Using Linguaskill for placement
In the first year of the three-year course, all students take the Linguaskill test to identify those who already have the required B2 level of English, and those who will need extra hours of learning to achieve it. Rather than the school’s English classes aiming to fill the gap in language skills, the objective is for students to acquire the communication skills to prepare them for their future careers in a wide range of industries. These include automatic control and intelligent systems, electrical power engineering, nuclear power engineering, embedded systems and connected devices, financial engineering, advanced materials for innovation and sustainability, and biomedical engineering.
A choice of two test options: Business and General
Historically, INP schools used BULATS, a business English test. When Linguaskill took over from BULATS in 2019, INP had the choice of two test options: General and Business. Linguaskill General tests language used in daily life, whereas Linguaskill Business tests English used in a business and corporate setting. INP’s engineering schools chose the General English variant, as their graduates are more likely to embrace a technical career than a career in management. Other INP schools chose the Business English variant for their students as this was more suitable.
Widening the offer of English tests for students
Most engineering schools in France offer an alternative English test, and INP schools can choose which test to offer. As well as having the two test options, Linguaskill has the advantage of being reliable, fast and accurate. Powered by artificial intelligence technology, the test is also adaptive, so it tailors questions to the level of the student. This improves the overall test experience and ensures accurate results. The fact that the test is modular means there is a separate score for each skill, helping the candidates focus on their weaker areas.
New opportunities
INP students take almost 1,500 Linguaskill Reading and Listening tests every year. ‘If the CTI decides that productive skills such as speaking and writing are important to assess, we will of course adopt the full Linguaskill test so that the four skills are evaluated,’ says Robin Sen, an English teacher at INP Grenoble who is also responsible for English tests.
Covid-19 has had a major impact on higher education. The fact that Linguaskill can be remotely proctored at any time means students who have returned to their homes can still take the test, and so complete their degree. INP can be sure of the accuracy and reliability of the results, which are provided within 48 hours.
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