Further PTE centres approved to deliver secure English language testing for people wanting to work, live or study in the UK

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PTE Author
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Pearson has announced a second wave of locations, including India and the UK, where people can now take PTE as a Secure English Language Test (SELT) for UK Visas & Immigration (UKVI) purposes.

Today the UK Government approved Pearson to open bookings for SELTs in a further 72 locations. This includes the first 8 centres in the UK and 15 centres in India as well as centres in Japan, Egypt, the Philippines, South Africa, Hong Kong, Saudi Arabia and Singapore, amongst others.

Bookings can be taken at all locations, with 57 of these locations open now to deliver testing, and the remaining 15 to open once individual COVID-19 restrictions are lifted. 

The tests will be delivered through the Pearson VUE test centre network. Pearson VUE test centres follow health and safety guidance provided by global health organizations and local governments. Amid COVID-19, the test centres operate with increased disinfecting and hygienic procedures and additional social distancing measures to support the safety of testing candidates and staff. 

Pearson’s SELT tests are as follows: 

  • PTE Academic (UKVI)– a four-skills language test accepted for work and study visas. It tests speaking, listening, reading and writing skills.

  • PTE Home– a two skills language test accepted for family, settlement, citizenship applications as well as Sportsperson and Representative of an Overseas Business applications. It tests speaking and listening skills.

Today’s news follows our announcement last month of the first wave of locations to start delivering SELT. It is expected that all remaining SELT testing locations will become operational this summer.

Read more information on the UK Home Office Visas and Immigration process.

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    We have taken great care to include a variety of language, assessment and technology experts in our TAG group. They are world leaders in their respective fields. They offer qualitative and quantitative expertise, research, operational and strategic experience and take both a stakeholder and a global perspective on the robust and valid use of Artificial Intelligence (AI) in language testing.”

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    Students can now see the scores they need with Studyportals
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    New partnership makes it easy for students to find out the PTE Academic score they need to get into University

    London, September 5th, 2018: Pearson, the digital education company, today announced a partnership with Studyportals, the global study choice platform, which will benefit all students worldwide taking the Pearson Test of English Academic (PTE Academic).

    When students look at a particular university and course they are interested in attending through the Studyportals site, they will now be able to see the minimum PTE Academic score they should achieve in order to be accepted by that institution.

    PTE Academic is the computer based English language test trusted by thousands of universities and colleges around the world. Students like it for its speed, flexibility, fairness, and security – they can book online up to 24 hours in advance, there is year round test date availability and a choice of 250 test centers in over 50 countries. The test itself only lasts three hours and students can typically expect their results within five working days – with 85% getting them within two. The test also has industry-leading security measures – all test centers use state-of-the-art digital biometrics incorporating palm-scanning, digital signatures, secure paperless results, randomized test formats, and CCTV.

    Freya Thomas Monk, Pearson’s Vice-President of Assessment, English & Schools, said: “Pearson is always looking for ways to provide its customers with a quick, effective and seamless digital service. This ‘one stop’ partnership with Studyportals is a great example of this. When students are looking at particular universities and courses on the Studyportals site they will now also be able to see the PTE Academic score required – a simple step, but one which saves them precious time searching themselves.”

    Studyportals CEO, Edwin van Rest added: “At Studyportals we want to make it as easy as possible to match students with the right universities, and every bit of information helps a lot. We had noticed that an increasing number of our 35 million unique visitors were taking the PTE Academic test, yet were not able to confirm their eligibility because of the missing information. We are therefore happy to partner with PTE Academic test to help bring more transparency to study choice.”

    Students wishing to find out more about the partnership should visit the Studyportals site.

    Read more information on PTE Academic.

    About Pearson

    Pearson is a global digital education company with expertise in educational content and assessment, and a range of teaching and learning services powered by technology. Our mission is to help people make progress through access to better learning. We believe that learning opens up opportunities, creating fulfilling careers and better lives. For more, visit the Pearson website and follow us on Twitter @Pearson.

    For media queries please contact Media Relations - media@pearson.com

    About Studyportals

    Studyportals is the international study choice platform, enabling students to find and compare their study options across borders. With over 150,000 published courses, 3,050 participating universities, and 28 million users in 2017, Studyportals is a leading information source for study seekers. Studyportals’ 210-person team represents over 35 nationalities. For universities, Studyportals is a results-based channel for international student recruitment. For more, visit www.studyportals.com and follow us on Twitter @Studyportals or LinkedIn.

    For media queries please contact Carmen Neghina at carmen@studyportals.com or +31655875270.

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    People living in Egypt who want to study, work or live in the UK are now able to take PTE Academic and PTE Home for UK Visas and Immigration at Misr University for Science and Technology (MUST).

    With PTE Academic test volumes in Egypt growing 29% in 2019, Pearson is working with MUST to increase choice and capacity for local test takers.

    The MUST Pearson test center is located in Giza. Pearson VUE’s network of test centers have implemented proactive health and safety measures including, but not limited to, readily available hand sanitizer, increased sanitization in high touch areas, and disinfected testing workstations (completed between each test taker) to support the safety of testing candidates and staff. 

    Ipek Aydin, Head of PTE for the Middle East, Turkey, and North Africa said: “Even in these uncertain times, we are seeing that people are still aspiring to move or study abroad. We are proud that we are able to partner up with the MUST center to offer people the opportunity to take either PTE Academic or PTE Home for Visa & Immigration purposes and help them on their journey to the UK.”

    Khaled Altoukhy, Chairman of the board of trustees of Misr University for Science and Technology said: “As the strategic and the successful cooperation between our university and Pearson continues, and after passing all the required security checks. Must Test Centres have been granted the permit to operate the new secured English language tests mentioned above which will be required for all the applicants applying for UK Visas and immigration. These Secured English language tests will be a new value-added to what Must Test Centres offer.”  

    • PTE Academic (UKVI) is a four-skills language test accepted for work and study visas. 

    • PTE Home is a two skills language test accepted for family, settlement, citizenship applications as well as Sportsperson and Representative of an Overseas Business applications.

    Note to Editors: 

    1. Book a PTE test at MUST or any other location.

    2. MUST Test Center is a PTE Academic Official Test Center. The centers are equipped with advanced technology that provides the highest standards of quality and confidentiality, which include 4 separate centers with waiting areas with camera surveillance.