TOEFL® Young Students Series Research Program: Research Grants

Overview

ETS is pleased to announce the TOEFL® Committee of Examiners (COE) 2025 Young Student Series (YSS) Research Program.

The TOEFL YSS Research Grants are intended to support research related to the assessment of young language learners (under 16 years of age). Priority will be given to research relevant to the TOEFL YSS assessments (the TOEFL Primary® and TOEFL Junior® tests) as well as foundational research that promotes high-quality young language learner assessments.

Suggested research topics include but are not limited to: 

1. Construct/Content Relevance
• Investigating young EFL learners’ use of the target language in non-testing contexts (possibly including technology-augmented language use).
• Investigating the relationship between TOEFL Primary or TOEFL Junior test performance and young learners' language use in non-testing contexts.
• Investigating the use of strategies test takers deploy when engaging with different TOEFL YSS test items/tasks.
• Investigating the perspectives of young learners and other stakeholders (e.g., views, opinions, understanding, attitudes) about different TOEFL YSS tests or related materials, especially of the new TOEFL Primary and TOEFL Junior writing tests
• Investigating test-taker performance and test-taker experience across different TOEFL YSS assessment modalities, including paper-delivered, digital (e.g., computer versus tablet), and/or remote-proctored forms.
• Exploring the relationship of the TOEFL Junior and/or TOEFL Primary tests to national and regional standards, frameworks or curricula.
• Investigating the relationship between TOEFL Primary and/or TOEFL Junior tests and other assessments that measure young learners' English proficiency.
• Investigating effects of accent on young learners’ EFL listening comprehension

2. Test Use and Impact
• Investigating stakeholders' language assessment literacy in relation to young learners language assessment.
• Investigating teachers' and parents' practices, experiences and needs in relation to (remote/online) assessment with young language learners.
• Investigating the use and impact of TOEFL Primary or TOEFL Junior test scores and score reports in different contexts
• Investigating young learners' perceptions and preferences related to their own score reports on the TOEFL Primary and/or TOEFL Junior test.

3. Young Learners' Language Development
• Investigating assessment-related accessibility and inclusivity needs and practices for all young language learners.
• Investigating the range and depth of English vocabulary and grammar knowledge at different age and ability levels in different contexts.
• Investigating the relationship between test taker characteristics and their performance on the TOEFL Primary test.
• Investigating parents’ and teachers’ strategies for supporting young learners’ language development toward taking the TOEFL Primary or TOEFL Junior tests.

4. Innovations in Assessment
• Exploring the incorporation of AI and machine learning into assessments for young language learners (e.g., automated content generation, human-AI interaction, automated scoring and feedback generation).
• Exploring multimodal tasks (e.g., integrative, scenario-based) with young language learners, and the rating of young learners’ multimodal task performances.
• Exploring young learner language assessment practices and experiences in under-researched contexts.
• Exploring innovative, child-friendly assessment methods and materials for very young language learners.

Consideration will also be given to research on other topics or innovations related to the assessment of young language learners.

Proposals from current members of the TOEFL COE and for-profit organizations are not eligible.

Deadlines:

April 15, 2024 — Deadline for submission of intent forms
July 15, 2024 — Deadline for submission of full proposals
October 1, 2024 — Responses to proposals emailed
April 1, 2025 — Tentative start date for funded projects

For applicants who are invited to submit full proposals, proposal materials must be submitted via email to [email protected] by 11:59 p.m. U.S. Eastern Time on July 15, 2024.