During 6th period on September 19^th, students from ninth grade assembled in the B1 auditorium to listen to a lecture about the TOEFL and IELTS exams. Stephen Graham informed the students about these standardized tests and helped the students distinguish between the two. Staying informed about these tests is essential for all ninth-grade students as they will influence their future applications to colleges and universities. Mr. Graham gave suggestions and clarified many questions from the ninth-grade students. The students gained a better understanding about TOEFL and IELTS scores, levels, examination times, test forms, and the preferences of different English-speaking countries. Through this lecture, students realized not only the significance of the results of these standardized tests, but also the importance of being able to use and communicate in English as a language. Mr. Graham emphasized the fact that standardized tests aren’t courses of studies, but a test to examine one’s proficiency in a language. He also reminded the students that the purpose of studying is not to do well on a test, but to improve oneself and progress onto higher levels, building stable platforms for their futures. Students listened carefully, payed attention throughout the presentation, and learned more about the tests.

(Written by Murong Almerheim Pictures by Yan Feiyao Supervised by Liu Jialong)