Macau’s third test centre for the TOEFL iBT Test was unveiled yesterday at the Macao Institute for Tourism Studies’ (IFTM) School of Continuing Education, “offering about 40 seats for each test administration, which is set to be held at least once a month”, Smart Education Group President Kevin Chan Kai Wing said.
The group is the official representative of the TOEFL ITP, TOEFL Junior and TOEFL Primary tests in South China including Hong Kong and Macau.
Chan made the remarks after an agreement signing ceremony on the IFTM campus in Mong Ha.
IFTM announced at yesterday’s ceremony that it will start to hold the TOEFL iBT online test in September, hoping to provide more channels for candidates in Macau and the Guangdong-Hong Kong-Macau Greater Bay Area (GBA) to participate in the “highly recognised” test.
According to the ceremony, apart from providing the TOEFL iBT online test – an internet-based test developed by the US-based Educational Testing Service (ETS) to test the English ability of non-native English speakers through reading, listening, speaking and writing, it will also provide exam-related study courses, which are aimed at encouraging more students to participate in the assessment.
TOEFL transcripts are one of the documents required when applying for admission to universities and postgraduate schools in over 190 countries and territories.
Chan added he was pretty sure that the new centre could attract more “talents” to Macau and help them prepare themselves and that they would get a good certification to add to their portfolio, “definitely benefiting Macau and GBA residents as a whole”.
According to Chan, the test will “typically” be arranged every Wednesday, Saturday and Sunday, depending on the availability of the three local test centres – at the City University of Macau (CityU) and Macau Productivity and Technology Transfer Centre (CPTTM), in addition to IFTM.
The TOEFL test has been included in the government’s 2023-2026 Continuing Education and Development Programme.
Smart Education Group President Kevin Chan Kai Wing speaks to reporters after yesterday’s signing ceremony on the Macao Institute for Tourism Studies (IFTM) campus in Mong Ha. – Photo: Yuki Lei
