New English language test enters Indian market

Updated on: Monday, November 01, 2010

English has emerged to be the global lingua franca and the preferred language for communication. Therefore effective and efficient assessment of academic English language proficiency of the non-native speakers of the language is inevitable. Such an assessment is required for higher education overseas, working abroad or for permanent migration.

International English Language TEsting System (IELTS) and TEst of English as a Foreign Language (TOEFL) has been the only two assessment tests available so far and here to stay. We now have one more entrant in this segment. PEarson Test of English (PTE ), the new kid on the block, was launched in OCtober 2009. PLT is the new, international, computer-based academic English language test. The test accurately measures the listening, reading, speaking, and writing skills of test takers who are non-native speakers of English. Pearson is an offshoot of the UK-based Pearson PLC, one of the world’s leading publishers of educational text books and test preparation materials (Longman, Penguin) in addition to being a media group (Financial Times, Economist).

“PTE is the result of extensive research taken up by our group of language experts for over 3 years. With our experience,expertise, knoweldge and technology, we have entered the field and India is our second biggest market next to China,” says Joseph Rospars, vice president, business development, EMEA and India, who was in Chennai recently. PTE delivers a real-life meausre of test takers' language ability to universities, higher education institutions, government departments and other organisations requiring academic English. PTE is endorsed by the Graduate Management Admission Council.

PTE has few advantages compared to the other English language tests. “Students can receive the PTE score result in just two days. Sometimes, but rarely, the results takes 4 to 5 working days. PTE can be scheduled at a time convenient to the students and that can again be rescheduled (before 7 days only)or in other words PTE offers test on demand. Apart from this, the PTE has the added advantage of having developed an additional test called enabling skills. This section provides an assessment of the test takers skills in grammar, oral fluency, pronunciation, spelling, vocabulary and written discourse and a separate score is given in the score report,” Mr. Rospars said. “And yet another important service that PTE provides free of cost is score report forwarding to various universities, institutions and organizations chosen by the test takers,” he said. The PTE score reports are digitally signed and is tamper proof and the score is valid for two years.

The testing method of PTE is designed in such a manner that all the integrated skills of the test taker is assessed throughly. “Ours in not just a series of multiple choice questions. Here, test takers got to write essays, response and analysis. The first segment of the test is self introduction of the test taker for one minute which will be recorded and taken for assessment.

PTE is fully automated and aspirants can register online just 24 hours prior to the test and it can be completed in single sitting, the duration of the test being three hours only. Compared to the other two market leaders, PTE has the advantage of conveneice and quick results and superior testing standards. Launched only a yeaer ago, the PTE has been recognised by top univeristies and B-schools (Harvard, Yale, Stanford and also ISB in Hyderabad). To know more about the PTE, you can buy their official guide book adn audio CD online at www.pearsonpte.com. The fee for PTE test in India is $160.

For details contact:

Chennai: Saleem Syed, phone: 9500091603

hyderabad: P.Chiranjeevi, phone: 9676999222

Bangalore and Kerala: Mahamed Asif, phone: 9739993135

Website: www.pearsonpte.com

New English language test enters Indian market

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