Vietnamese’s English skills improve

Illustrative image (Source: Internet)

Hanoi (VNA) - Vietnam was ranked 29th among the world's 70 largest countries by English skills, or an increase of four levels, Education First (EF) Vietnam announced based on figures of EF Global's English proficiency index (EPI) 2015.

In the EF EPI list, Vietnam scored an average of 53.8 percent out of 100 on a standardised test given across the world. Europe scored 55.7 percent while Africa scored 44.9 percent, said Minh Tran, EF director of research, at a press briefing in Hanoi on November 27.

Meanwhile, gaps are shown among Vietnam's regions with Hanoi and HCM City ranking high while other areas such as the central and Highlands areas rank low and lowest, respectively, according the EF EPI research.

Last year, EF launched the EF Standard English Test (EFSET) to offer the world's two billion English learners a high-quality standardised English test that is convenient and accessible.

More than 15,000 students aged 18 and up joined EFSET free contest last year, said Minh, adding those wishing to test their English skills online should visit the website www.efset.org. The EFSET is available a tool for individuals, governments, universities, and companies. This year, Sweden ranks top and the Middle East at the bottom of EF's Annual Global Ranking of English Skills.-VNA