The next version of the Test of English as a Foreign Language (TOEFL), to be introduced this September, has drawn widespread attention amongst Chinese examinees. But according to the latest news released in the official website of the US-based Educational Testing Service (ETS), the official TOEFL organization, the new TOEFL test will not appear in Mainland China in 2005. The earliest date when examinees would take the new test is 2006 or maybe even later.

According to the latest timeline on ETS' official website, the new test will first be administered in the United States on September 24, 2005. On October 22, it will be launched in Canada, France, Germany and Italy. The test will be introduced in other countries and regions in 2006.

Regarding the arrangements for the new TOEFL that will be introduced in 2006, the complete schedule will be available by November 1, 2005 on ETS' website. ETS will continue to administer the current paper-based and computer-based versions of the test until the new Internet-based test is implemented. Thus, ETS has excluded Mainland China from the 2005 implementation list, which means that the launch of the new TOEFL in Mainland China will be postponed until next year, at the earliest.
 
(Chinanews.com February 22, 2005)