Our people
The Research & Validation team
The Research & 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.
The 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.
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
Cambridge ESOL is a member of ALTE (Association of Language Testers in Europe) which provides a forum for the development of assessment standards for European languages. ALTE also works to set common standards for all stages of the language-testing process.
Our research specialists work closely with ALTE to support its work in establishing common levels of proficiency to promote transnational recognition of certification in Europe.
The team
The Research & Validation team brings together specialists in testing and assessment, statistical analysis and item-banking, applied linguistics, corpus linguistics, language learning/pedagogy, project and database management, administration and training and library and publication skills.
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.
Management Team
Dr Nick Saville - Director
Nick is responsible for planning and coordinating the work of the R&V Group. He has specialised in language testing and assessment since 1987 and holds a PhD from the University of Bedfordshire in the area of language test impact. He also holds degrees in Linguistics and in TEFL from the University of Reading. Before joining Cambridge in 1989, he worked for six years at the University of Cagliari (Italy) and spent two years in Tokyo managing a test development project. His own 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. He is the representative of Cambridge ESOL in ALTE - the Association of Language Testers in Europe – and has close involvement with other European initiatives, such as the Council of Europe's Common European Framework of Reference (CEFR) and related “toolkit”. Currently he is a member of the Cambridge University team responsible for co-ordinating the English Profile – i.e. Reference Level Descriptions for English to accompany the CEFR. Nick presents at international conferences on an annual basis and has published widely on issues related to language assessment. He has been an associate editor of Language Assessment Quarterly since it was launched in 2004.
Dr Neil Jones - Assistant Director, Research and Validation
Neil holds a PhD in Applied Linguistics from the University of Edinburgh (UK) on the application of item response theory. He has previous extensive experience as teacher and director of studies in several countries including Poland and Japan, has set up English teaching departments at university level, and worked on materials development, teacher training, multimedia study centres. Neil's role as Principal Research and Validation Co-ordinator involves working on innovative developments including item-banking, Cambridge ESOL common scale, computer-adaptive testing, and the Asset languages initiative. His current interests are formative assessment, and the construction of multilingual language proficiency frameworks like the Common European Framework of Reference.
Dr Ardeshir Geranpayeh - Assistant Director, Research and Validation
Ardeshir holds a PhD in Applied Linguistics from the University of Edinburgh (UK) 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. Ardeshir, as Principal Research and Validation Co-ordinator leads on Computer based testing strategy and the development of associated IT systems as well as the statistical analysis of the examinations. His current interests include: IRT and item-banking, differential item functioning, and structural equation modelling.
Dr Hanan Khalifa - Assistant Director, Research and Validation
Hanan holds a PhD in Language Testing from the University of Reading (UK). Previously, she worked within a university context and with international development agencies on the development of test batteries and item banks, ESP/EAP curriculum development, and educational reform. Hanan also has extensive experience in capacity building, programme evaluation, and in conducting impact studies. Her role as Principal Research and Validation Co-ordinator involves: setting the group’s research agenda, assessing reading, raising internal awareness to the CEFR, and building arguments for assessment products. Hanan represents Cambridge ESOL in EAQUALS special interest groups. Research interests include: standard setting, qualitative research, ethical and fairness issues in educational assessment.
