Score Use
The TOEIC® test is used by a variety of organizations and educational institutions.
Organizations
Small businesses, multinational corporations and government agencies alike use test scores as a management tool to make personnel decisions that include:
- Recruiting, promoting and deploying employees
- Job training
- Overseas assignments
- Language training
Test scores show whether employees have the necessary English language skills to:
- Carry out specific job responsibilities
- Participate in and benefit from training that's conducted in English
- Work and interact successfully if posted to an English-speaking country
- Advance within the organization — or whether further English-language training is required
Institutions of Higher Education
Many universities and institutions of higher education — particularly engineering and business schools — require students to take the TOEIC test prior to graduation. Test scores demonstrate whether:
- Specific levels of English proficiency are met as a part of students' overall education
- Students have sufficient English-language ability to participate effectively in the workforce once they graduate
They also give students a credential of their English proficiency that can be used when applying for work.
English Training Programs
Language schools may offer the TOEIC test as an external and objective means to test language skills of individuals as they prepare to enter the workforce. Test scores are used for:
- Placing incoming and continuing students into appropriate class levels
- Demonstrating student progress — when the test is taken multiple times, improvement can be seen in rising scores
- Evaluating the effectiveness of the school's program and the impact of student workforce readiness — if the test is given at the beginning and end of the training course, the increase in test scores can show how much the program improved students' language skills
Additional information regarding score use may be found in the TOEIC User Guide (PDF).
Score Reports
Score Reports for Test Takers
When test takers participate in the Public Testing Program and take the TOEIC® Listening and Reading test independently, they receive a score report directly from the local ETS Preferred Network office.
The score report lists their Listening, Reading and total scores in a simple, easy-to-understand format.
Score Reports for Schools and Employers
When test takers participate in the Institutional Testing Program, where the TOEIC Listening and Reading test is administered at their employers, universities or language schools, a local ETS Preferred Network office will score it. Results are reported in a score roster to the test-taker's employer or school.
Score Roster
Intended for internal use only, the roster cannot be used by test takers as an indication of their official score. The roster includes:
- individual scores (Listening Comprehension, Reading Comprehension and total scores)
- scores from the most recent testing session (average score, frequency distribution and range of scores)
- scores from all testing sessions within the same institution
- scores within the client's industry and country
- specialized reports that can be reproduced at the client’s request, which may include organizational results for all test takers during a given time period or in certain job categories
Certificate of Achievement
This lists the Listening, Reading and total scores for individual test takers and serves as a credential that job seekers can present to potential employers. These certificates are only authorized for organizations that are operated and proctored by an ETS Preferred Network office.
Learn how to recognize TOEIC® Listening and Reading score reports and certificates (PDF).
Rescoring
Test takers who feel their scores do not accurately reflect their ability in English can contact their local ETS Preferred Network office within six months of the test date. The office will rescore the answer sheet and give the test taker a second score report. If a discrepancy is found between the first and second scores, the office will pay for the rescoring. However, if a discrepancy is not found, the test taker may be charged a small fee for rescoring.