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ETS — Listening. Learning. Leading.®
R e p o R t o n t e s t t a k e R s w o R l d w i d e
2012
Listening AnD reADing
The TOEIC ® Test
Worldwide Report 2012 1
Table of Contents
Page
TheTOEICBackgroundQuestionnaire........................................................................................................................2
DescriptionofTOEICL&RTestTakersin2012..........................................................................................................3
MeanTOEICScoresAcrossNativeCountries.............................................................................................................4
RelationshipAmongListeningandReadingTOEICScores........................................................................................6
TestTakersbyDemographicVariables.........................................................................................................................6
Age.......................................................................................................................................................................11
Gender..................................................................................................................................................................12
Education.............................................................................................................................................................13
AcademicMajor...................................................................................................................................................14
EmploymentStatus..............................................................................................................................................15
TypeofIndustry...................................................................................................................................................16
TypeofJob...........................................................................................................................................................18
YearsSpentStudyingEnglish..............................................................................................................................19
TypeofLanguageSkillMostEmphasizedWhenStudyingEnglish...................................................................20
DailyEnglishUseRequirement...........................................................................................................................21
MostFrequentlyUsedLanguageSkill.................................................................................................................22
DifficultywithEnglishAffectingCommunication..............................................................................................23
TimeSpentinaNativeEnglish-SpeakingCountry.............................................................................................24
PurposeforLivinginaNativeEnglish-SpeakingCountry.................................................................................25
TOEICTest-TakingExperience...........................................................................................................................26
PurposeforTakingTOEICL&RTest..................................................................................................................27
AppendixA–TOEICBackgroundQuestionnaire......................................................................................................28
AppendixB–ResponseRatestoEachBackgroundQuestion...................................................................................30
AppendixC–CorrelationsBetweenListeningandReadingbyRegion....................................................................31
2 Worldwide Report 2012
TheTOEICBackgroundQuestionnaireisaself-surveythatgathersinformationaboutTOEICtesttakers’educationalbackground,workexperience,English-languagestudyanduseandtheTOEICtest-takingexperience.ResponsestothequestionnaireenableuserstolearnmoreaboutthebackgroundsofpeoplewhotakethetestandsomeofthefactorsthataffecttheirTOEICscoresandrelatedimprovementinEnglishproficiency.TesttakersareaskedtocompletetheTOEICBackgroundQuestionnairebeforetakingtheTOEICtest.
TheTOEICBackgroundQuestionnaireispresentedinAppendixA.
ThisreportisbasedontheinformationgatheredfromalltesttakerswhocompletedtheTOEICBackgroundQuestionnaireadministeredin2012.
ThevastmajorityoftesttakersincludedinthisreportarefromAsia,andsotheresultsmaynotberepresentativeofotherregions.Inaddition,theresponseratesvariedacrossdifferentbackgroundquestions(AppendixB).Consequently,careshouldbetakeninmakinginferencesbasedonthisdata.
Pleasenotethatallpercentageswithinthetextareroundedtothenearestwholenumberandinsomecasesmaysumtomorethan100percent.Alsonotethatalltablesandfiguresreflectresultsonlyforcategoriescontaining500ormoretesttakers.
The TOEIC® Background Questionnaire
Worldwide Report 2012 3
Description of TOEIC Listening & Reading (L&R) Test Takers in 2012
BackgroundinformationwascollectedfromthetotalgroupoftesttakerswhotooktheTOEICL&RTestin2012,eitherthroughthePublicTestingProgramortheInstitutionalTestingProgram.Thefollowingisageneraldescriptionofthetesttakersincludedinthisanalysis.Asnotedearlier,thenumberoftesttakerswhorespondedtoeachbackgroundquestionvariedacrossquestions.
• Thelargestproportionoftesttakers(38%)werebetween21and25yearsofage
• 57%oftesttakersweremale
• Mosttesttakers(58%)hadanundergraduatedegreeorwerepursuingone
• 25%ofthetesttakersmajoredinEngineering/Architecture,while20%majoredinBusiness
• 35%oftesttakerswereemployedfull-time,while53%werefull-timestudents
• 31%oftesttakersworkedinscientific/technicalprofessions,and17%workedinclerical/administrativepositions
• 31%oftesttakersselectedReadingastheirmostoftenusedEnglish-languageskill
• Only12%oftesttakershadspentsixmonthsormoreinanativeEnglish-speakingcountry
• 45%oftesttakersusedEnglish1to10%oftheirdailylife
• 81%hadspentmorethan6yearsstudyingEnglish
• 47%oftesttakerswhotooktheTOEICtestin2012hadpreviouslytakenitonthreeormoreearlieroccasions
• 30%hadtakentheTOEICtestforjobapplicationpurposes
4 Worldwide Report 2012
Mean TOEIC Scores Across Native Countries
Table1isorganizedbythenativecountryoftesttakersandshowstheaveragetestscoresofallindividualsfromagivencountry.Pleasekeepinmindthatthenativecountryofatesttakerisnotnecessarily
thecountryinwhichheorshetooktheTOEICtest.Onlycountrieswithmorethan500TOEICtesttakersareincludedinthistable.
Worldwide Report 2012 5
Mean TOEIC Scores across Native Countries
Table1isorganizedbythenativecountryoftest-takersandshowstheaveragetestscoresofallindividualsfromagivencountry.Pleasekeepinmindthatthenativecountryofatest-takerisnotnecessarilythecountryinwhichheorshetooktheTOEICtest.Onlycountrieswithmorethan500TOEICtest-takersareincludedinthistable.
368 (95)
350 (98)
332 (115)
307 (113)
309 (96)
340 (97)
311 (99)
278 (118)
275 (109)
255 (102)
0 50 100 150 200 250 300 350 400
Europe
Africa
North America
South America
Asia
2012 Worldwide TOEIC Listening and Reading Comprehension Scores
ReadingMeans(SD) ListeningMeans(SD)
Figure1:MeanTOEICScoresbyRegion
*Note- All charts reflect results only for categories containing 500 or more test takers. Mexico is included in the data for North America.
