A Complete Overview of the TOEIC 4 Skills: Everything You Need to Know

Most of us have heard of the standard TOEIC test, but did you know there's actually a more comprehensive version that tests all four language skills? At prepedu.com, we're diving into everything you should know about the TOEIC 4 skills exam. In today's global job market, English certifications aren't just nice-to-have extras – they're essential tools that open doors to better opportunities. While the traditional 2-skill TOEIC test is widely recognized, the 4-skill version offers a much more thorough assessment of your actual English abilities.

Breaking Down the TOEIC 4 Skills Test

The TOEIC 4 skills test consists of two separate exams that work together to evaluate your complete English proficiency:

1. Listening and Reading test - This is the TOEIC exam most people are familiar with, including the two skills of Listening and Reading. It's commonly referred to as the standard TOEIC test and has been widely used for many years.

2. Speaking and Writing Test - This component assesses your productive English skills, testing your ability to communicate verbally and in writing.

The TOEIC 4 skills test thoroughly evaluates your English communication abilities and your capacity to use English for practical workplace tasks such as drafting documents, responding to emails, participating in meetings, and other professional communications. When you complete both components, you receive a comprehensive assessment of your everyday English communication skills and your ability to function effectively in an international workplace environment.

The Familiar Part: TOEIC Listening and Reading

The Listening and Reading test is currently the most widely recognized TOEIC assessment, commonly used by universities and employers to evaluate students and job applicants. This standardized test has become a benchmark for English proficiency in many educational and professional contexts.

The test includes a total of 200 questions, with 100 questions dedicated to the listening section and 100 questions for the reading section. The maximum score for each section is 495 points, making the maximum possible total score 990. This scoring system has become widely recognized, with many organizations specifying minimum score requirements for applicants.

Structure of the Listening & Reading test:

Number of questions:

• 100 Listening questions

• 100 Reading questions

• 200 questions total

Duration for each section:

• 45 minutes for the listening section

• 75 minutes for the reading section

• A total of 2 hours for the complete test

Score scale for each section:

• 0-495 points for the listening section

• 0-495 points for the reading section

• Total possible score: 0-990 points

Since the TOEIC Listening and Reading test is already very familiar to many test-takers, we won't explore this component in great detail. Instead, let's focus on the less familiar but equally important TOEIC Speaking and Writing sections, which complete the 4-skills assessment.

The Missing Piece: TOEIC Speaking and Writing

This is where the TOEIC 4 skills test really sets itself apart from the standard version. The Speaking and Writing test evaluates your ability to actually produce English, not just understand it.

A few key things to know about this component:

• It's administered entirely on computer

• Your responses are digitally recorded for objective scoring

• The Speaking section includes 11 questions and takes about 20 minutes

• Each section (Speaking and Writing) is scored from 0-200 points

Who Should Take the TOEIC 4 Skills Test?

In Vietnam, the TOEIC Listening & Reading certificate generally satisfies the requirements of many employers and universities for graduating students. For many positions and programs, demonstrating proficiency in these receptive skills is sufficient to meet English language requirements.

However, a growing challenge has emerged in the professional world: many individuals achieve excellent TOEIC scores in Listening and Reading but still struggle with actual communication and cannot create truly professional documents when working in an international environment. This disconnect between test scores and practical communication abilities has led many organizations to seek more comprehensive assessments.

For this reason, some forward-thinking employers and universities now require TOEIC 4 skills scores to ensure candidates can effectively communicate in both spoken and written English. If you're planning to join these organizations or if your university specifically requires the complete assessment, you'll need to take the TOEIC 4 skills test.

Even if you're not explicitly required to take the 4-skills assessment, it's worth considering as an option. Having certified proficiency in all four language skills helps demonstrate your complete English abilities and creates a stronger impression on your resume or CV when applying for jobs. In competitive markets, this comprehensive certification can give you a significant advantage.

Wrapping Up

We hope this overview has cleared up your questions about the TOEIC 4 skills assessment. Understanding the complete picture of what this test involves will help you develop a more effective study strategy.

At prepedu.com, we're committed to helping you succeed in your English certification journey. We'll be publishing more detailed guides on specific sections of the TOEIC exam soon, so be sure to subscribe for updates!