PTE news

Pearson recently published an Efficacy report looking at PTE Academic.

The purpose of Pearson’s Efficacy Reporting is to be as open and transparent as possible about how it designs, develops, and evaluates the impact of its products on learners.

Sarah Hughes, Research & Analysis Manager, helped pull the PTE Academic report together. Below she sets out its key findings:

“The PTE Academic Assessment Efficacy Report explains how our research relates to three key indicators of assessment quality: validity, reliability, and fairness.

• Validity evidence demonstrates that test scores can be used and interpreted for the defined purpose of the test. For PTE Academic, it is important that the test scores provide a meaningful reflection of a test taker’s language proficiency that can be understood around the world and used to help them make the next step in their journey.

• Reliability is a measurement concept, which means that scoring is consistent over time, across multiple test forms, and/or over multiple administrations. Any time a candidate takes the test, they should be presented with the same opportunity for consistent measurement.

• Fairness in assessment means that the test is not systematically biased and that scores can be interpreted in the same way for all test takers. PTE Academic’s research into fairness and automated scoring ensure that test-takers are given the same opportunity to demonstrate their language proficiency regardless of gender, race/ethnicity, for instance.”

Read the PTE Academic Assessment Efficacy Report (PDF 940KB).

View the full range of research conducted on PTE Academic.

With 34% global growth this year, more test takers than ever are selecting PTE Academic as their first choice English language exam for studying and working abroad.

To meet this demand, we have opened 14 brand new state of the art Pearson VUE test centers across the globe so far in 2018 to give test takers even greater flexibility when choosing the venue and date for their PTE Academic exam.

For example, five centers have opened in major cities across Australia including Adelaide, Perth, and Sydney. Likewise in India, a further nine Pearson VUE test centers have recently opened across the country, in cities such as Delhi, Surat, and Ahmedabad, to give test takers a greater choice of venue.

In addition, we have opened a further 21 new third-party test centers this year.

Alongside this, increasing numbers of universities worldwide are accepting PTE Academic as the test by which prospective students can prove their English skills. Recent additions include:

• University College of Northern Denmark (UCN)

• UNITAR International University, Malaysia

• Inland Norway University of Applied Sciences, Norway

• East Asia Institute of Management, Singapore

• EAE Business School, Spain

• Norwich University of the Arts, UK

• Illinois State University, USA

• University College of Northern Denmark (UCN)

Search the full list of universities which recognize PTE Academic.

Take the next step

• Book your PTE test today

• Check fees and find your nearest test center

• Prepare for your PTE Academic test

From April Italian based test takers will be able to take PTE Academic to study or work abroad

Starting earlier this month, candidates can now take PTE Academic every Wednesday at the Pearson Italia Test Center in Milan, scheduling up to 24 hours in advance and getting results typically within 5 business days – often much quicker with over 85% of results returned within 2 days in 2018.

PTE Academic is recognized by thousands of programs in the USA, 100% of Australian, New Zealand, and Irish Universities, over 98% of UK universities, and 90% of Canadian. It is also one of the few language qualifications accepted for Visa purposes by the Australian and New Zealand governments.

Freya Thomas Monk, Senior Vice President English Assessment, Pearson said:

“I’m delighted that we are opening a PTE Academic Test Center in Milan and that Italian students can now experience what PTE Academic has to offer – an unbiased, secure, fast and accurate test of their English language ability skills.”

“PTE Academic is a high-stakes test that we at Pearson are very proud of. It is one of the few tests accepted by thousands of academic programs around the world as well as for Australian and New Zealand visa applications. It provides unbiased proof of a candidate’s English skills and scores are returned quickly – more than 85% within 2 days in 2018 – all achieved through our use of leading AI technology.”

The PTE Academic Center in Milan is located via Arconati 1 (Porta Vittoria Station, bus 92, tram 12). Pearson provides plenty of preparation to get ready for the exam, such as:

• Take a scored practice test – a full-length simulation of the test.

• PTE Academic Question Bank with 300+ questions to practice.

• The Official Guide to PTE Academic featuring tips, advice and practice resources.

Explore all PTE Academic preparation resources or book your test today.

Building on the hundreds of European colleges and universities who already accept PTE (Pearson Test of English) Academic, seven new institutions across Germany, Italy, the Netherlands, and the UK have recently signed up to accept the test.

For the first time, international students will now be able to take this English language proficiency test to gain acceptance at the following institutions:

• Coburg University of Applied Sciences & Arts, Germany

• Friedrich-Alexander University Erlangan-Nuremberg ( FAU), Germany

• SRH Fernhochschule, Germany

• Technische Hochschule Deggendorf, Germany

• Universita Cattolica del Sacro Cuore, Italy

• Van Hall Larenstein University of Applied Sciences, the Netherlands

• London Business School – Early Careers, UK

Freya Thomas Monk, Pearson SVP of English Assessment said: “Ever-increasing numbers of test takers, universities and colleges across Europe are choosing PTE Academic.

