Reader's Forum: TOEIC materials and preparation questions: Interview with an ETS representative

Introduction

Having been granted a sabbatical leave from teaching to research various aspects of TOEIC while at Asian University, Thailand,in 2009, I had the opportunity to contact Robert Woodhead, a test writer for the Center for Professional Assessment (Thailand). He was very knowledgeable about Educational Testing Services (ETS), the producers of both the TOEIC and TOEFL tests. He kindly agreed to be interviewed on the subject of test preparation and materials. The interview questions were based on the guidelines given in recent examinee handbooks, the aim being to see to what extent a live interview with an expert would confirm the preparation points and perhaps shed more light on their implications.