Mind your language

Updated on: Monday, October 26, 2009

Come this November and students will have another option as far as the English language ability test is concerned. Apart from TOEFL and IELTS, a new English language ability test has been introduced. Called the Pearson Test of English Academic (PTEA), the test is recognised by over 800 programmes around the globe.

PTE Academic is endorsed by and is the preferred English language test for the Graduate Management Admission Council (GMAC), owners of the Graduate Management Admission Test (GMAT). With the number of students going overseas increasing every year, India is an attractive market for all three players involved in English language tests.

Priced at $160, the first PTEA is slated to be held in Chennai. Pearson’s network of centres will also administer the three hour test in Delhi/NCR, Hyderabad, Mumbai, Bengaluru and Ahmedabad. Nine centres should be functional by the year end and another six will be added in 2010.

Says Joseph Rospars, Vice-President, Pearson Language Tests, “We have developed a premier test on proven automated scoring technologies that accurately measures the English-language listening, reading, speaking and writing abilities of non-native speakers. The test will provide the required confidence to universities and colleges that the students, they are admitting to study, have the requisite language skills necessary for success in an environment where English is the primary language of instruction.”

Offering to send candidate’s test scores to an unlimited number of chosen universities at no extra cost, PTEA has plans to organise coaching for the test as well. Test scores will be valid for two years.

A computer-based test, takers will be able to register and schedule their test online at a date and time that suits them. And, since the test takers’ verbal and written responses are marked using automated scoring technologies, the results will be announced within five working days.

Says John K. Philip, Country Manager, Pearson Language Tests, “Unlike human judgment which can be influenced by a variety of factors, an automated scoring system is impartial. This means that the system is not distracted by language-irrelevant factors such as a test taker's appearance or personality — that might happen in spoken interview tests. Aspirants can also prepare beforehand by taking mock tests at pearsonpte.com/resources.”

However, since Pearson has joined hands with GMAC, candidates appearing for both PTEA and GMAT will get a full, free mock test of the former for a stipulated period.

Mind your language

More Education news