How I Scored 940/990 on TOEIC in 2 Weeks — and Used It to Get Into a Japanese University

Honestly? I had never seriously studied for TOEIC before. But two weeks of preparation was enough to score 940 out of 990 — and that score became one of the keys to getting into graduate school in Japan.

In this article I’ll share my first TOEIC experience, how I prepared, and why a TOEIC score matters when applying to a Master’s program in Japan.

Why TOEIC — Not TOEFL or IELTS?

Most universities outside Japan require TOEFL or IELTS as proof of English proficiency. But University of Tsukuba is one of the few that accepts TOEIC — and that made a real difference for me.

When I applied for the 2020 intake, TOEIC was still accepted as an English requirement for the Graduate School of Science and Technology, where I applied in August 2019. There was even a specific threshold:

A TOEIC score of 860 or above is automatically converted to the maximum score for the English component in the selection process.

On top of that, TOEIC was also one of the requirements for the NIMS Graduate Research Assistantship (NIMS-GRA) — the program that ultimately funded my studies in Japan.

So why not take advantage? TOEIC is generally easier to prepare for than TOEFL or IELTS, and one exam score could cover two applications at once.

How I Prepared in 2 Weeks

I didn’t start from zero — I didn’t go back to grammar rules or memorize vocabulary lists. My strategy was simple:

Buy a TOEIC practice book and work through every full test in it.

At first, especially on the listening section, I was caught off guard by the rhythm and style of the questions. But after finishing one complete set, I started recognizing the patterns and became much more comfortable.

A few things I learned during prep:

• TOEIC is about habit, not memorization. The more you’re exposed to everyday English, the easier it gets.
• TOEIC focuses on everyday scenarios — office conversations, travel, shopping, phone calls. Very different from TOEFL’s academic focus.
• The listening section requires full concentration. Once you miss something, you can’t rewind. Train your focus from the start.
• Time management is crucial. 200 questions in a limited time — don’t get stuck on one question too long.

My Results: 940 / 990

After around two weeks of preparation, here’s how my first ever TOEIC attempt turned out:

I was genuinely proud of this — especially since it was my first time sitting the exam. A score above 900 is considered excellent, and more importantly, it immediately qualified me for the maximum English component score in the University of Tsukuba selection process.

Is TOEIC Enough for Graduate School in Japan?

It depends on the university. University of Tsukuba accepts TOEIC, but not every Japanese university does. Always check the specific requirements of the program you’re applying to.

If you don’t have any English certificate yet and want to apply for a Master’s program in Japan, TOEIC is one of the fastest and most affordable options — as long as your target university accepts it.

For the full application process at University of Tsukuba, including how to apply for NIMS-GRA, I cover that in the next article.