Sometimes referred to as „washback‟, backwash is “the effect of testing on teaching and learning”, whether good or bad (Hughes, 2003:1). As a consequence of its popularity in Japan, the TOEIC test must have a backwash effect on numerous classrooms, students and teachers. Unquestionably, some of that washback is positive. Students being motivated to study more in order to attain a higher score in the test should be considered positive. However, negative backwash is also clearly in evidence too.