The Password tests have been developed by English Language Testing Ltd, whose shareholders include the University of the Arts, London.
University of the Arts, London
The University of the Arts London is a vibrant world centre for innovation, drawing together six Colleges with international reputations in art, design, fashion, communication and performing arts. The University has a dedicated language centre, which provides pre-sessional and in-sessional language support to large numbers of international students on foundation, undergraduate and postgraduate programmes. The Language Centre also operates a range of additional programmes for English language students from all over the world, and its teaching staff represent a wealth of experience and expertise in English language teaching and assessment, particularly in the area of English for Academic Purposes (EAP).
CRELLA (Designers of Password English language tests)
The Password English langugage tests have been designed by the Centre for Research in English Language Learning and Assessment (CRELLA) at the University of Bedfordshire. Since its inception, CRELLA, directed by Professor Cyril Weir, has established a national and international reputation as a centre for research into and development of English language tests. Members of the centre have published widely on language testing and assessment issues and carry out pioneering research into the nature of English language proficiency and its measurement. Research consultancies provided by the centre in the fields of English language testing and evaluation for examination authorities worldwide are currently helping with the development of foreign language testing in a number of countries. Details of the work of the centre can be found on their website (www.beds.ac.uk/crella).
Dr Harriet Jones (Designer of Password Maths)
Dr Harriet Jones has been teaching bioscience undergraduates at UEA for over ten years, specialising in the transition students make coming into university and the learning issues associated with this transition. She has recently won an award for excellence in teaching.
Harriet took over a first year maths and statistics module five years ago and ran some pilot tests with the students. From these tests it became clear that students'abilities were being overestimated. Since then every cohort of Bioscience students at UEA has undergone diagnostic assessment for maths on arrival.
Harriet has compiled a custom book for UEA bioscience students called 'Maths for Biologists' which is published by Pearsons. The book tackles maths in a way which reflects the problems undergraduates face associated with bioscience degrees, and grew from the diagnostic assessments for maths.