China drops 20 places in English proficiency

China ranked 82nd out of 113 in global adult English proficiency, down 20 places from last year.

According to the English proficiency index ranking announced by the internationaleducation organization EF on November 18, China scored 464/800 points, 38 points lower than the world average, falling into the group with low average proficiency.

This is the third consecutive year that China has dropped down the EF scale. In 2020, the country was classified as having average English proficiency for the first time, ranking 38th in the world .

In terms of age, the average score of the 31-40 age group was the highest, followed by the 21-25 age group and over 41 age group. The young group of 18-20 age group had the lowest average survey score.

English proficiency scores of adults in China, 2011-2023. Photo: EF

EF attributed the decline in Chinese English proficiency to lower demand for studying in the US before the Covid-19 pandemic, or to many schools reducing the amount of English classes they teach despite it being a mandatory subject. In addition, US-China relations also affect Chinese people's views on English in general and English teaching in particular, according to Dexter Roberts, director of China Studies at the Mansfield Center at the University of Montana, USA.

The role of English has been a controversial topic in China in recent years, with proposals to reduce the weight of the subject in curricula and exams and increase the teaching of traditional culture. Some universities have been encouraged to lower English standards to ease the pressure on students, especially in rural areas where English is rarely spoken.

On the sidelines of a parliamentary meeting in March in Beijing, delegate Tuo Qingming stressed this, saying the English test had limited value.

"For many people, learning a foreign language is just to get into university. What they learn is actually just for exams... They rarely or even never use foreign languages in their work or daily life," Mr. Tuo explained.

However, many experts disagree. Chu Zhaohui, a senior researcher at the National Institute of Education Sciences, said that as China moves towards modernization, learning English is especially important. The issue is not whether to learn English, but how to learn it.

Peng Peng, chairman of the Guangdong Reform Association, echoed the sentiment. “In foreign-invested enterprises, workers still need English to negotiate orders and contracts,” Peng said.

Amid the controversy, the Chinese Ministry of Education still maintains the weighted score for English at 150/750, similar to the Math and Chinese exams.

Students walk on the campus of Zhejiang University, China. Photo: ZJUI/Zhejiang University — Students walk on the campus of Zhejiang University, China. Photo: *ZJUI/Zhejiang University*

EF (Education First) is one of the world's largest organizations for study abroad, language, and cultural exchange. The Global English Proficiency Rankings have been published annually since 2011.

This year’s rankings are based on the results of the EF SET, a standardized online English test of reading and listening designed to assess language ability. Test takers can take it for free online and are assessed at one of six proficiency levels based on the Common European Framework of Reference (CEFR).

Of the 113 countries and territories, 12 have very high English proficiency (600-800 points), 18 have high proficiency (550-599 points), 33 have average proficiency (500-549 points), and the rest have low and very low proficiency.

Vietnam scored 505 points, ranking 58/113, up two places from last year and in the average English proficiency group.

Huy Quan (According to EF, SCMP, China Daily)

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