Today Pearson Education announced the launch of their new “Pearson Test of English Academic” (PTE Academic), which is a computer-based test of Academic English competency. Their press release states that the test is endorsed by the Graduate Management Admission Council^® (GMAC^®), owner of the Graduate Management Admission Test^® (GMAT^®) and is either recognized or in the process of being recognized by 770 institutions worldwide, including the University of British Columbia.

The test, which has been already recognised, or is in the process of being recognised, by more than 770 programmes around the globe, uses Pearson’s proven automated scoring technologies to provide a test that accurately measures the English-language listening, reading, speaking and writing abilities of non-native speakers. The new test will serve the growing need of universities to measure the English-language proficiency of students from countries around the world seeking to study at English-speaking institutions, including a mounting number of test takers from China and India. The test was developed through worldwide field tests involving more than 10,400 international students, and will deliver measures of test takers’ proficiency to higher education institutions, government departments and other organisations requiring academic English.

At $150 – 210 USD (depending on the market), the test is also competitively priced, which will presumably make it an attractive alternative to TOEFL and IELTS. It will be interesting to find out more about the test itself… the press release makes it sound like the best thing since sliced bread, but press releases really do need to be taken with a grain of salt (or a million).

Is it just me, or does it seem like Pearson is intent on taking over the world?

Posted by Nicole