TOEIC

The exam explained

The TOEIC (Test of English for International Communication) exam is a standardized English proficiency test designed to assess the English language skills of non-native speakers, particularly in professional or business contexts. It's widely used by companies, organizations, and government agencies around the world to measure English proficiency for employment, promotions, or job placement. Here’s a breakdown of the exam:

The TOEIC exam comes in two main formats:

  • TOEIC Listening and Reading (most common)

  • TOEIC Speaking and Writing

The Listening and Reading Test

This is the most popular format of the TOEIC exam. It focuses on receptive skills (listening and reading) and is a paper-based test. The total duration is about 2 hours and it is scored on a scale from 10 to 990 points. The sections include:

Listening Section: 100 questions (45 minutes)

  • Part 1: Photographs – listen and choose the correct description of an image.

  • Part 2: Question-Response – listen to questions and choose the correct response.

  • Part 3: Conversations – listen to short dialogues and answer questions.

  • Part 4: Short Talks – listen to monologues and answer questions.

Reading Section: 100 questions (75 minutes)

  • Part 1: Incomplete Sentences – choose the correct word or phrase to complete a sentence.

  • Part 6: Text Completion – fill in missing parts of a passage.

  • Part 7: Reading Comprehension – answer questions about written passages.

Speaking and Writing Test

This test evaluates productive skills (speaking and writing) and is taken on a computer. Each section is scored on a scale of 0-200.

Speaking Section (20 minutes):

  • Read sentences aloud.

  • Describe a picture.

  • Respond to questions.

  • Propose a solution to a problem.

  • Express an opinion on a topic.

Writing Section (60 minutes):

  • Write sentences based on pictures.

  • Respond to written requests.

  • Write an opinion essay on a given topic.

Scoring

  • Listening and Reading Test: Scores range from 10 to 990 points, with a separate score for listening (5-495) and reading (5-495).

  • Speaking and Writing Test: Scores for each section range from 0 to 200 points.

  • There is no pass or fail; instead, your score reflects your proficiency.

You can choose to take only the Listening and Reading test if your focus is on receptive skills, or only the Speaking and Writing test if you need to prove productive language skills.

No requirement to take both tests unless it's specified by the employer, institution, or your personal goals.

If you're applying for a job or a course, check if they require scores from all sections or just one of them!