International students have had trouble getting appointments for a language test because of recent changes that limit the number of students who can take it each month.
The Educational Testing Service, a nonprofit testing organization, replaced the computer and written versions of the TOEFL, or Test of English as a Foreign Language, with an Internet version - called the iBT TOEFL - in the United States, Canada and other countries in Europe.
Students who are born in other countries or who are non-native speakers of English must pass the TOEFL to be admitted to most universities and graduate schools in the United States.
The new test can only be given in computer labs and is only offered at specific dates and times that are determined by ETS, said Margaret Savko, a senior program coordinator at the UA Testing Office and a test administrator for computer-based tests.
The test dates and times are synchronized so the test is offered at the same time across the world.
The new test was created mainly to stop students from cheating, Savko said. Before the change, students who finished the test on the East Coast would call students on the West Coast and give them answers right before they took the test.
In addition to reducing the possibility of cheating, the test is also a better measurement of English language proficiency, said Alfred Stover, assistant director of outreach and development for the Center for English as a Second Language.
"Its an upgrade in the testing of English proficiency. It includes a speaking section and more writing. ETS consistently does improve their tests," Stover said.
The problem for international students and other English learners is that now the test can only be offered three or four times each month when the UA Testing Office used to offer tests every day, Savko said.
The UA Testing Office's computer lab can only accommodate seven students per session, which means the office can offer the test to 21 to 28 people each month, Savko said.
"We used to test 50, 60 or 70 in a month. We would test as many as who wanted to take it," Savko said.
Other test administrators across the country are having trouble accommodating demand for the test, Savko said.
"We're all in the same position, sitting with our hands tied, " she said, "All you can do is refer them to the next test date."
Three weeks into the semester, the next available date she has open for registration is April 28.
Stover said although the test availability is restrained, it should not affect the number of applicants to the UA.
The TOEFL admissions requirement for some students can be waived by CESL and students can also take a written version of the TOEFL at CESL, which is only accepted by the UA, Stover said.
Hassan Alnazghan, a student at CESL, said he will probably take the TOEFL at the center next fall so he can become a business student at the UA.
Alnazghan said he came to Tucson because there were better English classes and teachers at the center than in his home country, Saudi Arabia.
Carmen Sigmund, an office specialist for the International Undergraduate Admissions Office, said she hasn't heard of any students who are trying to come to the UA who have had trouble taking the test.
She said she doesn't think the test change will affect the number of International students attending the UA.
"If they start the process early enough then generally they won't have any problems," Sigmund said.
International students who want to attend the UA in the summer or fall must have all their application requirements, including the TOEFL, to the UA by April 1.
The ETS has been criticized for not offering enough testing times in certain locations where the test is offered in Europe and the United States, causing some new seats to be added by ETS in those locations, Savko said.
Savko said she hopes the ETS will continue to offer more testing times to accommodate the demand for the test.
The limited seating may become a challenge again when the General GRE, or Graduate Record Exam, becomes an Internet-based test next fall, Savko said.
The test costs $140, which is due at the time of registration.
Students who wish to obtain more information about the test should visit www.toefl.org.