Figure 1: Mean TOEIC Scores by RegionNote: All charts reflect results only for categories containing 500 or more test takers. Mexico is included in the data for North America.
Reading Means (SD) Listening Means (SD)
2012 Worldwide TOEIC Listening and Reading Comprehension Scores
Worldwide Report 2012 5
Table 1: Mean Performance by Native Country
CountryListening Reading Total
Mean (SD)* Mean (SD)* Mean (SD)*BANGLADESH 466 (48) 433 (59) 899 (102)
SRI LANKA 464 (55) 429 (60) 893 (110)
NEPAL 458 (52) 421 (64) 879 (112)
GERMANY 451 (67) 415 (75) 866 (135)
INDIA 449 (65) 409 (78) 858 (138)
PAKISTAN 444 (84) 406 (99) 850 (179)
CANADA 422 (73) 386 (84) 808 (151)
PORTUGAL 422 (81) 377 (93) 799 (168)
SWITZERLAND 412 (95) 367 (99) 779 (188)
CHINA, PEOPLE`S REPUBLIC 389 (82) 358 (90) 747 (165)
FRANCE 377 (88) 350 (88) 727 (169)
ITALY 364 (84) 346 (85) 710 (161)
JORDAN 385 (107) 311 (127) 697 (228)
COSTA RICA 370 (91) 323 (94) 694 (177)
RUSSIA 373 (92) 321 (105) 694 (189)
MALAYSIA 376 (94) 312 (110) 688 (197)
MOROCCO 364 (93) 322 (97) 686 (182)
SPAIN 346 (107) 338 (100) 684 (200)
PHILIPPINES 370 (77) 308 (95) 678 (164)
TUNISIA 349 (98) 311 (100) 661 (192)
CAMEROON 340 (86) 307 (85) 646 (162)
SENEGAL 338 (92) 306 (88) 643 (172)
REUNION 335 (98) 308 (97) 642 (189)
ALGERIA 338 (101) 297 (102) 635 (195)
KOREA (ROK) 342 (86) 285 (94) 628 (172)
COLOMBIA 317 (119) 285 (115) 601 (226)
POLAND 332 (109) 264 (117) 597 (217)
BRAZIL 308 (125) 284 (122) 592 (241)
PERU 311 (118) 277 (112) 587 (223)
CHILE 306 (107) 269 (101) 575 (198)
MEXICO 308 (115) 249 (112) 557 (220)
ECUADOR 282 (97) 271 (96) 553 (183)
TURKEY 306 (118) 248 (122) 553 (234)
EGYPT 297 (132) 255 (127) 552 (252)
SAUDI ARABIA 321 (128) 230 (146) 551 (267)
GREECE 316 (102) 223 (102) 539 (196)
TAIWAN 295 (99) 244 (103) 539 (194)
HONG KONG 281 (111) 232 (121) 513 (225)
JAPAN 284 (91) 229 (98) 512 (180)
THAILAND 280 (104) 219 (101) 499 (198)
UNITED ARAB EMIRATES 294 (101) 201 (109) 495 (197)
VIETNAM 245 (92) 225 (97) 470 (182)
MACAO 266 (92) 200 (93) 467 (178)
ALBANIA 227 (118) 196 (117) 423 (229)
INDONESIA 195 (92) 149 (84) 344 (168)
*SD=Standard Deviation
6 Worldwide Report 2012
Relationship Among Listening and Reading TOEIC Scores
ThecorrelationbetweenthetwosectionsoftheTOEICtestwasabout0.85.(AppendixCpresentsthecorrelationsbetweenListeningandReadingacrossregions.)Thisisconsistentwithearlierresearch(e.g.,Woodford,1982)andwiththefindingspresentedinthe2011WorldwideDataReport.Thislevelofcorrelationindicatesthatthetwomeasuresarecloselyrelated,giventhatbothmeasuredtesttakers’proficienciesinusingEnglishinbusinesscommunication,andtesttakerstendedtoputforththesameamountofefforttostudybothskillstogether.
Test Takers by Demographic Variables
Table2presentsthenumberandpercentageoftesttakersfallingintodifferentdemographiccategories,aswellastheaverageTOEICListeningComprehension,ReadingComprehensionandTotalscoresforeachcategory.Morein-depthinformationabouttesttakersinthesecategoriesisshownlaterinthisreport.
ThecategoriesusedinthisreportarethosefoundintheTOEICBackgroundQuestionnaire.
