Cambridge Assessment English
Cambridge Assessment English or Cambridge English develops and produces Cambridge English Qualifications and the International English Language Testing System (IELTS). The organisation contributed to the development of the Common European Framework of Reference for Languages (CEFR), the standard used around the world to benchmark language skills,[2] and its qualifications and tests are aligned with CEFR levels.[3]
Established
1913[1]
For profit, but part of a tax-exempt charity
A department of the University of Cambridge
Cambridge, UK
Global
Francesca Woodward, CEO
Cambridge English Language Assessment / University of Cambridge ESOL Examinations (Cambridge ESOL) / University of Cambridge Local Examinations Syndicate (UCLES)
Cambridge Assessment English is part of Cambridge Assessment, a non-teaching department of the University of Cambridge[4] which merged with Cambridge University Press to form Cambridge University Press & Assessment in August 2021.[5]
In alphabetical order:
Partnerships and acquisitions[edit]
In the 1980s Cambridge Assessment English, the British Council and IDP Education formed the international IELTS partnership which delivers the IELTS tests.[34][35]
In 2010 Cambridge Assessment English and the English Language Institute Testing and Certificate Division of the University of Michigan agreed to form a not-for-profit collaboration known as CaMLA (Cambridge Michigan Language Assessments). Cambridge Assessment English owns 65% of the venture.[36]
Since 2011 Cambridge Exams Publishing, a partnership between Cambridge Assessment English and the English Language Teaching (ELT) business of Cambridge University Press, develops official Cambridge preparation materials for Cambridge English and IELTS exams.[37]
In 2013 Cambridge Assessment English formed a joint venture with the Box Hill Institute to deliver the Occupational English Test, known as OET.[38]
In 2019 Cambridge Assessment English acquired English Language iTutoring (ELiT), an artificial intelligence developed off technology from the University of Cambridge, to support new English language assessment products.[39]
Research[edit]
The Cambridge English EFL Evaluation Unit was established in 1989 and was the first dedicated research unit of its kind.[43] This unit is now called the Research and Validation Group and is the largest dedicated research team of any English language assessment body.[44] Research is published in the Studies in Language Testing (SiLT) series.
Awards[edit]
In 2015, Cambridge Assessment English was awarded the Queen's Award for Enterprise in the 'international trade' category.[45][46]
