The integration of smart hardware products with education and testing provides new perspectives through the collaboration between Xueersi and ETS.

Recently, Xueersi announced its official partnership with ETS, granting ETS China authorization for Xueersi to become the exclusive strategic provider of the TOEFL Junior series online home testing on the Xpad platform in mainland China. After launching, users of the learning machine can complete the entire examination process at home, while parents can register and monitor the test through the mobile terminal.

According to both parties, TAL has long been collaborating with ETS in various areas such as TOEFL exams and English learning. This is the first collaboration between ETS testing and smart hardware products. Previously, TOEFL Junior tests were computer-based but required a complex exam process, such as attending designated offline test centers. Post-pandemic, at-home testing became possible but required parents to prepare compliant iPads and laptops and carry out a series of software and hardware installations and debugging tasks. This collaboration provides TOEFL Junior test users with a more convenient examination channel.

Both parties hope to leverage product technological capabilities to make learning and testing more convenient and efficient, and explore more possibilities for smart hardware combined with testing scenarios.

(Rohit Sharma, Senior Vice President of Global Higher Education and Career Skills, ETS (right) and Alex Peng, President of TAL Education Group, sign a cooperation agreement)

Xueersi is increasing its R&D investment in smart learning hardware products, including hardware, software, AI functionalities, and content. In terms of content, they are upgrading self-developed content according to the new curriculum standards and collaborating with leading content publishers to enhance user experience and build a multi-layered content ecosystem.

Since October this year, Xueersi has been cooperating with educational assistance organizations like 5.3 and Wanwei. The collaboration with ETS represents the joining of a company focused on front-end “learning” and an institution emphasizing back-end “testing.” Through this partnership, Xueersi aims to offer students a full range of services spanning “learning, practicing, testing, and examining.” For ETS, this collaboration optimizes user experience and expands the user base via the Xueersi Xpad.

How to administer the TOEFL Junior test on the Xueersi Xpad?

The ETS TOEFL Junior online home-testing system is integrated into the learning machine, marking the combination of offline smart hardware with online exams. This is ETS's first attempt at “cross-system testing” and “cross-device monitoring.”

Previously, the ETS TOEFL Junior online test required attendance at designated centers. Post-2020, home-testing was opened up but involved a complex process.

Wang Mengyan, President of ETS Greater China, noted that ETS started exploring online computer-based testing as early as 2005. The initial format was applied to TOEFL iBT, requiring examinees to answer via computer at specified test centers under supervision.

In 2020, ETS launched the home-based exam, allowing examinees to test from home, which demanded more stringent requirements from both examinees and ETS. Wang Mengyan mentioned, “Previously for home-testing, examinees had to use an iPad for answering questions and download the Proctor U platform for monitoring.”

The evolution of smart hardware products presents a further opportunity for simplifying online testing formats. In the future, administering the ETS TOEFL Junior test on Xueersi Xpad is expected to enhance testing procedures and efficiency.

ETS is a global provider of educational and talent solutions, including assessment products like TOEFL and GRE exams, operating in more than 200 countries and regions worldwide. The TOEFL Junior test is designed for 8-17-year-old English learners, and over 1,000 high schools in North America already require international applicants to submit TOEFL Junior test scores.

Wang Mengyan stated, “The collaboration with the Xueersi Xpad represents ETS's innovative effort to drive exam reform and enhance user experience through technology for the vast number of Chinese examinees.”

After launching the exam system, students can attend exams using pre-installed applications on the Xueersi Xpad and employ the “Xueersi Family” App for monitoring software.