Tico students improve English level

A study by the Costa Rica Multilingual Foundation showed that the English level of local students has improved in the last four years.

The study evaluated 8,000 high school and university students and shows that 47 percent had a lower intermediate level, while 14 percent had an upper intermediate level.

Despite the improvement, only 1 percent scored an advanced level.

The online study known as “Business English Skills Test” was applied at the request of the Presidential Council for Competitiveness and Innovation.

The company used the Common European Framework of Reference for Languages standards, which defines two categories for beginners (A1 and A2), two intermediate (B1 and B2) and two advanced (C1 and C2).

In public and private universities, most students tested score levels B1 and B2 (lower intermediate and upper intermediate) grades.

From 2008 to 2012 the English level of high school and university students in Costa Rica went from beginner to intermediate levels.