Things you should know before taking TOEIC

(Test of English for International Communication)

What is TOEIC test?

The TOEIC test (Test of English for International Communication) was conceived in Japan and created by the
Educational Testing Service (ETS), a U.S. nonprofit test development institution, as a common global yardstick for
measuring English skills. Since the first TOEIC Secure Program (SP) test was implemented in December 1979, the test has
been adopted not only throughout Japan but around the world as the global standard for English communication skill
assessment. Many companies, schools, and other organizations, as well as individuals, are currently utilizing the test as
an effective way to raise the motivation to study, and as an opportunity to check the English skill levels of their workers
and students. The test is administered in some 150 countries around the world.

The TOEIC Speaking and Writing tests have recently been added to the TOEIC program. These tests complement the
TOEIC Listening and Reading test, allowing for a full assessment of a person's ability to communicate in English across all
four language skills.

What are the benefits of taking the TOEIC test?

The TOEIC test is offered in over 120 countries and more than 10,000 institutions around the world. If you want to be
successful in the global workplace, then the TOEIC test can help you. Employers use scores from the TOEIC test to assess
the English proficiency of potential employees, to promote qualified employees, and to identify job-training
requirements.

Who should take TOEIC?

Jobseekers: More than 14,000 companies/organisations across the world accept the test to assess their employees’
ability to communicate in business English. It helps them make recruitment and placement decisions. So if you are
seeking a job in a global workplace, TOEIC is the test for you!

Students: Over the years there has been a gradual increase in the number of universities in the US accepting TOEIC
scores. However, TOEFL continues to remain the most widely accepted English test for universities in UK, US & Australia
as well as for students aspiring to study in these countries.

The Report on TOEIC test takers worldwide released by ETS in 2013 states out of the 7 million tests administered that
year, 29% of the test takers take the test for a job application, 21% for graduate school application, 31.4% for learning &
skill building, 9% to assess a language program and around 10% for a promotion.
What is the TOEIC® test like?
There are two separate parts to the TOEIC test. You can do one or both parts.

1. The Listening and Reading test is a paper and pencil test that takes 2.5 hours and is taken at a test center.
2. The Speaking and Writing test is an online test that is taken in a test center and takes 90 minutes. The Speaking
and Writing test is a new test which is only available in some countries.
3. TOEIC Bridge Test

The first test assesses proficiency in English listening & reading skills from beginner to advanced level. It’s a paper-based
test.

The second test assesses proficiency in English speaking and writing from beginner to advanced level. It’s an online test,
which checks one’s vocabulary, pronunciation, grammar, fluency, coherence & overall organization of sentences.

The Bridge Tests assesses proficiency in reading and listening skills from beginner to intermediate level.
What about scores?
The TOEIC Reading and Listening gives a score between 10 and 990:

 905 - 990 International Proficiency

 785 – 900 Working Proficiency Plus
 605 – 780 Limited Working Proficiency
 405 – 600 Elementary Proficiency Plus
 255 – 400 Elementary Proficiency
 185 – 250 Memorised Proficiency
 10 – 180 No Useful Proficiency

TOEIC Speaking and Writing tests are scored out of 200.

How is TOEIC different from TOEFL?

Other than the obvious differences between the tests (Check info about TOEFL here) like duration of the tests, cost,
score range, test structure, here are a few differences based on students’ & tutors’ perceptions

TOEIC TOEFL

Easier – Business English Difficult – Academic English

Doubles up as a certification for both colleges and workplace Generally preferred to get into graduate schools

Accepted by fewer schools Accepted by majority of the graduate schools

Listening and Reading Test

TOEIC LISTENING FORMAT

The Listening section of the classic and new TOEIC Listening and Reading Test is paper-and-pencil based, and lasts about
45 minutes. It contains 100 questions, divided into four parts:

Remember also that in the listening section of the New TOEIC Listening and Reading Test, you will hear a variety of
accents – American, Canadian, and Australian and British – so you must practice listening to and understanding all of
these.
PHOTOGRAPHS
In this part, you see a photograph and hear four statements about it. The photo itself may portray people, things,
actions and locations. You must select the sentence which best describes what you see in the picture. You hear the
sentences only once, and must make your choice immediately after that, or else you'll miss hearing information related
to the next picture.

