Versant by ÃÛÌÒapp English language test: Assessment tools for business

A woman sat in a call centre with a headset smiling

You may have heard about Versant by ÃÛÌÒapp, an English test you can take remotely. You may have also heard that companies often use it for interviewing job candidates.?

But what does the test assess? And is it the right English proficiency test for you - or your company?

In today's language learning blog post, we¡¯ll cover everything you need to know about Versant by ÃÛÌÒapp. You¡¯ll find out who it¡¯s for, which language skills it tests, and why companies use it to assess candidates.

What is Versant by ÃÛÌÒapp?

Versant by ÃÛÌÒapp allows companies to quickly and efficiently evaluate the English language proficiency of their current or future employees. It helps HR managers assess candidates' language skills; as a result, companies can use it for recruitment, training, or promotion purposes.

The tests use artificial intelligence, machine learning, and auto-marketing technologies to streamline testing. This way, they can score assessments automatically, quickly, reliably, and securely.

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Who is the Versant by ÃÛÌÒapp test for?

Imagine that HR Manager Maria has to hire a dozen new customer service representatives for her company. She only has a month to do it and is already overwhelmed with her other HR duties. And now, she has to screen tens - and potentially hundreds - of candidates. Above all, she needs to find people with a good enough English level to excel in a demanding customer service position.?

Test takers can complete Versant by ÃÛÌÒapp English tests online or offline, anytime, from anywhere. So if Maria chooses to use Versant by ÃÛÌÒapp tests to assess her candidates, she can run and deliver hundreds of standardized tests and get instant results.

Moreover, the administration of the test is very intuitive, so it won¡¯t take up too much of her time. And the easy-to-understand detailed score reports that it provides will make her hiring decisions all the easier.?

Similarly, a job seeker will be delighted to take an online English test from the comfort of their own home. Since test delivery is flexible, they can choose a time that suits them. All they need is a reliable internet connection and a headset with a built-in microphone.

The test will provide solid proof of the candidate's English level by evaluating language skills accurately and reliably. So they can demonstrate to the company just how well-equipped they are to do the job they're applying for.

How is Versant by ÃÛÌÒapp structured and which skills does it test?

Different companies have different assessment needs. Some need their employees¡¯ language skills to be well-rounded. Others focus on speaking skills. Others put a stronger emphasis on writing. Therefore, the Versant by ÃÛÌÒapp suite has four types of English proficiency tests to cater to all these needs:

1. The Professional English Test?

The Professional English Test is the most thorough of the 4 test types. It takes 60 minutes to complete and assesses all four skills: speaking, listening, reading, and writing. It has 10 different task types covering a broad range of language abilities. The Professional English Test is a comprehensive test. So, it¡¯s the best choice for companies that need their employees to have mastered all aspects of the English language.

2. The English Speaking and Listening Test

The English Speaking and Listening Test?is a shorter, 17-minute English proficiency test focusing on evaluating speaking and listening skills. It assesses the candidate¡¯s ability to communicate effectively in English with tasks that target fluency, pronunciation, vocabulary, and sentence mastery. Thanks to this, it¡¯s best for companies whose employees use spoken English primarily. For example, call centers, hotels, or delivery drivers.?This test replaces the Versant by ÃÛÌÒapp English Test, which retired in 2024.

3. The English Writing Test

The English Writing Test takes up to 35 minutes to complete. It allows companies to gauge the writing abilities of candidates. It tests skills such as grammar, vocabulary, organization, voice & tone, and reading comprehension.?

This English test for interviews is ideal for companies whose employees primarily use English in writing. For example, they use English for taking notes, responding to emails and chats, or writing product descriptions.

4. The English 4-Skills Essentials Test

The English 4-Skills Essential test is for companies looking to hire employees who are proficient in all four English language skills. Companies usually use it for filling entry-level positions. The test has a shorter time frame of 30 minutes and can be delivered flexibly online. Therefore, it¡¯s ideal for fulfilling urgent recruitment needs.?

What are the key benefits and features of Versant by ÃÛÌÒapp tests for administrators?

The tests are straightforward to administer. They seamlessly blend into an HR manager¡¯s routine. Here are some of the key benefits of it's English proficiency tests for administrators:

1. Automated scoring?

Versant by ÃÛÌÒapp has been perfecting its AI-based assessment technology for over 25 years. Because of the incredible amount of research that has gone into creating a reliable scoring system, it is able to automatically mark tests without the need for a human scorer. This provides a wide range of benefits for companies.?

Firstly, they can save time and money when testing job candidates. Secondly, unlike human scorers, Versant by ÃÛÌÒapp is free of bias and scores every candidate in a completely objective and consistent way. And thirdly, it prevents cheating by automatically alerting administrators of any suspicious test-taker behavior.?

2. Score reports

Another huge benefit is that it presents instant results in easy-to-read score reports. These contain detailed information about the candidate¡¯s language abilities. And they highlight skills that companies deem important so administrators can evaluate them at a glance.?

