U.S. – Iraq Higher Education Conference
June 26 – 27
Washington D.C.
The computer-based English test for study
abroad and immigration
I. Letter from Emma Stubbs, Vice President II. Pearson and PTE Academic Mission
III. Test Summary
IV. Test Service Benefits in Iraq V. Test Center Overview
VI. Test Taker Process in Iraq VII. Test Center Access in Iraq VIII. Test Center Requirements IX. Test Preparation Resources X. Recognizing Institutions XI. How to Accept Scores XII. PTE Academic Contacts XIII. UKH Testimony
1 2 3 4 5 6 7-8 8 8 9 10 11 12
Contents
Dear Conference Attendees,
International scholars occasionally face challenges in finding high stakes English language tests to support their applications to US Universities, and nowhere is this challenge more critical or apparent than in Iraq.
At Pearson, we have committed to helping solve this problem by offering our high-stakes English language test, PTE Academic, in the Iraqi market. PTE Academic is accurate, secure, widely accepted as proof of English proficiency by top universities, and capable of testing students multiple times per day, every day.
Working in conjunction with partner universities in Soran and Erbil, two new PTE Academic test centers are already open and securely testing Iraqi
scholars. We have plans for additional test centers to open later this year, and are actively seeking additional test center partners for 2015.
If your institution is not yet accepting PTE Academic scores as an alternative to TOEFL, please consider updating your internal policy. Our team is here to help.
Sincerely, Emma Stubbs
Vice President, US ELT Sales and Language Testing
Letter from Emma Stubbs,
Pearson
To help students make measurable progress in their lives through learning. By combining our deep experience in education and creating
engaging content with innovative technologies and digital delivery, we help students learn and
teachers teach more effectively.
PTE Academic
We believe that language tests should be fair. They should give an accurate evaluation of a test taker’s performance and they should be objective and not judge factors such as appearance or nationality. They should be relevant to the language skills needed and they should do so consistently with a high level of security.
Mission Statement
Secure
Accurate
Relevant
Objective
Integrated Items (e.g. Listening and Writing) emulate real world student experience Highest amount of integrated tasks (11/20 different question types are integrated) Solely machine scored Treats regional accents equally so there is no regional variance in standards Highest reliability estimate of overall test score (.97) compared to other English language tests Lowest Standard Error of Measurement (SEM) compared to other English language tests More granular scale compared to other English language tests, allowing for greater level of score precision Stringent security checks applied consistently across all test centers Industry leading biometric security measures,including voice prints and palm vein authentication Randomized test forms
Pearson Test of English Academic (PTE Academic) is a high stakes,
computer-based academic English language proficiency test that is widely accepted for admissions by universities across the U.S., U.K., Canada, and Australia.
PTE Academic is not just another English language test; it is a solution to universal challenges faced by university professionals in fulfilling
international recruitment and integration goals.
Summary
Access to testing
Single 3 hour sitting
Tests can be scheduled in as little as 48 hours in advance
Test takers receive results within 5
business days (typically 48 hours)
Score reports are sent
electronically, expediting the process
Fast turnaround time
On demand testing
Test centers provide test up to 7 days/week
Currently available at 2 test centers in
the Kurdistan region, with up to 10 test sessions per week
Students within Kurdistan region wait as little as 24 hours to take test
Multiple test centers pending
Test preparation resources available
“We have started one PTE
prep course and are using the lesson plans from the Teacher’s Official Guide to PTE Academic which have proved very useful.”
Victoria Whiteside,
PTE Academic Test Center
Manager, University of Kurdistan Hewler
Biometrics Personal Belongings Testing Room
Breaks
You are required to present one valid, non-expired form of identification. Typically this is your passport.
Your photograph is taken and biometrics are collected. Biometrics include electronic signature and palm vein scanning.
You are not permitted to bring any personal belongings into the testing room. The test center will provide you with secure storage facilities for you to store all your belongings while you take the test. The testing room will contain several computers separated by
dividing panels, and you will be audio and video monitored at all times during the test.
You will be offered the opportunity to take a 10 minute break during the test. You will need to sign back into the room with your palm vein scan.
Unrivaled security measures are applied consistently across all
PTE Academic test centers.
Randomized test forms
You are presented with a test that is of comparable difficulty to the tests set to other test takers. No two test takers will be taking the same test in the same test center.
Paperless testing
Your test and test score are fully computerized. Paperless testing further enhances test security by eliminating the possibility of exam papers being copied, stolen, leaked, or lost.
