Investigating the Effect of TOEFL® Preparation Training on English Proficiency of Grade 12 Students at MAN 1 Tangerang

Authors

  • Dyah Supraba Lastari Universitas Muhammadiyah Tangerang, Tangerang, Indonesia
  • Nargis Nargis Universitas Muhammadiyah Tangerang, Tangerang, Indonesia
  • Moh. Iqbal Firdaus Universitas Muhammadiyah Tangerang, Tangerang, Indonesia

DOI:

https://doi.org/10.53863/e-jou.v5i02.1733

Keywords:

TOEFL Preparation, English proficiency, standardized test

Abstract

English proficiency plays a crucial role for senior high school students, particularly in preparing for higher education and entering the workforce. One of the most widely administered standardized tests to measure English proficiency is TOEFL (Test of English as a Foreign Language) and often serves as a requirement for university admission. The aim of this study was to examine the effect of TOEFL preparation training on the English proficiency of 12th-grade students at MAN 1 Tangerang. A quasi-experimental method was implemented by using a one-group pretest-posttest design. The training program material covered skills assessed in TOEFL PBT (Paper Based test), namely listening, structure and written expressions and reading. The researchers conducted a pre-test and a post-test to measure students’ English proficiency improvement. The findings of the study showed a significant difference between the pre-test and post-test results. This indicates that the TOEFL preparation training effectively improved students' English proficiency. The significance of this study is reflected in its role in developing to English language instruction at secondary schools, especially in Madrasah contexts. The educational implications suggest that integrating TOEFL preparation programs into school curricula can strengthen students’ readiness for academic challenges and improve their chances of success in university entrance processes

References

Akmal, S., Risdaneva, R., Habiburrahim, H. ., & Sari, M. (2022). The English teachers’ challenges in TOEFL preparation for senior high school students. Journal on English as a Foreign Language, 10(1), 24–44. http://e-journal.iain-palangkaraya.ac.id/index.php/jefl

Barnes, M. (2016). The washback of the TOEFL iBT in Vietnam. Australian Journal of Teacher Education, 41(7), 158–174. https://doi.org/10.14221/ajte.2016v41n7.10

Brown, H.D., & Abeywickrama, P. (2018). Language assessment: Principles and class-room practices (3rd ed.). Pearson Education.

Caromawati, C. (2017). The impacts of the PBT TOEFL-based progressive and summative learning measurement in a higher educational institution. ELLITE Journal of English Language, Literature, and Teaching , 2(1). https://doi.org/10.32528/ellite.v2i1

Cohen, J. (2011). Statistical power analysis for the behavioral sciences (2nd ed.). Routledge.

Creswell, J. . (2012). Educational research: Planning, conducting, and evaluating quantitative and qualitative research (4th ed.). Pearson Education.

Damanik, J. Y., & Pasaribu, M. (2025). Perceptions of Indonesian college students about offline and online TOEFL ITP preparation class. Edulink Education and Linguistics Knowledge Journal, 7(1), 62–82. https://doi.org/10.32503/edulink.v7i1.6803

Damankesh, M., & Babaii, E. (2015). The washback effect of Iranian high school final examinations on students’ test-taking and test-preparation strategies. Studies in Educational Evaluation, 45, 62–69. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.stueduc.2015.03.009

Dewi, I. I., Darna, D., & Suprapto, D. (2015). The changes of students’ TOEFL score after one year learning. Humaniora, 6(4), 507–519. https://doi.org/10.21512/humaniora.v6i4.3379

Djamereng, J., Yusuf, F., & Nirwana, N. (2021). The implementation of TOEFL practicum class toward the result of students’ TOEFL score in English and literature department. English Language, Linguistics, and Culture International Journal, 1(2), 60–72. https://doi.org/10.24252/elstic-ij.v1i2.22080

English Testing Service. (2025). The TOEFL ITP® Assessment Series: https://www.ets.org/toefl/itp/about.html Retrieved June 21, 2025.

Fitriani, S., & Wahjusaputri, S. (2021). Pelatihan TOEFL (Test of English as a Foreign Language) untuk meningkatkan skor di SMA Muhammadiyah 3 Jakarta. Prosiding Seminar Nasional AbdimasMu, 2(1), , 131–139.

