the toeic test report on test takers worldwide 2012 listening and reading

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ETS — Listening Learning Leading.®

Table of Contents

Page

The TOEIC Background Questionnaire 2

Description of TOEIC L&R Test Takers in 2012 3

Mean TOEIC Scores Across Native Countries/Regions 4

Relationship Among Listening and Reading TOEIC Scores 6

Test Takers by Demographic Variables 6

Age 11

Gender 12

Education 13

Academic Major 14

Employment Status 15

Type of Industry 16

Type of Job 18

Years Spent Studying English 19

Type of Language Skill Most Emphasized When Studying English 20

Daily English Use Requirement 21

Most Frequently Used Language Skill 22

Difficulty with English Affecting Communication 23

Time Spent in a Native English-Speaking Country/Region 24

Purpose for Living in a Native English-Speaking Country/Region 25

TOEIC Test-Taking Experience 26

Purpose for Taking TOEIC L&R Test 27

Appendix A – TOEIC Background Questionnaire 28

Appendix B – Response Rates to Each Background Question 30

Appendix C – Correlations Between Listening and Reading by Region 31

The TOEIC Background Questionnaire is a self-survey

that gathers information about TOEIC test takers’

educational background, work experience, English-language study and use and the TOEIC test-taking

experience Responses to the questionnaire enable

users to learn more about the backgrounds of people

who take the test and some of the factors that affect

their TOEIC scores and related improvement in

English proficiency Test takers are asked to complete

the TOEIC Background Questionnaire before taking

the TOEIC test

The TOEIC Background Questionnaire is presented in

Appendix A

This report is based on the information gathered from all test takers who completed the TOEIC Background Questionnaire administered in 2012

The vast majority of test takers included in this report are from Asia, and so the results may not

be representative of other regions In addition, the response rates varied across different background questions (Appendix B) Consequently, care should be taken in making inferences based on this data

Please note that all percentages within the text are rounded to the nearest whole number and in some cases may sum to more than 100 percent Also note that all tables and figures reflect results only for categories containing 500 or more test takers

The TOEIC® Background Questionnaire

Description of TOEIC Listening & Reading (L&R) Test Takers in 2012

Background information was collected from the total

group of test takers who took the TOEIC L&R Test

in 2012, either through the Public Testing Program or

the Institutional Testing Program The following is a

general description of the test takers included in this

analysis As noted earlier, the number of test takers

• 30% had taken the TOEIC test for job application purposes

Mean TOEIC Scores Across Native Countries/Regions

Table 1 is organized by the native country/region of

test takers and shows the average test scores of all

individuals from a given country/region Please keep

in mind that the native country/region of a test taker is

not necessarily the country/region in which he or she took the TOEIC test Only countries/regions with more than 500 TOEIC test takers are included in this table

Mean TOEIC Scores across Native Countries

Table 1 is organized by the native country of test-takers and shows the average test scores of all individuals from

a given country Please keep in mind that the native country of a test-taker is not necessarily the country in which

he or she took the TOEIC test Only countries with more than 500 TOEIC test-takers are included in this table

South America

Asia

2012 Worldwide TOEIC Listening and Reading Comprehension Scores

Reading Means (SD) Listening Means (SD)

Figure 1: Mean TOEIC Scores by Region

*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 Region

Note: 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

Table 1: Mean Performance by Native Country/Region

Relationship Among Listening and Reading TOEIC Scores

The correlation between the two sections of the TOEIC test was about 0.85 (Appendix C presents the correlations between Listening and Reading across regions.) This is consistent with earlier research (e.g., Woodford, 1982) and with the findings presented in the 2011 Worldwide Data Report This level of correlation indicates that the two measures are closely related, given that both measured test takers’ proficiencies in using English in business communication, and test takers tended to put forth the same amount of effort to study both skills together

Test Takers by Demographic Variables

Table 2 presents the number and percentage of test takers falling into different demographic categories, as well as the average TOEIC Listening Comprehension, Reading Comprehension and Total scores for each category More in-depth information about test takers in these categories is shown later in this report

The categories used in this report are those found in the TOEIC Background Questionnaire

Table 2: Mean Performance by Demographic Categories

% of Test Takers

% of Test Takers

% of Test Takers

% of Test Takers

Listening, Reading, Speaking

Table 2: Mean Performance by Demographic Categories (continued)

% of Test Takers

Mean (SD)* Mean (SD)* Mean (SD)*

Age

A closer look at the demographic categories revealed

that in most countries/regions, the typical 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 30 years of age and

the remaining 22% were 31 years of age or older In

Costa Rica (27%), Greece (48%), Hong Kong (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 Turkey (23%), the majority of test takers were aged between 26 and 30 years

Figure 2 shows the mean Total TOEIC scores as illustrated by a composite of Listening Comprehension and Reading Comprehension scores

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

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

Figure 3 shows that females had higher average total scores than males.

