Skip to main content
Cambridge
  • Products and Services

    Products and Services

    • Products and Services

      Our innovative products and services for learners, authors and customers are based on world-class research and are relevant, exciting and inspiring.

    • Academic Research
    • English Language Learning
    • English Language Assessment
    • Educational resources for schools
    • Bibles
    • Educational Research & Network
    • Assessment Research
    • Cambridge Assessment International Education
    • OCR
    • Cambridge Assessment Admissions Testing
    • Cambridge Assessment Network
    • Cambridge CEM
    • Cambridge Partnership for Education
    • Cambridge Dictionary
    • The Cambridge Mathematics Project
    • CogBooks
    • Bookshop
  • About Us

    About Us

    • About Us

      We unlock the potential of millions of people worldwide. Our assessments, publications and research spread knowledge, spark enquiry and aid understanding around the world.

    • What we do
    • Our story
    • People and planet
    • Governance
    • News and insights
    • Legal
    • Accessibility
    • Rights and permissions
    • Annual Report
    • Contact us
  • Careers

    Careers

    • Careers

      No matter who you are, what you do, or where you come from, you’ll feel proud to work here.

    • Careers
    • Jobs
    • Benefits
Change Language

Cambridge English Language Assessment

Main navigation

  • Products and Services

    Products and Services

    • Products and Services

      Our innovative products and services for learners, authors and customers are based on world-class research and are relevant, exciting and inspiring.

    • Academic Research
    • English Language Learning
    • English Language Assessment
    • Educational resources for schools
    • Bibles
    • Educational Research & Network
    • Assessment Research
    • Cambridge Assessment International Education
    • OCR
    • Cambridge Assessment Admissions Testing
    • Cambridge Assessment Network
    • Cambridge CEM
    • Cambridge Partnership for Education
    • Cambridge Dictionary
    • The Cambridge Mathematics Project
    • CogBooks
    • Bookshop
  • About Us

    About Us

    • About Us

      We unlock the potential of millions of people worldwide. Our assessments, publications and research spread knowledge, spark enquiry and aid understanding around the world.

    • What we do
    • Our story
    • People and planet
    • Governance
    • News and insights
    • Legal
    • Accessibility
    • Rights and permissions
    • Annual Report
    • Contact us
  • Careers

    Careers

    • Careers

      No matter who you are, what you do, or where you come from, you’ll feel proud to work here.

    • Careers
    • Jobs
    • Benefits
Change Language
English Language Assessment
  • Home
  • Why choose us?

    Why choose us?

    • Learners

    • Who accepts our exams?
    • Visas and immigration
    • Study abroad
    • Cambridge English journeys
    • Organisations

    • English for higher education institutions
    • Our exams and tests
    • Verify results online
    • Setting your requirements
    • Exam security and quality
    • Employers
    • Research and Consultancy

    • English Research Group
    • English language consultancy
    • Impact monitoring and evaluation
  • Exams and tests

    Exams and tests

    • Cambridge English Qualifications Cambridge English Qualifications
    • Schools
    • General and higher education
    • Business
    • Pre A1 Starters (YLE Starters)
    • A1 Movers (YLE Movers)
    • A2 Flyers (YLE Flyers)
    • A2 Key for Schools (KET)
    • B1 Preliminary for Schools (PET)
    • B2 First for Schools (FCE)
    • A2 Key (KET)
    • B1 Preliminary (PET)
    • B2 First (FCE)
    • C1 Advanced (CAE)
    • C2 Proficiency (CPE)
    • B1 Business Preliminary (BEC Preliminary)
    • B2 Business Vantage (BEC Vantage)
    • C1 Business Higher (BEC Higher)
    • Linguaskill Linguaskill
    • IELTS IELTS
    • OET OET
    • Useful links

    • Test your English
    • Cambridge English Placement Test
    • How to register
    • Find an exam centre
    • What to expect on exam day
    • Study English in the UK
    • See exam results online
    • Cambridge English Scale
    • International language standards explained
    • Information for preparation centres
  • Learning English

    Learning English

    • Free activities
    • Exam preparation
    • Test your English
    • Parents and children
    • Games and social media
    • More resources
  • Teaching English

    Teaching English

    • Teaching qualifications
    • CELTA
    • DELTA
    • TKT (Teaching Knowledge Test)
    • Professional development
    • Cambridge English Teaching Framework
    • Cambridge English Trainer Framework
    • Become a Cambridge English Assessment Specialist
    • Resources for teachers
    • Webinars for teachers
    • Information for preparation centres
  • Blog
  • News
  • Events
  • Help

    Help

    • Lost certificates
    • Enquiries and appeals
    • Special requirements
    • Special considerations
    • Malpractice
    • Complaints
    • Corporate social responsibility
  • Test your English
  • Find an exam centre
  • Who accepts our exams?
English Language Assessment

You are here:

  1. Cambridge English
  2. Exams and tests
  3. Linguaskill
  4. Information about the test
  5. The science behind the Linguaskill test
  6. Dr Ardeshir Geranpayeh

Dr Ardeshir Geranpayeh

Who uses Linguaskill?

