Nation inches up in English language performance

Academic test-takers for the International English Language Testing System on the Chinese mainland improved in all four language skills from 2012 to 2018, according to a new IELTS white paper.

The average score for the test-takers on the mainland reached 5.72 points for the 2017-18 period, 0.16 points higher than the 2012-13 period, it said.

The white paper was released on Wednesday by the British Council, co-owner of the IELTS. The test is a comprehensive English proficiency assessment that focuses on four skills: listening, speaking, reading and writing, with maximum scores of 9 points each.