Table 2: Mean Performance by Demographic Categories
% of Test Takers
Listening Reading Total
Mean (SD)* Mean (SD)* Mean (SD)*
Ag
e
Under 20 22.4 277 (100) 217 (102) 495 (194)
21 – 25 38.2 329 (91) 275 (99) 604 (182)
26 – 30 17.4 335 (90) 280 (98) 615 (180)
31 – 35 8.3 317 (94) 270 (103) 588 (189)
36 – 40 5.6 301 (97) 257 (106) 558 (196)
41 – 45 4.2 287 (96) 243 (106) 530 (195)
Over 45 4.0 283 (101) 241 (108) 524 (202)
Gen
der Female 43.4 325 (97) 263 (103) 589 (192)
Male 56.7 303 (97) 255 (104) 558 (193)
Ed
ucat
ion
Graduate school 10.3 347 (86) 307 (93) 654 (171)
Undergraduate college 57.9 333 (86) 279 (93) 612 (171)
Junior high school 0.5 286 (117) 211 (107) 497 (214)
Elementary school 0.2 272 (116) 218 (109) 490 (216)
High school 5.9 270 (111) 206 (111) 475 (215)
Community college 18.9 266 (87) 209 (92) 474 (172)
Vocational school after high school 2.9 262 (100) 197 (97) 459 (189)
Language institution 1.0 263 (102) 192 (102) 454 (197)
Vocational school 2.5 202 (82) 146 (74) 349 (148)
*SD=Standard Deviation
Worldwide Report 2012 7
% of Test Takers
Listening Reading Total
Mean (SD)* Mean (SD)* Mean (SD)*
Maj
or
Social studies 11.4 330 (93) 280 (100) 610 (185)
Liberal arts 19.0 333 (94) 269 (102) 601 (188)
Business related 19.6 320 (98) 272 (104) 592 (194)
Sciences 10.8 307 (93) 259 (100) 566 (185)
Engineering 24.5 305 (90) 253 (96) 558 (178)
Other 5.3 296 (101) 232 (104) 529 (197)
Health related 9.5 276 (90) 226 (98) 502 (181)
Cur
rent
Sta
tus Not employed 7.7 347 (85) 289 (93) 636 (169)
Part-time employee 4.0 322 (102) 267 (107) 589 (201)
Full-time student 53.2 312 (95) 256 (101) 568 (189)
Full-time employee 35.1 297 (96) 249 (103) 546 (192)
Typ
e o
f In
dus
try
Service-Education (High School or below) 2.4 355 (98) 307 (102) 662 (193)
Service-Foreign Affairs 0.1 353 (109) 308 (111) 661 (213)
Service-Education (College or above) 2.5 350 (102) 302 (112) 652 (207)
Mass Media 1.0 345 (90) 290 (99) 635 (181)
Public Utility Production 1.5 330 (86) 293 (92) 623 (170)
Other 4.3 331 (93) 280 (100) 611 (184)
Trading 3.0 330 (94) 277 (101) 607 (187)
Finance 5.4 323 (93) 282 (100) 605 (186)
Manufacturing-Pharmaceuticals 1.8 322 (86) 279 (95) 600 (174)
Telecommunication 1.8 321 (89) 273 (97) 593 (178)
Real Estate 0.5 320 (90) 271 (98) 592 (180)
Service-Legislative 3.1 319 (95) 271 (105) 590 (192)
Insurance 1.6 311 (93) 269 (102) 580 (187)
Service-Armed forces 1.9 311 (93) 268 (101) 579 (186)
Manufacturing-Clothing 0.4 322 (98) 253 (100) 575 (190)
Service-Health 2.0 315 (90) 259 (97) 573 (178)
*SD=Standard Deviation
Table 2: Mean Performance by Demographic Categories (continued)
8 Worldwide Report 2012
% of Test Takers
Listening Reading Total
Mean (SD)* Mean (SD)* Mean (SD)*
Typ
e o
f In
dus
try
Transportation 1.8 314 (92) 252 (97) 566 (181)
Manufacturing-Petroleum 0.9 302 (95) 259 (104) 561 (192)
Service-Other 13.8 306 (91) 252 (100) 558 (184)
Manufacturing-Food 1.5 303 (96) 255 (102) 557 (190)
Agriculture 0.4 299 (101) 256 (104) 555 (198)
Manufacturing-Other 3.9 297 (100) 246 (107) 543 (200)
Service-Traveling 1.9 307 (100) 235 (101) 541 (192)
Manufacturing-Chemicals 3.9 292 (90) 248 (98) 540 (180)
Manufacturing-Glass 0.5 282 (92) 237 (98) 518 (184)
Manufacturing-Metals 2.1 280 (93) 236 (100) 517 (185)
Construction 3.3 281 (102) 232 (107) 513 (203)
Retail/Wholesale 1.7 288 (98) 226 (103) 513 (194)
Manufacturing-Machinery 6.4 277 (92) 226 (99) 503 (185)
Manufacturing-Vehicles 6.8 276 (89) 225 (97) 501 (179)
Manufacturing-Electronic 17.2 273 (92) 226 (101) 499 (186)
Manufacturing-Fabric 0.8 268 (93) 222 (101) 490 (187)
Typ
e o
f Jo
b
Teaching/Training 5.0 353 (104) 305 (110) 659 (206)
Management 4.2 333 (101) 295 (105) 629 (198)
Professional Specialist 8.6 320 (93) 281 (101) 601 (187)
Clerical/Administrative 16.8 319 (95) 265 (101) 584 (189)
Services 5.3 321 (97) 262 (104) 583 (192)
Marketing/Sales 13.8 300 (96) 247 (102) 547 (190)
Technician 7.3 295 (93) 246 (99) 541 (185)
Scientific/Technical Professionals 30.5 284 (88) 238 (97) 522 (177)
Other 8.3 285 (105) 235 (111) 520 (209)
Year
s S
pen
t S
tud
ying
Eng
lish
> 10 years 44.5 348 (86) 297 (94) 645 (171)
6 – 10 years 36.7 294 (91) 240 (97) 534 (179)
4 – 6 years 10.7 269 (96) 210 (98) 479 (186)
< 4 years 8.1 257 (96) 201 (98) 458 (186)
Table 2: Mean Performance by Demographic Categories (continued)
*SD=Standard Deviation
Worldwide Report 2012 9
% of Test Takers
Listening Reading Total
Mean (SD)* Mean (SD)* Mean (SD)*
Lang
uag
e S
kills
Mo
st
Em
pha
size
d
Listening, Reading, Speaking and Writing 29.9 341 (96) 289 (102) 630 (190)
Speaking 13.6 314 (93) 254 (99) 569 (184)
Listening & Speaking 24.3 313 (91) 253 (97) 566 (180)
Reading & Writing 6.0 302 (95) 257 (105) 559 (193)
Reading 12.6 283 (87) 241 (95) 523 (174)
Listening 10.8 281 (94) 228 (100) 509 (186)
Writing 2.7 271 (101) 221 (107) 492 (202)
Tim
e S
pen
t D
aily
Usi
ng
Eng
lish
51–100% 3.9 373 (91) 318 (102) 691 (186)
21–50% 11.5 347 (92) 291 (101) 638 (185)