Halim, N., & Ardiningtyas, S. Y. (2018). Difficulties faced by the students in answering TOEFL test questions. ETERNAL (English, Teaching, Learning, and Research Journal), 4(2), 219–231. https://doi.org/10.24252/Eternal.V42.2018.A7

Kaniadewi, N., & Asyifa, D. I. (2022). The effect of TOEFL preparation course on efl undergraduate students’ TOEFL scores. Linguistic, English Education and Art (LEEA) Journal, 6(1), 12–20. https://doi.org/10.31539/leea.v6i1.4365

Liu, O. L. (2014). Investigating the relationship between test preparation and TOEFL iBT ® performance. ETS Research Report Series, 2014(2), 1–13. https://doi.org/10.1002/ets2.12016

Ma, J., & Cheng, L. (2016). Chinese students’ perceptions of the value of test preparation courses for the TOEFL iBT: Merit, worth, and significance. TESL Canada Journal, 33(1), 58–79. https://doi.org/10.18806/tesl.v33i1.1227

Maharani, M. S., & Putro, N. H. P. S. (2021). Evaluation of TOEFL preparation course program to improve students’ test score. Jurnal Penelitian Dan Evaluasi Pendidikan, 25(1), 63–76. https://doi.org/10.21831/pep.v25i1.39375

Masfufah, S. (2018). Indonesian college students’ perceptions of TOEFL preparation class. EduLite: Journal of English Education, Literature and Culture, 3(1), 66–78. https://doi.org/10.30659/e.3.1.66-78

Matingfan, E. . (2018). English students’ problem of taking TOEFL test (A case study of English Department students at Mataram University academic year 2017-2018). Undergraduate Thesis. Universitas Mataram.

Muslimin, A. (2014). Improving students’ TOEFL scores using TOEFL iBT practice android application. In: The 61st TEFLIN International Conference, 906–910.

Nguyen, T. N. H. (2007). Effects of test preparation on test performance—The case of the IELTS and TOEFL iBT listening tests. Melbourne Papers in Language Testing, 12(1), 1–24.

Perdani, Y. (2015). An implementation of strategy training in TOEFL listening class: Case study in one language center in Bandung. Thesis. Universitas Pendidikan Indonesia.

Philips, D. (2008). Longman Complete Course for the TOEFL Test. Pearson: Preparation for Computer and Paper Tests (2nd Ed). Pearson Education.:

Puspasari, E. (2017). The effect of joining TOEFL preparation course toward students’ TOEFL-like score achievement at Language Training Center of Universitas Muhammadiyah Yogyakarta (Undergraduate thesis). Universitas Muhammadiyah Yogyakarta.

Renandya, W. A., Hamied, F. A., & Joko, N. (2018). English language proficiency in Indonesia : Issues and prospects. The Journal of Asia TEFL, 15(3), 618–629. https://doi.org/10.18823/asiatefl.2018.15.3.4.618

Rifiyanti, H., Dewi, D., & Putra, F. (2023). The role of TOEFL preparation courses in improving test score. Foremost Journal, 4(2), 99–104. https://doi.org/10.33592/foremost.v4i2.3615

Sakurai, N. (2020). Exploring a placement test for extensive reading programs. Humanities Series, 2(3), 53–70. https://ksu.repo.nii.ac.jp/record/10468/files/AHSUSK_HS_53_53.pdf

Sailuddin, S. P (2022). The effectiveness of TOEFL preparation course to improve students’ reading comprehension. EDU Journal - English Department of UMMU Journal, 2(2), 46-52. https://doi.org/10.52046/edu.j.v2i2.1543

Sharpe, P. (2010). Barron’s TOEFL iBT: Internet-based test. (13th ed.). Barron’s Education Series.

Triana, D., Asiyah, S., & Indriastuti, N. (2023). Students’ perceptions towards the significance of the preparation of English proficiency test. In: ELTT Proceedings, 9(1), 56–63. https://proceeding.unpkediri.ac.id/index.php/eltt/article/view/4148 .

Wang, Y. (2019). The impact of TOEFL on instructors’ course content and teaching methods. . The Electronic Journal for English as a Second Language, 23(3), 118.

Yu, G. (2012). Preparing for TOEFL iBT speaking tasks: test-takers’ experiences and expectations. (Paper presentation). In: 34th Language Testing Research Colloquium.

Downloads

Published

2025-07-30

How to Cite

Lastari, D. S., Nargis, N., & Firdaus, M. I. (2025). Investigating the Effect of TOEFL® Preparation Training on English Proficiency of Grade 12 Students at MAN 1 Tangerang. English Education and Literature Journal, 5(02), 336–345. https://doi.org/10.53863/e-jou.v5i02.1733