QUESTION-RESPONSE
In this part, you may be asked a question about almost any subject related to people, events, location, time, emotions,
reasons, opinions or activities. You need to choose the answer that makes sense.

TOEIC Listening Tips

The following TOEIC listening tips will help you beware of test traps, and direct you to the right answer. Remember, it is
possible to get a score of 100% in the listening section. Many students have done so before you, and you can too, so
keep your eyes and ears open and your motivation high.

PHOTOGRAPHS
In the first part of the TOEIC listening section, you will see photographs and then be asked to select a sentence which
best describes the pictures. The key to doing well is to read each of the four options carefully. The three incorrect
answers may have:

- words that sounds similar but are in fact different

- the right words used inaccurately
- the right words used in a confusing manner
- answers that are only partially true
- words that refer to a context other than the one shown in the picture
- words related to, but not in the picture

The best way to approach these questions is to scan the picture completely and identify what's happening, just like a
journalist or a spy. Ask yourself: who, what, where, why? Listen for any words that are stressed, as they may hold a clue.

QUESTION - RESPONSE
In the second part of the TOEIC listening section, you will be asked a question about almost anything and you need to
choose a suitable answer. The trick here is to watch out for:

- words that sound similar but have different meanings

- wh- questions - who what, when, where, why, what - that need logical answers
- questions with question tags
- yes / no questions which may have no direct yes / no answers

To do well, keep the question clearly in mind as you scan the possible answers. Choose the one that makes the greatest
sense. If in doubt, guess. You won't lose points.
SHORT CONVERSATIONS
In the third part, you will hear a short dialogue and then be asked a question about what you have heard. You need to
use your short-term memory well. The best strategies are to beware of:

- similar-sounding words
- inaccurate words
- confused word order
- words that change the meaning
- negative words (hardly, not, etc.)
- words associated with time (always, never, etc.)

It will help if you can read the question, and possibly even the answers, before you hear the dialogue. Check all the
options and don't choose too quickly. Try and picture the speakers and where they are.

SHORT TALK
In the fourth part of the listening section, you will hear a monologue and then be asked a question about it. The same
precautions should be exercised as in the earlier sections, but you will need to concentrate more carefully to remember
the details. Pay close attention to the context. Try to read the questions beforehand if you have time, and listen to the
entire talk before choosing an answer. Use your time wisely or else guess at an answer. Don't get left behind or lose
important information related to the next question.

TOEIC READING FORMAT

The reading section of the TOEIC Listening and Reading Test consists of three parts, which vary slightly, depending on
whether you are doing the old or new version of the test, as shown below:

INCOMPLETE SENTENCES
In this multiple-choice section, you need to choose the best answer to complete a sentence. Your knowledge of
grammar and vocabulary are both important in helping you understand the correct context of the sentence and in
choosing the right answer. For example, you must be familiar with word forms such as nouns, adjectives, adverbs, etc. to
know which one fits the sentence correctly.
ERROR RECOGNITION (OLD OR CLASSIC TOEIC TEST)
This part has been eliminated in the New TOEIC Listening and Reading Test, but still remains in the older version, used in
many parts of the world. It is the section which tests your knowledge of grammar and its impact on the meaning of the
sentence.

TEXT COMPLETION (NEW TOEIC TEST)

Here, you will be asked to fill in the blanks, as in the incomplete sentences section above. The difference is that the
blanks are part of longer pieces of writing such as a letter.

READING COMPREHENSION
The reading comprehension section presents texts taken from a wide variety of contexts such as bulletins,
advertisements, reports, tables, announcements, memos, etc. A number of questions follow. Reading skills such as
skimming, scanning and understanding vocabulary in context are all useful here.

