced skills. In 2006 a new TOEIC was released with longer reading passages and also British, Australian and New Zealand English-speakers, whereas the previous test only featured American speakers.
  

Invitation and Offer

Many people find difficult to ascertain offer and invitation to offer (treat), as they use them in one breath, but what makes us puzzled is that Are they same or different? Of course, they are two different terms and must not be regarded as one and the same thing. An offer is a proposal while an invitation to offer is inviting someone to make a proposal. So, you must be clear about these two terms now let’s start understanding the differences between offer and an invitation to offer.

Content: Offer Vs Invitation to Offer (Treat)

1. Comparison Chart
2. Definition
3. Key Differences
4. Conclusion

Comparison Chart

Basis for Comparison	Offer	Invitation to Offer
Meaning	When one person expresses his will to another person to do or not to do something, to take his approval, is known as an offer.	When a person expresses something to another person, to invite him to make an offer, it is known as invitation to offer.
Defined in	Section 2 (a) of the Indian Contract Act, 1872.	Not Defined
Objective	To enter into contract.	To receive offers from people and negotiate the terms on which the contract will be created.
Essential to make an agreement	Yes	No
Consequence	The Offer becomes an agreement when accepted.	An Invitation to offer, becomes an offer when responded by the party to whom it is made.

Definition of Offer

An offer is an expression of a person showing his willingness to another person to do or not to do something, to obtain his consent on such expression. The acceptance of the offer by such person may result in a valid contract. An offer must be definite, certain and complete in all respects. It must be communicated to the party to whom it is made. The offer is legally binding on the parties. There are following types of offer:

• General offer: The type of offer which is made to the public at large.
• Specific offer: The type of offer made to a particular person.
• Cross offer: When the parties to the contract accept each other’s offer in ignorance of the original offer, it is known as the cross offer.
• Counter offer: This is an another type of offer in which the offeree does not accept the original offer, but after modifying the terms and conditions accept it, it is termed as a counter offer.
• Standing offer: An offer which is made to public as a whole as well as it remains open for a specific period for acceptance it is known as Standing offer.

Example:

• A tells to B,”I want to sell my motorcycle to you at Rs. 30,000, Will you purchase it?”
• X says to Y,”I want to purchase your car for Rs. 2,00,000, Will you sell it to me?”

Definition of Invitation to offer (treat)

An Invitation to Offer is an act before an offer, in which one person induces another person to make an offer to him, it is known as invitation to offer. When appropriately responded by the other party, an invitation to offer results in an offer. It is made to the general public with intent to receive offers and negotiate the terms on which the contract is created.
The invitation to offer is made to inform the public, the terms and conditions on which a person is interested in entering into a contract with the other party. Although the former party is not an offeror as he is not making an offer instead, he is stimulating people to offer him. Therefore, the acceptance does not amount to a contract, but an offer. When the former party accepts, the offer made by the other parties, it becomes a contract, which is binding on the parties.
Example:

• Menu card of a restaurant showing the prices of food items.
• Railway timetable on which the train timings and fares are shown.
• Government Tender
• A Company invites application from public to subscribe for its shares.
• Recruitment advertisement inviting application.

Key Differences Between Offer and Invitation to Offer (Treat)

The following are the major differences between offer and invitation to offer.

1. An offer is the final willingness of the party to create legal relations. An invitation to offer is not the final willingness but the interest of the party to invite public to offer him.
2. An offer is defined in section 2 (a) of the Indian Contract Act, 1872. Conversely, an invitation to offer is not defined in the Indian Contract Act, 1872.
3. An offer is an essential element to make an agreement between the parties, but an invitation to offer is not an important element until it becomes an offer.
4. An offer becomes an agreement when accepted. On the other hand, an invitation to offer becomes an offer when the public responds to it.
5. The main objective of making an offer is to enter into the contract, whereas the main objective of an invitation to offer is to negotiate the terms on which the contract can be made.

Conclusion

Now, you are surely not confused between these two. It is also a characteristic of an offer that it must be distinct from an invitation to offer. An Invitation to offer is a very familiar term as we all have dined in a restaurant where menu cards show the price list of the concerned food items or booked a ticket by viewing the railway timetable. Two most famous examples are pamphlets of pizza’s showing their rates and an auction sale advertisement.
The Offer is quite specific term as it is meant to create legal relations as it is an essential element for making a contract. The ‘intention’ of the party making it, is the fundamental phenomenon that differentiates the two terms.

