What Is the TOEIC Test? The Complete 2026 Guide to Format, Scoring, Fees and Registration in Thailand
The TOEIC (Test of English for International Communication) is a multiple-choice English exam developed by ETS that measures everyday workplace English. The most widely taken version, TOEIC Listening and Reading, has 200 questions across 7 parts, takes about 2 hours, and is scored from 10 to 990. In Thailand, you register by phone through the Center for Professional Assessment (CPA Thailand), which runs test centres in Bangkok and Chiang Mai; the personal exam fee is 1,800 THB as of 2026.
What is the TOEIC test?
TOEIC stands for Test of English for International Communication. It is a standardized English-proficiency exam developed by ETS (Educational Testing Service), the US organization behind the TOEFL. Unlike academic English exams, TOEIC measures the English actually used at work — emails, schedules, announcements, invoices, meetings and phone calls. That workplace focus is why airlines, hotel chains, government agencies and large Thai companies use it as a hiring and promotion filter. Official test information always comes from ETS and its authorized test centres — this guide summarizes it for Thai candidates.
When someone in Thailand says they are "taking TOEIC", they almost always mean the TOEIC Listening and Reading test: a paper-based, entirely multiple-choice exam with no speaking or writing component. Two other tests exist in the same family. TOEIC Speaking and Writing is a separate, computer-delivered exam that some employers (especially airlines) request in addition to Listening and Reading. TOEIC Bridge is an easier version aimed at beginner-to-intermediate learners. This guide covers Listening and Reading, because that is the score nearly every Thai job posting asks for.
- Full name: Test of English for International Communication, developed by ETS
- Format: 200 multiple-choice questions in 7 parts, about 2 hours of testing time
- Score: 10–990 total (Listening 5–495 + Reading 5–495)
- In Thailand: administered by the Center for Professional Assessment (CPA Thailand) in Bangkok and Chiang Mai
- Fee: 1,800 THB for individual test takers, as of 2026
TOEIC test format: all 7 parts explained
Thailand uses the current, updated version of the TOEIC Listening and Reading test. It has exactly 200 questions: 100 Listening questions in roughly 45 minutes, then 100 Reading questions in a strictly timed 75 minutes. Every question is multiple choice — four options in most parts, three in Part 2 — and you mark answers on a separate answer sheet.
| Part | Section | Task | Questions |
|---|---|---|---|
| Part 1 | Listening | Photographs | 6 |
| Part 2 | Listening | Question–response | 25 |
| Part 3 | Listening | Conversations | 39 |
| Part 4 | Listening | Short talks | 30 |
| Part 5 | Reading | Incomplete sentences | 30 |
| Part 6 | Reading | Text completion | 16 |
| Part 7 | Reading | Reading comprehension | 54 |
| Total | — | 200 questions | ~2 hours |
Listening section (Parts 1–4, ~45 minutes)
The audio plays once, at natural speed, with no pausing or replay. Part 1 shows a photograph and you pick the statement that describes it. Part 2 plays a question and three possible responses. Parts 3 and 4 are the heavyweights: 13 conversations and 10 short talks, each followed by 3 printed questions, sometimes with a chart or schedule to read while you listen. Accents rotate between American, British, Australian and Canadian speakers.
Reading section (Parts 5–7, 75 minutes)
Part 5 gives you 30 single sentences with one blank each, testing grammar and vocabulary — see our Part 5 tactics guide for how to answer these in seconds. Part 6 gives you four short texts with 4 blanks each (16 questions), including one full-sentence blank per text. Part 7 is the endurance test: 54 questions split across single passages (29 questions) and double or triple passage sets (25 questions) — emails, ads, articles, chat threads and web pages. We break down Parts 6 and 7 strategy separately in our Part 6 & 7 guide.
The Reading section is where most Thai candidates run out of time. A proven budget: about 10 minutes for Part 5, 10 minutes for Part 6, and 55 minutes for Part 7. If Part 5 takes you more than 20 seconds per question, that is the first skill to train.
