Re-encounter with the Newly packaged toefl test

The last time I took the toefl test was more than 4 years ago and I took it only because my previous score had just expired. I put a lot of effort the first time I took the test, which was 6 years ago and since then I never took it as too big of a deal. It hadn't been for me, at least, I was able to score higher without preparation. But words from the internet community of GTers seem to indicate that's no longer the case now that ETS has updated the test to a new format. The most noticable change would be including of the speaking section, which is based on the former TSE test.

I could have cared less about the test, but my husband needs GT scores for his application for gradschool here. I would like to give him some help or suggestions as an experienced GTer, since I'd taken most of the tests ETS offered in China, including Teofl, TSE, GRE gen and GRE sub. However, my expriences seem to be out-dated for the newly formated tests that are offered. But the essense for preparation remains the same, the goal is to prepare yourself ready for an intensive learning process in the States, not merely to play tricks with dull ETS to out-score your true ability. Once you're in the program, nobody cares about how high you standard test scores have been.

Since I've stayed in the states for more than 3 years, Toefl's no longer challenging for me no matter what format it comes to be. However, with only 3 months of experience in an English speaking country, Jiaqing finds it hard for him to pick up his language skills. I helped him practicing the new integrated writing part, today. He wrote the essay and I did the correction. He didn't do poorly on his first attempt, much better than the others I'd helped in the pass several years. I wasn't and still am not strong in writing, but I can certainly feel my improvement since last time I try to do a TWE essay. Just like I've tried to tell Jiaqing, there's no shortcut to improvement of language skills but to practice. Time will do it for you.