ABSTRACT
The Test of English as a Foreign Language (TOEFL) is designed to measure the English profi ciency of non-native speakers of English in using and understanding English as it is spoken, written, and heard in college and university settings. In the last few decades, the TOEFL has been an important international test for Chinese learners of English, especially for those who plan to pursue their university or graduate degrees in the USA or Canada. This chapter examines three aspects of the TOEFL test that are closely connected to Chinese learners: (1) the trend relating to the volume of Chinese TOEFL candidates over a period of 10 test years from 1995 to 2005, as compared with the global TOEFL population; (2) the trend relating to the mean TOEFL scores obtained by Chinese candidates in the period of 1995-2007, as compared with those obtained by the global TOEFL population, and (3) the areas and foci of internationally published research on all aspects of the TOEFL from 1995 to 2007. Based on this study of trends and research reports, there is a clear indication that both the TOEFL test and Chinese learners may benefi t from further research focused on Chinese TOEFL candidates. The chapter concludes by proposing 12 topic areas for future TOEFL research concerning Chinese learners, who at present account for approximately 20 percent of the global TOEFL population.
