Turkey launches PTE Secure English Language Testing (SELT) with two sites in Istanbul

PTE Author
PTE Author
Image- Tukey flag, 1080px
Reading time: 4 minutes

At the virtual launch, Ozhan Toktas, Pearson’s MD for Africa and the Middle East, said “PTE is strategically important on our vision to help people progress in their lives. We provide an opportunity for people to realize their dreams of study, work, or live in their countries or in a different country. English language skills, an international certification of these skills are undoubtedly a very crucial step in people’s employability and life journeys. And we are proud to be able to provide that with PTE.” 

Sir Dominick Chilcott, British Ambassador to Turkey, said “Education has the power to transform lives; whether that means access to a great job opportunity or just the courage to advance in a different direction. The UK government understand this power and that is why we are working at every level here in Turkey to increase access to quality education, whether here or in the UK.” and added that PTE is a great addition to the options available for those applying for work visas and for students planning to go to the UK in support of their higher education. 

Tests are delivered through the Pearson VUE test center network, currently available in two Test Centers in Istanbul. 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.  Face masks are required at all Pearson VUE-owned test centers. 

Pearson’s Secure English Language Tests (SELTs) are focused on immigration requirements and the details 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

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 already accepted by the Australian and New Zealand Governments for all visa applications. It is also accepted by 100% of Australian, New Zealand, and Irish universities and 99% of UK universities.   

Note to Editors

  • Pearson is the world’s learning company with more than 22,500 employees operating in 70 countries. We provide content, assessment, and digital services to learners, educational institutions, employers, governments, and other partners globally. We are committed to helping equip learners with the skills they need to enhance their employability prospects and to succeed in the changing world of work. We believe that wherever learning flourishes, so do people. For more information, please visit www.pearson.com

  • View more information on PTE tests.

  • PTE Home is a new, computer-based English test that supports individuals, families, and communities wishing to live, work, or stay in the UK on their journey from arrival to settlement. Results are typically available within 48 hours, reducing the stress that can be associated with a long wait for results

  • Pearson VUE has been a pioneer in the computer-based testing industry for decades, delivering more than 16 million certification and licensure exams annually in every industry from academia and admissions to IT and healthcare. We are the global leaders in developing and delivering high-stakes exams via the world’s most comprehensive network of nearly 20,000 test centers as well as online testing in over 180 countries. Our leadership in the assessment industry is a result of our collaborative partnerships with a broad range of clients, from leading technology firms to government and regulatory agencies. Read more information about Pearson VUE.

  • Pearson VUE continues to monitor the situation and make decisions about test center operations in accordance with government and local authorities.

  • Under the UK Home Office commercial agreements Pearson will deliver a) SELT tests for those already in the UK, b) SELT tests for those in the rest of the world

  • View more information on the UK Home Office Visa and Immigration process as well as the other test providers.

 

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    Pearson and UCL launch AI research partnership
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    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.

  • Image- UK flag, 800px x 451px
    Four more PTE centers in England approved for UK visas & immigration
    By PTE Author
    Reading time: 3 minutes

    Pearson, the world’s learning company, has announced a further four test centers in England where people can take PTE as a Secure English Language Test (SELT) for UK Visas & Immigration (UKVI) purposes.

    The locations are based in Leicester, Luton, Newcastle, and Oxford and bring the total number of UKVI approved PTE centers in the UK to 22. These centers are expected to open later in April.

    The tests will be delivered through the Pearson VUE test center network. Some UK test centers will not be operating at full capacity, due to current COVID-19 social distancing requirements, as mandated by the UK government and local authorities.

    Pearson VUE has also 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, Pearson said: “We are always looking to expand our test center network. Our aim is to give candidates a wide choice of where they take their PTE exam.

    “We have chosen Luton, Leicester, Oxford and Newcastle to meet demand and be convenient for our customers and we are pleased to widen the opportunity to sit an English Language test for UK Visa purposes through either PTE Home or PTE Academic UKVI.”

    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.

    In total there are now 194 locations across the globe offering PTE for UKVI. Find prices and view all test centers.

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

    For media queries contact media@pearson.com

    Notes to Editors  

    The full list of UK locations are Belfast, Birmingham, Bristol, Cambridge, Cardiff, Croydon, Edinburgh, Glasgow, Leeds, Leicester, London (Central x 2), London (North), London (West), Luton, Manchester, Newcastle, Oxford, Peterborough, Portsmouth, Sheffield, Wolverhampton.

    About Pearson 

    Learning is the most powerful force for change in the world. More than 20,000 Pearson employees deliver our products and services in nearly 200 countries, all working towards a common purpose – to help everyone achieve their potential through learning. We do that by providing high-quality, digital content and learning experiences, as well as assessments and qualifications that help people build their skills and grow with the world around them. We are the world’s leading learning company. Learn more about Pearson.