Shanghai leads the mainland in an international standardized¹ test of English language proficiency², according to the British Council's inaugural³ white paper on mainland test takers' IELTS performance.

根据英国文化协会发布的首部中国大陆地区雅思考试考生表现白皮书显示，上海的考生在一项英语语言能力国际标准化考试的表现居全国之首。

The white paper shows people on Chinese mainland have been making progress in their ability to listen, read, write and speak English in the past five years.

该白皮书显示，过去五年间，中国大陆地区的雅思考生，在听说读写各项英语技能上均有小幅提升。

People who took the IELTS Academic test showed the least progress in speaking English. The test takers' total score from the four-part test are below the world average, with the largest gap in the speaking category.

参加学术类雅思考试的考生，口语成绩进步最小。中国大陆地区学术类雅思考生总体表现与全球平均水平仍然存在一定差距，其中口语技能差距最大。

Shanghai, which achieved respective total scores of 5.87 points and 5.95 points in the academic and training categories, led the mainland in the listening, speaking, reading and writing tests.

在学术类和培训类雅思考试中，上海考生的总得分分别达到了5.87分和5.95分，听说读写能力均居中国内地之首。

Barry O'Sullivan, head of assessment⁵ research and development at the British Council, said Shanghai stood out against the other provinces and cities because it is an international city, where students have a better environment and stronger motivation to learn and use English.

英国文化协会评估研究与发展主管巴里·奥沙利文教授称，上海之所以比其他省市表现都要优异，是因为上海是一个国际化的城市，上海的学生有更好的语言环境、更强的学习和使用英语的动力。

The average score of Shanghai test takers in reading is higher than the world average, and their listening and writing scores are on par⁴ with the world average. Shanghai's speaking score is, however, below the world average.

上海考生的阅读平均分要高于世界平均分，而听力和写作也和世界平均水平持平。但是上海的口语平均分要低于世界平均水平。