11–20% 20.5 332 (92) 276 (100) 608 (184)
1–10% 44.5 308 (92) 254 (99) 562 (184)
None 19.6 272 (91) 221 (97) 493 (181)
Eng
lish
Lang
uag
e S
kills
Use
d
Mo
st O
ften
Listening, Reading, Speaking and Writing 13.3 353 (92) 299 (100) 652 (184)
Reading & Writing 8.8 327 (94) 277 (101) 603 (188)
Listening & Speaking 16.1 323 (93) 259 (99) 581 (184)
Reading 30.9 302 (90) 258 (98) 560 (181)
Speaking 11.6 301 (97) 239 (102) 541 (191)
Listening 15.5 297 (99) 237 (103) 534 (195)
Writing 3.7 284 (99) 231 (104) 515 (197)
Diffi
cult
y w
ith
Eng
lish
Co
mm
unic
atio
n
Sometimes 31.9 332 (94) 276 (101) 608 (186)
Seldom 17.7 316 (100) 262 (107) 577 (200)
Frequently 23.2 315 (87) 261 (95) 577 (174)
Almost always 12.8 292 (89) 240 (96) 532 (178)
Almost never 14.3 283 (101) 232 (107) 514 (202)
Table 2: Mean Performance by Demographic Categories (continued)
*SD=Standard Deviation
10 Worldwide Report 2012
Table 2: Mean Performance by Demographic Categories (continued)
% of Test Takers
Listening Reading Total
Mean (SD)* Mean (SD)* Mean (SD)*
Tim
e in
Eng
lish-
Sp
eaki
ng C
oun
try Yes, > 2 years 3.5 414 (81) 347 (99) 761 (171)
Yes, 1–2 years 2.6 390 (85) 319 (97) 708 (174)
Yes, 6–12 months 6.1 386 (78) 316 (92) 703 (162)
Yes, < 6 months 23.0 330 (86) 273 (97) 602 (175)
No 64.8 292 (92) 242 (99) 534 (183)
Pur
po
se f
or
Tim
e in
E
nglis
h-S
pea
king
C
oun
try
To study 15.0 387 (91) 324 (105) 711 (189)
Other 9.2 377 (92) 310 (104) 687 (188)
To participate in language program 31.7 363 (80) 294 (92) 657 (163)
To work 12.5 331 (93) 284 (103) 616 (188)
To travel 31.6 327 (87) 270 (96) 597 (175)
Tim
es T
aken
T
OE
IC T
est
Three times or more 47.5 341 (84) 287 (92) 627 (167)
Twice 12.1 310 (92) 254 (98) 564 (182)
Once 16.1 294 (95) 240 (101) 534 (189)
Never 24.4 277 (102) 225 (108) 502 (202)
Pur
po
se f
or
Taki
ng
TO
EIC
Tes
t
For job application 30.2 336 (87) 278 (94) 615 (173)
For graduation 18.3 312 (97) 261 (105) 573 (194)
For learning 32.8 304 (97) 251 (104) 555 (193)
For promotion 9.5 290 (93) 240 (100) 529 (185)
To assess language program 9.2 290 (102) 238 (107) 529 (202)
*SD=Standard Deviation
Worldwide Report 2012 11
Age
Acloserlookatthedemographiccategoriesrevealedthatinmostcountries,thetypicalTOEICtesttakerwasbetween21and25yearsofage(38%),22%oftesttakerswereyoungerthan20yearsofage,17%werebetween26and30yearsofageandtheremaining22%were31yearsofageorolder.InCostaRica(27%),Greece(48%),HongKong(59%),Indonesia(77%),Japan(27%),Macao(60%)and
ThePhilippines(70%),themajorityoftesttakerswereunder20yearsofage.InPeru(27%),Poland(23%)andTurkey(23%),themajorityoftesttakerswereagedbetween26and30years.
Figure2showsthemeanTotalTOEICscoresasillustratedbyacompositeofListeningComprehensionandReadingComprehensionscores.
Worldwide Report 2012 12 Age A closer look at the demographic categories revealed that in most countries, the t ypical TOEIC test-taker was between 21 and 25 years of age ( 38%), 22% of test-takers were younger than 20 years of age, 17% were between 26 and 3 0 years of age and t he remaining 22% were 31 y ears of age or older. In Costa Rica (2 7%), Greece (48%), Hong Ko ng (59%), Indonesia (77%), Japan (27%), Macao (60%), and The Philippines (70%),
the majority of test-takers were under 20 years of age. In Peru (27%), Poland ( 23%) and Turke y (23%), the majority of test-takers were aged bet ween 26 and 30 years. Figure 2 shows the me an Total TOEIC scores as illustrated by a com posite of Listening Com prehension and Reading Comprehension scores.
0 100 200 300 400 500 600 700
26 – 30
21 – 25
31 – 35
36 – 40
41 – 45
Over 45
Under 20
335
329
317
301
287
283
277
280
275
270
257
243
241
217
Mean Total TOEIC Scores
TOEIC Listening and Reading Comprehension Scores Across Age Levels
Listening Reading
Figure 2: Mean TOEIC Scores Across Age Levels Figure 2: Mean TOEIC Scores Across Age Levels
Listening Reading
TOEIC Listening and Reading Comprehension Scores Across Age Levels
Mean Total TOEIC Scores
12 Worldwide Report 2012
Gender
Fewerwomen(43%)thanmentooktheTOEICL&RTest(asshowninTable2).NotablesmallpercentagesofwomentesttakerswerefoundinBangladesh(10%),Egypt(31%),Pakistan(24%),SriLanka(24%)andTurkey(20%).
Insomecountries,however,morewomenthanmentooktheTOEICtest.ThesecountriesincludedAlbania(70%),China(62%)andThailand(62%).Inothercountries,theratioofmaletofemaletesttakerswasfairlyequal.
Figure3showsthatfemaleshadhigheraveragetotalscoresthanmales.
0 100 200 300 400 500 600
Female
Male
325
303
263
255
Mean Total TOEIC Scores
TOEIC Listening and Reading Comprehension Scores Across Gender
Listening Reading
Figure 3: Mean TOEIC Scores Across Gender
Listening Reading
TOEIC Listening and Reading Comprehension Scores Across Gender
Mean Total TOEIC Scores
Worldwide Report 2012 13
Education
Themajorityoftesttakers(58%)heldanundergraduatedegreeorwaspursuinganundergraduatedegreeatthetimethattheyfilledouttheBackgroundQuestionnaire.Ahigherpercentageofwomen(59%)thanmen(57%)heldorwerepursuinganundergraduatedegree.