These are just a few of the leading organisations who use and accept Linguaskill:

  • University of Barcelona, Spain
  • TAP Air, Portugal
  • The Ministry of Education, Culture, Sports, Science and Technology (MEXT), Japan​

Find out more

Dr Ardeshir GeranpayehHead of Automated Assessment and Learning

Dr Ardeshir Geranpayeh is Head of Automated Assessment and Learning at Cambridge English, which he joined in 2001. Since 2009, he has been leading on the development and implementation of the automated assessment of writing and speaking. He has 29 years’ experience of test validation and has contributed to the design, development, validation, revision and evaluation of almost all Cambridge English language proficiency tests. Additionally, he is a regular presenter at international conferences where he has led workshops on statistics, computer-based testing, listening tests and test security. He holds a PhD in Applied Linguistics from the University of Edinburgh on the comparability of language proficiency testing.

When did you become involved in Linguaskill?

I was involved at the initial conceptual design stage, dating back to 2002. More recently Linguaskill was re-invented, putting automatic assessment at the heart of the product.

Describe your role and involvement in Linguaskill.

I was involved at the design stage for the technical model, creating the Computer Adaptive Test (CAT) for Reading and Listening. I was also responsible for preparing the automated assessment engine for marking Linguaskill’s Writing and Speaking components.

What were the needs you were looking to solve with Linguaskill?

A valid, reliable, quick and cost-effective test of proficiency that could be delivered online to candidates with immediate reporting of results, all at an affordable price.

In your opinion, what makes Linguaskill different from other tests?

There are two main features. Firstly, its adaptiveness, which means that each candidate receives a different set of test items, personalised to their true ability level. Secondly, using AI technology to deliver immediate marking of the Writing and Speaking tests.

What have you learned while developing Linguaskill?

It is important to keep the customer at the heart of planning any new test. We learned how to use sophisticated technology to improve candidates’ experience of taking the test, while ensuring that results are reported to stakeholders in a fast and efficient way. Everyone in the team has been working towards that goal of meeting customer needs and making the product simple to use.

Now that Linguaskill is in the market, what are you most satisfied with in terms of the product and market adoption?

The ease with which candidates can sit the test, and the simplicity to run the test locally are the most satisfying features we managed to achieve in Linguaskill. We’ve had lots of positive feedback around these areas, which is extremely rewarding for us.

How do you see Linguaskill developing over the next 2–3 years?

The Linguaskill family tests will grow rapidly in terms of its use by multiple stakeholders and will become, I hope, the default benchmarking proficiency test of choice for various test purposes.

What are you working on now?

I’m continuing to work on the improvement of the automarker for writing and speaking, introducing new diagnostic features to provide efficient feedback to candidates to improve their English.

How do you see computer-based testing changing in the future, with the increasing use of AI?

I believe AI will become part and parcel of any computer-based test in the future. We are happy that we are leading in this area.

Are there other key trends that you see impacting language learning and testing over the next five years?

It is very clear that AI will have a big impact on language learning and testing moving forward. The Cambridge Learning Oriented Assessment (LOA) approach, which has AI at its heart, will significantly change language learning and testing by bringing these two areas closer, helping drive more effective, individual learning.

On this site

  • Home
  • Why Cambridge English?
  • Exams and tests
  • Learning English
  • Teaching English
  • News
  • Events
  • Help
  • About us
  • Who accepts our exams?
  • Agents
  • Consultancy
  • Research
  • Contact us
  • ALTE logo
  • English Profile logo
  • Cambridge University Press & Assessment
  • BSI Logo

View Related Sites

  • Cambridge English main site
  • Cambridge English helpdesk
  • Cambridge English Schools
  • Cambridge English Online
  • Cambridge English for Centres
  • Preparation Centres Online
  • Results Verification Service
  • Occupational English Test
  • ALTE
  • English Profile
  • Cambridge University Press & Assessment
  • Cambridge Assessment Admissions Testing
  • Michigan Language Assessment
  • Cambridge Assessment Japan Foundation


© Cambridge University Press & Assessment

  • Terms & conditions
  • Data protection
  • Accessibility statement
  • Statement on modern slavery
  • Safeguarding policy
  • Sitemap
Back to top
We use cookies. By continuing to use this website you are giving your consent for us to set cookies Dismiss