The TOEIC is fairly affordable for most Japanese learners of English. Getting a high score means “You’re great at English” in Japan. But the downside is that the TOEIC is almost never accepted for university admissions in English‑speaking countries.
The TOEIC might not be the most practical English test out there — especially when you compare it to the TOEFL or IELTS — yet somehow a huge number of Japanese learners still start with it and chase a high score. In this post, I’ll talk about my own adventures taking the TOEIC several times. I hope my perspective helps explain why the TOEIC becomes the first stop for so many Japanese learners.
TOEIC Just Feels Less Scary: Safer Option
Since the TOEIC only tests reading and listening, a lot of learners feel it’s less scary than other exams like the TOEFL or IELTS. In Japan, many people feel that they are not confident in writing and speaking. So the TOEIC naturally ends up the ‘safer’ option.
Another reason is cost. The TOEIC is much cheaper than the TOEFL or IELTS — around $65 USD — and many universities even let students take it at a discounted rate. So it’s no surprise that many Japanese learners kick‑start their English journey with the TOEIC.
What Companies Expect from TOEIC Scores
Many Japanese companies use the TOEIC score as the gold standard for English proficiency.
| Score | What companies expect |
|---|---|
| 600- | general employees |
| 700- | employees aiming for global roles |
| 800- | staff members working in international departments |
| 900- | staff members assigned to overseas branches |
How TOEIC Became My First Step Into English Learning
From my job-hunting experience in Japan, many companies asked me what my TOEIC score was. Since other English exams were also accepted, the easiest way to prove my English ability was to show a high TOEIC score. Because of that, I’ve spent a couple of years trying to raise my score.
TOEIC isn’t Enough for High Proficiency, but Vital for Job Hunting in Japan
As you probably know, a high TOEIC score doesn’t necessarily mean someone has strong real-world English skills, since the test only measures reading and listening. Some reports even show that people with scores over 900 on the TOEIC struggle to achieve high marks on speaking‑focused exams such as the VERSANT test, according to a report by Nikkei.
But most Japanese people are required to get a higher score because the Japanese job market expects job seekers to have high scores.