TOEFL scores in China rise above global average

The performance of Chinese test-takers in the Test of English as a Foreign Language has improved in recent years, with the average score reaching 90 in 2022, compared to the global average of 88 in the same year, according to an official with the Educational Testing Service.

Omar Chihane, General Manager of TOEFL, mentioned that as China engages in global economic exchanges and international collaboration, proficiency in English is becoming more essential.

He said China still sees great demand for TOEFL, which evaluates people's English proficiency and is widely accepted around the world, and the test volume is resuming after the COVID-19 pandemic.

TOEFL has been recognized by more than 13,000 institutions in over 160 countries, he noted.

The test announced enhancements in 2023, including shortening the duration from three hours to less than two hours and the introduction of a new "writing for an academic discussion" task.

The TestReady platform, an online TOEFL preparation tool launched to help test takers prepare more effectively, while teachers are empowered through the Teaching Academic English with the TOEFL iBT Test program, Chihane added.

Last week, TOEFL launched an official miniprogram on WeChat to support Chinese students, providing localized information services for users at different stages of studying overseas, according to ETS.

The miniprogram was launched at the TOEFL and GRE rebranding event in Beijing.

Rohit Sharma, Senior Vice President of Global Mobility Solutions at ETS, said the rebranding positions ETS as the global education and talent solutions organization enabling lifelong learners to be future-ready.

The repositioning of the assessment company aims to help lifelong learners constantly "reskill" and "upskill" themselves to meet the needs of the rapidly changing world because of factors such as AI technology, Sharma said.

The high-quality assessments provided by ETS will extend from the education sector, such as TOEFL and GRE tests, to employment and workplace, he added.

"There's evidence that many students, after receiving an international education and perhaps working for a few years, are returning to their home countries to contribute to their local economies," Sharma said.

Sharma noted that the demand gap between talent and employers is challenging both in China and around the world.

"If you talk to employers, they will say they cannot find people. And if you talk to students, they will say they cannot find jobs," he said.

Employers are expected to identify talent with the skills they need, while students should be taught how to articulate the strengths they have acquired both inside and outside the classroom, he added.

"We believe we can play a role in helping bridge that gap through our innovative products and high-quality assessments," Sharma said.

The Personal Skills and Qualities tool of ETS is one such product that measures qualities including self-regulation, emotional regulation and innovativeness, he added.