“The reasons for this are many. For instance, it is liked by students for speed of results, with 1.2 days the average score turn around time for the first six months of this year. Colleges meanwhile benefit from our industry-leading security measures and can trust that the person taking a test is who they say they are, as well as relying on our highly accurate measures of a student’s English language skills.”

Explore the full list of the institutions which recognize us or check available test dates near you.

PTE Academic is continuing to increase its exam locations and choice of venues for test takers in India.

The latest PTE Academic test center to open is situated in Mumbai – K.P.B Hinduja College of Commerce, Charni Road, Girgaon.

Starting this May, sessions are now available at the College for test-takers to take this globally recognized, fast, and reliable English language proficiency test for immigration and study abroad.

Commenting on this latest PTE Academic test center, Vikas Singh, Managing Director, Pearson India said, “We are always looking for opportunities to expand our reach to give PTE Academic test takers a greater choice. We are pleased that students who aim to enhance their English language skills and brighten their chances to make it abroad can now opt for K.P.B Hinduja College as one of the sites for the exam.”

Find prices and view all test center locations across India.

With the opening of the latest PTE Academic center in Turkey earlier this year, at Dokuz Eylul University in Izmir, test takers have a wider choice of exam locations across the country than ever before.

Many test takers, whether from Turkey itself or those traveling from Iran for instance, will book at one of the four PTE Academic centers available in Istanbul.

However, there are also test slots available in many other parts of the country, including the capital Ankara, Denizli, Erzurum, Sarica, Adana, and now Izmir.

Sinan Kezer, Pearson Turkey Country Director, said “More and more test takers are booking PTE Academic in Turkey, whether they are domestic students or workers, or they are traveling in to take the test from other countries.

“We already have a wide choice of locations that people can choose from to take PTE Academic. As PTE Academic becomes increasingly popular, due to its flexible booking service, test slot availability, fast results, and accurate and impartial scoring, so we will continue to look to expand our center network.”

• View full list of institutions and organizations that accept PTE

• Check exam fees and find your nearest test center location

Malaysia’s 7th PTE Academic test center launched on July 5. The new test center is managed by our test delivery partner, Big Assessment Group, and was launched at their premises in Skudai, a suburb in Johor Bahru. As one of the latest to join a growing global network of test centers providing frequent testing and fast, reliable results, the new test center allows for greater choice and access to English language testing for Malaysian and international students.

Johor Bahru is not only the 3rd largest city in Malaysia, it is the next largest education destination in Malaysia after Kuala Lumpur, making it an ideal choice of location. Johor Bahru is a stone throw’s away from EduCity Iskandar Malaysia, an integrated multi-campus education hub that boasts off-shore niche faculties of big-name international universities and schools like Henley Business School – University of Reading Malaysia, Newcastle University Medicine Malaysia, University of Southampton Malaysia, Marlborough College Malaysia, Raffles American School, among others. The city is also home to Universiti Teknologi Malaysia (UTM), Malaysia’s 5th largest public university with a vibrant and diverse 3500 strong international student community. Furthermore, the largest Chinese Independent Secondary School in Malaysia, Foon Yew High School, resides in Johor Bahru and has over 7000 students with its alumni choosing to study abroad in Taiwan, China, Australia, the UK, USA and Canada.

Wishing our newest test center in Malaysia, the Big Assessment Group Test Center in Skudai the very best! Hope you will unlock your potential and grow the PTE Academic test taking community down south, making PTE Academic the test of choice that will help students and prospective migrants make their dreams of studying and living abroad a reality!

PTE Academic Opens 12 New Test Centers

PTE Academic has continued to expand its test center network in 2018 with new locations opening around the world. So as a test taker you can now choose between more convenient test center locations and additional test dates in our expanded test center network.

New Test Center locations

The new PTE Academic test centers are located at:

• UNSW Global, Sydney, Australia

• University of Queensland, Brisbane, Australia

• Swinburne University, Melbourne, Australia

• SCICOM Academy, Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia

• University of Auckland, New Zealand

• SMEAG Capitol Campus, Cebu, Philippines

• Pearson VUE test center, Cape Town, South Africa

• PIHE – Durban, South Africa

• EMG Education, Hanoi, Vietnam

• EMG Education, Ho Chi Minh, Vietnam

• Casa Thomas Jefferson, Brasilia, Brazil

• OeAD International Testing Services, Vienna, Austria

Find prices and your nearest test center.

New Pearson VUE Centers to increase local choice for PTE Academic test takers

To make it easier for those seeking to study abroad, or to migrate, several new test centers are being launched across India which will deliver PTE Academic.

The first in Bangalore, Hyderabad, and Chandigarh have recently opened for testing with more to open during August 2018. The launch is in line with Pearson’s goal of increasing the reach of PTE Academic centers across India and providing easy access to a globally-recognized, fast and reliable English language proficiency test for immigration and study abroad.