TOEIC Overview

The TOEIC (Test of English for International Communication) is the leading English test used in the world
today. Intended for intermediate to advanced level English students, it measures the ability to speak, read,
and understand Business English or English used in the workplace. According to ETS (Educational Testing
Service), the creators of the TOEIC test, over 4.5 million people a year take this exam, to get a job or advance
their careers in corporations, educational institutions, or government agencies.
The TOEIC test has been changing to reflect newer testing approaches. These changes are not the same in every
country, so it is important to check the current situation in your own country.
There are currently two different types of TOEIC tests:
The classic TOEIC Listening and Reading Test
The new TOEIC Listening and Reading Test
The Internet-based TOEIC Speaking and Writing Test
Each test is administered separately. In other words, there may be a couple of weeks gap between your
scheduled dates for each of the above exams.
Originally, the TOEIC test only consisted of a Listening and Reading test. Then, from around May 2006,
changes were made in the test as offered in Japan and Korea, where the test is extremely popular.
Today, in Canada and the USA, the classic (or older) TOEIC Listening & Speaking Test is still offered when
the test is offered in-house by language schools for their own students. However, in Official or Open Public
Test Sites, the New TOEIC Listening and Reading Test is offered, which is slightly different from the classic
version. In addition, in these countries, it is now possible to appear for the TOEIC Speaking and Writing Test,
which is a relatively new addition.
So, if a student has appeared for both the TOEIC Listening and Reading Test and the TOEIC Speaking and
Writing Test, he or she will have been assessed in all four language skills.

TOEIC Registration
How much in advance you register for the TOEIC test depends on the country and city in which you take
the exam. In some centres, you may need to register well in advance and in others you may be able to register
at a later date. There may also be seasonal variations from place to place. The best option is to check the current
situation in your nearest test centre and then plan accordingly.
Before selecting a test date, make sure ensure you have enough time to prepare adequately. If you are
planning to join university or college, keep in mind their application deadlines and also make sure you leave
enough time for your scores to be reported to them.

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How to Register for TOEIC
To register for your TOEIC exam, do the following:
1. Go to the official ETS website at www.ets.com
2. Click on TOEIC exam
3. Click on Register for Listening and Reading Test or
4. Click on Register for Speaking and Writing Test
5. Click on Contact your ETS Preferred Vendor
6. Choose your country
7. Choose your city
8. Select your desired test centre
Contact them by phone or email to ensure that they are still operating as an official TOEIC test centre. Find out
all relevant information, such as:
if you can register online or in person
what forms of payment are accepted
what documents to bring on exam day
how much in advance you must arrive
anything else you are unsure about
By clarifying these details in advance, you will avoid any unnecessary stress or tension on the day of your
TOEIC.

TOEIC Test Administration
All TOEIC exams take a few hours. Since you need to arrive early, you could be spending several hours at the
test centre. Make sure to eat a proper meal before the exam, dress comfortably and be well-rested.
You will need to bring the required identification documents with you. These may include a passport,
national identity card, etc so find out clearly in advance. You may also need two recent passport photos. Check
these official requirements at least twice once at the time of registration and once a few days before the exam,
in case of any changes.
Generally, you are not allowed to bring any personal items into the testing room, other than your ID. You
could be asked to empty your pockets, and / or leave your personal belongings in another room. No mobile
phones, dictionaries, electronic spell-checkers, tape recorders, highlighters, correction fluid, coats, pencil cases,
pens, pencils or other objects or devices are permitted into the test room. Check in advance, if in doubt.
Activities are restricted to those related to the TOEIC exam. Talking, smoking, eating, drinking and cheating
are all prohibited.
If you have a question or comment regarding the rules, procedures or your physical exam paper, you can raise
your hand and a supervisor will come over to speak to you. You cannot ask questions related to the content of
the test. So make sure you familiarize yourself with these beforehand.
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TOEIC Scoring
Your TOEIC score is supposed to indicate how well you can manage in English in everyday, workplace
situations. The TOEIC exams test your ability to communicate in the four main English language skills
reading, listening, speaking and writing. To get a high score, you need to:
familiarize yourself with the test format
practice and develop the required language and academic skills
implement strategies and techniques to earn extra marks in the speaking and writing sections of the
exam.
The score is determined by the number of correct answers, which are then converted to a scale score of 0 -200.
You receive separate scores in each of the four modules listening, reading, writing and speaking and a fifth
score, which is your overall score. Your TOEIC score is valid for up to 2 years.
How and where you receive your score depends on the country where you take the test. You could receive your
score through your school / employer or at your home.

