Hi Bruce...
You wife needs to take all the tests and when she takes the exam it will be in 2 sessions for Listening and Reading(which is held every Tuesdays and Thursdays and the result will be given after 20 minutes) then 2nd session is for Speaking and Listening which is held once a month but if there are loads of test taker applicants, they open another slot on the same month and result will be after 2weeks... 2 weeks because speaking and writing is an internet and computer based exams, so it's paperless and pencil-ess exam and all your answers are recorded and then will be sent to TOEIC in america then five people(TOEIC staff) will evaluate your answers then rate them then send it back to their accredited center here in the Philippines... Hopkins has nothing in control about TOEIC exam but TOEIC centre control Hopkins as they need to follow their rules and regulations... In fact, they're very strict during the exam as in you only have to bring ID inside the examination room and you cant choose for the seat and each test paper has its own serial numbers...
The exams sound difficult, but actually they just very basic and no need for intensive review... It's just merely the Test Of English for International Communication (TOEIC)... For Listening and reading, your wife will only be needing 120 points out of490 points each test.. and for speaking and writing 80 points out of 200 for each test... The requirement for spouse visa is very minimal... As for the classic and redesigned you can take any of the two because the weight of the difficulty is the same , it is just redesigned...
What i took was their complete test package and that is with 1day workshop which costs P6,700... It's very cheap compared to there testing centers... It was very helpful with me the package with 1-day workshop so that i would know where am i weak if in error recognition or my pronunciation...
Every test taker by that time was nervous because it was like taking the board exam with proper shading of answers something like that but after taking the exams your reaction will be uh-oh it was easy but it was a bit time pressure because im a slow reader for reading test comprehension...
Spouse applicants are really lucky because of very minimal requirement on the score compared to student or work permit applicants they need to get 800 points out of 990 before they can apply for visa...
ooopppssss my reply is getting longer.. til next time.... God bless...
