Page 31 - StudyTravel Magazine September 2025 Issue

DIRECTION

Balancing innovation
and integrity

Across the board, providers are believe that human expertise cannot
walking a fine line: harnessing the be replaced, so we take an approach
power of AI and digital tools while that focuses on the best of both
preserving human oversight and worlds – human oversight prioritised
educational trust. and empowered by AI. This is because
From gamified assessments for our experience tells us that people
young learners to secure, on-demand must play a critical role at every step
tests for university admissions and of the way.”
workplace readiness, the sector is Dominic concurs: “At
moving fast, but not without caution. LANGUAGECERT our approach to test
Maintaining test integrity remains design and delivery is human led
crucial. “Security and test integrity are and people first. AI is a tool and not
becoming more and more important,” the craftsman. Humans are always
says Lesinda. “We use AI to detect in the loop, in charge and making
deep fakes, irregularities, and even the final decisions. The design of
keystroke measurements.” LANGUAGECERT Academic is holistic
As Fran notes, “When it comes to and human centred, prioritising the
teaching and learning a language, we needs of test takers.”

Other updates include AI- readiness, also uses AI to offer for English SELT. “However, we con-
assisted identity verification, automated scoring and secure tinue to open more centres globally to
faster score reporting (within remote proctoring. “We’re not just be as accessible as we can be.”
72 hours), and content refreshes responding to change; we’re leading TOEIC Link is gaining ground in
aimed at inclusivity. “The changes it,” says Ratnesh Jha, Global GM of workforce contexts. “There’s grow-
reflect how students actually use Institutional Products at ETS. ing interest in modular testing that
English in modern learning envi- aligns with real-world communication
ronments,” Omar adds. “We’re not “We’re committed needs,” notes Ratnesh. “We’re working
just test providers, but stewards of to transparency as closely with organisations in Brazil,
international students’ journeys, and we roll out these Mexico, and the Philippines for hiring
TOEFL is more than an English test— innovations” and professional development.”
it’s a trusted bridge to academic and iTEP International are also
professional opportunity.” AI is also assisting with test spearheading vocational testing,
Fran from Cambridge echoes creation at IDAT. “It’s used for video with the launch of new workforce
this balanced approach to AI: “Our creation, images for math and logic, exams which have been designed “to
Linguaskill test uses AI to offer fast, and storyboards for reading and better assess practical skills and job
reliable, and accurate test delivery and writing tasks,” says Heidi. “AI is set readiness across various industries,”
marking. More widely, we’re continuing to become bigger for IDAT in 2026, according to Todd.
to experiment with AI in English as some parts of AI will be used for At a broader level, Omar at ETS
learning and assessment products. marking and comments. Currently, sees a crucial opportunity: “Today’s
But we’re aware of the need to keep a we are exploring the data and testing learners expect assessments that
human in the loop at all times as part security issues involved with using AI.” are rigorous yet flexible, relevant, and
of our people-first approach.” For organisations like Skills for Eng- inclusive.” He concludes, “Ultimately,
TOEFL TestReady, ETS’s lish, flexibility still involves physical we are preserving TOEFL’s legacy while
AI-powered preparation platform, presence due to SELT requirements. evolving the experience to reflect how
supports students with feedback “All our tests are in a Test Centre students learn and communicate in
and study plans. TOEIC Link, ETS’s approved by UKVI,” says Lesinda today’s classrooms.”
new assessment for workplace Leightley, Marketing Director at Skills delilah@studytravel.network

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