How TOEIC scoring works
Your raw score (number of correct answers) in each section is converted to a scaled score from 5 to 495, in 5-point increments. Listening plus Reading gives a total between 10 and 990. There is no penalty for wrong answers — scores are based only on the number of correct responses — so you should never leave a bubble blank.
TOEIC scores are treated as valid for 2 years. The nuance: your paper certificate does not self-destruct, but ETS and its test centres will only re-issue or certify a score report within 2 years of your test date. Since Thai employers know this, they typically reject score reports older than 2 years, and you would need to retake the test.
ETS publishes a mapping between TOEIC scores and the CEFR levels used across Europe and Asia: broadly, scores around the mid-500s correspond to B1 and around 785+ to B2. For a full breakdown of what each score band means and which band you need, see our TOEIC score guide.
No negative marking means guessing is free. In the last minute of the Reading section, fill in every remaining answer — statistically, blind guesses recover roughly a quarter of those points.
Who asks for TOEIC scores in Thailand?
TOEIC is the default English credential in the Thai job market. The ranges below reflect requirements commonly seen in Thai job postings as of 2026 — they are not official policies of any specific company, and individual announcements vary, so always check the requirement in the actual posting you are applying to.
| Employer type | Commonly requested range |
|---|---|
| Airlines — cabin crew | 600–650+ |
| Airlines — ground staff | 550–600+ |
| Hotels (4–5 star, front office) | 500–600 |
| Government / state enterprises | 400–600 by position |
| Multinationals / large corporates | 550–750 |
| General office roles (new grads) | 500+ |
Two patterns worth knowing: airlines often require the score to be recent (within 2 years, sometimes 1) and may additionally test speaking, and many organizations set a minimum per section rather than just a total. If you are targeting a specific band, our score guide explains how many extra correct answers each 50-point jump requires.
How to register for TOEIC in Thailand: step by step
In Thailand, the official TOEIC administrator is the Center for Professional Assessment (Thailand), known as CPA Thailand, with test centres in Bangkok (BB Building, Sukhumvit 21 / Asoke area) and Chiang Mai. For individual test takers, booking is by phone only — there is no public online booking or email reservation as of 2026. Full details are on CPA Thailand's reservation page.
- Call the CPA call centre at least 1 business day before your preferred date — Bangkok 02-260-7061 or 02-259-3990, Chiang Mai 053-241-273 to 275, Monday–Saturday 8:00–16:30 (as of 2026).
- Provide your name in English exactly as it appears on your ID or passport, your 13-digit Thai ID number (or passport number for foreigners), and choose a centre, date and session. Bangkok typically runs morning and afternoon sessions Monday–Saturday — confirm times when you book.
- On test day, arrive about 1 hour before your session for check-in and document verification.
- Pay the 1,800 THB fee at the centre by cash, credit card or QR payment (fee as of 2026 — check with CPA when booking).
- The centre photographs you on site (no need to bring photos), then you sit the ~2-hour test.
- Collect your score report in person or have it delivered by EMS courier.
Required documents
- Thai nationals: a valid, unexpired Thai national ID card or passport — the original, not a copy or photo
- Foreign nationals: a current passport or Thai work permit (original)
- The English name and date of birth on your document must match what you gave when booking — mismatches can mean being turned away
- No photos needed: your picture is taken at the test centre and printed on the score report
Test day and getting your results
Plan for roughly 3 hours at the centre: up to 1 hour of check-in plus about 2 hours of testing. Results come quickly by international standards — Bangkok test takers can usually collect their score report within about 1 business day, while Chiang Mai takes a few business days or delivery by EMS (allow up to a week or so for the post). Confirm the exact collection date when you register, and note the centre observes Thai public holidays.
Booking spikes before airline recruitment windows and government application deadlines. If your job application has a fixed deadline, book your seat 1–2 weeks ahead rather than the day before, and schedule the test early enough to allow one retake.
How long should you prepare? A realistic timeline
Preparation time depends on the gap between your current level and your target, not on a fixed number of weeks. A practical rule of thumb used by Thai tutors and consistent with what we see from learners on our platform: closing a 100-point gap takes most working adults 4–8 weeks of daily practice; a 200–300-point gap is a 3–6 month project that usually requires rebuilding grammar and vocabulary foundations first.
