To remain competitive, companies need to find the best qualified people, and need to know they have the English communication skills to succeed. The TOEIC, or Test of English for International Communication, evaluates English proficiency for the global workplace. The primary use of the test for corporations is to help make decisions about recruitment, promotion and deploying employees overseas.

To job seekers, the TOEIC is a great way to show your current or future employer that you have proven English language communication skills. The TOEIC test scores are a great addition to your resume. It may help you get hired or promotion. Have you ever wanted to work overseas? What a great way to show your company that you are serious about understanding English language in the business world.

The test is very useful in English language programs and schools, especially for business students. Over 5,000 organizations each year gauge the communication skills of over 4.5 million non-native English speakers worldwide. People taking the test include employees of international corporations, job applicants, students in business, vocation and trade schools, and students in the business track of English-language programs. The test results provide excellent information for training managers, human resources managers and recruiters.

There are two formats for the TOEIC -- the TOEIC Bridge which is for high-beginners to intermediate level candidates, and the TOEIC IP, which is ideal for low-intermediate to advanced candidates. The latter test, which uses language found in the global workplace, consists of 200-multiple choice questions in the Listening and Reading comprehension sections, with a score range of 10-990 (or 5-495 per section). This test can be administered in 2 hours on-site in an office or school by the company's staff, with minimal training from TOEIC staff. Each test taker will receive an individual score report, and the organization will receive a score list.

Success Story: Kenwood Electronics Technologies
Kenwood Electronics, located in Malaysia, requires all new hires to provide a baseline assessment of their English ability by taking the TOEIC. TOEIC scores identify the training needs and provide a clear path for employees seeking to improve their English skills. Kenwood recently relocated their R&D division from Japan to Malaysia, where the common language is English. Therefore, it is now imperative that all employees maintain certain levels of English. This company has also been able to streamline its business practices and save money in the hiring process by using the TOEIC. By ensuring that newly hired employees possess a sufficient level of English proficiency to do the job, costly mistakes, miscommunication and poor job performance are avoided.

Source: Institute of International Education