Becauseofdifferencesamongcountriesineducationalsystems,comparisonsofeducationallevelaresomewhatsubjective.However,itappearsthatBrazil(65%),Korea(79%),Mexico(71%),ThePhilippines(80%)
andThailand(75%),hadthehighestproportionoftesttakerswithanundergraduatedegree.Algeria(71%),Cameroon(73%),France(56%),Morocco(75%)andSenegal(80%)ledthewaywiththelargestproportionoftesttakersholdingorpursuinggraduatedegrees.Chile(69%),Ecuador(19%),Peru(52%),Spain(42%)andTaiwan(22%)hadthehighestproportionoftesttakerswithavocational/technicaldegreeafterhighschool.Fifty-fourpercentoftesttakersinIndonesiahadavocationalhighschooldegree.
0 100 200 300 400 500 600 700
Graduateschool
Undergraduatecollege
Juniorhighschool
Elementaryschool
Highschool
Communitycollege
Vocationalschoolafterhighschool
Languageinstitution
Vocationalschool
347
333
286
272
270
266
262
263
202
307
279
211
218
206
209
197
192
146
Mean Total TOEIC Scores
TOEIC Listening and Reading Compehension Scores Across Education Levels
Listening Reading
Figure 4: Mean TOEIC Scores Across Education Levels
TOEIC Listening and Reading Comprehension Scores Across Education Levels
Mean Total TOEIC Scores
Listening Reading
14 Worldwide Report 2012
Academic Major
ThelargestpercentageofTOEICL&Rtesttakers(25%)majoredinEngineering.ThepercentageoftesttakerswithanEngineeringmajorwerethehighestinCameroon(47%),Italy(41%),Morocco(48%),Senegal(44%)andSpain(40%).Businesshadthesecondhighestpercentage(20%).Algeria(38%),Brazil(42%),Colombia(42%),China(42%)
andVietnam(47%)hadthehighestpercentageofexamineesmajoringinBusiness.
Acrossalltesttakersmorefemales(31%)majoredinLiberalArtsthanmales(10%),andmoremales(34%)majoredinEngineeringthanfemales(12%).
0 100 200 300 400 500 600 700
Socialstudies
Liberalarts
Businessrelated
Sciences
Engineering
Other
Healthrelated
330
333
320
307
305
296
276
280
269
272
259
253
232
226
Mean Total TOEIC Scores
TOEIC Listening and Reading Comprehension Scores Across Majors
Listening Reading
Figure 5: Mean TOEIC Scores Across Academic Majors
TOEIC Listening and Reading Comprehension Scores Across Majors
Mean Total TOEIC Scores
Listening Reading
Worldwide Report 2012 15
Employment Status
OverallthemajorityofTOEICL&Rtesttakers(53%)werefull-timestudents,especiallyincountriessuchasCameroon(75%),China(79%),Indonesia(78%),Macao(84%),Morocco(78%)andThePhilippines(83%).However,thepercentageoftesttakerswhowereemployedfull-timewashighinothercountries
suchasBrazil(69%),Chile(62%),CostaRica(45%),Japan(52%),Mexico(45%)andPeru(78%).Theoverallpercentageoftesttakerswhowerenotemployedandnotstudentswasonly8%.
0 100 200 300 400 500 600 700
Notemployed
Part-timeemployee
Full-timestudent
Full-timeemployee
347
322
312
297
289
267
256
249
Mean Total TOEIC Scores
TOEIC Listening and Reading Comprehension Scores Across Employment Status
Listening Reading
Figure 6: Mean TOEIC Scores Across Employment Status
TOEIC Listening and Reading Comprehension Scores Across Employment Status
Mean Total TOEIC Scores
Listening Reading
16 Worldwide Report 2012
Type of Industry
AsseeninTable2,mosttesttakerswhowereemployedfull-timeworkedineitherthemanufacturingorserviceindustries.
Figures7A,7Band7CprovideaveragescoresofListeningandReadingforthevariousindustrytypes.
0 100 200 300 400 500 600 700
Service-Education(Highschoolorbelow)
Service-ForeignAffairs
Service-Education(Collegeorabove)
Service-Legislative
Service-Armedforces
Service-Health
Service-Other
Service-Traveling
355
353
350
319
311
315
306
307
307
308
302
271
268
259
252
235
Mean Total TOEIC Scores
TOEIC Listening and Reading Comprehension Scores Across Industry Type
Listening Reading
Figure 7A: Mean TOEIC Scores Across Industry Type — Service
TOEIC Listening and Reading Comprehension Scores Across Industry Type
Mean Total TOEIC Scores
Listening Reading
Worldwide Report 2012 17
Mean Total TOEIC Scores
0 100 200 300 400 500 600 700
Manufacturing-Pharmaceuticals
Manufacturing-Clothing
Manufacturing-Petroleum
Manufacturing-Food
Manufacturing-Other
Manufacturing-Chemicals
Manufacturing-Glass
Manufacturing-Metals
Manufacturing-Machinery
Manufacturing-Vehicles
Manufacturing-Electronic
Manufacturing-Fabric
322
322
302
303
297
292
282
280
277
276
273
268
279
253
259
255
246
248
237
236
226
225
226
222
Mean Total TOEIC Scores
TOEIC Listening and Reading Comprehension Scores Across Industry Type
Listening Reading
Figure 7B: Mean TOEIC Scores Across Industry Type — Manufacturing
0 100 200 300 400 500 600 700
MassMedia
PublicUtilityProduction
Other
Trading
Finance
Telecommunication
RealEstate
Insurance
Transportation
Agriculture
Construction
Retail/Wholesale
345
330
331
330
323
321
320
311
314
299
281
288
290
293
280
277
282
273
271
269
252
256
232
226
Mean Total TOEIC Scores
TOEIC Listening and Reading Comprehension Scores Across Industry Type
Listening Reading
Figure 7C: Mean TOEIC Scores Across Industry Type — Other
Listening Reading
TOEIC Listening and Reading Comprehension Scores Across Industry Type
TOEIC Listening and Reading Comprehension Scores Across Industry Type
Mean Total TOEIC Scores
Listening Reading
18 Worldwide Report 2012
Type of Job
Thetypesofjobsperformedbytesttakersvariedgreatlyacrosscountries.Forexample,23%oftesttakersfromFranceand34%fromMoroccoworkedinmanagementpositions.ForScientific/TechnicalProfessions,China(42%)andJapan(42%)hadthehighestpercentage.InCostaRica(49%)andThePhilippines(33%),thelargestpercentageoftesttakersheldteaching/trainingpositions.ForClerical/Administrativepositions,Korea(31%)hadthehighestpercentageoftesttakers.Theseapparentdifferencesmaybedue,inpart,tothedifferentjobcategoriesusedacrosscountries.