Read more: http://keydifferences.com/difference-between-offer-and-invitation-to-offer.html#ixzz4WVbe2rYP

Showing understanding and giving solution

Showing  understanding and Suggestion solutions is suggest a solution to the problem, in which problems associated with problems or situations are analyzed and possible solutions proposed, together with the expected results / consequences. opinion of the author may be mentioned, directly or indirectly, in the introduction and / or conclusion.

Things to note :

1.       Each paragraph should begin with a topic sentence that summarizes what the paragraph is about.

2.       Precise words and phrases which links should be used to show the relationship between paragraphs and

3.       to connect sentences in a paragraph.

4.       Use the technique is given in the beginning and end of discursive essays.

 

Business Result

Starting at the top one, take turns explaining your situation to your partner and responding to their suggestions about what you should do.

Situation 1

You’ve applied for three promotions and didn’t get any because your English isn’t

good enough, but the company hardly ever pays for English courses.

Your company rarely or never advertises jobs internally, and sometimes long after advertising them externally.

Situation 2

Your project manager only gives negative feedback.

Annual appraisals don’t always happen, perhaps because the managers don’t

like doing them.

Some managers have bad communication skills.

Situation 3

You only got one week of training when you first joined the company, and nothing since then.

I can rarely ask my colleagues questions because I am always out visiting customers.

All my projects are very different, so it’s difficult to be an expert in all those

different things.

Situation 4

People don’t work together as a team. There’s an Employee of the Month award,

but it just makes people more selfish.

All the situations above are actually in one company. Work together to decide how the company’s systems should be changed.

Sumber: https://tefltastic.files.wordpress.com/2012/04/showing-understanding-and-suggesting-solutions.pdf

Personal Presentation

Personal presentation is all about marketing YOU, the brand that is you.  What others see you do and hear you say will influence their opinion of you – so personal presentation is about painting yourself in as positive a light as possible – always.

Organisations spend a lot of time and money working on their image, developing their brand and producing as many positive signals as possible.  Staff in organisations should know that everything they do is marketing for the organisation, every email they send, every phone call they take, every time they interact with a client or customer.  Organisations also spend a lot of time and money recruiting and training the right kind of people to project the right kind of image.

This section of SkillsYouNeed is designed to help you gain more confidence and expertise in presenting yourself positively.  Although personal presentation is key in one-to-one situations such as a conversation, in a group situation such as a meeting, or when giving a presentation such as a talk or speech it is also important in less formal situations, when socialising with friends, for example.  How people perceive you is important to communication and you should always aim to be viewed as positively and confidently as possible.

People who present themselves as confident will be perceived as such by others.

Your appearance and understanding of personal presentation techniques such as effective speaking and positive body language will enhance your communication skills and raise your confidence.

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Effective Communication

Personal presentation is about you and how you present yourself in everyday situations.  However, personal presentation always involves at least two people - the person presenting themselves (you) and the person receiving the presentation. It can therefore be described as an interaction. 

Personal presentation is concerned with conveying appropriate signals for the situation and for the other individuals involved.  People who lack self-esteem and confidence may fail to convey their message effectively or fully utilise their skills and abilities because of the way they present themselves.  By improving your personal presentation you improve your communication skills and reduce barriers to understanding.  Everybody presents themselves differently and most can improve their personal presentation.

Our pages: Communication Skills | Barriers to Communication and Improving Self-Esteem provide more information.

Personal presentation is about learning about yourself, being inner-directed and accepting of who you are, your positives and your negatives, and being comfortable with yourself.  Personal presentation is not about being self-conscious or overly concerned with what others think about you. These concepts are closely related to Personal Empowerment.

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Areas of Personal Presentation

Self-Esteem and Confidence

Self-esteem is not a static thing; it varies based on numerous factors, different situations and the presence of different people, personal stress levels and change.  Think about how you value yourself and learn to manage the highs and lows of self-esteem, find ways of appearing more confident even when you are not and learn some powerful techniques to boost your self-esteem and learn about your personality.
See Improving Self-Esteem for more.
Confidence is a measure of how well we think we may perform certain roles or tasks. Linked to self-esteem, confidence is how we feel about our ability.
See Building Confidence for more discussion, tips and advice.

