Taipei: Taiwanese who took the TOEIC test in 2024 achieved their highest average score since the test was first introduced in the country in 2001, according to the local provider of the test. Taiwanese test takers averaged 581 out of a possible 990 on the Test of English for International Communication, an increase of 13 points from the previous year, as reported by Taipei-based exam service company Chun Shin Ltd.

According to Focus Taiwan, the most significant improvement was observed in the 15 to 17 age group, who achieved an average score of 622, up 38 points from 2023. Chun Shin attributed this increase to universities in Taiwan considering TOEIC scores for school applications. Meanwhile, the highest average score of 634 was recorded in the 25-29 age group, likely due to job market demands faced by individuals in this bracket.

A report released in mid-May by ETS, the organization responsible for the TOEIC globally, highlighted that 27 percent of test takers worldwide in 2024 took the exam for job application purposes, 26 percent for learning, and another 26 percent for graduation requirements. The report additionally noted that in Taiwan, Japan, China, and South Korea, a significant portion of test takers indicated that English was used in only 1 to 10 percent of their daily lives.

The ETS report also revealed that while 32 percent of all test takers globally used reading as their most frequent English language skill, Taiwan had the highest percentage at 42 percent, followed by China and Peru at 39 percent each.

Globally, 2024 saw test takers from Lebanon achieving the highest average score of 853, with Germany and India following. In Latin America, Costa Rica led with an average score of 768. In Asia, the Philippines ranked second to India with an average score of 719. China, Hong Kong, Indonesia, Myanmar, and Vietnam had varying average scores, with Myanmar scoring 580 and Vietnam 570.