Pearson and UCL launch AI research partnership

PTE Author
PTE Author
Image- UCL,640px
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.

Related Content

  • Image- flag of India 800px x 451px
    New PTE Academic test center opens in Mumbai
    By PTE Author
    Reading time: 1 minute

    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.

  • Image- Turkey flag- 1080px
    Wide choice of Turkish PTE Academic centers for test takers
    By PTE Author
    Reading time: 1 minute

    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.”

  • Image- Johor Bahru 800px x 451px
    New PTE Academic test center and partnership in Johor Bahru, Malaysia
    By PTE Author
    Reading time: 2 minutes

    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!