NEW HAVEN, Conn., and NEW YORK – July 27, 2009 – Yale College, the undergraduate section of Yale University, announced today that it will recognize Pearson Test of English Academic (PTE Academic), the company’s computer-based English language test that measures the English language proficiency of candidates for admission who are non-native English speakers. Yale students come from more than 100 countries around the globe.
“PTE Academic will give us a powerful tool for ensuring that the international students we admit are able to express themselves easily in spoken and written English, so that they can take full advantage of the world-class academic experience that Yale provides,” said Rebekah Westphal, Senior Assistant Director, Undergraduate Admissions.
Founded in 1701, Yale is the third-oldest institution of higher education in the United States. The university has educated five U.S. presidents as well as many foreign heads of state. International students have made their way to Yale since the 1830s, when the first Latin-American student enrolled. The first Chinese citizen to earn a degree at a Western college or university came to Yale in 1850. Today, international students make up almost 10 percent of the undergraduate student body.
“Yale represents the best that academic institutions in the world have to offer, and we are proud to have colleges and universities of this caliber recognize PTE Academic,” said Mark Anderson, President, Pearson Language Tests. “In our increasingly global society, these institutions know that they must have a state- of-the-art tool for assessing the academic English language abilities of candidates for admission. Because PTE Academic was developed based on Pearson’s experience as the worldwide leader in education, assessment and education technology innovation, we are confident the test will be the new standard for measuring academic English language proficiency.”
PTE Academic is endorsed by the prestigious Graduate Management Admission Council® (GMAC®), owner of the Graduate Management Admission Test® (GMAT®). PTE Academic launches internationally from October 2009.
Pearson combined the power of international test development, in-depth research and proven, proprietary automated scoring technologies to develop PTE Academic. The test will fill a critical need by providing a test that accurately measures the English language Listening, Reading, Speaking and Writing abilities of non-native speakers.
PTE Academic will deliver real-life measures of test takers’ language proficiency to universities, higher education institutions, government departments and other organizations requiring academic-level English. The test is designed to predict more efficiently the ability of test takers to function in an English-oriented academic environment.
For more information, contact usreco@pearson.com [1] or visit www.pearsonpte.com [2]
About Pearson Language Tests
Pearson Language Tests (PLT) is part of Pearson plc. PLT is developing PTE Academic in collaboration with the Graduate Management Admission Council (GMAC).
About Pearson
Pearson (NYSE:PSO), the global leader in education and education technology, reaches and engages today’s digital natives with effective and personalized learning, as well as dedicated professional development for their teachers. This commitment is demonstrated in the company’s investment in innovative print and digital education materials for preK through college, student information systems and learning management systems, teacher professional development, career certification programs, and testing and assessment products that set the standard for the industry. The company’s respected brands include Scott Foresman, Prentice Hall, Addison Wesley, Benjamin Cummings, PEMSolutions, Stanford 10, SuccessNet, MyLabs, PowerSchool, SuccessMaker and many others. Pearson’s comprehensive offerings help inform targeted instruction and intervention so that success is within reach of every student at every level of education. Pearson’s commitment to education for all is supported by the global philanthropic initiatives of the Pearson Foundation. Pearson’s other primary businesses include the Financial Times Group and the Penguin Group. For more information, visit www.pearson.com [3]
For more information, press only:
Wendy Lienhart, L. Wolfe Communications, 630-920-0182, wlienhart@lwolfe.com [4]
Rod Granger, Pearson, 212-641-6114, rod.granger@pearson.com [5]