Horror Stories - TOEFL iBT

(From: testmagic online forum or see more in pdf format at

http://ipharm.us/download/HorrorStories.pdf)

King Tout 06-09-2008, 09:28 PM

My score increased 15 points

"At last, I did it. It turned out that they did lose my response.
I received my score for the TOEFL iBT exam on May 3, and they scored me at 12 in the writing task. Although, I got the needed scores in the other 3 sections R 29L 26 S 27.

All this is because they gave me a score of ZERO in the integrated writing task, anyway I filled for a rescoring and 6 days after my request went into processing my score increased by 15 points. My response was rescored at 27 in the writing task because I got a grade of good in the integrated writing instead of zero initially. I am glad that this phase of my life is over. Even if I don't complete the licensing procedures, I am happy that I can do something else in my life."

learner72 03-24-2008, 10:26 PM

Internet café as a test center

"Please check the test center before you register for test because some Internet Cafés are also conducting the test. I gave test in that kind of center. People were coming & going and the test administrator also talking to the customers. Some one was browsing the computer next to me and he got a call and he was answering. After the test, I complained to the test administrator about these conditions in his center but he never cared for that. He said "if you want to complain go ahead and complain to ETS". So please check the center before you register for test."

nithin_agarwal 10-08-2006, 04:20 PM

"ETS have just made a blunder but allotting more centers.

TOEFL, it’s sad to say but it S***** I was scheduled to take up at 12.30 IST. My centre was ALMAZ SOFTWARE SOLUTIONS, DOMLUR, BANGALORE. First of all, I found it very difficult to find the centre. Luckily I had done my homework couple of days before, by checking out the place. The test centers’ phone number which I took that day from the centre doesn’t exist.

I went at about 11 am. One and a half hour before my exam (to be on a safer side). I was given a form to fill up. I filled it and was seated. This arrangement was done in terrace. Can you believe? Anyway, later, I realized that there were over 70 candidates in my batch; from 11 a.m. to 2.45 p.m. Believe me, for almost 3 hours I was in terrace. I wasn’t allotted until then.

At 2.45 I was called (please note that I was not the only one affected. After me, there were some 20 candidates more waiting. I feel even sorrier for them.) The room I was allotted. MAN ! about 30 guys in a room. It was like a classroom. Each one next to each other, so close. You could hear each other’s heart beat almost. It was so cramped. I was allotted a corner seat, for me almost 5 guys had to stop from their testing and make way for me to get to my place.

At about 3 pm, I started my exam finally (which was supposed to be started at 12.30 p.m.) I was so much irritated, had lost my interest. The atmosphere was like a fish market and my keyboard didn’t work for sometime, screw the TOEFL testing centers.
This was a caution for all future test takers to pay a visit to their test centers once if it’s in your city and spend some half an hour there waiting for some guys to get out and ask them. Believe me! I would’ve done much much better, with a sound mind!

I will post my experience on the sections and my preparations soon after I get a stable mind!"

saumysunny 05-14-2007, 11:38 PM

"I’m a poor foreign pharmacist trying to get a score of 26 in speaking section of TOEFL iBT. I took the test 5 times & I’m so tired of score 24 in speaking (for the third time).I get scores on all other sections except speaking. This ETS is ruining my life. There are a lot of people living depending just on me. I always go to the test thinking that this time I’ll make it but oh god I’m depressed.

ETS please stop playing this bad game with foreigners. We are also human beings. I have given another test on 12 th, which I didn't do well like before because I was shivering prior to the speaking section with nervousness. I think I can never never be a pharmacist here. ETS should test the speaking ability not the spontaneous I guess what you all think. I asked a native pharmacist one of the speaking questions that I had. He said that it was a stupid question. He might get zero in that. Wonderful, isn't it?

I am ready to pay $500 for test if they can test personally. One more time & I’m going to retire. I can't stand this humiliation."

varnatopu 02-21-2007, 03:24 AM

I need 26 for speaking so I took the first one in Turkey. I got 22.
Then, I scheduled 2nd one here in US. I got 22.

Then, I scheduled the third one. It was cancelled without being informed.

Then, I had to reschedule but it was cancelled again.

Then, I rescheduled and it was a horrible testing center but this time I got 24.

Then, I scheduled another one. It was cancelled. I rescheduled. It was cancelled again. Then I took the last one. And I was supposed to get the results last Friday but I didn’t.

I called ETS and they told me it’s UNSCORABLE! This has nothing to do with me but with the testing center.

I AM SO SICK OF IT! They keep on promising me to give refund but instead they give me voucher. They keep on giving me their agent IDs and extensions, however, I never can reach them. Even the director! He doesn’t answer his phones.

I’m so frustrated and you know what. I’m going to take some action because they are making my psychology and health horrible!"

whitetulip 08-26-2007, 10:34 AM

"I rescored once and my score went from 24 to 28."

mcp 04-27-2008, 08:12 PM

On the test day center closed?
I was supposed to take TOEFL iBT on 26th April.

When I reached there I saw a sign on door that the center is close today if you have any question call on this 1-888........no.

Then we called them they said hour office is currently closed.
Then after 10 minutes a lady came and said that our server went down yesterday. So they could not download the test. A technician from ETS came to fix it yesterday but she had no idea what happen after that so she call her director, Prometric or ETS.

Then she said that ETS was supposed to call you guys yesterday but nobody from us had received any phone call. We were 8-10 people waiting from our test.

Then she said that the test is not going to run today. So we try on that no again and somebody answered it. And what we heard? THEY HAVE RESCHDULED US FOR MAY 30TH TEST WITHOUT INFORMING US.

Then, I asked,"will this happen again?" and they answered----WE CANNOT GUARANTEE THAT THIS WILL NEVER HAPPEN AGAIN. Then, how come ETS administered and trust such kind of test if they themselves do not have any guarantee about their test?

And more to this, why does NABP trust on them? Is there any body who can answer this?

NABP OR ETS OR PROMETRIC?

International Pharmacy Graduates (FPGEE candidates) in the USA

"A journey of thousand miles begins with one small step."