One of the VPs over at ETS posted on LinkedIn about some initiative in Vietnam. He wrote (emphasis mine, emojis not mine):
“A heavy focus on test-taking shortcuts over real skill development threatens long-term success. True global mobility isn’t just about passing exams—it’s about equipping students with the skills they need to thrive in academics and careers worldwide. 💡
At ETS, we go beyond assessments. We provide personalized, actionable learning solutions that build real-world proficiency, ensuring students aren’t just test-ready but future-ready. ✅ Vietnam’s progress proves that investing in education unlocks opportunity—now, we must ensure learning solutions match student aspirations.”
I liked it. But it begs the question: what solutions are those?
I’ve spent the last couple of years wondering what everyone at ETS is really up to. Sometimes it seems like the answer is “not much.” Obviously acquiring PSI was a big deal. That brought in new revenue and products. But as far as “ETS proper” goes? It seems to consist of a handful of tests with slowly shrinking volumes that haven’t been meaningfully adjusted in more than a decade.
Amit makes the rounds doing keynote addresses at all the big events, and there is plenty of motivational content shared on LinkedIn. But I’ve seen very little by way of new products and assessments. There are a whole lot of posts about “Skills for the Future,” but that project doesn’t seem to have produced much more than superficialities. And, hey, it looks like the College Board might beat them to the punch.
My server logs indicate that there is a strong Lawrence Township contingent visiting the blog. Do let me know in the comments if I’m off base here. Normally I would post this on LinkedIn myself, but I don’t want to be overly catty today.