ETS to Develop English Test For Chinese Middle School Students

Contact:

• Tom Ewing
  +1 (609) 683-2899
  mediacontacts@ets.org
• Eduassess
  Lin Li
  + 86 10 8811 6267
  linli@eduassess.com.cn

Princeton, N.J. (May 19, 2008) —

The Beijing Assess Huikai Educational Science & Technology Development Co., Ltd. (Eduassess) and ETS are collaborating under a five-year contract to develop the Achievement Leveling Testing System (ALTS) Level V English-language assessment in China.

The ALTS Level V assessment is aimed at all Chinese middle school students and those test takers who have reached the English level of middle school students. ALTS will provide an authoritative, fair and valid assessment that will be used as part of a new measurement of English proficiency testing and assessment system for students who are transitioning to high schools. It will also be used as a measurement for school students and English learners for self-assessment.

“The Chinese educational system is reforming its testing and educational assessment systems,” says Ms. Li Lin, Managing Director of Eduassess. “Through the development of ALTS, ETS and Eduassess will provide constructive and quality services to assist with these reforms and we hope ALTS will enhance learning without adding any burden to Chinese students.”

Established in 2000, Eduassess is the first educational testing and assessment company in China providing educational assessment products and services to all Chinese students.  Eduassess has cooperated successfully for eight years with the Ministry of Education’s National Center for School Curriculum and Textbook Development, to launch the “Experimental Project of English Curriculum Assessment for School Education,” and has developed English language learning materials currently used in 236 experimental zones throughout China.

ETS designed the test that was piloted this spring. Under the arrangement, ETS is responsible for development, scoring and data analysis of the operational ALTS test set to launch in December 2008. ETS will also assist in other aspects of the work being performed by Eduassess.

“The education work Eduassess is doing in China is of great importance; the future success of this assessment will depend on it reaching as many students and teachers as possible,” says Alex Yu, ETS’s Business Developer for Southeast Asia. “We are honored to work with them on the development of the ALTS assessment.”

“This collaboration expands ETS’s presence in China where there is very high potential for improving English language learning,” says Dave Hobson, Group Executive Director of ETS’s Global Division. “The relationship builds on the core capabilities of each organization to design, develop and deliver superior learning assessments.”

About ETS and ETS Global

ETS is a nonprofit organization with the mission to advance quality and equity in education by providing fair and valid assessments, research and related services for all people worldwide.  Founded in 1947, ETS designs, develops, delivers and scores more than 50 million tests annually in more than 180 countries, at 9,000+ locations worldwide.

ETS’s Global Division and its related subsidiaries have offices around the world to meet the needs of non-U.S.-based entities in Asia, Canada, Europe, Latin America, the Middle East and Africa.  In serving individuals, businesses, educational institutions, government agencies and membership organizations worldwide, ETS offers valid and reliable assessments, research and related services including customized solutions, workforce products and services, and research-based teaching and learning tools.

For more information, visit the ETS Global website at www.ets.org/global.

About Eduassess

Beijing Assess Huikai Educational Science & Technology Development Co., Ltd. is committed to research, development and practice of China’s Educational assessment; under the guidance of the state principle, “Normalize and encourage societal forces to invest in education,” by fully exploiting its advantages as a private company in China’s reform, Eduassess spares no effort in innovation and exploration. From 2000 up to now, Eduassess has launched the experimental project of English curriculum assessment in about 6,000 schools and 236 experimental zones throughout China; Eduassess has trained about 50,000 school teachers and independently developed 24 formative assessment books which are used by over 6 million students. Eduassess will continue to provide valid service to the development of China’s education.

For more information, visit the website at www.eduassess.com.cn.