TOEIC Listening and Reading test questions are based on a variety of real-world settings and situations:

 Corporate Development — research, product development

 Dining Out — business lunches, banquets, receptions, reservations
 Entertainment — cinema, theater, music, art, exhibitions, museums, media
 Finance and Budgeting — banking, investments, taxes, accounting, billing
 General Business — contracts, negotiations, mergers, marketing, sales, warranties, business planning,
conferences, labor relations
 Health Care — medical insurance, visits to doctors, dentists, clinics and hospitals
 Housing/Corporate Property — construction, specifications, buying and renting, electric and gas services
 Human Resources — recruiting, hiring, retiring, promoting, job applications, job advertisements, salaries,
pensions, awards
 Manufacturing — assembly lines, plant management, quality control
 The Office — procedures, board meetings, committees, letters, memos, telephone, fax and email messages,
equipment
 Purchasing — shopping, ordering supplies, shipping, invoicing
 Technical Areas — electronics, technology, computers, laboratories and related equipment, technical
specifications
 Travel — trains, airplanes, taxis, buses, ships, ferries, tickets, schedules, station and airport announcements, car
rentals, hotels, reservations, delays and cancellations

How long are scores valid?

Scores are used to measure a test taker's English proficiency at the time that a test is administered. Because English-
language skills may improve or decline over time, a score report will not be re-issued if two years have passed since
taking the test. ETS does not require testing centers to retain test administration data beyond two years.
TOEIC SPEAKING FORMAT
Content: 11 questions

Time: approximately 20 minutes

Score scale: 0–200

Below is an overview of the TOEIC Speaking Test, which includes 11 questions that measure various aspects of your
speaking ability. For each question, you will be given specific directions, including the time allowed for preparing and
speaking your response.

It is to your advantage to say as much as you can in the time allowed. It is also important that you speak clearly and
answer each question according to directions.

The test takes about 20 minutes.

The TOEIC Speaking tasks are described below:

READ A TEXT (QUESTIONS 1 & 2)

You simply need to read aloud a test that appears on the screen. You receive two scores on this task: one for
pronunciation and one for intonation and stress. You have 45 seconds to prepare and 45 seconds to speak.

DESCRIBE A PICTURE (QUESTION 3)

You must describe a picture which appears on your screen in as much detail as possible. Your use of grammar,
vocabulary, and cohesion will be tested. You have 30 seconds to prepare and 45 seconds to speak. Start by describing
the picture as a whole (where, what) and then go into the smaller details ( who, when how, what kind, how many, etc.).
State the obvious, and try to cover everything you can, while keeping your accent clear and steady. Emphasize all the
critical words actually shown in the picture.

RESPOND TO QUESTIONS (QUESTIONS 4,5,6)

You must respond to three questions about a single topic, without any preparation time. In questions 4 and 5, you speak
for 15 seconds. In question 6, you speak for 30 seconds. For example: How often do you go to the movies, what kind of
movies do you like to watch, describe one of your favourite movies.

RESPOND TO QUESTIONS WITH INFO (QUESTIONS 7,8,9)

You must respond to three questions, based on a schedule of events that will appear before you on the screen. For
example, you could be shown the schedule from a conference. You have 30 seconds to read the information, which will
remain in front of you throughout. Then you are asked three questions to which you have 15 seconds each to respond.
The questions will be asked as if you were receiving a phone call.

PROPOSE A SOLUTION (QUESTION 10)

You need to present a solution to a problem. You will hear a message left on an answering machine, with a problem. You
have 30 seconds to prepare an answer, and 60 seconds to show that you understand the problem and to deliver your
solution.

EXPRESS AN OPINION (QUESTION 11)

You are asked to give your opinion on a topic. You have 15 seconds to prepare and 60 seconds to speak.

Summary:

TOEIC Speaking Tips

It is highly recommended that you work with an experienced teacher or join a TOEIC test preparation class to prepare
for this section of the test. It's really the only way you can receive feedback about the nature of your weaknesses and be
advised on ways to improve the quality of your responses.

