Page 19 - ELG2307 Jul Issue 485

THE FUTURE OF ONLINE TESTING

Alan Baldock joined the Password team in April 2009 as Director of
Password Partnerships. Alan’s career background is in the information
technology business. For over 20 years he was involved in delivering a wide
range of products, services and solutions to many different organisations.
Alan’s last role before joining the Password team was managing Hitachi
Europe’s software business.

There are a number of highlight some best practices in chatbots, such as ChatGPT, we
interesting themes related to this area. view them as a development of
assessment in the recently traditional cheating techniques
published The Future of English: Firstly, artificial intelligence such as accessing essays
Global Perspectives by the should always complement online, and their use can
British Council. These include human invigilation rather than currently be countered in the
the growth in regional variants of replace it. Both have their same ways.
English, the increased demand strengths, but AI alone cannot
for specialised professional be trusted for high stakes Finally, a point about cost.
exams, and the rising number of testing. All exams should be Online exams can cost less than
exams taken online, often observed throughout and video the traditional test centre based
outside a test centre. As an recorded, with a single proctor format. However, if they are to
online English language test responsible for at most four be of the same quality and
provider to universities, colleges, simultaneous exams (which reliability, this is unachievable at
and schools since 2008, compares well with a typical bargain basement prices. Test
delivering exams online is of test centre ratio of 1:25). development costs are
course what we do. So, what do Thorough identity document essentially the same, there are
we think will be the future of checks are also vital, along with IT infrastructure costs, and
exams taken online? systematic room scans and PC there is still – or should be – a
checks carried out before a test considerable amount of
Recently, and in part due to the is started. At the auditing people’s time to be paid for.
pandemic, we have experienced stages, all the above steps
a significant rise in the number should be reviewed. With all these pieces in place,
of test takers wishing to take and with due care and attention,
tests from home. The challenge It is also important to build and we believe that at-home testing
for test providers generally is maintain a library of techniques can be securely delivered for
how to offer this without that have been used in cheating high stakes tests and that this
compromising security. Having attempts. Techniques are many type of testing will continue to
launched our own secure at and varied, ranging from simple grow.
home test last November, after a impersonation to the use of
period of intense research “virtual machines” allowing a By Alan Baldock,
investigating online invigilation test to be taken by a remote Director of Partnerships at
technology, we find ourselves proxy. Incidentally, despite the Password English Language
well placed to excitement about advanced Testing

contact@englishlanguagetesting.co.uk | englishlanguagetesting.co.uk