The 5^th TOEFL and TOEIC Best of the Best Awards Ceremony
Empowering Global Communicators, Celebrating Excellence in English Learning, and Driving Educational Innovation in Hong Kong

Organized by Smart Education, the 5^th TOEFL® and TOEIC® Best of the Best Awards Presentation Ceremony was successfully held on 17th July, 2026 in Jockey Club Convention Hall at The Hong Kong Red Cross Headquarters. The event brought together over 300 participants—including award-winning students, school principals, teachers, and parents—to celebrate the outstanding achievements of Hong Kong students and schools in the internationally recognized TOEFL and TOEIC English-language assessments.

The event aimed to promote global vision, educational innovation, and excellence in English learning, while reaffirming Hong Kong’s vital role as a hub for international education and as part of the nation’s broader talent development strategy.

Distinguished Guests Share Insights on Education

The ceremony was honored by the presence of distinguished guests from the political and academic sectors who shared their valuable insights on the future of education in Hong Kong. Officiating guests included: (listed in no particular order)

• Principal LAI Ping-wah Jonathan - Deputy Director, Education Services, Hong Kong Sheng Kung Hui
• Dr. Hon. NGAN Man-yu - Adjunct Professor, Department of Social and Behavioral Sciences, City University of Hong Kong
• Dr. TANG Ko-wai William - Assistant Professor, School of Education and Languages, Hong Kong Metropolitan University
• Mr. CHAN Kai-wing Kevin - President, Smart Education Co. Ltd.; Official Representative of ETS TOEFL & TOEIC in Hong Kong and Macao
• Ms. TSANG Wai-man Elsa - President, Smart Education Charitable Foundation; Chairperson, Hong Kong E-textbook Association

Guests emphasized the importance of global English proficiency in empowering Hong Kong’s youth to thrive internationally, and commended teachers and schools for their dedication to cultivating bilingual and globally minded learners.

The ceremony’s atmosphere was further enlivened by the professional and charismatic hosting of Ms. Maggie Chang, a renowned emcee, singer, and host of ViuTV’s “Acamedia: Create, Like and Share”, who engaged the audience with her vibrant energy.

Recognizing Outstanding Achievements

The ceremony celebrated exceptional students who demonstrated remarkable English proficiency in international TOEFL and TOEIC examinations.

In 2025, over 30,000 students from over 300 schools in Hong Kong took TOEFL and TOEIC tests, with only the top 0.5% selected to receive the TOEFL Best of the Best Awards and TOEIC Best of the Best Awards in Hong Kong.

These distinguished students have achieved internationally benchmarked English standards, showcasing Hong Kong’s strong foundation in global communication and academic excellence.

School Awards Driving Educational Innovation

The TOEFL Best of the Best School Awards and TOEIC Best of the Best School Awards recognized schools that demonstrate long-term commitment, innovative pedagogy, and outstanding outcomes in English language education.

By leveraging data from TOEFL and TOEIC assessments, these schools have refined curriculum planning, improved teaching effectiveness, and empowered students to achieve international benchmarks of proficiency. They serve as exemplary models for integrating language learning with real-world applications.

Memorable Moments

The joyful atmosphere reached its peak as winners took the stage to receive their trophies and certificates. Teachers, parents, and principals shared in the pride and inspiration of seeing students recognized for their hard work and talent.

This year, Smart Education introduced a special “Heartfelt Giveaway” segment — sponsoring lucky students to sit for the IC3 Digital Literacy Certification Exam, a globally recognized qualification in digital competency and literacy.

This initiative highlights Smart Education’s dedication not only to language education but also to equipping students with essential 21st-century digital skills that complement their academic and professional growth.

Smart Education: Expanding Its Role in Global Assessments

As the official representative of ETS TOEFL and TOEIC in Hong Kong and Macao, Smart Education continues to champion internationally standardized language assessments and quality education resources.

