The Higher Education Policy Institute has published an article written by a managing director at Cambridge University Press & Assessment about what is described as “the shift to remote language testing that removes substantial human supervision from the process.”
Notes the author:
“While some may be excited by the prospect of an “AI-first” model of testing, we should pursue the best of both worlds – human oversight prioritised and empowered by AI. This means, for instance, human-proctored tests delivered in test centres that use tried and proven tech tools.”
And:
“Cambridge has been using and experimenting with AI for decades. We know in some circumstances that AI can be transformative in improving users’ experience. For the highest stakes assessments, innovation alone is no alternative to real human teaching, learning and understanding. And the higher the stakes, the more important human oversight becomes.”
Cambridge has been pushing back against newer tests with a bit more forcefulness in recent months (see also the “The impact of English language test choices for UK HE” report).
To my eye, the debate between at-home testing vs on-site testing is over, with supporters of at-home scoring a decisive victory. Indeed, Cambridge’s own at-home IELTS is widely accepted at schools across key receiving markets. But more importantly, it seems that most test takers really like the idea of at-home testing. Many of those who forgo it in favor of an on-site test do so out of fears that the maker of their chosen test stinks at delivering a seamless at-home product – not because of some love of the test center experience. As test makers get better at doing at-home testing, more test takers will pile into that option.
There might still be room for a robust debate about the merits of synchronous online proctoring (that is, a proctor watches as you take the test) vs asynchronous online proctoring (a proctor watches a video of your test after the fact). But maybe that debate will soon reach a conclusion as well. Note that Pearson seems to be going the async route in their new PEE Test, and that ETS will offer an async option in the new TOEIC Link Test (which is being pitched to higher-ed as an admissions test). These developments suggest that the writing is on the wall for live proctors. Indeed, I was a little surprised to learn that ETS will maintain them as part of the revised TOEFL set to launch in early 2026.