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Many people who are learning English use the TOEIC test to measure their English proficiency and use it as an index to improve their language proficiency. Some people may get around 450 points in TOEIC, while others may be interested in learning measures with the aim of further improving their score for that purpose.
Therefore, this time, I will introduce the English level of TOEIC 450 points and study methods to improve the score.
What is the English level of TOEIC 450 points?
If you get a TOEIC score of 450, you may be wondering how much you are considered to be "speaking English". Certainly, if you know whether the TOEIC 450 points are reflected in your actual English proficiency, you will be confident in yourself who speaks English, and you will find the next goal or task to reach a higher level. I think I will.
First, let's take a look at the percentage of people who have obtained the TOEIC 450 points, the average TOEIC score, and the level when the TOEIC 450 points are converted to Eiken.
TOEIC 450 points of English ability
TOEIC 450 points can be said to be the stage when basic English knowledge has begun to be acquired. For general topics and short conversations, you can understand the point and respond in English. However, as the situation becomes more complex, it will be difficult to react accurately and communicate accurately. You may not be able to express your opinion or explain complex matters.
You have a basic level of knowledge of vocabulary, grammar and syntax, and you can read and understand the purpose of simple English sentences. There may be holes in high school basic level words and grammar, and you may not be able to accurately grasp the point or information. There is a lack of expressiveness, and speaking ability needs to be supplemented and strengthened.
Percentage of people who have obtained TOEIC 450 points
According to the analysis of the number of TOEIC test takers and the average score, about 7.7% of all test takers get a TOEIC score of about 450 (445-494). In addition, when limited to adult examinees, about 6.8% have obtained about 450 points (445-494 points). For reference, in the score distribution of all working adults, 30% or more of the examinees are concentrated in the range of 595 points to 745 points.
TOEIC average score is 620 points
The average TOEIC score for 2020 is announced to be 620 points. Of these, the average listening score is 337 points and the reading score is 282 points. Looking at the grades of working adults, the average score is 637 points, which shows that the average score is higher than that of students with 607 points. The TOEIC score of 450 is lower than the average score of the examinees.
Converting TOEIC 450 points to Eiken, it is "quasi-second grade" level
Some people who have learned English may be taking or considering taking the Eiken test from TOEIC. TOEIC 450 points is about the same level as Eiken grade 2.
On the official website of Eiken, Eiken Level 2 is at the level of intermediate high school. In addition to the English proficiency required in daily life, it is required to read and understand long sentences on themes such as education and science. However, TOEIC and Eiken have different question formats and test skills, so level conversion should be used as a guide.
[Caution] The TOEIC score that can be used in business is 600 points or more.
Since TOEIC is a major test among working people, companies may use the TOEIC score as a recruitment standard or a condition for promotion. The required English proficiency varies depending on the company, department, occupation, etc.
Generally, the score you can write on your resume is 600 points or more. If you work for a foreign-affiliated company that frequently uses English in business or in the international division of a company, it is desirable to get at least 700 points. If there are 800 points or more, it can be said that there is almost no inconvenience in business negotiations and exchange of opinions, and it is easy for companies to evaluate. In addition, there are foreign-affiliated companies where 730 points are the starting point for document screening.
Unfortunately, at the stage of TOEIC 450 points, it cannot be used immediately in business. However, it is possible to reach a high score if you continue to study English while strengthening your basic knowledge.
How long does it take to get a high score from TOEIC 450 points?
By gradually improving your ability from TOEIC 450 points, you will be able to utilize your English ability and TOEIC score in business. The time it takes to improve the TOEIC score by 100 depends on individual differences and the learning environment, but it is generally said that 200 to 500 hours are required.
If your current level is around 450 points and you can prepare an environment where you can concentrate on studying every day, you may be able to clear the 100-point increase in about 200 to 300 hours of study time. However, the higher the level, the more difficult it is to increase the score, so the learning time required to increase 100 points tends to increase.
Study method when aiming to improve the score from TOEIC 450 points
What kind of study method is there to further improve the score from TOEIC 450 points? Here, we will introduce the measures for each of the listening and reading sections.
Listening measures
In the TOEIC listening section, you can greatly improve your score by studying with the characteristics of the questions and the tips of the answers. TOEIC reading is a little slower than the natural speed of English-speaking countries. In addition, English sentences are read with standard pronunciation with few accents.
Even if you are not familiar with English due to overseas experience, you will be able to effectively improve your score by repeating the TOEIC training.
As a TOEIC listening measure, try the following training methods.
Understanding voice changes (liaisons)
Many learners will learn vocabulary and grammar and have knowledge, but when it comes to sentences, they will not be able to hear them. When a native English speaker speaks a sentence, it tends to pronounce smoothly without any breaks between words. This phenomenon of voice change is called "liaison" or "linking". Since the sounds before and after are connected and pronounced, each word changes from the original pronunciation, which may be difficult for the learner to understand.