Generallyspeaking,however,thehighestpercentageoftesttakersworkedinscientific/technicalprofessions(31%),clerical/administrativepositions(17%)ormarketing/salespositions(14%).
Morefemales(27%)workedinclerical/administrativepositionsthanmales(12%)andmoremales(37%)workedinscientific/technicalpositionsthanfemales(15%).
0 100 200 300 400 500 600 700
Teaching/Training
Management
ProfessionalSpecialist
Clerical/Administrative
Services
Marketing/Sales
Technician
Scientific/TechnicalProfessionals
Other
353
333
320
319
321
300
295
284
285
305
295
281
265
262
247
246
238
235
Mean Total TOEIC Scores
TOEIC Listening and Reading Comprehension Scores Across Job Type
Listening ReadingFigure 8: Mean TOEIC Scores Across Job Types
TOEIC Listening and Reading Comprehension Scores Across Job Type
Mean Total TOEIC Scores
Listening Reading
Worldwide Report 2012 19
Years Spent Studying English
Similartothefindingsfrompreviousyears,in2012testtakersexhibitedalmostidenticalpatternsinthelengthoftimespentstudyingEnglish.Nearly81%of2012testtakersstudiedEnglishforsixormoreyears,while8%studiedEnglishforlessthanfouryears.
InBrazil(50%),Colombia(46%),CostaRica(36%),Mexico(50%)andPeru(60%)thelargestpercentageoftesttakersstudiedEnglishforlessthan4years.
TesttakersinHongKong(63%),India(66%),Korea(59%),Malaysia(65%)andThePhilippines(69%)studiedEnglishformorethan10years.
0 100 200 300 400 500 600 700
> 10 years
6 – 10 years
4 – 6 years
<= 4 years
348
294
269
257
297
240
210
201
Mean Total TOEIC Scores
TOEIC Listening and Reading Comprehension Scores Across Years Spent Studying English
Listening Reading
Figure 9: Mean TOEIC Scores Across Years Spent Studying English
TOEIC Listening and Reading Comprehension Scores Across Years Spent Studying English
Mean Total TOEIC Scores
Listening Reading
20 Worldwide Report 2012
Type of Language Skill Most Emphasized When Studying English
Twenty-fourpercentoftesttakersindicatedthatListeningandSpeakingweretheskillsmostemphasized.
TesttakersfromIndia(48%),Indonesia(72%),China(46%)andThePhilippines(47%)indicatedanemphasisonallfourEnglish-languageskills.
0 100 200 300 400 500 600 700
Listening,Reading,SpeakingandWriting
Speaking
Listening&Speaking
Reading&Writing
Reading
Listening
Writing
341
314
313
302
283
281
271
289
254
253
257
241
228
221
Mean Total TOEIC Scores
TOEIC Listening and Reading Comprehension Scores Across Language Skills Most Emphasized
Listening Reading
Figure 10: Mean TOEIC Scores Across Language Skills Most Emphasized
AfterindicatingthenumberofyearsspentstudyingEnglish,testtakerswereaskedtoidentifywhichlanguageskillsweremostemphasizedduringtheirstudies.ThirtypercentofalltesttakersindicatedthatallfourEnglish-languageskills(Listening,Reading,Speaking,andWriting)wereemphasized.
TOEIC Listening and Reading Comprehension Scores Across Language Skills Most Emphasized
Mean Total TOEIC Scores
Listening Reading
Worldwide Report 2012 21
Daily English Use Requirement
Inresponsetothequestion“HowmuchtimemustyouuseEnglishinyourdailylife?”nearlyhalfofalltesttakers(45%)indicatedthattheyhadtouseEnglishforonly1to10%oftheirdailylife.TesttakersfromChile(30%),CostaRica(32%),India(36%)and
ThePhilippines(37%)hadthehighestpercentagesofresponsesindicatingthattheyspend21–50%oftheirdailylifeusingEnglish.TesttakersinIndia(43%)indicatedthattheyspend51–100%oftheirdailylifeusingEnglish.
0 100 200 300 400 500 600 700
51–100%
21–50%
11–20%
1–10%
None
373
347
332
308
272
318
291
276
254
221
Mean Total TOEIC Scores
TOEIC Listening and Reading Comprehension Scores Across Time Spent Daily Using English
Listening Reading
Figure 11: Mean TOEIC Scores Across Time Spent Daily Using English
TOEIC Listening and Reading Comprehension Scores Across Time Spent Daily Using English
Mean Total TOEIC Scores
Listening Reading
22 Worldwide Report 2012
Most Frequently Used Language Skill
Overall,malesweremoreinclinedthanfemales(35%vs.26%)tochooseReadingastheEnglish-languageskilltheyusedmostoften.ForListeningandSpeaking,females(19%)hadahigherpercentagethanmales(14%).