Test Center Overview
1. Test taker registers online at www.pearsonpte.com. 2. Test taker tests at designated PTE Academic test center. 3. Test taker assigns score to institution.
1 2 3 4
Test Taker Process
in Iraq
Presence in Iraq
1
2
5
= Current Test Center
Presence in Iraq
2
1. University of Kurdistan – Hewler Open: January 2014
Location: Erbil
Testing Capacity: 9 seats
Current testing: 5x per week / 2 sessions per day
2. University of Soran
Open: June 2014 Location: Soran
Testing Capacity: 10 seats
Current testing: 3x per week / 1 session per day 3. University of Babylon
Open: Pending Location: Babylon
Pearson is always interested
in opening new test centers!
Admissions Area Test Room Computers Internet connectivity Chairs Desks Partitions Lockers Administration staff
Pearson Security Kit (CCTV
and Biometric equipment)
What is needed to become
a test center?
The Official Guide to PTE Academic
• Gives students detailed knowledge of the test
• Provides question practice with over 200 questions (3 tests), sample
answers, and explanations
PTE Academic Score Guide
• Helps students learn about scoring within the test and what scores
mean
PTE Academic Test Taker Handbook
• Directs students to information about the administrative aspects of
taking the test
• 9 different language versions available
PTE Academic Recommended Resources
• Boosts students’ academic English skills by using recommended
published courses
PTE Academic Practice Tests Plus
• Contains 4 new practice tests with authentic test questions by PTE
Academic test writers
• Detailed guidance, strategies, and tips to teach you how to do each task
type
PTE Academic Expert
• Provides rigorous exam training for high achieving students
• Designed for in-class use
• MyEnglishLabs component
1
3
4
PTE Academic Online Practice Resources
Preparation Resources
1. Complete our online Institution Recognition
Form.
2. The PTE Academic support team will be in touch shortly with log-in information and instructions for accessing the Score Report Website (SRW). 3. The PTE Academic website and university lists
will soon be updated to promote your institution to the PTE Academic test taker community. 4. Set your accepted PTE Academic scores based
on the concordance table below.
5. Update your own admissions webpages and materials to reflect that PTE Academic is now an accepted English language test.
6. Check the Score Report Website to access student test scores!
Via the Score Report
Website you can view score reports, listen to test takers’ personal introductions and download score data files. You will also be able to manage your program details and manage user accounts for those at your institution.
We provide a scripted download service which allows you to automatically export score data. Please refer to the Score Data Download page for further information.
For further assistance, contact customer service at
How to Recognize and
Puck Fernsten, PTE-A Consultant Northeast / Mid Atlantic Region CT / DC / DE / MA / MD
NC / NH / NY / RI / SC / VA P: 617.398.7825
E: [email protected] Kara Healey, PTE-A Consultant West Region
AZ / CA / CO / HI / ID NV / OR / UT / WA P: 949.201.0979
Lesley Underwood, PTE-A Consultant Northeast/Midwest Region
IA / IL / IN / MI / MN NJ / NYC / OH / PA / WI P: 607.319.9033
E: [email protected] Meredith Stokes, PTE-A Consultant Southwest Region
FL / GA / KS / LA / MO NE / NM / OK / TX P: 903.474.5972
Alexandra Mele, PTE-A Consultant Central Region AL / AR / KY / MS / MT ND / TN / VT / WV / WY P: 914.287.8121 E: [email protected] Emma Stubbs
Vice President, US ELT Sales and Language Testing P: +44 (0) 20 7010 2686
E: [email protected] Charles Hamilton
International Director of Client Relations P: +44 (0) 20 7010 2628
Meet the PTE Academic
Team
Our consultants deliver presentations about the test, offer training on the Score Report Website, and provide vouchers for PTE Academic.
"The key mission of the University of Kurdistan Hewlêr is to promote the Kurdistan Region through academic excellence. Our collaboration with Pearson to establish a PTE Academic Training and Testing Center within the university’s International English Language Center makes a significant contribution to this mission. Students from the region will now have much easier and faster access to an internationally accepted language qualification and so be able to continue their studies in universities around the world. UKH and Pearson are delighted to be involved in facilitating this."
Ian Smallwood, Academic Registrar, University of Kurdistan Hewler
UKH Testimony
Recognize PTE Academic today!
You’ll get access to fast, secure, and accurate English language proficiency test scores from Iraqi students.
Fill out the form or contact your PTE Academic Consultant (see page 11) if you would like more
