Can extensive reading boost TOEIC scores?

University students taking the TOEIC have difficulty completing the test. One problem appears to be slow reading rates, but traditional approaches to TOEIC do not include reading development activities. Extensive reading (ER) was, therefore, examined as a means of increasing reading rates. While in the experiment carried out the test group did not achieve significantly better results on the TOEIC post test than the control (t(40) = 0.41), examination of questionnaire data indicated that 11 of the 21 test group subjects who averaged 52 minutes reading a week, achieved a 30% greater gain than the other 10 test group subjects (averaged 12 minutes per week reading). It was thought that more reading over a longer time period would have significantly boosted scores. The study also concluded that students should develop automaticity and fluency through a range of pleasure reading and teacher-directed activities.