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Effective Speaking

Your voice says a lot about you and learning how to use it more effectively has many benefits.  Our Effective Speaking page examines aspects of your voice, accent, tone, pitch, volume and encourages you to learn more about your voice and how you use it to its full potential.  Learn to communicate more dynamically, fluently and with passion and enthusiasm.
Visit: Effective Speaking to learn more.

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Personal Appearance

The way you dress and take care of your general appearance are important factors in personal presentation, what messages does the way you dress send to others?  Your personal appearance also includes the body language, gestures and other non-verbal messages that you use.  By being aware of positive and negative non-verbal signals you can improve your image and the way people perceive you.
More on our: Personal Appearance page.

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Time Management:

If you don't manage your time wisely you are less likely to be able to get everything done effectively. You are also more likely to be disorganised and run late for meetings or other appointments. Poor time management has an effect on how you are perceived by others. Learn some simple techniques to help you improve your time management skills, get more done and avoid being late.

sumber : http://www.skillsyouneed.com/ps/personal-presentation.html

describing trends

In business and everyday English, you sometimes have to describe changes in trends (movement or tendency), graphs, and diagrams.

In the business context, you may have to describe trends in reports, meetings, and presentations. In everyday life, you could describe changes in any subject because things change all the time!

Describing changes and trends generally consists of three parts:

• Use a verb (or an adjective and a noun) to describe movement
• Describe the speed or size of the movement
• Explain the reason or consequence of the change

You can also view it this way: Verb + Speed or Size + Result/Reason/Consequence

Example 

In 2011, Samsung's profits increased considerably thanks to its successful Galaxy S series.

Part 1

Here are some verbs you can use to describe change and movement.

Upward  Movement

To climb

To rise

To go up

To improve

To pick up

To recover

To increase

To reach a peak

Downward Movement

To fall

To decline

To bottom out

To decrease

To drop

To plummet

To deteriorate

To hit a low

To slip back

To do down

Horizontal Movement

To even out

To remain stable

To stabilize

Part 2

Here are some adjectives and adverbs you can use to describe the speed and size of change.

Speed of Change

Rapid - Rapidly

Slow - Slowly

Sudden - Suddenly

Sharp - Sharply

Steady - Steadily

Gradual - Gradually

Fast - Quickly

Size of Change

Noticeable - Noticeably

Substantial - Substantially

Considerable - Considerably

Slight - Slightly

Significant - Significantly 

Dramatic - Dramatically

Negligible - Negligibly

Part 3

Here are some expressions you can use to express reason, consequence, and result:

• As a result of
• Due to
• Because of
• Was the reason for
• Caused
• Resulted in
• Explains
• Accounts for
• That is why
• Consequently
• So
• Thanks to

Time Expressions You Can Use

• In January / In 2011
• In Q1 / Q2 / Q3 / Q4 (In the first quarter / second quarter / third quarter / fourth quarter)
• From January to March

Examples

• Apple's sales increased significantly due to the launch of the iPhone 4.
  [verb + adverb construction]
  
  There was a significant increase in Apple's sales due to the launch of the iPhone 4.
  [adjective + noun (word) construction]

• Our turnover remained stable in January and February. However, in March and April, it dropped suddenly as a result of the financial crisis.
  [verb + adverb construction]
  
  In March and April, there was a sudden drop in our turnover as a result of the financial crisis.
  [adjective + noun (word) construction]

Sumber : http://experience-english.blogspot.co.id/2012/05/best-practices-describing-trends-graphs.html

Small Talk

1.                 Make the Person Comfortable

A.    Have approachable body language.

If you want to make a person feel comfortable, the best thing to do is to have an "open stance" and to direct your body toward that person without being too forceful. Just make eye contact, don't cross your arms, and face your shoulders toward that person. This will make the person feel like you're giving him all of your attention and that you're not just lukewarm about talking to him. Maintain the right distance from the person.

·         Put away your phone. There's nothing more annoying than talking to a person who is constantly checking his cell.

·         Though you should look eager to talk to the person, don't look too eager. Don't lean in so close that you overwhelm the person or scare him away. Many people are turned off by a close-talker.