0 100 200 300 400 500 600 700
Listening,Reading,SpeakingandWriting
Reading&Writing
Listening&Speaking
Reading
Speaking
Listening
Writing
353
327
323
302
301
297
284
299
277
259
258
239
237
231
Mean Total TOEIC Scores
TOEIC Listening and Reading Comprehension Scores Across English Language Skills Used Most Often
Listening Reading
Figure 12: Mean TOEIC Scores Across English-Language Skills Used Most Often
Thirty-onepercentofalltesttakersindicatedthatReadingwastheEnglish-languageskillthattheyusedmostoften.TesttakersfromFrance(30%),Italy(29%)andMorocco(31%)hadthehighestpercentage,indicatingListeningwasthemostoftenusedskill.TesttakersfromChile(45%),Peru(43%)andTaiwan(44%)tendedtouseReadingskillsmostoften.
TOEIC Listening and Reading Comprehension Scores Across English-Language Skills Used Most Often
Mean Total TOEIC Scores
Listening Reading
Worldwide Report 2012 23
Difficulty with English Affecting Communication
Whenasked“HowoftenhasdifficultywithEnglishaffectedyourabilitytocommunicate?”32%ofalltesttakersresponded“Sometimes”.Twenty-threepercentrespondedthatdifficultywithEnglish“frequently”
affectedtheirabilitytocommunicateand13%respondedthatdifficultywithEnglish“almostalways”affectedtheirabilitytocommunicate.
0 100 200 300 400 500 600 700
Sometimes
Seldom
Frequently
Almostalways
Almostnever
332
316
315
292
283
276
262
261
240
232
Mean Total TOEIC Scores
TOEIC Listening and Reading Comprehension Scores Across Difficulty with English affecting ability to Communicate
Listening Reading
Figure 13: Mean TOEIC Scores Across Difficulty With English Affecting Ability to Communicate
TOEIC Listening and Reading Comprehension Scores Across Difficulty With English Affecting Ability to Communicate
Mean Total TOEIC Scores
Listening Reading
24 Worldwide Report 2012
Time Spent in a Native English-Speaking Country
0 100 200 300 400 500 600 700 800
Yes, > 2 years
Yes, 1–2 years
Yes, 6–12 months
Yes, < 6 months
No
414
390
386
330
292
347
319
316
273
242
Mean Total TOEIC Scores
TOEIC Listening and Reading Comprehension Scores Across Amount of Time Spent in English Speaking Country
Listening Reading
Figure 14: Mean TOEIC Scores Across Amount of Time Spent in English-Speaking Country
Respondentswereasked“HaveyoueverlivedinacountryinwhichEnglishisthemainspokenlanguage?”Only12%ofalltesttakersindicatedthat
theyhadspentsixmonthsormoreinacountryinwhichEnglishwasthemainspokenlanguage.
TOEIC Listening and Reading Comprehension Scores Across Amount of Time Spent in English-Speaking Country
Mean Total TOEIC Scores
Listening Reading
Worldwide Report 2012 25
Purpose for Living in a Native English-Speaking Country
alltesttakersindicatedtheydidsoforthepurposeofparticipatinginalanguageprogram.
0 100 200 300 400 500 600 700 800
Tostudy
Other
Toparticipateinlanguageprogram
Towork
Totravel
387
377
363
331
327
324
310
294
284
270
Mean Total TOEIC Scores
TOEIC Listening and Reading Comprehension Scores Across Purpose for Time Spent in English Speaking Country
Listening Reading
Figure 15: Mean TOEIC Scores Across Purpose of Living in a Native English-Speaking Country
Inresponsetoaquestionasking,“WhatwasyourmainpurposeforlivinginacountryinwhichEnglishisthemainspokenlanguage?”Thirty-twopercentof
TOEIC Listening and Reading Comprehension Scores Across Purpose for Time Spent in English-Speaking Country
Mean Total TOEIC Scores
Listening Reading
26 Worldwide Report 2012
TOEIC Test-Taking Experience
ThepercentageoftesttakerswhohadpreviouslytakentheTOEICL&RTestvariedwidelyacrosscountries,fromalowof16%inMexicoandPerutoahighof78%and85%inJapanandKorea,respectively.The
0 100 200 300 400 500 600 700
Threetimesormore
Twice
Once
Never
341
310
294
277
287
254
240
225
Mean Total TOEIC Scores
TOEIC Listening and Reading Comprehension Scores Across Frequency of Testing
Listening Reading
Figure 16: Mean TOEIC Scores Across Frequency of Testing
majorityoftesttakers(76%)hadtakentheTOEICL&RTestbefore,withthelargestpercentageoftesttakers(47%)havingtakentheTOEICL&RTestthreeormoretimespreviously.
TOEIC Listening and Reading Comprehension Scores Across Frequency of Testing
Mean Total TOEIC Scores
Listening Reading
Worldwide Report 2012 27
Purpose for Taking TOEIC L&R Test
ThehighestpercentageoftesttakersindicatedthatthepurposeoftakingTOEICL&Rwasforlearning(33%)andforjobapplication(30%).AlargeproportionoftesttakersinCostaRica(50%),India(47%),Korea(48%)andThailand(55%)tookthetestforjob
0 100 200 300 400 500 600 700
Forjobapplication
Forgraduation
Forlearning
Forpromotion
Toassesslanguageprogram
336
312
304
290
290
278
261
251
240
238
Mean Total TOEIC Scores
TOEIC Listening and Reading Comprehension Scores Across Purpose for Taking TOEIC Test
Listening Reading
Figure 17: Mean TOEIC Scores Across Purpose for Taking TOEIC L&R Test
applicationpurposes.Forlearningpurposes,Chile(43%),Colombia(33%),HongKong(33%),Japan(51%)andRussia(33%)hadahighproportionoftesttakers.
TOEIC Listening and Reading Comprehension Scores Across Purpose for Taking TOEIC Test
Mean Total TOEIC Scores
Listening Reading
28 Worldwide Report 2012
Read the choices below each question and select the one best answer. Fill in only one answer for each question.
Section I.Your educational and/or work-related background
1. Choose either the level of education in which you are currently enrolled or the highest level that you have completed.