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

Because of differences among countries/regions in

educational systems, comparisons of educational

level are somewhat subjective However, it appears

that Brazil (65%), Korea (79%), Mexico (71%), The

Philippines (80%) and Thailand (75%) had the highest proportion of test takers with an undergraduate degree Algeria (71%), Cameroon (73%), France (56%), Morocco (75%) and Senegal (80%) led the way with the largest proportion of test takers holding or pursuing graduate degrees Chile (69%), Ecuador (19%), Peru (52%), Spain (42%) and Taiwan (22%) had the highest proportion of test takers with a vocational/technical degree after high school Fifty-four percent of test takers

in Indonesia had a vocational high school degree

0 100 200 300 400 500 600 700 Graduate school

Undergraduate college

Junior high school

Elementary school

High school Community college

Vocational school after high school

Language institution

Vocational school

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

Academic Major

The largest percentage of TOEIC L&R test takers

(25%) majored in Engineering The percentage

of test takers with an Engineering major were the

highest in Cameroon (47%), Italy (41%), Morocco

(48%), Senegal (44%) and Spain (40%) Business

had the second highest percentage (20%) Algeria

(38%), Brazil (42%), Colombia (42%), China (42%)

and Vietnam (47%) had the highest percentage of examinees majoring in Business

Across all test takers more females (31%) majored in Liberal Arts than males (10%), and more males (34%) majored in Engineering than females (12%)

0 100 200 300 400 500 600 700 Social studies

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

Employment Status

Overall the majority of TOEIC L&R test takers (53%)

were full-time students, especially in countries/regions

such as Cameroon (75%), China (79%), Indonesia

(78%), Macao (84%), Morocco (78%) and The

Philippines (83%) However, the percentage of test

takers who were employed full-time was high in other

countries/regions such as Brazil (69%), Chile (62%), Costa Rica (45%), Japan (52%), Mexico (45%) and Peru (78%) The overall percentage of test takers who were not employed and not students was only 8%

0 100 200 300 400 500 600 700 Not employed

Part-time employee

Full-time student

Full-time employee

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

Service-Foreign Affairs

Service-Education (College or above)

Service-Legislative Service-Armed forces 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

Mean Total TOEIC Scores

0 100 200 300 400 500 600 700 Manufacturing-Pharmaceuticals

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 Mass Media 

Public Utility Production

Other Trading Finance Telecommunication

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

Type of Job

The types of jobs performed by test takers varied

greatly across countries/regions For example, 23%

of test takers from France and 34% from Morocco

worked in management positions For Scientific/

Technical Professions, China (42%) and Japan (42%)

had the highest percentage In Costa Rica (49%) and

The Philippines (33%), the largest percentage of test

takers held teaching/training positions For Clerical/

Administrative positions, Korea (31%) had the highest

percentage of test takers These apparent differences

may be due, in part, to the different job categories used

across countries/regions

Generally speaking, however, the highest percentage

of test takers worked in scientific/technical professions (31%), clerical/administrative positions (17%) or marketing/sales positions (14%)

More females (27%) worked in clerical/administrative positions than males (12%) and more males (37%) worked in scientific/technical positions than females (15%)

0 100 200 300 400 500 600 700 Teaching/Training

Management Professional Specialist

Clerical/Administrative

Services Marketing/Sales

Technician Scientific/Technical Professionals

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 Reading

Figure 8: Mean TOEIC Scores Across Job Types

TOEIC Listening and Reading Comprehension Scores Across Job Type

Mean Total TOEIC Scores

Listening Reading

Years Spent Studying English

Similar to the findings from previous years, in 2012

test takers exhibited almost identical patterns in the

length of time spent studying English Nearly 81% of

2012 test takers studied English for six or more years,

while 8% studied English for less than four years

In Brazil (50%), Colombia (46%), Costa Rica (36%),

Mexico (50%) and Peru (60%), the largest percentage

of test takers studied English for less than 4 years

Test takers in Hong Kong (63%), India (66%), Korea (59%), Malaysia (65%) and The Philippines (69%) studied English for more than 10 years

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

Type of Language Skill Most Emphasized When Studying English

Twenty-four percent of test takers indicated that Listening and Speaking were the skills most emphasized

Test takers from India (48%), Indonesia (72%), China (46%) and The Philippines (47%) indicated an emphasis on all four English-language skills

0 100 200 300 400 500 600 700 Listening, Reading, Speaking and Writing

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

After indicating the number of years spent studying

English, test takers were asked to identify which

language skills were most emphasized during their

studies Thirty percent of all test takers indicated that

all four English-language skills (Listening, Reading,

Speaking, and Writing) were emphasized

TOEIC Listening and Reading Comprehension Scores Across Language Skills Most Emphasized

Mean Total TOEIC Scores

Listening Reading