Pearson and UCL launch AI research partnership

PTE Author
PTE Author
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Reading time: 3 minute

London, February 4, 2020: Pearson, the world’s learning company, and the UCL Institute of Education today launched a new three-year project collaboration looking at the role of AI in English Language assessment.

The research will focus on test-takers end to end experience of taking PTE (Pearson’s leading high stakes test of English) for either study or migration purposes. This fully digital test is delivered through Pearson VUE, the computer-based testing business of Pearson. The latest AI technology is used for scoring; biometric data collection provides enhanced security measures and voice recognition software is applied for the speaking element of the test. These cutting-edge technologies ensure the provision of an impartial and highly accurate test of people’s English language proficiency.

The purpose of the research will be to ensure that global test-taker responses are fed back into the ongoing development and use of AI in assessment and to ensure the fairness, accuracy, and validity of these tests.

Commissioned by the PTE research team, the project will be led by UCL Associate Professors Dr. Mary Richardson and Dr. Sandra Leaton-Gray.

Dr. Mary Richardson said: “If you take an English oral exam, for example, you want a system that gives you the marks you deserve, whether you learned English originating from America, Australia, Canada, India, Ireland, Malta, or Hong Kong. All those different, slightly subtle local variations in vocabulary and sentence structure need to be built into the assessment model, so you get a fair mark. This is where artificial intelligence can really help us.”

Her views are echoed by Dr. Rose Clesham, Director of Academic Standards, Measurement, and Research for PTE: “Pearson has been working in the area of Artificial Intelligence in assessment for some time. There is a real potential to revolutionize the way people take low and high stakes tests, the way we mark them, and how we provide results and feedback. This new collaboration between PTE and the UCL Institute of Education will put our test takers right at the heart of the assessment process.”

PTE Academic is one of the fastest-growing products in Pearson and is a strategic growth priority for the company, posting 17% growth in test volumes last year. The test is accepted by the UK, Australian, and New Zealand Governments for all visa applications. It is also accepted by 100% of Australian, New Zealand, and Irish Universities, 98% of UK universities, and more than 2,000 academic programs in the USA.

Alongside this, we have recently launched PTE Home, a two-skills language test accepted by the UK Government for family, settlement, or citizenship applications. It tests speaking and listening skills.

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    Pearson partners with MUST Test Center in Egypt to offer PTE for UK Visas
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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.

     

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    PTE Academic and Shorelight partner up to offer U.S. bound students greater choice of English testing
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    London/ Boston, December 9th, 2019: Pearson, the world’s learning company, today announced a partnership with Shorelight, a leader in international education that provides life-changing experiences for international learners at U.S. universities.

    The partnership will offer PTE Academic as an English language test option across Shorelight’s many programs, applicants, and partner universities. Shorelight partners with top-tier universities to build innovative degree programs and provide high-touch services that support students from the application process to graduation—and beyond.

    PTE Academic is a leading global English language test, taken by people looking to study or work abroad who need to prove their English language skills for acceptance to university or for migration. It is already accepted by thousands of universities and academic programs in the USA, including Columbia, Harvard, NYU, Princeton, and Yale.

    “We know PTE Academic is becoming the preferred test for many students,” said Meredith Stokes, US Recognition Director, PTE Academic. “Our partnership with Shorelight will enable us to reach wider numbers of USA-bound students and leading universities. Shorelight works with a wide-ranging partnership of leading U.S. universities, many of whom recognize PTE Academic already, and we look forward to partnering with them to open up the option of using our test across the others.”

    “We are partnering with PTE Academic to give students access to as many channels as possible to take a secure English test,” said Ben Woody, Assistant Director, Admissions at Shorelight. “While PTE continues to grow their global footprint, our partnership will increase opportunities for students to discover, study and achieve a degree from top-ranked universities in the United States.”

    Shorelight partners universities include: Adelphi University, American University, Auburn University, Cleveland State University, Florida International University, Louisiana State University, Mercer University, UCLA Extension, University of Central Florida, University of Dayton, University of Illinois at Chicago, University of Kansas, University of Massachusetts Boston, University of Mississippi, University of New Hampshire, University of South Carolina, University of the Pacific, and the University of Utah.

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    Test takers can now choose from 190 locations to take PTE for UK Visas & Immigration
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    London, January 5th, 2021, 9 AM: Pearson, the world’s learning company, has announced its next phase of locations where people can 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 SELT testing in a further 17 locations including Oslo, St Petersburg, Riga, and Casablanca. With the exception of Quito, all these locations see their first-ever PTE centers opening. 

    The tests will be delivered through the Pearson VUE test center network. Pearson VUE’s network of test centers has implemented proactive health and safety measures including, but not limited to, readily available hand sanitizer, increased sanitization in high touch areas, and the regular disinfection of testing workstations (completed between each test taker). These measures support the safety of both testing candidates and staff. Face masks are required at all Pearson VUE-owned test centers. 

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

    “The New Year is traditionally a time when people set themselves new goals and challenges and this can involve major life changes, such as moving abroad to work, study, or start a new life. 

    “For those who have decided their future is in the UK and who need a Secure English Language Test to help them get there, PTE is on hand to help. ” 

    Pearson’s SELT tests are as follows:  

    • PTE Academic (UKVI) – a four-skills language test accepted for work and study visas. It tests Speaking, Writing, Reading, and Listening 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 (following our firstsecondthirdfourth, and fifth phase announcements) brings our overall total of UKVI approved locations to 190. This completes our phased rollout of locations for UKVI, although we will continue to adapt provision in line with demand. 

    Test takers should review our test centers and fees to keep up to date on the latest approved locations.  

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

    For media queries contact media@pearson.com