TOEIC Listening and Reading Tests
Similarities
Both versions (old & new) of the TOEIC Listening and Reading Tests:
are paper and pencil tests, not computer-based tests
are of the same length two hours in total. The Listening section takes 45 minutes and the reading section takes
75 minutes.
are of equal difficulty
contain the same amount of business-related contexts.
Differences
The most important changes in the new Listening and Reading test are:
varied accents American, Canadian, British, and Australian
fewer conversations with more questions about each one
questions about inter-related passages
fewer questions about photographs
no error-recognition questions, which were essentially grammar questions
It is best to check with the local ETS office to find out which version of the test you will be taking, so you
know what to expect. Sometimes, different test centres in the same city offer different versions of the test, so
check carefully. This happens because the TOEIC is in a process of transition and it will take some time before
consistency is established in the various centres, cities, and countries.
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TOEIC Listening Overview
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:
Part Content Old Test New Test
1 Photographs 20 questions 10 questions
2 Question-Response 30 questions 30 questions
3 Short Conversations
30 questions
(30 conv.,
1 question each)
30 questions
(10 conv.,
3 questions each)
4 Short Talks
20 items
(6-9 talks,
3-4 questions each)
30 questions
(10 talks,
3 questions each)

In the listening section of the New TOEIC Listening and Reading Test, you will hear a variety of accents
American, Canadian, Australian and British.
Photographs
Youll see a photograph and hear four statements about it. The photo itself may portray people, things, actions
and locations. You must select the sentence (read once) which best describes what you see in the picture.
Question-Response
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.
Short Conversation
You hear a short dialogue, followed by a brief general question about the conversation. You then must choose
from four possible answers, which may be related to an activity, location, relationship, or speakers emotion.
Short Talks
You hear a short monologue such as a weather forecast, announcement or bulletin. You then need to choose an
answer related to the speaker, location, time, reason, or event.
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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.)

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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 Overview
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:
Old Test New Test
Incomplete Sentences
40 questions
Incomplete Sentences
40 questions
Error Recognition
20 questions
Text Completion
12 questions
Reading Comprehension
40 questions
Reading Comprehension
48 questions
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.

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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 Reading Tips
Incomplete Sentences
To do well in this part, you should know the various parts of speech and how they are used to form a
grammatically correct sentence. In particular, you must be careful of:
Two-part phrasal verbs
Incorrect use of prepositions
Incorrectly placed adjectives
Incorrect word forms
Incorrect grammatical tense
Incorrect transition word such as however, furthermore, etc.
Incorrect conjunctions such as and, but, etc
Many choices may seem close until you try them out, so to save time, try to identify the grammatical function of
the word in the blank.
Error Recognition
You need to review your grammar thoroughly to get a high score in this section. In particular you should look
out for:
subject-verb agreement
tenses
modals
gerunds
articles
pronouns
word order
comparatives
Remember, you are only being asked about the underlined words. Words not underlined are always correct.
Beware of words inserted where they do not belong, such as: "My father he is a kind man." Incorrect use of
pronouns is also common, such as, "She gave him the report himself."
Text Completion
The strategies used here are similar, in essence, to those used for Incomplete Sentences above. The difference is
that because the blanks you must fill in are part of longer pieces of writing, such as letters, you need to keep not
only the grammatical aspect in mind but also the context and tone of the entire piece of writing.
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TOEIC Speaking and Writing Tests
The TOEIC Speaking and Writing Test is administered over the Internet, at official, secure testing sites. It
is often administered on a separate date, and possibly a different location from the TOEIC Listening and
Reading Test.

TOEIC Speaking Overview
TOEIC Speaking Format
The TOEIC Speaking test asks you to complete 11 speaking tasks in about 20 minutes. Each portion of the
test measures various aspects of your speaking ability. You should try your best to use the full time you are
given for each task.
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.

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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.

TOEIC Speaking Tips
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. Get used to speaking to yourself, into a microphone, with whatever background noise may exist in the
room from the other examinees. 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.
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. 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. Use expressive words like terrific, awful, or excellent. Avoid boring, overly-used words like nice, good, or
bad.
6. Use specific words like kind, patient, or passionate. Stay away from vague words or expressions like "He's a
good teacher."
7. Vary the tone of your voice. Avoid speaking a robotic, monotone voice. Speak with expression.
8. Speak slowly enough that you can be understood and much slower than you think you need to speak. It's the
only way that your foreign accent will be understood. If it's a choice between quantity of words and quality
for speech, choose quality every time. No point in giving a wonderful answer which no-one can understand,
because you spoke too quickly to make yourself understood.
Follow these principles and your speaking score will speak for itself!
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TOEIC Writing Overview
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:
Questions Task
1-5 Write a sentence based on a picture
6-7 Respond to a written request
8 Write an opinion essay

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.
of carelessness and practice until you overcome it.
Stay on topic. Do what is asked of you nothing more, nothing less.

Reference: http://www.goodlucktoeic.com/
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