Key highlights from the role of AI in English assessment discussion panel

PTE Author
PTE Author
News- The Role of AI in English Assessment Discussion Panel 800px x 451px
Reading time: 3 minutes

Earlier this week Pearson and UCL Institute of Education hosted an event to launch their three-year research partnership looking at the role of AI in English Language assessment. The event was held at UCL and was kicked off by a lively debate on the opportunities that AI offers to the field of educational assessment – as well as some of the challenges. I was joined by leading experts in the field of assessment who all gave their own unique take on this topic. To summarise:

Dr. Mary Richardson from UCL, who will be co-leading the research collaboration, emphasized the central values of truth, equity, and trust in the assessment. These values have been a continual challenge in traditional paper-based testing, so we must also ensure that in the emerging world of Automated and AI assessments. We establish public awareness, understanding, and trust that test takers are treated fairly, irrespective of their gender, race or location.

Dr. Bryan Maddox from the University of East Anglia continued with the theme of establishing validity in a new age of assessment. Bryan is an expert in the use of micro analytics to explore and analyze student interaction with assessments, which can then be fed back for test evaluation purposes. The considerable amount of process data that automated assessment offers rich research opportunities to use Micro-analytic methods (video ethnography, eye tracking, retrospective think-aloud). All well suited to demonstrate the validity and fairness of assessments in heterogeneous global AI test-taking populations.

I described how machine learning works, particularly in the skills of speaking and writing. I emphasized the importance of ensuring that assessment is not only reliable and accurate but just as important that they represent the full knowledge and skills of a subject. AI can do this, and therefore it opens up the opportunities for authentic, fair and fast assessment- globally.

Professor Patricia Broadfoot

Professor Patricia Broadfoot

Professor Patricia Broadfoot CBE then closed the debate with a clarion call to update the current 19th assessment practices in terms of the way high and low stakes assessments are delivered and utilized by all educational stakeholders. Patricia has been a leading advocate of both the fairness of assessments and also the promotion of the use of Technology-enhanced assessments (TEA). She said that while we must guard against poor quality, we must promote and use high-quality TEA to drive highly reliable, valid and secure summative assessments. Also, offer personalized learning and feedback, address teacher workload. It is indeed time for TEA, and AI in language assessment is leading the way.

Dr Rose Clesham and Dr Mary Richardson

Dr. Rose Clesham and Dr. Mary Richardson

The event was a great success with a lively Q&A session at the end.  Many thanks to all the speakers, attendees, and organizers. There will be further dissemination pieces throughout the research period. If you are interested in learning more than please drop me a line.

Dr. Rose Clesham, Director of Research, Academic Standards and Measurement, Pearson

Related Content

  • Image- studying - 800px x 451px
    First Pearson English Language test center opens in Darwin
    By PTE Author
    Reading time: 2 minutes

    Hundreds of students and skilled migrants from around the world living in the Northern Territory will no longer have to travel interstate to take the required English language proficiency test to work or study thanks to a new test center which has now opened in Darwin.

    The Pearson VUE Test Center, at the Group Training Northern Territory Facility on Woods Street, was officially opened by Northern Territory Minister for Workforce Training, the Hon Selena Uibo.

  • Image- Australia 800px
    Five new PTE Academic test centers in Regional Australia
    By PTE Author
    Reading time: 2 minutes

    Supporting More Workers & International Students Moving to the Regions

    Pearson is supporting the Federal Government and universities in attracting international students and skilled migrants to regional areas through the establishment of English language test centres in key locations.

    Pearson owns, or partners with a number of university and education providers, to operate 31 test centres in Australia, including five in regional Australia.

    The regional centers are; Geelong, Hobart, Darwin, and Cairns as well as a Pearson-owned center in Canberra, all regional centers are opening between August and October this year.

    The company’s recent expansion has created several new jobs in regional Australia, and further expansion into regional areas including Newcastle and Townsville is planned.

    Pearson’s head of PTE Academic, Asia Pacific, Sasha Hampson, said: “This growing demand is from an increase in the number of skilled migrant workers, as well as the Federal Government’s Destination Australia Program, launched in March this year.

    “The program is a fantastic way to encourage more students and workers to some of the most beautiful parts of Australia while enjoying a high-quality learning experience.

    “PTE Academic is approved by the Australian government for all visa applications and used by all Australian universities to assess international students’ English language proficiency.

    “As an Artificial Intelligence-driven assessment, PTE A has changed the way people take language tests. It is the most accurate, secure and reliable in the market.

    “Pearson test centers provide testing on a daily basis so there is no waiting periods for people to take a test and on average results are available in 1.2 days, making it the fastest test available.”

    Check test fees and find local test centers near you.

  • Image- City hall- 800px x 451px
    PTE Academic is the route to study in Europe
    By PTE Author
    Reading time: 1 minute

    Growing acceptance gives test takers more study options

    Top ranking Belgian institution, Ghent University, is the latest in an increasing number of leading European institutions to accept PTE Academic. Other universities which have recently joined up to enable students to take this fast, fair, flexible, and accurate test of English include:

    • Kuehne Logistics University in Germany

    • Poznań University of Economics and Business in Poland

    • The University of Agder in Norway

    If your dream is to study in Europe, you can take PTE Academic to further your education in countries including the UK, France, Germany, Spain, and Italy.

    About PTE Academic

    PTE Academic is the world’s leading computer-based test of English for study abroad and immigration.

    Typically, PTE Academic results are available within two business days. We run test sessions in over 117 countries around the world up to 365 days per year.