Resources - EnglishScore

Harnessing the power of peer grading

Sam Ernest-Jones — Mon, 03 Jul 2023 16:44:38 +0000

Enhancing Workforce English Skills for Global Success

Sam Ernest-Jones — Tue, 13 Jun 2023 13:40:07 +0000

In an increasingly interconnected world, global companies are invested in developing the English language skills of their employees.

FPT Information System, a leading provider of technology projects and services in Vietnam and across the world, recognises the significance of effective English communication for their workforce, offering a comprehensive English training programme for customer-facing employees.

As part of this, FPT Information System partnered with British Council EnglishScore and within their first three months completed over 3,600 tests.

We spoke to the Learning and Development team at FPT Information System to understand how they’ve implemented EnglishScore and the benefits it has had for the English learning programme and employees at the company.

The challenge

FPT Information System operates in a global market, catering to enterprise and government customers.

With over 3,000 employees across three locations in Vietnam, the company faced the challenge of enhancing the English communication skills of its workforce, especially those that engage frequently with foreign customers.

Phan Thị Phương Thảo, Learning and Development Specialist at FPT Information System, explains FPT Information System’s recent strategy is “Go Global”, so improving the English of its employees is paramount.

FPT Information System sought a cost-effective solution that could provide an accurate assessment of its employees’ English skills that enabled its distributed workforce to take the test remotely.

The action

FPT Information System partnered with EnglishScore and quickly integrated its mobile English assessment into their course enrollment process.

Phan Thị Phương Thảo explains the three key reasons behind their decision to choose EnglishScore:

Reasonable cost – Able to choose the most cost-effective option for them.
Test security – AI proctoring prevents cheating and increases accuracy.
Vast test bank – EnglishScore constantly creates new test items and analyses each one for reliability and validity.

“Our employees are so busy with their work, but with the mobile delivery feature they can do the test any time anywhere they want,” explains Phan Thị Phương Thảo. EnglishScore’s remote test also minimises disruption to day-to-day work.

The result

By utilising EnglishScore, FPT Information System has been able to assess the English proficiency of its distributed employees accurately.

This data has empowered the company to tailor their English training program based on individual needs, ensuring targeted skill development for each employee.

“Globalisation is well known in the 21st century, so the responsibility of the company to improve the English skills of its staff is very high, and it will help develop and retain the employee as well,” explains Phan Thị Phương Thảo.

By equipping its workforce with strong English communication skills, FPT Information System demonstrates its commitment to providing exceptional services to its international clientele and achieving success in the global marketplace.

Are you looking to test your employees for training or recruitment? Get in contact with our team to find out how you can implement EnglishScore within your organisation.

Accurately assessing students’ English in line with the CEFR scale

Sam Ernest-Jones — Wed, 17 May 2023 14:19:51 +0000

Unicervantes is a private university based in Bogotá, Colombia. It is accredited by the Colombian Ministry of Education and has been recognised for its academic excellence and innovative teaching methods.

It is devoted to pioneering teaching approaches, offering pupils an education that champions practical ability and real-world encounters.

An important component of its academic offering is developing and certifying English communication skills in line with the Common European Framework of Reference for Languages (CEFR) to help students find work after graduation.

Robinson Carrascal Ballesteros, Coordinator of the Extension Unit and Language Institute at Unicervantes explains how EnglishScore has enabled the faculty to accurately and efficiently assess and certify students in line with CEFR.

The challenge

In order to test thousands of students each year, teachers at the University were required to create tests internally which aligned to the CEFR scale, and organise test sittings, which was a time-consuming process each semester.

Furthermore, marking, verifying and approving the certifications was a lengthy process that often resulted in a delay in communicating scores to students.

The action

By partnering with EnglishScore, Unicervantes is able to avoid many of the administrative and logistical costs associated with its internally created tests.

EnglishScore is taken on a mobile phone, meaning students are able to take it at a time that suits them, with all marking and test results processed within 24 hours by EnglishScore, freeing up staff to focus on teaching.

EnglishScore’s online dashboard also enabled the university to award certifications within one or two days of the tests being completed.

The result

Since joining British Council EnglishScore’s Approved Partner Programme, Unicervantes was able to save staff time on the testing and certification of students.

With EnglishScore, they’re able to accurately test students in line with the CEFR scale and provide them with a globally recognised English certificate which they can use to help secure employment post-university.

With teachers now having more time to devote to their students, the faculty was able to focus on delivering quality education, while leaving the exam administration to EnglishScore.

Opening doors for students in education and employment

Sam Ernest-Jones — Fri, 12 May 2023 13:25:32 +0000

The Federal Institute of Rio de Janeiro (IFRJ) is a publicly funded university with direct links to the Ministry of Education in Brazil.

It specialises in professional and technological education, offering courses in biology, human sciences and exact sciences and has around 20,000 students studying across 11 campuses.

