The Test of English for International Communication (TOEIC®)

The primary purpose of the Test of English for International Communication (TOEIC®) is to measure the everyday English skills of individuals, who speak a first language other than English, working in an international environment (ETS, 2015a, 2016a; Powers & Powers, 2015). The TOEIC also has six secondary purposes: (1) to verify the current level of English language proficiency; (2) to qualify for a new position and/or promotion in a company; (3) to enhance professional credentials; (4) to monitor progress in English; (5) to set learning goals; and (6) to involve employers in advancing English ability (ETS, 2015a, 2016a, p. 2). Embedded in these purposes are five approved intended uses that are explicitly recommended for TOEIC scores: hiring, placing, promoting applicants, measuring English language proficiency, and evaluating progress in English (ETS, 2015a, 2016a). The first version of the TOEIC LR was developed by ETS in 1979 to evaluate employees' and prospective employees' English skills in international business contexts in response to a request from the Japanese Ministry of International Trade and Industry (MITI) (ETS, 2013). A revised version of the TOEIC LR was released in 2006. The following sections review both this updated version (released in 2016) and the current form of the TOEIC Speaking and Writing (SW).