by Lauren Goldenberg

The designers have made an effort to make the interface clear and easy to use while including a variety of more sophisticated functions. This is tricky and the first time I used the program, I didn't realize the availability of the hints, which can be accessed from the pull-down menus at the top of the screen. Most of the user's interactions take place with the large buttons at the bottom of the screen. The hints elevate the software slightly above practice-only by providing a list of eight to ten strategies for each section. Another confusing aspect of the design was the exiting out of a section; in some parts one has to exit several layers of the program.

The software contains a help feature which pertains to the operating of the system, and not to the English language. It does a decent job for its purpose.

Feedback comes in two forms: on the screen, and as a printout. When you enter the program, you get an opportunity to input your name. This is used for the printouts. The program, however, doesn't remember your scores from session to session. For the most part, the on-screen feedback--which you can choose to get after you complete a section of exercises, a section test, or a practice test--is not very helpful. Comments, for the most part, are of the "That answer is not correct" or, upon a second incorrect try, "Explanation: No, that is still not right. The correct answer is 'a'" variety.

An option to choose between vertical or horizontal answer sheets exists, which is analogous to the real-world TOEFL answer sheets which at times use a vertical layout and at others a horizontal one. The virtual answer sheets allow users to change answers. Also, the user can mark an answer in red to highlight it. This could be useful if one wants to ask a question about a particular item, or if one wants a reminder to go back to it.

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