Frequently Asked Questions About the TOEIC Test

TOEIC test-takers usually have a lot of questions about the TOEIC! Luckily, we have gathered the most frequently asked questions about the TOEIC test on this post.

What does the TOEIC test measure?
The TOEIC Listening and Reading test measures the ability to listen and read in English while the TOEIC Speaking and Writing test measurers your ability to speak and write in English at the workplace.

How do you take the TOEIC test?
The TOEIC Listening and Reading test is a paper-and-pencil, multiple-choice test. The Speaking and Writing test is taken and processed through the computer.

How long does the TOEIC test take?
The TOEIC listening & reading test takes about 2 hours and 30 minutes. The TOEIC speaking test takes about 20 minutes and TOEIC writing test takes around 1 hour.

What kind of Topics will be on the TOEIC?
The TOEIC test generally includes topics like finance, health care, human resources, travel and other general business topics.

How does TOEIC score work?
Your score will be determined depending on the number of right answers on the TOEIC reading and listening test, and the quality of your answers on the writing & speaking test.

Can you fail the TOEIC?
The TOEIC test is not a pass-or-fail test. Test results indicate proficiency levels in the English language.

Is the TOEIC hard or easy?
That is a good question, and not something we can answer with a simple yes or no! It simply depends on your level of English and the score you are trying to achieve.

Does the TOEIC certificate expire?
Yes! Your test scores will be valid for 2 years from your test date, so keep that in mind when you’re deciding when to take the test.

ePrepz Test Preparation Update Coming Soon

We are always striving to improve and update our learning materials here at ePrepz. After asking for some feedback from our students we are in the process of updating the study material with more exercises and adding video lectures. The survey showed that the video lecture specifically was something that was highly requested by our students.

The lectures will cover test content and strategies on how to best perform when taking your exam.

These updates will rollout in the beginning of February. So if you just recently joining ePrepz you’re in luck as you will have access to all the new study material.

The updated test preparation content will include the TOEFL, TOEIC and IELTS packages as well as the Business English training.

Check out our blog or follow us on social networks for more information on the release of the updated version of ePrepz test preparation.

Improve your Grammar for the IELTS Exam

Although there is no grammar section on the IELTS exam, having good grammar will be a key component in getting a good IELTS score. The importance on communicating with good grammar is especially important on the IELTS writing and speaking test.

Many students ask, what is the best method to improve your grammar for the IELTS? My advice is to learn basic grammar rules and then apply them to your IELTS practice. It is common for students to only focus on learning the grammar rules but it is better to know a few rules and how to apply them to your writing/speech.

Below are some tips to help you improve your grammar for the IELTS

Listen and read in English: By listening to others speak and reading articles you will learn how to construct sentence and structure your communication in English.

Correct your mistakes: If you can have somebody proofread your writing it goes a long way to improve your grammar. By learning and correcting common mistakes you will improve your grammar at a fast pace.

Similarly goes with your speaking ability. If you can talk in English with a native speaker make sure they correct you when you use improper grammar.

Learn the basic rules: Make sure you know the basic English grammar rules. Here is a great resource that covers English grammar.

Fake it till you make it: Use phrases and sentences you hear and read. You will be amazed how imitating others will help your grammar skills.

By implementing these guidelines you will see an improvement on your grammar skills, just in time before taking the IELTS exam.

TOEIC Score Range

Today we are going to take a look at how the TOEIC test is scored. After completing the TOEIC test, you will receive a score that will serve as an estimate on your English skills. The time it takes for you to receive your score back depends on which format the exam was taken (paper-based or computer).

The TOEFL speaking and writing test takes approximately 3 to 4 weeks for the grading process and sent back to you. Your TOEIC score and certificate is valid for 2 years. If you are not happy with your TOEIC score you are allowed to retake the test.

Your official TOEIC score certificate will include your score of the different sections, overall score and percentile rank. The score also includes information of your strengths and weaknesses based on your score.

TOEIC Listening and Reading Test Score

You will receive a score for the listening and reading section. Each question is worth one point. The maximum score on the TOEIC is 990, 495 for each section. The total score ranges from 10 – 990.

• Score of 800 or more is considered advanced English proficiency
• 600 to 700: considered high intermediate
• 400 to 600: considered intermediate
• A Score less than 400: considered the proficiency of a beginner

TOEIC Score Range

The score report will include one of five possible colors based on your score.

Orange (10-215)
Brown (220-465)
Green (470-725)
Blue (730-855)
Gold (860-990)

TOEIC Speaking and Writing Score

The TOEIC speaking and writing section have a scaled score of 0 to 200. Different questions are worth different amounts of points.

In the speaking section questions 1–9 are rated on a scale of 0–3 while questions 10–11 are rated on a scale of 0–5. In the writing section, questions 1–5 are rated on a scale of 0–3, questions 6–7 are rated on a scale of 0–4, and question 8 is rated on a scale of 0–5.

While the rating is automatized through computers for the reading and listening test, a human rates the speaking and writing test.

TOEIC Score Range

TOEIC Speaking Score 0-200
TOEIC Writing Score 0-200

Just like the TOEIC listening and reading test, you will receive a proficiency level. The TOEIC speaking test has 8 levels, and the writing test has 9 levels.