In 2026, Smart Education proudly became the official representative of Certiport exams, introducing a wider range of globally recognized qualifications — including IC3 Digital Literacy, IC3 Spark, ESB (Entrepreneurship and Small Business), and CCS Generative AI Foundations certifications.

This expansion directly supports the Education Bureau’s “Blueprint on Digital Education for Primary and Secondary Schools”, fostering students’ digital literacy, innovation capability, and readiness for future learning. It also marks a major step forward in integrating Hong Kong’s English and digital education standards with international benchmarks, empowering students to thrive in the digital transformation era.

Smart Education’s dual commitment to language proficiency and digital empowerment reflects Hong Kong’s overarching goal of nurturing high-end talent for global and national advancement — in alignment with the 15th Five Year Plan strategic direction of innovation and education excellence.

Playbill

About the Awards

The "TOEFL® and TOEIC® Best of the Best Awards" is a highly authoritative English language proficiency accolade in Hong Kong. It aims to honor students who achieve outstanding results in the TOEFL® and TOEIC® series of international English examinations, as well as schools that actively promote English-language education and achieve exceptional teaching outcomes. The awards are dedicated to establishing benchmarks for English learning in Hong Kong and continuously driving up the overall quality of English education.

The 5^th Awards Categories

Individual Student Awards

• TOEFL Junior Best of the Best Award
• TOEFL Primary Best of the Best Award
• TOEFL ITP Best of the Best Award
• TOEIC Best of the Best School Award

School Awards

• TOEFL Best of the Best School Award
• TOEIC Best of the Best School Award

Objectives of the Awards

• Recognize Outstanding Performance: To commend and reward students who have achieved exceptional results in the TOEFL® Young Students Series (YSS) and related examination series.
• Build Confidence in Learning: To provide a platform for students to showcase their learning outcomes, fostering self-confidence and a sense of achievement.
• Promote Continuous Improvement: To encourage Hong Kong students to pursue continuous learning and actively enhance their comprehensive English language skills.
• Optimize Educational Planning: To encourage more schools to adopt TOEFL® and TOEIC® examinations as assessment tools for learning, thereby refining English curriculum planning and systematically nurturing students' English capabilities.
• Foster a Positive Learning Atmosphere: Bring together outstanding role models among teachers and students to create an encouraging, proactive atmosphere for English learning.

Eligibility (Student's Award):

• TOEFL Primary® Best of the Best Award / TOEFL Junior® Best of the Best Award
  
  • Candidates must have registered for and taken the TOEFL Primary® / TOEFL Junior® test between 01/01/2025 and 31/12/2025
  • Candidates must have taken the TOEFL Primary® / TOEFL Junior® Reading, Listening, Speaking and Writing tests.
  • Results are determined based on test scores and the nominee’s age at the time of testing.

• TOEFL ITP® Best of the Best Award
  
  • Candidates must have registered for and taken the TOEFL ITP® test between 01/01/2025 and 31/12/2025
  • Candidates must have taken the TOEFL ITP® Reading and Listening tests.
  • Results are determined based on test scores and the nominee’s age at the time of testing.

• TOEIC® Best of the Best Award
  
  • Candidates must have registered for and taken the TOEIC® test between 01/01/2025 and 31/12/2025
  • Candidates must have taken the TOEIC® Reading and Listening tests.
  • Results are determined based on test scores and the nominee’s age at the time of testing.

Eligibility (TOEFL® Best of the Best School Award / TOEIC® Best of the Best School Award):

• Long-term Commitment: Consistently arranging for students to participate in TOEFL® or TOEIC® international English certification examinations for 10 consecutive years or more.
• Pedagogical Innovation: Adopting forward-looking and innovative teaching methods, and effectively utilizing TOEFL® and TOEIC® test data to review teaching effectiveness and continuously optimize English curriculum arrangements.
• Exceptional Outcomes: achieving remarkable academic progress and success of their students who have significantly improved their English skills and success through the TOEFL/TOEIC assessments, e.g. having student(s) receive the “TOEFL Best of the Best Award”this year or in previous years.