ETS在近日在其官方網站www.toefl.org上發(fā)布了一份官方申明,在此申明中ETS宣稱將在全球范圍內引入全新的新托福收費體系結構。網上還明確提到,中國香港和澳門地區(qū)將要實行的新托?荚費用為140美元,而歐洲實行新托?荚嚨膰屹M用為170美元,中國大陸新托?荚囶A計將于8月實行,具體費用還沒有明確。但上海新東方專家預測,新托福在中國大陸的收費將和香港相等,即為140美元。
在此官方申明中,ETS對此做出了這樣的解釋:引入新托福(TOEFL Internet-based test)的重要目的之一在于能夠最大可能地促進考試場地的建設,從而極大地增加學生參加新托?荚嚨臋C會,進而盡可能地減少學生參加考試的各種成本和花費,例如交通費用等。而國際學生進入到美國大學學習的一個重要障礙就是資金的問題,而這里面又包括了入學標準考試(如TOEFL、GRE)的費用問題。有些時候這些資金問題甚至比其他問題所帶來的阻礙作用還要顯得嚴重。
正是基于這樣的認識,ETS準備在全球引入有差別的考試費用體系。也就是說,以后全球各地參加新托?荚嚨馁M用是不一樣的,而這樣費用的不同,主要是反映了考試當地的經濟發(fā)展水平:即當地經濟發(fā)展水平越高,人們對考試費用的敏感性較弱,相應的收費會高一些;而如果當地經濟發(fā)展水平較低,人們對考試費用的敏感性較強,相應的收費也會隨之低一些。不過ETS在其官方申明中也指出,這樣的有差別收費體系僅僅局限于2006年6月30日之后的新托?荚嚕诖酥暗男峦懈?荚嚭屠贤懈?荚嚕ò╟omputer-based and paper-based versions)仍然維持140美元的全球統(tǒng)一收費標準。并且此類有差別體系也不會,至少目前不可能同時推廣到諸如GRE此類的標準考試當中。
原文如下:
ETS Introduces New Pricing Structure for TOEFL? iBT
ETS is committed to providing applicants with access to TOEFL? testing worldwide. One of the goals of the new TOEFL Internet-based test is to significantly increase the number of testing locations where examinees can take the test, thereby reducing or eliminating travel time and costs.
Financial accessibility is another important goal. Students planning to study abroad sometimes face considerable financial obstacles in pursuing an international education, including admission testing, tuition, textbooks, and housing. In some areas, students have more financial challenges than others.
ETS is introducing a "differential pricing" structure for TOEFL iBT test fees. TOEFL iBT test fees will vary by country, based on where the test is administered. While ETS is aligning TOEFL iBT test fees more closely to administration costs, every attempt is being made to remain sensitive to local economies. In some countries, the fee will be increased, and in others, the fee will remain unchanged. The new test fee structure only applies to TOEFL iBT tests taken after June 30, 2006, regardless of the registration date.
Select the country where the test will be administered to view the test fee. The 2006-07 test fee for the computer-based and paper-based versions of the TOEFL test will remain at the current price of $140.