Philippines improves in English proficiency index

MANILA, Philippines — The Philippines improved slightly in the 2023 English Proficiency Index of international education center and think tank Education First (EF), ranking 20th out of 113 countries and economies, from 22nd among 111 in the 2022 EPI.

With an overall score of 578, the Philippines again ranked second in Asia after Singapore. The Philippines was among 19 countries that got a “high proficiency” remark.

Meanwhile, 12 countries, led by the Netherlands with an overall score of 647, followed by Singapore (631) and Austria (616), received the “very high proficiency” remark.

The EF said this year’s index covered 2.2 million English proficiency test takers, aged 18 to 60. Of the test takers, 55 percent were female and 45 percent were male.

Twenty-three Asian economies were included in the EPI. The Philippines was followed by Malaysia (ranked 25th globally) and Hong Kong (29th globally).

A detailed fact sheet per country showed that the Cordillera Administrative Region recorded the highest English proficiency among regions in the Philippines with a score of 616, followed by Davao (606), Eastern Visayas (596), National Capital Region (593) and Central Visayas (589).

Baguio City, meanwhile, proved to be the most English proficient city in the country with a score of 618, followed by Dumaguete (617), Davao City (609), Dasmariñas City and San Jose del Monte City (both with a score of 606) and Bacolod City (605).

Filipinos aged 26 to 30 years old proved to be the most English proficient, followed by those in the 31 to 40-age bracket.

The EF’s Standard English Proficiency test taken by the participants online included tests on reading, listening and speaking skills.