New English test may improve Australian student visa application process

April 09 2009 by Ranjan Chakraborty

UK-based publisher Pearson is due to submit a new computer-based English language test called the Pearson Test of English to the Australian Department of Immigration and Citizenship, which has been using the same test supplier for eight years.

The tests are used to judge Australain visa applicants’ English levels and to review English levels among foreigners hoping to study in Australia. The new tests from Pearson give automated results based on a digital sample of the student speaking and are thought to offer more consistent results, thus removing room for error or inaccuracy.

The Academies of English has already signed up for the tests, stating, "the thing we liked about the Pearson test is the automated scoring system.”

Since 2001, Australian immigration has used the English Language Testing System, which simply gauges the speaking ability based on a face-to-face testing.

There have been fears that Australian Universities were avoiding adopting the Pearson Test before it gains official endorsement from the immigration department, but the publisher denies this is the case.

The test is to be launched globally in October 2009 and that as many as 20 Australian universities were already considering using the test to judge and stream student visa applicants.

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