ACT News Release : ACT and Ordinate Develop Spoken English Exam for International Business

April 27, 2005

IOWA CITY, Iowa and MENLO PARK, Calif—ACT, Inc. and Ordinate Corporation (opens new window) have developed a customized version of Ordinate's fully automated Spoken English Test (SET-10) to measure English language skills needed in the workplace. International businesses are using this exam as part of a battery used to hire qualified applicants for jobs requiring English language skills, and to target training needs for current employees.

Spoken English is one of four English language skills assessed using ACT's English WorkKeys system.

"English-speaking skills are critical to the long-term business success of many international companies," said Richard L. Ferguson, chief executive officer of ACT. "The English WorkKeys system measures practical skills that are needed in the workplace."

Jared Bernstein, president of Ordinate Corporation says, "International businesses often have positions within their companies that require English-proficient employees. Ordinate's technology produces a precise measurement of a candidate's ability to speak English. I am confident that this will help ACT's WorkKeys clients make sound hiring and training decisions."

Ordinate's standard SET-10 test was customized with a workplace focus for use with the English WorkKeys system. It is administered by telephone in 10 minutes and scored immediately by a computer. To take a test, the examinee dials a telephone number and interacts with voice recordings in tasks such as reading sentences, repeating sentences, answering short questions, building sentences, and describing business scenarios.

English WorkKeys uses three computer-based exams from ACT—Listening, Reading and Writing—in addition to the speaking exam developed with Ordinate. English WorkKeys also uses the ACT-designed Key Skill Analysis to evaluate the skills required for a specific job position, offers instant test score reports that include links to job requirements, and provides instructional support to help improve individuals' English proficiency.

The English WorkKeys system, including Ordinate's speaking test, is now available in Spain and will become available in other countries later this year.

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