Not long ago, ‘workplace English’ was seen as relevant only for a select few: senior professionals, staff in multinational companies, or those working in global business and finance.
That’s no longer the case.
Today, many graduates are starting their careers in roles based in their home towns or regions. But those roles increasingly involve communication with international customers, suppliers, colleagues or digital systems, and that means using English.
In Indonesia, for example, over 80% of SMEs now list English as a requirement for employment. And it’s not only about reading documents or understanding technical vocabulary. Employers want graduates who can write, speak, respond and collaborate in real time, across a range of scenarios.
And our language assessments need to reflect that. If we’re only measuring comprehension, we’re not preparing graduates for the communication demands they’ll face in work.
Beyond Comprehension: What Today’s Jobs Really Demand
English is now an essential part of daily work across manufacturing, construction, agriculture, hospitality and many other sectors. Whether it’s reading safety manuals, writing export emails, or speaking with international guests, the ability to use English, not just understand it, is now expected.
This could include tasks like:
- Speaking up confidently in interviews, team meetings, or client calls
- Writing clear, professional emails and messages that strike the right tone and avoid miscommunication
- Responding naturally and appropriately in real-time conversations, whether in person, on the phone, or via workplace chat apps
These aren’t optional or less important skills. They’re central to workplace communication, and yet they’re often left out of language assessments.
So how can we get a more complete picture of what learners are actually able to do?
Four Skills = A Complete Assessment
Traditional English tests often focus on reading and listening. But these only tell part of the story.
A complete assessment reflects how language is actually used at work:
- Reading and listening show whether someone can follow emails, instructions, meetings and conversations.
- Speaking and writing reveal whether they can respond clearly, express ideas and contribute meaningfully in work situations.
When all four skills are assessed together, educational institutions gain a much clearer picture of graduate readiness. Not just passive comprehension, but active, confident communication.
And thanks to AI scoring and mobile delivery, four-skills testing can now be delivered efficiently, even at scale, without creating extra admin work.
Ready to See the Full Picture?
More educational institutions are rethinking their approach to English assessment, and four-skills testing is a central part of that shift.
If you’re wondering how to better reflect real-world communication, motivate learners, and meet employer expectations, this webinar is for you.
We’ll discuss:
- Why four-skills assessment matters in today’s workplaces
- What’s at stake when we only assess two skills
- How EnglishScore makes 4-skills testing practical and scalable
Sign up to see how EnglishScore is working with institutions to deliver four-skills testing that matches real workplace needs.