1) The most important point in the speaking section of the TOEIC test is to speak as clearly as possible , with
whatever accent you have. Don't make the mistake of mumbling because you don't want the examiner to find
fault with your accent. Whatever corrections you need to make to your accent, you should do before your exam
and not during your exam. This is the time to speak out loud and clear.

2) Remember that you will not be speaking to a live examiner. Instead, you will be wearing headphones and
speaking into a microphone, so that your answer can be recorded for later evaluation by an official ETS rater.
You need to get used to speaking to yourself, into a microphone, with whatever background noise may exist in
the room from the other examinees.
 Many examinees find this challenging so try practicing your TOEIC speaking exercises in a room with the
television or radio on, or with other family or friends speaking. Learn to focus on your own speaking task and to
ignore everything else in the surrounding area. This tip alone could make a gigantic difference in your speaking
performance and score.
3) You've studied English for many years. This is the time to use your best English. Don't use slang.

4) Use correct grammar. Don't say ain't, even if you heard it in the movies.

5) Avoid boring, overly-used words like nice, good, or bad. Use expressive words like terrific, awful, or excellent.

TOEIC WRITING FORMAT

The TOEIC Writing Test requires you to answer 8 questions in about one hour. The variety of tasks assesses your ability
to convey information in a written form accurately, completely and correctly.

The 8 writing tasks are shown below:

WRITING A SENTENCE
In tasks 1-5, you will be shown a picture on your screen, along with two words below the picture. You must use the two
words in a sentence that describes the picture. You are given 8 minutes to complete all 5 questions. You can change the
grammatical form of the two words you are given but you must use them in your sentence. You will be graded on the
basis of grammar and the relevance of your answers to the picture.

RESPONDING TO A REQUEST
In tasks 6 and 7, you need to respond to an email message that will appear on your screen. You will have 10 minutes to
read and answer each email, according to the directions given. Once you begin question 7, you cannot return to
question 6. You will be graded on the quality of your sentences, vocabulary and the content of your answers.

WRITING AN OPINION ESSAY

In the last task, you have to write an essay, expressing your opinion on a given subject. You will be given only one topic.
You have 30 minutes to write an essay of about 4-5 paragraphs, or 300 words. Your response will be judged in terms of
grammar, vocabulary, organization, logical flow and coherence.

TOEIC Writing Tips

 Work with a teacher or experienced TOEIC exam prep specialist. For most students, this is the only way to do
well on the writing section. You need the feedback that the teacher will provide. Write several sample essays
and have them corrected by a teacher. If you are short on money, at least invest in a teacher or class to prepare
for the writing and speaking sections of the TOEIC, and then do the listening and reading sections on your own
by working with a good preparatory TOEIC guidebook.
 Study the questions very carefully in advance so you know exactly what to expect. Often the question will ask
you to do three or four specific things. Make sure you address all of them in your answer. The TOEIC examiner
will be checking for this.
 Complete the writing tasks within the given time limits. You must be able to produce what's required within
the time limits or you'll lose marks heavily. It's no use writing half of a beautiful answer.
 Plan before you write during the last essay question. Brainstorm and decide what you're going to say and how
you'll expand on it. When you know what to write, you can concentrate on how you're going to write it.
 Write in an organized way. If you've planned in advance, you'll create a more organized, coherent piece of
writing, which will earn you higher marks.
 Divide your writing into paragraphs, in the essay question. It is confusing to be faced with a massive block of
writing. You wouldn't want to read a magazine article or book like this. Always divide your writing into clear
paragraphs.
 Write clearly and simply. Don't experiment with new vocabulary or idioms. Use simple, clear English to
communicate your ideas powerfully.
 Spell correctly. Yes, this does affect your score so avoid careless mistakes. A careless mistake is when you have
spelt the same word in different ways in the same piece of writing. A careless mistake is also when you misspell
a word which is already given in the exam topic. The only thing you have to do is to copy it correctly. Watch for
this type of carelessness and practice until you overcome it.
 Stay on topic. Do what is asked of you – nothing more, nothing less.