- Need +50–100 points: 4–6 weeks — daily timed practice, focus on your weaker section
- Need +100–200 points: 2–3 months — targeted part-by-part training plus vocabulary building
- Need +200–300 points: 4–6 months — start with fundamentals like our English tenses guide and vocabulary memory techniques, then layer on exam-format practice
Structure beats volume. A schedule that works for full-time workers: 15–30 minutes of question practice on weekdays, one longer timed block at the weekend, and full 75-minute Reading simulations in the final 2 weeks. Start by trying realistic TOEIC-style sample questions to find your baseline before you buy anything or book a test date.
Practise the Reading section free before you book
The Reading section rewards familiarity: the grammar points, question patterns and passage types repeat, so exposure directly converts to points. That is exactly what eng-test.com is built for — free TOEIC-style Reading practice in fixed 5-question micro-sessions that take about 3–5 minutes each (reading-comprehension sets can run a little longer), drawn from a bank of 20,000+ original questions. Categories mirror the exam's Reading blueprint: Incomplete Sentences (Part 5 style), Text Completion (Part 6 style) and Reading Comprehension (Part 7 style), plus Vocabulary, Grammar and a Mixed Random mode. Every question comes with bilingual English–Thai explanations, and the homepage has a 5-question sample you can try without signing up.
One honest caveat: practice performance on any platform, including ours, is a readiness estimate — not a prediction of your official scaled score. Use practice to find weak parts and build speed, then verify with the real exam.
Disclosure: eng-test.com is an independent practice platform and is not affiliated with, or endorsed by, ETS. TOEIC is a registered trademark of ETS. For official information on fees, dates and policies, rely on ETS and CPA Thailand.
Frequently asked questions
What does TOEIC stand for?
- TOEIC stands for Test of English for International Communication. It is a workplace-focused English proficiency exam developed by ETS, the US organization that also produces the TOEFL. The most common version is the TOEIC Listening and Reading test, scored from 10 to 990.
How much does the TOEIC test cost in Thailand?
- As of 2026, the fee for individual test takers at CPA Thailand is 1,800 THB, paid at the test centre on exam day by cash, credit card or QR payment. Corporate and institutional rates are negotiated separately. Check with CPA Thailand when booking, as fees can change.
How long are TOEIC scores valid?
- TOEIC scores are treated as valid for 2 years from your test date. Technically this is a re-issue policy: ETS and test centres will only certify or reprint a score report within that 2-year window. Most Thai employers therefore reject older scores, and you would need to retake the test.
Is there negative marking on the TOEIC test?
- No. TOEIC scores are based only on the number of correct answers, with no penalty for wrong ones. That means you should answer every one of the 200 questions, even if some answers are guesses.
How fast do TOEIC results come out in Thailand?
- Results are fast: Bangkok test takers can typically collect their score report within about 1 business day of the test, while Chiang Mai takes a few business days. You can also have the report delivered by EMS, which adds roughly a week. Confirm the exact date with CPA Thailand when you register.
Can I register for TOEIC online in Thailand?
- As of 2026, individual test takers book by phone through the CPA Thailand call centre (Bangkok 02-260-7061 or 02-259-3990; Chiang Mai 053-241-273 to 275), at least 1 business day in advance. There is no public online or email booking for individuals. Organizations arrange group testing directly with CPA.
What TOEIC score do employers in Thailand usually require?
- Commonly seen ranges in Thai job postings: 600–650+ for airline cabin crew, 550–600+ for airline ground staff, 500–600 for hotel front-office roles, and 550–750 for multinational companies. These are typical ranges, not fixed rules — always check the specific job announcement, since requirements vary by company and position.
Is TOEIC Listening and Reading the same as TOEIC Speaking and Writing?
- No, they are two separate exams. TOEIC Listening and Reading is the paper-based multiple-choice test scored 10–990 that most Thai employers require. TOEIC Speaking and Writing is a separate computer-delivered test with its own registration and scoring, requested mainly by employers who need to verify spoken English, such as airlines.