Statisticians and Psychometricians

ETS statisticians and psychometricians work to ensure that all ETS exams meet the standards of reliablility, validity and fairness. A test is:

• Reliable if it produces consistent scores among different testing conditions or versions used
• Valid if it can be demonstrated to measure the traits, knowledge or skills it is intended to measure
• Fair if no group of students is either advantaged or disadvantaged due to factors such as the language or content of the questions

Our standards for test performance are the most rigorous in the field. Because our tests are reliable, valid and fair, those who take, use and rely on our assessments can do so with confidence.

Experts in Global Assessment

A Global Provider of Educational Solutions

As international trade fosters closer cooperation across borders and nations, businesses and organizations are also sharing more expertise and knowledge than ever before.The ETS Global Institute and the ETS Center for Global Assessment build on ETS's long tradition of promoting learning and opportunity around the world.

The ETS Global Institute

The international training and technical assistance arm of ETS, the ETS Global Institute provides test-related training, consultation and educational solutions to international clients, including ministries of education, universities, testing agencies and other educational organizations in more than 35 countries.

The institute also creates customized programs for both individuals and small groups.

Global Institute course and seminar topics include:

• subject-matter testing
• test design and psychometrics
• test-agency management
• testing and social policy
• testing law
• test administration, security and technology

The Center for Global Assessment

The Center for Global Assessment develops, manages and delivers large-scale assessment projects for clients throughout the world, including international agencies, government offices and departments, private foundations and academic institutions.

The center plays a major role in two important international education measures:

• International Life Skills Survey
• International Adult Literacy Survey

Combined, the ETS Global Institute and the Center for Global Assessment serve as a central resource for educators and researchers worldwide.

Leaders in Developing Performance Assessments

ETS test developers are industry leaders in developing performance assessments that measure what students and beginning teachers can do and what they know.

Performance assessments include such large-scale test programs as the College Board's Advanced Placement Program® (AP®) and PRAXIS™ tests, as well as assessments customized for individual states and school districts.
Student-performance Assessments

ETS develops and administers performance exams for the College Board's Advanced Placement Program. The AP Exams measure college-level learning that high school students have acquired in AP courses and enable students to receive college credit or placement.

AP Exams require students to undertake such tasks as:

• solving problems
• writing computer programs
• analyzing historical documents
• writing demanding and complex essays

Depending on the subject, AP Exams may require students to produce recorded spoken responses in another language or submit portfolios of original art.
Beginning-teacher Assessments

ETS also develops and administers the innovative Praxis III®: Classroom Performance Assessments, which utilize direct observation to measure the instructional skills of first-year teachers. A modified version of the Praxis III test can also be used as a training program for both student teachers and beginning teachers.

The Praxis III test is part of ETS's Praxis line of assessments for beginning teachers. The Praxis Series™: Professional Assessments for Beginning Teachers® is a set of rigorous and carefully validated assessments that provide accurate, reliable information for use by state education agencies in making teacher-licensing decisions.

Researchers

Assessments Grounded in Research

ETS sets the world standard for educational measurement research and analysis, innovative product development, and original policy studies to support and advance learning worldwide.

ETS employs some 250 researchers, including some of the world's most distinguished scientists in the fields of psychometrics and statistics. These professionals:

• Engage in research and analysis to support existing assessments
• Generate ideas for future assessment products and services
• Contribute to the fields of educational measurement and policy research

To effectively respond to our clients' changing needs and to better meet the needs of the education community at large, ETS researchers partner with others around the world to maintain a fresh, innovative and disciplined approach to understanding, supporting and advancing teaching and learning.