Test of English for International Communication

1. Introduction to the TOEIC®
Test of English for International Communication
By Zakaria Rmidi
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2. Outline
• What is the TOEIC®?
• Who Uses the TOEIC®?
• The Test Format and Time
• The questions’ Subjects
• The Test Score
• The Common European Framework for Language CEFR
• TOEIC Score Sections
• The Challenge of the TOEIC
• Preparation Material
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3. What is the TOEIC®?
• the TOEIC® or Test of English for international
communication.
• A standardized test of English, measuring the
ability to listen and read in English.
• Taken by 4.5 million students and business
professionals all over the world.
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4. Who Uses the TOEIC®?
• Companies, universities and other academic
institutions rely on the TOEIC test to measure
English language proficiency for students and
business professionals.
• Students and employees working in sales or
any other technical field (hotels, international
meetings, hospitals and events, international
business) take the test.
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5. Questions’
Subjects
Corporate
Development
Entertainment
Finance and
Budgeting
Manufacturing
The
Office
Purchasing
Finance
Health
Care
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6. The Test Format and Time
The
TOEIC
Listening
(45 min)
1 picture
Identification
2 Question
/Response
3 Short
Conversation
4 Short Talk
Reading
(1h 15m)
5 Incomplete
Sentences
6 Text Completion
7 Reading
Comprehension
TOEIC
Speaking
Test (25
min)
8 Read a text aloud (2
questions)
9 Describe a picture (1
question)
10 Respond to a
questions (3questions)
TOEIC
Writing
Test (45
min)
11 Write a sentence
based on the picture
(5 questions)
12 Respond to a
written request (2
questions)
13 Write an opinion
essay ( 1 question
300 words)
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7. 1. Listening (45 min)
Part 1 Picture
Identification
• 4 short
statements
about each
picture /
difficulty
could be
words with
similar
sounds.
Part 2 Direct
questions
• no written
or visual
material /
candidates
listen to
audio
recordings
and select
the correct
answer.
Part 3 Short
Conversation
• candidates
listen to a
dialogue and
answer 3
questions
printed out
in the test
booklet /
difficulty:
having to
switch from
listening to
reading.
Part 4 Short
Talk
•can be
announcement,
radio talks
weather reports,
or a phone
conversation /
candidates should
try to read the
questions before
listening to the
audio, then
memorize relevant
information to
select the correct
answer.
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8. Reading (1h 45 min)
100 questions: 45 seconds to spend on each question.
Part 5 Incomplete
Sentences
• Incomplete
sentences /
quick to read.
• 20 seconds to
choose the
correct answer.
Part 6 Text
Completion
• Several texts /
documents to
be read .
• Candidates
should read all
the text to
select the
correct answer.
Part 7 Reading
Comprehension
• Presents a
selection of texts
and documents
with 2 or more
questions to
answer.
• The last 4
documents are
double passages –
interconnected
documents each
followed by (
questions.
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9. The Speaking Test (25 minutes)
Part 1 Read a Text
Aloud
• 2 short texts of
around 70 words,
to read out aloud
• 45 seconds to
prepare each text
and 45 others to
read it
Describe a Picture
• Candidates are
asked to make an
oral comment on
a picture
• They should
describe as much
details as possible
• 30 seconds to
prepare / 45
seconds to speak.
Respond to a
Question
• Candidates read a
short scenario
describing a
situation plus 3
questions.
• 15 seconds for the
first two
questions.
• 30 seconds to
answer the thirst
question.
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10. The Writing Test (45 minutes)
Writes sentences 8
min
• 5 pictures shown
accompanied by
two words for
each.
• Candidates should
write a sentence
about each
picture including
the two words.
Respond to
requests 20 min
• Candidates read
and respond to
two different
emails
• 10 minutes to
read and answer
each email
Write an essay
• Candidates write
an essay of at
least 300 words
presenting their
opinion about a
certain topic.
• 30 minutes to
prepare and
present the
answer.
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11. The Test Score
• The scores for listening and reading
comprehension are on a scale from 5 to
495 points.
• The scores for the speaking and writing
test are on a scale from 0 to 200 points.
• The total score adds up to a scale from 10
to 990 points.
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12. CEFR
LEVELS
CEFR General Description
C1
• Can understand a wide range of demanding, longer texts.
• Can express him/ herself fluently and spontaneously.
• Can use language flexibly and effectively for social, academic and professional purposes.
• Can produce clear, well-structured, detailed text on complex subject.
B2
• Can understand the main ideas of complex text.
• Can interact with a degree of fluency and spontaneity that makes regular interaction with native
speakers.
• Can produce clear, detailed text on a wide range of subjects.
B1
• Can understand the main points of clear standard input on familiar matters regularly encountered
in work, school, leisure, etc.
• Can deal with most situations likely to arise whilst travelling in an area.
• Can produce simple connected text on topics.
• Can describe experiences and events, dreams, hopes and ambitions.
A2
• Can understand sentences and frequently used expressions.
• Can communicate in simple and routine tasks requiring a simple and direct exchange of information
on familiar and routine matters.
• Can describe in simple terms aspects of his/her background, immediate environment and matters
in areas of immediate need.
A1
• Can understand and use familiar everyday expressions.
• Can introduce him/herself and others.
• can ask and answer questions about personal details.
• Can interact in a simple way.
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13. Test/Test Section Total Score Minimum Score
Scale
Range A1 A2 B1 B2 C1
TOEIC Listening and Reading Total
TOEIC Listening 5 – 495 60 110 275 400 490
TOEIC Reading 5 – 495 60 115 275 385 455
TOEIC Speaking and Writing
TOEIC Speaking 0 – 200 50 90 120 160 200
TOEIC Writing 0 – 200 30 70 120 150 200
Recommended minimum score for each test section at each CEFR
proficiency level for the tests
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14. TOTAL
minimum
Scores
(10 to 990 pts)
TOEIC
Listening
minimum
score
TOEIC Reading
minimum
score
CEFR levels
945 pts 490 455
Proficient user – Effective
Operational Proficiency
C1
785 pts 400 385 Independent user - Vantage B2
550 pts 275 275 Independent user - Threshold B1
225 pts 110 115 Basic user - Waystage A2
120 pts 60 60 Basic user - Breakthrough A1
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15. The Challenge
Teaching
General/Professional
English
Teaching
Test Preparation
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16. Which comes first :
language development
or
test preparation?

18. Target Score
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Teaching
General/Profess
ional
English
Practical
Language
Acquisition
Teaching
Test Preparation
Language
Assessment

19. 1 Careers
2 Workplaces
3 Communications
4 Retailing
5 Industry
6 Trade
7 Leisure
8 Money
9 Travel
10 Environment
11 Health
12 Society
12 Topical UnitsUnits

20. Snapshot