A new-generation on-line Test of English as Foreign Language (TOEFL) will come into operation in September 2005 for students who want to study in North American universities, the US Educational Testing Service (ETS) announced in Beijing Monday.

Susan Chyn, an ETS official, said the new test would examine comprehensive abilities in listening, reading, writing and speaking. After taking the test, each examinee would receive specific comments from ETS experts, so they would learn their strengths and weaknesses.

Chyn said the ETS would cooperate with its China partner, Tide Times Group, to promote the Langu Edge Courseware and Criterion On-line Writing Evaluation study tools for the new TOEFL. Some Chinese universities, including Tsinghua and Capital Normal universities, have been allowed to use the tools.

The ETS, founded in 1947, was the largest non-profit private educational testing and evaluation organization in the world, with products represented by TOEFL, GRE and GMAT.

Examinees worldwide can use the Internet to learn about the new TOEFL next month and test use it in July. The ETS will release new information on its official website, www.toefl.org.