[michèle 2]

[A student who understands how the exam is structured and what the examiner is looking for will almost always score better than a student of a reasonably higher level without the exam preparation.
I agree with you. I've a student who is training to take a TOEIC test next week and we've done 5 complete tests so far. the more she trained the better she is and her score is much better than two weeks ago. So I'm sure she will get a good score next week but her level in English isn't high. And she knows that even if she gets a good score for the TOEIC she will have to study English afterwards. Personally I think that a student should be tested on his /her speaking abilities and perhaps an essay on current topics to test writing.