B.     Give a friendly greeting. 

If you're seeing someone you already know, just say hello and greet her by

her name: "Hi, Jen, it's good to see you." This is simple and direct and lets the

person know you're excited to talk. If you don't know the person, introduce

yourself first so you feel more confident and in control of the conversation.

Just say, "Hi, I'm Marla, what's your name?" Repeat the person's name when

she tells it to you, and she'll feel more special.

·         Remember to smile and pay attention to the person when you greet her. Don't make it look like you're just killing time until your real friends come along.

C.    Keep things light and positive. 

Conversations are just as much about an exchange of energy as an exchange of information. To make great conversation and great small talk, you should keep things light, fun, and positive. If you're upbeat, ready to smile at a moment's notice, and laugh over things that aren't that funny, then you'll make the other person want to keep talking to you -- even if you're only talking about your favorite brands of cereal. 

·         It's true: it may be hard to keep things light and fun when you've had a really bad day or bad week. But remember that if you're making small talk, then this person is not your closest friend, so you should avoid talking about anything too negative or the other person will be turned off.

D.    Start with a small compliment. 

Just a simple, "I love your shoes -- where did you get them?" can get you into a fun conversation about shoe shopping. Even if the compliment doesn't lead anywhere, it will still make the person feel more appreciated before you start discussing other subjects. You can also use this move earlier, as a way to actually introduce yourself to someone.

Check your understanding:

Which of the following is a good way to make the other person feel more comfortable?

Have open body language by putting away your phone and facing them.

Give a simple, but friendly greeting.

Keep it light and offer a small compliment.

All of the above.

2.                 Start Talking

A.    Find common ground. 

Common ground doesn't mean that you and the other person are both die-hard horseback riders. It can just be as the fact that you've both had to deal with a lot of bad weather that week. Anything that the person can relate to and that establishes a connection, however tenuous, can be considered common ground. And just because you don't want to talk about the weather, remember that the "small stuff" can lead you to talk about the things that matter to you. Here are some ways to establish common ground:

·         "Professor Hoffer is hilarious."

·         "Ashley throws the most amazing parties."

·         "Can you believe all of this rain?"

·         "I just love coming to Arbor Cafe."

B.     Reveal something about yourself. 

Once you've established some common ground, you can use it to elaborate and say something a bit more personal. You shouldn't say something so personal that it freaks the person out, like, "I've actually been in love with Professor Hoffer for the last five years," but you can ease in to talking about yourself just a bit more. Here are some things to say to follow up with the last statements:^[2]

• "He's the best teacher I ever had. He's basically the reason I'm an English major."
• "I actually met Ashley last year, when Ben took me to her Great Gatsby party."
• "The rain is just awful. I'm training for a marathon and had to do my long runs on the treadmill -- it's the worst."
• "Whenever I'm at this cafe, I just really feel like I'm in the zone. Maybe it's the intense drip-coffee -- but seriously, I feel like I can work for hours here."

C.    Engage the other person. 

Now that you've established common ground and have revealed something about yourself, it's time to engage the other person and get her talking by asking her to reveal some information about herself. Don't ask anything too personal, like asking about the person's health, religion, or political views. Just keep it light and fun and ask open-ended questions about the person's interests, job, or surroundings. Here's how you can engage the other person:

• "How about you? Are you an English major, or are you here for Professor Hoffer's crazy stories?"
• "Did you go to that party, or is this your first time here? It was fun, but I drank too many mint juleps."
• "How about you? Has the rain kept you from doing anything fun this week?"
• "Do you come here to do some work, or are you just reading for fun?"

D.    Follow up with a question or statement. 

The person's response will influence whether you follow up with a question, a statement, or a joke. Try to find a balance between questions and statements. Too many questions will make the person feel like he's being interrogated, and too many statements won't give the person room to talk. Here's how you can keep these conversations going:

• Other person: "I'm an English major too. I've always wanted to be an English major, but Hoffer's an added bonus for sure."

·         You: "Oh, really? What are you thinking of doing with that? It's great to meet another person in this highly lucrative field."

• Other person: "I couldn't go to that party, but I did go to her Cinco de Mayo party last month. That party was crazy."

·         You: "It really was! I knew you looked familiar. How do you know Ashley? Isn't she nuts?"

• Other person: "I don't mind the rain so much, but it made it hard for me to walk my dog! That was so annoying."

