Our team
Cambridge ESOL’s Research and Validation group provides rigorous quality assurance for the exams at every stage of the assessment process. It achieves this by conducting analyses and research projects for all the exams and through establishing and implementing standard procedures which are evaluated and refined in respect of theoretical, technological and business developments. It is the largest dedicated research team of any UK-based language assessment organisation.
The Research and Validation unit was set up in 1989 to establish a validation programme and research agenda that specifically focused on Cambridge ESOL exams. The unit was headed by Dr Michael Milanovic (now Chief Executive) and was the first of its kind within a UK exam board.
Our experts specialise in:
- educational measurement
- item response theory and item banking
- computer-based testing
- cross-language comparability
- scaling, norming, equating
- standard setting
- applied linguistics
- language testing
- psycholinguistics
- second language acquisition
- language learning/pedagogy
- corpus linguistics
- quality management.
This diversity enables us to build the specialist knowledge and skills base we need to be a leading international provider of high-quality assessment products.
Through publications and presentations in the public domain we can make a valuable contribution to the wider field of language assessment more generally.
Dr Nick Saville
Nick holds a PhD from the University of Bedfordshire in language test impact. He also holds degrees in Linguistics and in TEFL from the University of Reading. He has specialised in language testing and assessment since 1987. Before joining Cambridge in 1989, he worked overseas at the University of Cagliari (Italy) and managed test development projects in Tokyo. Nick is responsible for overseeing and directing the work of the Research and Validation Group. He represents Cambridge ESOL at the Association of Language Testers in Europe (ALTE). He is also a member of the Cambridge University team responsible for coordinating the English Profile Programme. Nick has close involvement with other European initiatives, such as the Council of Europe's Common European Framework of Reference (CEFR) and related “toolkit”. His research interests include: the development and validation of tasks and rating scales for Speaking tests; the development of models for investigating test impact; the implementation of quality management systems (QMS) in test development and validation; and the uses of language assessment for migration and citizenship purposes. Nick presents regularly at international conferences and has published widely on issues related to language assessment. He has been an associate editor of Language Assessment Quarterly since its launch in 2004.
Dr Neil Jones
Neil holds a PhD in Applied Linguistics from the University of Edinburgh on the application of item response theory. He is currently Director of the European Survey on Language Competences (SurveyLang), a European Commission project being coordinated by Cambridge ESOL. Neil’s interest in learning orientated assessment to learning developed from his career in English language teaching in countries including Poland and Japan, where he set up departments and teaching programmes at university level. Neil has worked for Cambridge ESOL since 1993 on innovative testing developments such as item-banking and computer-adaptive testing. He has worked on projects involving the construction and use of multilingual language proficiency frameworks such as the Common European Framework of Reference (CEFR), and was Research Director for the Asset Languages scheme developed for the UK government’s national languages strategy.
Dr Ardeshir Geranpayeh
Ardeshir holds a PhD in Applied Linguistics from the University of Edinburgh on the comparability of language proficiency testing. He has extensive experience of test validation and has contributed to the design, development, validation, revision and evaluation of several internationally recognised language proficiency tests. He also has a strong background in computing and information technology. As Head of Psychometrics and Data Services, Ardeshir leads a large team of managers and analysts who carry out the statistical analysis of Cambridge English exams, run the computer-based testing engines and develop the associated IT systems. His current interests include: automated marking of essays, detection of malpractice and the use of technology in assessment.
Dr Hanan Khalifa
Hanan is Head of Research and Publications. She leads a team of research experts on language testing validation issues, assessing K-12, Common European Framework of Reference (CEFR) matters and on impact assessment. She also has responsibility for planning Cambridge ESOL academic publications and conference participation and is the senior editor of Research Notes. She is also Cambridge ESOL’s representative at the European Association for Quality Language Service (EAQUALS).
Hanan joined Cambridge ESOL in 2003 with a PhD in Language Testing from the University of Reading. She has extensive assessment and evaluation experience working with Egyptian universities, ministries of education and international development and donor agencies in the MENA region. Her expertise lies in the fields of assessing reading, educational evaluation, strategic planning, and issues related to the CEFR and impact assessment. She has led educational reform projects, built institutional capacity in the area of educational assessment and conducted numerous programme evaluation and impact studies. Hanan’s published work was a runner up for the prestigious Sage/ILTA award for best book on language testing and is used as course material for the Association of Language Testers in Europe (ALTE) professional development programmes and for Masters programmes in UK universities.