Viet Nam ranks 29th among the world's 70 largest countries by English skills, or an increase of four levels, Education First (EF) Viet Nam announced yesterday based on figures of EF Global's English proficiency index (EPI) 2015.

In the EF EPI list, Viet Nam scored an average of 53.8 per cent out of 100 on a standardised test given across the world. Europe scored 55.7 per cent while Africa scored 44.9 per cent, said Minh Tran, EF director of research, at a press briefing in Ha Noi yesterday.

Meanwhile, English skills among Viet Nam's regions are different with Ha Noi 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.

VNS