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

ETS — Listening. Learning. Leading.
®
RepoRt on test takeRs woRldwide
2012
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The
TOEIC
®
Test
INSIDE FRONT COVER

Worldwide Report 2012 1
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
 Difculty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
2 Worldwide Report 2012
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prociency.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guresreectresultsonlyfor
categories containing 500 or more test takers.
The TOEIC
®
Background Questionnaire
Worldwide Report 2012 3
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
whorespondedtoeachbackgroundquestionvaried
across questions.
• Thelargestproportionoftesttakers(38%)were
between21and25yearsofage
• 57%oftesttakersweremale
• Most test takers (58%) had an undergraduate degree
orwerepursuingone
• 25% of the test takers majored in Engineering/
Architecture,while20%majoredinBusiness
• 35%oftesttakerswereemployedfull-time,while
53%werefull-timestudents
• 31%oftesttakersworkedinscientic/technical
professions,and17%workedinclerical/
administrative positions
• 31% of test takers selected Reading as their most
often used English-language skill
• Only 12% of test takers had spent six months or
more in a native English-speaking country/region
• 45% of test takers used English 1 to 10% of their
daily life
• 81% had spent more than 6 years studying English
• 47%oftesttakerswhotooktheTOEICtestin2012
had previously taken it on three or more earlier
occasions

• 30% had taken the TOEIC test for job application
purposes
4 Worldwide Report 2012
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.
Worldwide Report 2012
5
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.
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
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
Worldwide Report 2012 5
Table 1: Mean Performance by Native Country/Region
Country/Region
Listening 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
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ndings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’prociencies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
Listening Reading Total
Mean (SD)* Mean (SD)* Mean (SD)*
Age
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)

Gender
Female 43.4 325 (97) 263 (103) 589 (192)
Male 56.7 303 (97) 255 (104) 558 (193)
Education
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)*
Major
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)
Current Status
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)
Type of Industry
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)*
Type of Industry
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)
Type of Job
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)

Years Spent
Studying English
> 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)*
Language Skills Most
Emphasized
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)
Time Spent Daily Using
English
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)
English Language Skills Used
Most Often
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)
Difficulty with English
Communication
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)*
Time in
English-Speaking
Country/Region
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)

Purpose for Time in
English-Speaking
Country/Region
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)
Times Taken
TOEIC Test
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)
Purpose for Taking
TOEIC Test
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
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.
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
Ove
r 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
Fewerwomen(43%)thanmentooktheTOEICL&R
Test(asshowninTable2).Notablesmallpercentages
ofwomentesttakerswerefoundinBangladesh(10%),
Egypt (31%), Pakistan (24%), Sri Lanka (24%) and
Turkey (20%).
Insomecountries/regions,however,morewomenthan
men took the TOEIC test. These countries/regions
included Albania (70%), China (62%) and Thailand
(62%). In other countries/regions, the ratio of male to
femaletesttakerswasfairlyequal.
Figure3showsthatfemaleshadhigheraveragetotal
scores than males.

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
The majority of test takers (58%) held an
undergraduatedegreeorwaspursuingan
undergraduatedegreeatthetimethattheylledout
the Background Questionnaire. A higher percentage of
women(59%)thanmen(57%)heldorwerepursuing
an undergraduate degree.
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
14 Worldwide Report 2012
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
Liberal arts
Business related
Sciences
Engineering
Other
Health related
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
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
16 Worldwide Report 2012
Type of Industry
AsseeninTable2,mosttesttakerswhowere
employedfull-timeworkedineitherthemanufacturing
or service industries.
Figures 7A, 7B and 7C provide average scores of
Listening and Reading for the various industry types.


0 100 200 300 400 500 600 700
Service-Education(Highschoolorbelow)
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
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
Mass Media
Public Utility Production
Other
Trading
Finance
Telecommunication
Real Estate

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
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Scientic/
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scientic/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scientic/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
Worldwide Report 2012 19
Years Spent Studying English
Similartothendings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.


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-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
Worldwide Report 2012 21
Daily English Use Requirement
Inresponsetothequestion“Howmuchtimemustyou
use English in your daily life?,” nearly half of all test
takers (45%) indicated that they had to use English

for only 1 to 10% of their daily life. Test takers from
Chile (30%), Costa Rica (32%), India (36%) and
The Philippines (37%) had the highest percentages of
responses indicating that they spend 21–50% of their
daily life using English. Test takers in India (43%)
indicated that they spend 51–100% of their daily life
using English.

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,malesweremoreinclinedthanfemales(35%
vs. 26%) to choose Reading as the English-language
skill they used most often. For Listening and Speaking,
females (19%) had a higher percentage than males
(14%).

0 100 200 300 400 500 600 700
Listening, Reading, Speaking and Writing
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-one percent of all test takers indicated that
ReadingwastheEnglish-languageskillthatthey
used most often. Test takers from France (30%), Italy
(29%) and Morocco (31%) had the highest percentage,
indicatingListeningwasthemostoftenusedskill.
TesttakersfromChile(45%),Peru(43%)andTaiwan
(44%) tended to use Reading skills most often.
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
Whenasked“HowoftenhasdifcultywithEnglish
affected your ability to communicate?,” 32% of all test
takersresponded“Sometimes.”Twenty-threepercent
respondedthatdifcultywithEnglish“frequently”
affected their ability to communicate and 13%
respondedthatdifcultywithEnglish“almostalways”
affected their ability to communicate.

0 100 200 300 400 500 600 700
Sometimes

Seldom
Frequently
Almostalways
Almost never
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 Difculty 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