We spoke with Prof. Ms. Rodrigo Lemos, General Coordinator of International Relations at IFRJ. He explained why IFRJ decided to transition to digital English assessments and how students and staff have benefitted since the university became an EnglishScore Approved Partner.

The challenge

IFRJ actively encourages and promotes academic mobility. In Brazil, proficiency in English is increasingly essential for securing post-graduate work or further education.

But previously, IFRJ relied on test centres to carry out its English proficiency exams. This was inconvenient and costly for students, who had to make their own bookings and travel to the venue.

Using an external centre for testing was also causing unnecessary bottlenecks, with organising test sittings and marking assessments drawing out the process.

The action

IFRJ began looking for a remote testing solution; one that gave them greater control and provided accurate results, but also minimised the logistical challenges students faced.

Prof. Ms. Lemos and the team at IFRJ chose EnglishScore because students could take the test anywhere and at any time, with results made available in the institution’s online dashboard within 24 hours.

Also, because EnglishScore tests four skills across three tests (Core Skills, Speaking and Writing), students are able to test and certify the skills they need, making it more cost-effective.

“Students can decide to just take the Core Skills test, which will be sufficient for many academic mobility programmes,” explains Prof. Ms. Lemos.

The result

Prof. Ms. Lemos explains that EnglishScore gives students at IFRJ greater flexibility, enabling them to apply to courses they couldn’t before due to time constraints.

“EnglishScore provides fast results compared to other tests. Some courses and graduate job opportunities only provide a 15-day application window. If students didn’t already have a proficiency certificate, they can’t apply. But now, with EnglishScore, they can.”

IFRJ is taking important steps to promote academic mobility and internationalisation while addressing practical challenges that can arise in the process.

By using EnglishScore’s remote testing technology and offering more affordable options for language proficiency certification, the institution is making these opportunities more accessible to a wider range of students.

How to Take the Core Skills Test

Sam Ernest-Jones — Thu, 27 Apr 2023 10:06:56 +0000

Tracking Students’ English Progress During Their Time at University

Sam Ernest-Jones — Tue, 25 Apr 2023 15:27:04 +0000

Konkuk University in Korea is renowned for its academic excellence and innovative teaching practices. With a history that dates back to 1946, it has grown to become one of the most prestigious universities in the country.

We had the opportunity to speak with Frank Bennett, a professor in the English and Culture Department at Konkuk University. With over 20 years of experience teaching in Asia, he has a deep understanding of the challenges that students and educators face when it comes to assessing English language proficiency.

Frank explains what led Konkuk University to join British Council EnglishScore’s Approved Partner Programme, and how they’re now accurately testing students’ English and tracking their progress throughout their time at the university.

The challenge

Currently in Korea, the main way to evaluate university students’ English ability is through traditional English tests which do not effectively measure and track all four skills (listening, reading, speaking and writing).

“The lack of a reliable English testing system also makes it challenging for students in Korea to see their own progress over time,” explains Frank.

The external test Konkuk University used prior to EnglishScore also made it difficult for professors to maintain control over the test and ensure the results are accurate and valid. Moreover, it didn’t provide a representation of ‘real world’ English ability. “Companies are often surprised by their employees’ inability to speak English, despite scoring highly on tests widely used across Korea,” says Frank.

The action

Konkuk University joined British Council EnglishScore’s Approved Partner Programme to accurately test incoming students across all four skills and track their progress over time.

“The dashboard allows for real-time tracking of students’ progress, making it easy to see which areas need improvement and to provide extra support,” says Frank. “We now use EnglishScore’s mobile test to assess first-years at the beginning and end of each semester and to keep a progress profile for each student.”

This has enabled the English and Culture Department to have a baseline for comparison and monitor their students’ ability across key skills and subskills, with all results available in their dashboard. This means professors across different departments have access to the student’s scores.

The result

By rolling out EnglishScore to students, the University aims to improve learning strategies for both students and teaching staff.

“With a good knowledge of where they’re improving, and most importantly, areas that require improvement, students are able to self-teach more effectively and teachers are able to better support their development on an individual level.”

The EnglishScore Assessment: A Quick Guide

Sam Ernest-Jones — Thu, 20 Apr 2023 14:13:35 +0000

Boosting internationalisation and post-studies employment with EnglishScore

Sam Ernest-Jones — Thu, 20 Apr 2023 08:47:11 +0000

CONIF (The National Council for the Federal Network of Vocational, Scientific, and Technological Education) has joined British Council EnglishScore’s Approved Partner Programme to offer students from the Institutos Federais the opportunity to enter into the world of work with a recognised English certificate.

CONIF provides fundamental support to the high-performing education institutions within its network. One of its objectives is to strengthen and consolidate its associated institutions and it recognises the importance of language policies in achieving this.

As part of this commitment, CONIF has been supporting projects that improve the development of curricula, employability, internationalisation and language courses.

CONIF partnered with EnglishScore in 2022 and has been rolling out its mobile English test to a number of institutions within its network, including Instituto Federal do Rio de Janeiro and Instituto Federal de Rondônia.