A. Elementary school (primary school)B. General secondary school (junior high
school)C. Secondary school for university entrance
qualifi cation or equivalent (high school)D. Vocational/technical high schoolE. Vocational/technical school after high schoolF. Community/junior college (for associate
degree)G. Undergraduate college or university (for
bachelor’s degree)H. Graduate or professional school (for
master’s or doctoral degree)I. Language institution
2. Choose the major that you are currently enrolled in or the major of your highest degree. (The majors shown in parentheses are examples only.)A. Liberal arts (education, fi ne arts, languages,
literature, music, psychology)B. Social studies/law (international studies, law
studies, political science, sociology)C. Accounting/business/economicsD. Finance/marketing/tradingE. Sciences (agriculture, computer science,
mathematics, physics, statistics)F. Health (medicine, nursing, pharmacy, public
health)G. Engineering/architectureH. Other/none
3. Which of the following best describes your current status?
A. I am employed full-time (including self-employed).
B. I am employed part-time and/or studypart-time.
C. I am not employed. (Skip to Question #6.)D. I am a full-time student. (Skip to Question #6.)
4. If you are currently employed, which industry best describes that of your current employer?
01. Agriculture/fi shing/forestry/mining02. Construction/building design03. Manufacturing—food04. Manufacturing—pharmaceuticals05. Manufacturing—chemicals06. Manufacturing—fabric/paper07. Manufacturing—oil/petroleum/rubber08. Manufacturing—steel/other metals09. Manufacturing—machinery/fi ne machinery10. Manufacturing—electronic 11. Manufacturing—vehicles (includes
manufacturing of all modes of transportation)12. Manufacturing—cement/glass13. Manufacturing—clothing14. Manufacturing—other15. Service—education (high school equivalent
or below)16. Service—education (college equivalent or
above, assessment, research) 17. Service—court/legislative/municipal/prefecture18. Service—foreign affairs19. Service—armed forces20. Service—health/hospital/medical research 21. Service—hotel/recreation/restaurant/travel22. Service—other23. Public utilities production/management
(electricity/water supply)24. Broadcasting/mass media25. Telecommunication26. Retail/wholesale27. Trading28. Accounting/banking/fi nance/security29. Insurance30. Real estate31. Transportation32. Other
5. If you are currently employed, which of the following best describes the type of job you do? (The jobs shown in parentheses are examples only.)
A. Management (executive, manager, director)B. Scientifi c/technical professionals (engineer,
mathematician, programmer, researcher, scientist)
C. Teaching/training D. Professional specialist (accountant, broker,
fi nancial specialist, lawyer)
Copyright ©2007. EDUCATIONAL TESTING SERVICE, ETS, ETS logo and TOEIC are registered trademarks of Educational Testing Service.
Background Questionnaire
APPENDIX A
Worldwide Report 2012 29
E. Technician (carpenter, electrician, equipment operator, plumber)
F. Marketing/sales (foreign exchange broker, marketing analyst, real estate agent, sales representative, travel agent)
G. Clerical/administrative (offi ce staff member, receptionist, secretary)
H. Services (customer service representative, human resources representative, hotel staff member, public relations representative)
I. Other
Section II.Your English-language experience
6. How many years have you spent studying English?
A. Less than or equal to 4 yearsB. More than 4 years but less than or equal to
6 yearsC. More than 6 years but less than or equal to
10 yearsD. More than 10 years
7. Which of the following language skills are/were most emphasized?
A. ListeningB. ReadingC. SpeakingD. WritingE. Listening and speakingF. Reading and writingG. Listening, reading, speaking, and writing
8. How much time must you use English in yourdaily life?
A. None at allB. 1 to 10%C. 11 to 20% D. 21 to 50% E. 51 to 100%
9. Which of the following English-language skills do you use most often?
A. ListeningB. ReadingC. SpeakingD. WritingE. Listening and speakingF. Reading and writingG. Listening, reading, speaking, and writing
10. How often has diffi culty with English affected your ability to communicate?
A. Almost neverB. SeldomC. SometimesD. FrequentlyE. Almost always
11. Have you ever lived in a country in which English is the main spoken language?
A. No (Skip to Question #13.)B. Yes, for less than 6 monthsC. Yes, for 6 to 12 monthsD. Yes, for more than 1 but less than or
equal to 2 yearsE. Yes, for more than 2 years
12. What was your main purpose for living in a country in which English is the main spoken language?
A. To study (in other than an English-language program)
B. To participate in an English-language program
C. To travel (not work related)D. To workE. Other
Section III. Your experience in taking the TOEIC test
13. Before today, how many times have you taken the TOEIC test?
A. Never B. OnceC. TwiceD. Three times or more
14. What is your main purpose for taking today’s TOEIC test?
A. For a job applicationB. For promotionC. To assess the effectiveness of an English-
language programD. To assess future learning needsE. To graduate from a course of study
Background Questionnaire - Side 2
APPENDIX A (continued)
30 Worldwide Report 2012
APPENDIX B
Response Rates to Each Background Question
N Response Rate
Total number of people using new Background Questionnaire 5,279,584
1. Education 4,722,408 89%
2. Major 4,449,982 84%
3. Employment Status 4,844,645 92%
4. Type of Industry 1,812,478 96%
5. Type of Job 1,594,960 84%
6. Years Spent Studying English 4,386,478 83%
7. Language Skills Most Emphasized 4,373,504 83%
8. Time Spent Daily Using English 4,378,758 83%
9. Language Skills Used Most Often 4,336,006 82%
10. Difficulty in English Communication 4,359,296 83%
11. Time in English-Speaking Country 4,335,277 82%
12. Purpose in English-Speaking Country 1,511,552 99%
13. Times Taken TOEIC 4,499,691 85%
14. Purpose for Taking TOEIC 4,395,173 83%
Note: N=1,895,688 was used to calculate response rates for questions 4 and 5 (after excluding test takers who selected option 03 and 04 in question 3); N=1,524,412 was used to calculate response rate for question 12 (after excluding test takers who selected option 01 in question 11) .
Worldwide Report 2012 31
APPENDIX C
Correlations Between Listening and Reading by Region
Regions Correlations
Africa 0.86
Asia 0.85
Europe 0.85
North America (including Mexico) 0.89
South America 0.85