English Proficiency of Japanese University Students Steadily Improves Over 12 Years

ETS Japan G.K. (Headquarters: Chiyoda-ku, Tokyo; hereinafter "ETS Japan") today announced the release of its research report, "English proficiency trends and educational policy context: Examining TOEFL ITP scores in Japan from 2012-2024." The report analyzes TOEFL ITP® test scores from Japanese high schools and universities conducted between 2012 and 2024.

The report was authored by John Norris (Principal Research Scientist), Hirofumi Kosuga (Manager, International Education Promotion Department), and Shuken Shiozaki (Country Manager) of ETS Japan. Based on data from over 1 million test-takers, it examines the year-on-year changes in English proficiency of Japanese learners since 2012, when English education reforms began in earnest, correlating them with the Common European Framework of Reference for Languages (CEFR), an international standard for language proficiency.

Annual Average TOEFL ITP Total Scores for High School and University Undergraduate Students in Japan

Background of the Report

From 2012 to 2024, Japan implemented a series of large-scale policy initiatives aimed at fostering English proficiency. These included reforms in integrated four-skills English education in elementary and secondary schools, promotion of university internationalization, and the establishment of the Top Global University Project (SGU).

Meanwhile, the TOEFL ITP® has been widely used as a tool for measuring proficiency in educational settings, such as for class placement and tracking learning progress, since its introduction in Japan in 1981. This report aims to objectively demonstrate how the English proficiency of Japanese learners has changed by analyzing large-scale test data collected during these policy reform periods.

It is important to note that this analysis does not establish a direct causal relationship between educational policies and scores. However, the observed upward trend in scores is considered consistent with the direction of learning outcomes that the policies have aimed for.

Key Findings

Both high school and university students show significant increases in total scores, reaching CEFR B1 level

High school students' TOEFL ITP® total scores increased by 25 points between 2012 and 2024. The average scores, initially in the CEFR A2 band, have exceeded the B1 threshold (433 points) since 2020 and have been maintained.

University undergraduate students, while consistently positioned in the B1 band throughout the period, showed an increase of 28 points during the same timeframe.

University undergraduates: Steady improvement, primarily in reading

University undergraduates whose first language is Japanese demonstrated a gradual and consistent score improvement over the survey period (a 27-point increase in 2024 compared to 2012).

Among university undergraduates whose first language is Japanese, the reading skill showed the largest improvement among the three skills, with an increase of +3.54 points during the survey period.

As of 2024, the global percentile rank is the 49th percentile (a 9-point increase from the 40th percentile in 2014).

Top Global University (SGU): Recorded the largest growth

Students whose first language is Japanese enrolled in SGU consistently showed higher scores compared to students in non-SGU universities throughout the survey period (a difference of up to 46 points in 2024).

From 2012 to 2024, SGU students' total scores increased by 36 points, while non-SGU students saw an increase of only 15 points.

In 2024, the global percentile rank is the 61st percentile (a 14-point increase from the 47th percentile in 2014).

Significance of the Report

This report is one of the largest analyses of English proficiency data collected in Japan over 12 years through the reliable measurement tool, TOEFL ITP®, continuously administered by hundreds of educational institutions. Shuken Shiozaki, Country Manager of ETS Japan, stated:

"For many years, teachers in Japanese schools and university faculty members have worked together to advance English and international education, despite various constraints. This report visualizes a part of those achievements through a global indicator.

Even in times of rapid change, efforts to foster academic English proficiency that is useful both domestically and internationally are steadily continuing. We hope that by continuing to share the trends in scores measured by TOEFL ITP®, this report will serve as a valuable resource for those who are working diligently every day in the educational field."

Points to Consider in the Analysis

The report advises that the following points should be considered when interpreting the findings:

The analysis covers listening, grammar, usage, and reading; it does not include speaking or writing.

Although this report analyzes over 1 million data points, it may not be representative of all learners in Japan.

How to Obtain the Report

The report can be downloaded for free from the ETS Japan website (https://www.toefl-ibt.jp/toefl-itp/).

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Company Profile ETS Japan G.K. (English: ETS Japan) Country Manager: Shuken Shiozaki Location: 4F, Tōrant 88 Building, 4-7-24 Kudanminami, Chiyoda-ku, Tokyo 102-0074 Tel: 03-6272-8543 Fax: 03-6272-8544 Website: www.etsjapan.jp Established: May 17, 2021 Business Activities: Based in Tokyo, ETS Japan is a subsidiary of ETS, a global leader in learning and talent solutions headquartered in Princeton, New Jersey, USA. In addition to the TOEFL® test, whose scores are recognized by over 13,000 institutions in 160 countries worldwide, including the United States, Canada, the United Kingdom, Australia, and New Zealand, as proof of English proficiency, the company offers various assessment and learning tools, such as the GRE® test required for overseas MBA and graduate school admissions, and test preparation materials. With the mission statement "Advance Quality and Equity in Learning and Assessment for All People Worldwide," ETS Japan aims to create opportunities for all learners to maximize their potential and contribute to society by providing fair and reliable tools based on cutting-edge research.