The challenge

Before partnering with EnglishScore, CONIF used an internally-created English assessment.

The key limitation of this test was that students could not use the results as proof of English proficiency outside of the university, either for further studies or work.

CONIF believes that internationalisation and employability enhance institutional development and prepare students for a ‘knowledge-based world dynamic’ in which students are able to compete freely in the international job market.

Prof. Ms. Rodrigo Lemos, General Coordinator of International Relations at the Instituto Federal do Rio de Janeiro reinforces this point, stating that “one of the main benefits of internationalisation is employability”.

Their internally-created test was designed to assess students’ English proficiency and place them into the appropriate English course for their level. However, the creation of the test as well as marking and results processing was costing the faculty time and money each semester.

The action

CONIF joined British Council EnglishScore’s Approved Partner Programme, which grants higher education institutions the authority to test students and issue co-branded certificates. This means that Institutos Federais can accurately assess thousands of students and provide them with a globally recognised certificate to support their transition from studies to employment.

“‘Opportunity’ is my favourite word when it comes to English language education,” explains Prof. Ms. Diana Ketlem, Language Center Coordinator and English Language Teacher at Instituto Federal de Rondônia. “My English skills opened doors for me and I want the same for the students of our language centre. Our students should have the opportunity to access mobility programmes and better employment opportunities.”

Being able to assess students at scale and receive all test results in their online dashboard has also helped the institutos minimise the administrative costs associated with its internally-created test.

The result

Ana Carolina Oliveira, International Affairs Advisor of CONIF, explains, “British Council EnglishScore constitutes an important partner as it enables students and employees of the network to access recognised and validated English certificates. This may facilitate the participation of the academic community in public notices and better employment opportunities.”

Diana explains that EnglishScore is also having a positive impact on a university level:

“Having a test and certificate like EnglishScore that is accessible, convenient and affordable will help increase the number of students who can look internationally for studies and work.”

Lisandro Terenzi, Regional Director for Latin America, added, “our partnership with CONIF has opened the door for many highly attended institutions to standardise their English assessments and raise the academic and employment expectations of their students. Additionally, it goes one step further by adding an external, objective and reputable exam and certificate that endorses these programmes. We are extremely happy and honoured to have them as an Approved Partner.”

Writing Test Validity Report

Sam Ernest-Jones — Wed, 19 Apr 2023 11:28:10 +0000

Enhancing Student Employability With a Recognised English Test

Sam Ernest-Jones — Wed, 05 Apr 2023 09:46:44 +0000

Lendi Institute of Engineering and Technology (LIET) is a renowned higher education institution based in the suburbs of Vizag and Vizianagaram, Andhra Pradesh, India.

With award-winning links to industry, LIET has around 720 graduate students each year and around 800 students taking courses within the English department at any one time.

The students come from diverse linguistic backgrounds, so the faculty at LIET ensures they receive the necessary support to improve their communication skills to prepare students for work placements, with English being a core part of the course syllabus.

Vice Principal and Professor of English at LIET, Dr Hari Babu Thammineni and his team decided to replace their traditional pen-and-paper exams with EnglishScore’s mobile English test, transforming their approach to English assessment.

The challenge

Before using EnglishScore, LIET used internally and externally-created English exams to test listening, reading, speaking and writing.

Dr Thammineni explains that conducting examinations is demanding on teachers’ time.

“I had to prepare students for the test, organise registration and set up the examination environment. Then the exam body conducts the test and it takes a month to return the results.”

The logistical obstacles involved in English assessment, particularly with arranging settings for speaking tests and marking writing tests, also meant they couldn’t guarantee the accuracy and validity of the assessment.

The action

LIET is a college with deep links to industry and a strong record of post-graduate employment.

Dr Thammineni, therefore, wanted a test that would provide students with an internationally respected certificate, which would also reduce the burden of traditional pen-and-paper exams on the faculty.

“English skills are very important in the IT industry. This is why we have a strong ideology for developing workplace communication skills, and English plays a key role in this. It is especially important for those looking to work abroad or for companies with an international client base.”

Dr Thammineni goes on to explain that “recruiters for IT companies will first want to get a picture of the candidate’s communication skills. Then they’ll ask about their technical knowledge. That is why I strongly believe in our communication programme.”

That’s why EnglishScore was made a compulsory test taken as part of the English for Jobseekers course.

The result

“We are incredibly excited to be using EnglishScore because our logistical burden has dropped to nearly zero. The whole process is also much faster. When students take the test, we can review and certify their score in a couple of days,” explains Dr Thammineni.

“Our students are very comfortable with EnglishScore. Being able to take the test when it suits them has provided them with much more flexibility.”

With EnglishScore, LIET no longer needs to create tests or organise room hire, proctoring and marking. Instead, they can accurately test hundreds of incoming students, manage their scores and certify test sittings from their dashboard.