To understand speech changes, you need to learn the basics of word accents, English-specific rhythms, intonation, and more.
Dictate to find out inaudible words
Dictation is a training method to write down all the English you hear. You need to repeat the same voice several times and write it down word for word, and be aware of words and spellings that you remember vaguely, and parts that you do not understand due to voice changes.
It takes a considerable amount of time to collect all the documents, but you can discover points that are ambiguous or weak, and you can expect the effect of improving your listening skills. If you don't have enough time to study or if you find it too difficult to clear all the documents, you can do a fill-in-the-blank dictation. However, in order to be able to hear and understand English even if there is no text in front of you, it is preferable to take all the documents.
Get used to the speed of voice by repeating and shadowing
For those who often miss listening sounds quickly, it is recommended to incorporate repeating and shadowing, which are effective in improving listening and pronunciation, into the learning plan.
Repeating is a practice method in which you listen to the audio material once to understand the meaning and outline, and then repeat and pronounce the English sentence while placing a pose at a well-separated place. By repeating this procedure, you will be able to understand meaning and perceive speech at the same time.
Shadowing, on the other hand, is a practice method of pronouncing so that it is placed immediately after the voice you hear. Since you can hear and pronounce in an instant, you can easily imitate the correct pronunciation and get used to the speed and rhythm of English.
Listen to the day's listening voice at 1.25x speed
If you practice under stricter conditions than the actual conditions, it will tend to be easier for you to demonstrate your strength on the day. In preparation for sports and other exams, many people dare to think this way and train hard.
When preparing for the TOEIC, high-speed listening that listens to the listening audio of the day at 1.25x speed is useful. It doesn't make sense to do it at a speed that you don't understand at all, so it's a good idea to get used to speeds that are a little faster than the actual speed. On the day of the exam, you will hear more slowly than when you practice, so you will be able to concentrate and listen to the content without rushing.
Reading measures
In the reading section of TOEIC, many people may not be able to complete the solution in time due to the large number of questions. It's possible that you've run out of time and are impatient, and you haven't earned the points you should have been able to answer.
Also, unlike the Eiken test, TOEIC is characterized by the fact that all test takers take the same test. Beginners to advanced students will have to solve the same problem, and the vocabulary and sentences to be asked may be difficult to solve. As a theme, it is also characteristic that many questions are asked in the business field.
Here, we will introduce four recommended training methods to improve your score by reading the TOEIC with these characteristics.
Raise your vocabulary to about 5,000 words
Since TOEIC takes the same test from beginner to advanced, the content of questions that can be understood if you have vocabulary will increase and it will be easier to score. It is recommended to increase your vocabulary to about 5,000 words in order to aim for an intermediate level of 600 points or more from a level of 450 points.
To strengthen your vocabulary to improve your score, you can study efficiently by choosing a TOEIC-specific vocabulary book. In TOEIC, many questions are asked in the business field and the same words are used. For this reason, if you keep track of frequently-used words, you will be able to understand more words in production.
Make sure to master middle school level English grammar
The key to steadily improving your score with TOEIC is to solidify your basic skills. To improve from the TOEIC level of around 450, first review and master the grammar of junior high school English. If you do not understand the basics, you may not be able to solve applied problems or you may quickly forget the applied knowledge you have learned.
Let's solve the basic problems repeatedly using a reference book composed at the level of junior high school English. You will learn the foundation of grammar and it will be easier to understand the contents at the subsequent levels. If you are a member of society, you will be impatient and want to challenge difficult levels, but with TOEIC, there are quite a lot of problems that can be solved if you have basic knowledge. It will be easier to increase your score in the future if you do it one by one.
Get used to reading English sentences by careful reading, extensive reading, and speed reading
If you cannot solve all the problems within the time limit, you should be accustomed to reading English sentences by careful reading, extensive reading, and speed reading.
In careful reading, you read each word in the sentence accurately and understand the meaning. Even if it takes time, it will be read until you understand the sentence structure and meaning properly. If you don't understand the explanations in the dictionary and grammar book, you can use the help of a third party such as an English teacher.
Extensive reading is just about managing the amount of English reading comprehension. Choose what you can get or are interested in, such as teaching materials, English magazines, newspapers, and Internet articles, and read the English text. Even if you don't understand the meaning of a word or sentence to some extent, reading it without a dictionary will give you the power to guess from the context.
It is also recommended to read quickly as the exam schedule approaches. Basically, practice reading aloud to some extent within the set time limit by silent reading.
Solve the mock exam and get a sense of time allocation
If you are accustomed to solving TOEIC problems, you will get a sense of time allocation and will be able to solve more problems. By getting used to the question format, it will be easier to take measures.
If the exam is just around the corner, set a time limit and try to solve the practice exam. There are several reference books with TOEIC practice tests. If you decide in advance the time allocation and strategy for each part, you will be able to read all the problems in time.
Since each person has different strengths and weaknesses, it is recommended that you decide the time allocation by solving the problem yourself.