Score reports assign a CEFR or equivalent Global Scale of English score to the candidate. Consequently, the candidate¡¯s results become comparable to international standards. And the score reports contain suggestions for improvement, so candidates like Fred can practice the tasks that they¡¯re not yet proficient at.

3. ScoreKeeper test administration tool?

Last but not least, the tests come with the handy ScoreKeeper administration tool. It lets administrators deploy tests and review score reports in an easy-to-use platform. ScoreKeeper was designed with HR professionals in mind. As a result, managing tests, uploading rosters, and exporting results with the tool is a breeze.

Why do HR managers choose Versant by ÃÛÌÒapp tests?

From the above points, it¡¯s easy to see why an HR Manager would choose Versant by ÃÛÌÒapp.?

Versant by ÃÛÌÒapp automated language tests are an essential tool for scaling up your recruitment and candidate testing efforts. Most importantly, they allow HR Managers to save time and resources. And they let them focus on what they do best instead of trying to screen hundreds of candidates for English skills.?

It doesn¡¯t just significantly speed up the hiring process and cut down on costs. Above all, it lets HR departments manage secure, reliable, and bias-free standardized tests in bulk.

If you think that your organization could benefit from a quick, easy and reliable automated English proficiency test,?find out more about Versant by ÃÛÌÒapp.

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  • A Parent reading to his two children from a book with all three of them laying on the floor

    How can teachers encourage parents to get kids reading at home?

    By Donatella Fitzgerald MBE

    ¡°Sharing a story with your child is one of the most incredible things you can do for them.¡± ¨C .

    Research shows that getting kids reading at home can increase their reading ability at school ¨C and improve their overall well-being. Parents and guardians can make a big difference. But how can teachers encourage parents to get their children to read more at home? We explore some strategies you can use.

    Tell parents about the benefits

    Reading can give children a break from technology-centered activities. It can help them to relax and unwind; reading a book can make children laugh and feel happier! Through hearing stories, children are also exposed to a rich and broad vocabulary.

    ¡°It is important for teachers to establish contact with parents as much as possible and give very clear guidelines on the benefits of reading, and how they can create a reading routine and help their children read at home,¡± says Kasia Janitz-De La Rue, Product Development Director at ÃÛÌÒapp.

    So, encourage parents to find time for a reading routine. Just before bedtime is a great time, as .

    Give parents practical ideas for reading strategies

    Encourage parents to read with and not to their child. It doesn¡¯t matter how long they set aside to read ¨C just 10 minutes of quality reading time can make a big difference.

    Here are a few tips concrete reading tips for teachers to share with parents:

    • Ask children lots of questions while reading.
    • Use encouragement and praise to keep children engaged. Saying things like ¡°what fantastic ideas¡± or ¡°you thought so carefully about that, what might happen now?"?will keep their minds working.
    • Use their past experiences to talk about what¡¯s being read. Things like ¡°have you learnt about¡­at school?¡± or ¡°do you remember when we watched¡­and found out about¡­?¡± are good conversation starters.
    • Tune in and listen to children, and be curious about their interests. ¡°I didn¡¯t know you knew so much about¡­¡± or ¡°I love reading stories about¡­with you,¡± are good phrases to keep in mind.

    It¡¯s also a great idea to share online resources with parents. You can also suggest that parents look up read-aloud YouTube videos featuring authors, teachers or librarians reading their favorite stories. This way, children can watch and listen as often as they like.

    Recommend graded readers

    Graded readers are books that use language in line with a child¡®s learning level. They can help children build confidence, and help slowly expose them to authentic reading levels.

    Encourage parents to identify what genre their child is interested in and show them the readers available. Each time parents see their children move up a level, they¡¯re sure to see their children¡¯s love for reading grow.

    Suggest before, during, and after reading activities

    Before reading

    Parents can take turns with their children to predict what the story is about ¨C or what will happen next. Here is an activity teachers may suggest they try:

    ¡°Start with the cover of the book and the blurb on the back cover. Reveal the cover slowly to ask the child what they can see. Ask them to guess what is on the cover. Once they have seen the cover, ask them questions about the images on the cover ¨C who, what, why, where and how?¡±

    While reading

    Remind parents to focus on their children¡¯s reading comprehension by using strategies like prediction, questioning, clarifying, and summarising. Teachers can ask parents to:

    • check ideas and understanding as the child reads: ¡®So, you think that¡­.¡¯ ¡®Did you expect¡­to happen?¡¯ ¡®Why do you think that happened?¡¯
    • use the pictures in the book to help with comprehension
    • describe what is happening and talk about the characters.

    After reading

    Don¡¯t forget: parents can continue to explore the book¡¯s topic once reading time is done! A few ideas to share with parents include:

    • organising a puppet show for family members and siblings after making puppets of the characters in the book
    • having children draw a picture of their favorite character or their favorite page in the story
    • encouraging children to express their opinion on the book.