TESOL CALL Interest Section

Software List

Deborah Healey, Editor

Test Preparation

Alexis, the Encomium TOEIC Test Preparation System

Machine: Win, Mac
Publisher: Encomium Publications
Approximate single-unit price: 100
Purchase options: lab, site
Level: Intermediate, advanced For: Adult, HE
Special use: business
Description: Practice for the TOEIC, a test often used to asses readiness for work in business in English speaking countries. CD-ROM. An online version is also available by subscription. Contact the publisher or see the website for details. The online version is likely to be better supported than the CD-ROM.

Barron's How to Prepare for the TOEFL

Machine: Win
Publisher: Barron's Educational Series
See also Amazon.com
Approximate single-unit price: 25
Level: Advanced For: HE
Description: Test prep textbook with CD-ROM.

First Certificate Gold Interactive

Machine: Win
Publisher: Longman.com
Purchase options: Contact publisher.
Level: Intermediate, advanced For: Adult, HE
Description: Preparation for the First Certificate Exam (FCE): Reading, Writing, Use of English, Listening, and Speaking sections. Integrated skills practice, as well as sample tests and exercises. Windows 2000/XP; not verified on Vista.

Grand Slam Study Pack IBT

Machine: Win
Publisher: ESL Pro Systems
Approximate single-unit price: 50
Level: Advanced For: HE, Adult
Special use: TOEFL
Description: This six-CD-ROM set provides two computer-based practice tests and four workbooks for enhancing English reading, writing, structure, and listening skills. The practice tests are gauge skill level prior to writing the exam, while the workbooks provide instruction, tips, and practice. Test packs are also available separately, with customized versions available for speakers of French, Spanish, Korean, Japanese, German, Chinese, Hindi, Portuguese, and Russian. Windows 98/XP: not verified for Vista. PDF-based workbooks can be used on any platform.

Interactive Test Prep for the TOEFL

Machine: Win/Mac
Publisher: Encomium Publications
Approximate single-unit price: 35
Level: Intermediate, advanced For: Adult, HE
Special use: TOEFL
Description: 490 exercises that for the grammar, reading, and listening sections of the institutional (paper-based) TOEFL.

New iBTTest Practice

Machine: Win
Publisher: Encomium Publications
Approximate single-unit price: 35
Purchase options: lab, site
Level: Intermediate, advanced For: Adult, HE
Special use: TOEFL
Description: Two practice tests with listening, reading, speaking, and writing sections. Complete reading, listening, speaking, and writing sections. Audio recording and playback capability; students compare their response to a sample. Timed writing sections. Full explanations and review. Versions are available in English, Spanish, and Arabic. See a demo online at the website, http://www.encomium.com/

Pass First Certificate CD-ROM

Machine: Win
Publisher: wds/Pass-English-Exams
Approximate single-unit price: 60
Purchase options: 44Euros
Level: Intermediate, advanced For: Adult, HE
Description: Pass First Certificate is a multimedia software program for students preparing for the Cambridge FCE exam. It contains over 500 exercises in grammar, reading, listening and writing. 5 'mock' exams and a 5,000-word exam-specific multilingual audio dictionary are also included. Demo versions can be downloaded from the publisher's website at http://www.pass-english-exams.com.

Study Skills Success

Machine: Win
Publisher: Clarity Language Consultants
Approximate single-unit price: 75
Purchase options: Each area sold separately; lab packs
Level: Intermediate, advanced For: 9-12, HE
Description: This English for Academic Purposes program is designed for students facing difficult course assignments in English. The eight units are reading, writing, speaking, listening, research, visuals, grammar, and vocabulary. Presentation activities and practice in an academic context for each area. International English version has a range of accents and IELTS practice. Nother American version includes only North American Accents. Authoring and record-keeping are optional add-ons for extra cost. This replaces Read It Study Skills. Windows 2000/XP/Vista. The online version is Mac compatible as well.

Test Mountain

Machine: Win, Mac
Publisher: DynEd International
Purchase options: contact publisher
Level: Advanced For: All but K-8
Special use: TOEIC
Description: Game-format practice for the TOEIC and other standardized tests of English. Best for students at TOEIC 600+. Includes questions, text for listening questions, and explanations for reading questions.

TOEFL Mentor

Machine: Mac/Win
Publisher: Encomium Publications
See also Wida
Approximate single-unit price: 90
Purchase options: site, network
Level: Advanced For: Adult, HE
Special use: TOEFL
Description: TOEFL Mentor is a HyperCard-like program that runs off a CD-ROM and includes tutorials, practice tests and timed tests for all sections of the TOEFL test: Structure and Grammar, Listening Comprehension, and Reading Comprehension. In addition, test taking strategies and tips are available for both the TOEFL and the Test of Written English. Demos are available for downloading from the Encomium Publications web page at http://www.encomium.com. See Tom Robb's review of the program at http://www.kyoto-su.ac.jp/people/teacher/trobb/mentor/mr2.html. An online version is available by subscription; contact the publisher or see the website for details. Older Mac and Windows machines: OS System 7-9 and Windows 3.1/98 compatible.

TOEIC Preparation Interactive

Machine: Win
Publisher: Longman.com
Purchase options: Contact publisher.
Level: Advanced For: Adult, HE
Special use: TOEIC Prep
Description: TOEIC preparation, including animated grammar presentations, multimedia vocabulary presentations, and over 1000 TOEIC-style exercises. Has native language support for test-taking strategies and course help in 8 languages. "Virtual Tutor" guides learners through video, role-plays with a virtual partner, record and compare options, glossary links, and culture notes. Windows 2000/XP: not verified on Vista.

TOEIC Quick Start

Machine: Win/Mac
Publisher: ESL Pro Systems
Approximate single-unit price: 50
Level: Intermediate, advanced For: Adult, HE
Special use: TOEIC
Description: This bundle includes three practice computer-based tests, two workbooks for enhancing English listening and reading skills, and TOEIC® Tips, Traps & Strategies. The practice tests gauge skill level prior to writing the exam, while the workbooks and Tips, Traps, & Strategies provide instruction, tips, and practice. The workbooks are in Adobe PDF format, allowing the student to work directly on screen, or print a portable paper copy. Windows 98/XP: not verified for Vista. PDF-based workbooks can be used on any platform.

Top Score (was Mindstorm TOEIC)

Machine: Mac, Win
Publisher: Mindstorm
Purchase options: Contact publisher
Level: Intermediate, advanced For: HE
Description: This CD-ROM prepares students for the TOEIC (Test of English for International Communication), a test with a focus on English for Business. The CD contains not only practice with the multiple-choice test but also test-taking hints, listening practice with famous speeches, and a multimedia game called Maze where learners have to answer grammar and vocabulary questions to escape. Help sections are in French, Spanish, English, Korean, Japanese, and Indonesian. A site from the Japanese education ministry contains usefull shockwave-based vocabulary learning activities: http://mindstorm.org.uk/EW. Reviews by Mac People, LeMonde, Yomiuri Shimbun and others can be found at http://www.iac.co.jp/~minds/art.html; a review of the older version is at http://www.chorus.cycor.ca/Duber/toeic.html. Windows 95/98; Mac OS 8; not tested on Win XP, Vista or Mac OS X.

https://eltexpert.com/softlist/calltesting.html
Last updated 25 May 2009 by Deborah Healey, dhealey at uoregon dot edu
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