·         You: "You have a dog too? I have a little poodle named Stella. Do you have a picture of your dog?"

• Other person: "I'm just here to read for fun. I can't believe I've gone this long without reading The Catcher in the Rye."

·         You: "I love that book! Some people think it's overrated, but I completely disagree."

E.     Notice your surroundings. 

Once you start really talking to the person and get your back-and-forth banter going, you can also look around for cues for what to talk about next. You can notice anything from what the person is wearing or holding, to a sign on the wall that may apply to both of you. Here are some things you can say:

• "Sweet 9ers jersey. That one's a classic. Have you been a fan for long?"
• "You ran the New York Marathon too? Which year? I don't know what I did with my t-shirt."
• "What do you think about this a cappella concert tonight? I've seen these flyers all over campus, but I don't know if I want to go."
• "Ah, the American Pageant. That book taught me everything I needed to know about American History. Is that class as easy as it used to be?"

F.     Take the time to listen. 

Really listening to things that the person says can help you pinpoint new common ground and to steer the conversation in a more fun or productive direction. The person may make a small comment that's tangential to your question or topic, so keep your ears open and see if something the person says can trigger a new line of conversation. Here are some example of how two people can pick up on cues and steer a conversation in a new direction to connect on a deeper level:

• You: "I actually met Ashley on a Spring Break trip. We all went to Mexico with a bunch of friends."
• Other person: "I remember her telling me about the trip! I was actually helping her improve her Spanish for it, but I doubt she really used it much -- unless you count the phrase piña colada."
• You: "You speak Spanish? That's awesome. You could have helped me prepare for my study abroad trip to Madrid. My Spanish was okay by the end, but I could have used some help!"
• Other person: "I love Madrid. My grandmother actually still lives there, so I visit her almost every summer. She takes me to the Prado every Sunday."
• You: "Madrid is like my favorite city! The El Grecos in the Prado are to die for."
• Other person: "You like the El Grecos? I'm more of a Goya fan."
• You: "Oh, really? You know, there's actually a new movie about Goya coming out next week -- I think Ethan Hawke's in it! Want to go?"
• Other person: "Of course!"

Check your understanding:

What sorts of topics are best left out of small talk?

Things about the person’s religion or political views; that is too personal and deep.

Things about the person’s job; that is too personal and boring.

Things about the person’s interests; that is too personal.

Things about your surroundings; they are too boring.

3.                Finish Strong

A.    Open up (but not too much). 

By the end of the conversation, you could reveal something more about yourself, however small, whether it's your obsession with your cat, your passion for yoga, or just your thoughts on your favorite band's new album. Have the person walk away knowing something about you, which could make you connect on a deeper level and make the person think you weren't just shooting the breeze.

·         You probably shouldn't reveal your thoughts on the meaning of life, lost love, or death in a round of small-talk. Just reveal something about yourself and wait to develop a deeper bond before you get too personal.

B.     If it's going well, mention hanging out again.

If you've really enjoyed talking to the person, whether you're developing a crush or a friend crush, you can say that you really liked talking to this person about a certain subject and ask if the person wants to hang out again or get the person's number. Or you can just mention a place where you both will be. Here are some things you can say:

·         "I'm really serious about seeing that new movie with you. Can I get your number so we can work out the details later?"

·         "I've never met someone who loves The Bachelor as much as I do. My roommate and I have the best viewing parties every Monday night -- can I get your number so I can send you the info?"

·         "Maybe I'll see you at Ashley's next party? I hear she won't let you in the door if you're not wearing a real toga, so it'll be something to see."

C.    Say goodbye nicely. 

After you've made small talk but have to go, whether it's to get back to class or to talk to someone else at the party, you should make the person feel important, not like you were just paying your dues by talking to him. Here are some ways to end the conversation politely:^[3]

·         "It's been great talking to you. I'll let you know how that paella recipe works out for me."

·         "I'd love to talk more about Spain, but I haven't said hi to Nina yet, and it looks like she's about to leave."

·         "Oh, there's my best friend, Kelley. Have you met her yet? Come on, I'll introduce you."

·         "I wish I could keep talking to you, but AP Calculus is calling my name. I'm sure I'll see you soon, though."

 

Sumber : 

http://www.wikihow.com/Make-Small-Talk