Research Projects

Cambridge Assessment English: The impact of Generative AI on academic language use: evidence from student practices and experiences
TextInspector: A review of Reading indices for automated text analysis
Welsh Examination Board: Review of the CEFR alignment of the Welsh for adults examinations

The British Council: The British Council Audit of critical features of Junior High School English textbooks in Japan
The British Council: Aptis Writing in real-life conditions : the impact of allowing access to spelling and grammar checking
The British Council: Tokyo Metropolitan Government Speaking test trial analyses - Phase 1
The British Council: Tokyo Metropolitan Government Speaking test trial analyses - Phase 2
Cambridge Assessment English: An investigation of how generative AI and tools such as Chat-GPT are used by language teachers
Plan Ceibal (Uruguay): Uruguay CEFR-linking
LTTC Teaching and Research Grants Joint-funded Research Program: BESTEP Speaking - CEFR benchmarking
PeopleCert Language Qualifications: Relating LanguageCert examinations to the Canadian Benchmarks

The British Council: The British Council (Future of English): Digitally-mediated EMI communication in Higher Education classrooms: Transforming evidence to practical resources
The British Council: Critical review of task designs for speaking rests for lower proficiency learners
The British Council: (ARAG Assessment Research Grant): Towards new task types in a digital age: Perspectives from different educational contexts
IELTS Joint-Funded Research Programme: A comprehensive review and audit of special arrangements offered to IELTS test-takers with accessibility requirements: Safeguarding equity, access and inclusion
IELTS Joint-Funded Research Programme: Comparing IELTS Academic Writing Task 2 (ATW2) on computer and tablet: Test takers’ writing processes, performance and perception
Innovate UK: BC EnglishScore Knowledge Transfer Partnership
Research England (Policy Support Fund): Ceibal en Inglés Online National Speaking Test – Exploring the quality of the test-taker output language under online and face-to-face conditions
TOEFL Committee of Examiners: Relationship between TOEFL iBT and academic writing practices in English medium universities in South Asia

The British Council: (ARAG Assessment Research Grant): Towards building an automated scoring model for assessing appropriate use of metadiscourse markers in Aptis Writing across CEFR levels: A multidisciplinary study
Cambridge Assessment English: Innovation in English language education in Japan: Reforming university entrance examinations
Cambridge Michigan Language Assessment LLC (CaMLA): Identifying types of reading elicited by the multi-text reading passage questions of the MET: An eye-tracking investigation
Duolingo: Investigating the time extension accommodation for dyslexic test-takers
IELTS Joint-Funded Research Programme: An examination of content-related features of source text input and spoken output in an integrated speaking task
LTTC Teaching and Research Grants Joint-Funded Research Program: Exploring the dynamic relationship between Dr GEPT feedback and learners’ motivation
Pearson Research Programme: Enhancing ways to score summary responses on PTE academic integrated tasks: Comparing candidates’ performances across multiple modalities
TOEFL Committee of Examiners: A longitudinal examination of English language improvement in a Mexican Higher education

IELTS Joint-Funded Research Programme: Content of speech as part of the IELTS Speaking Test construct: scale design and development
IELTS Joint-Funded Research Programme: The road to understanding in lecture listening: Cognitive processes engaged in the integration of auditory and textual information
Cambridge Assessment English: Defining the construct of Academic English in the digital age
EIKEN Foundation of Japan: Comparability study of Eiken Grade 1 face-to-face and computer-based speaking test
EIKEN Foundation of Japan: Comparing discourse features elicited in the face-to-face and CBT-Recorded modes of the Eiken Speaking Test Grade 1
The British Council: Analysing language functions in the British Council-Lancaster Aptis Corpus
Text Inspector: Validating the methodology of text analysis.
Oxford Test of English: Analysis and research for OTE voicemail task

BC EnglishScore Ltd: EnglishScore free mobile English test development programme
BCERA: EAP Assessment project for Beijing College English Research Association
The British Council: Exploring the potential for assessing interactional and pragmatic competence in the Aptis Speaking Test
Cambridge English Funded Research Programme: Investigating the cognitive processes of B1, B2 and C1 students on listening and reading tasks: An eye-tracking study
IELTS Joint-funded Research Programme: How are IELTS scores set and used for university admissions selection: A cross-institutional case study
IELTS Joint-funded Research Programme: Academic speaking construct in the digital age
Plan Ceibal (Uruguay): The development and validation of an online speaking test for young learners
The Nursing and Midwifery Council: Review of methods in a standard setting study to establish the minimum passing standard on the Writing compound of a ESP test

The British Council (Uruguay): Redeveloping the Primary English Adaptive Test in Uruguay: Vocabulary, Grammar, Reading & Listening
The British Council (ARAG Assessment Research Grant): Towards a model of multi-dimensional performance of C1 level speakers assessed in the Aptis Speaking Test
The British Council (ARAG Assessment Research Grant): Investigating the textual features and revising processes of EFL and L1 English writers
The British Council (China): Construct definition of speaking for secondary school students in China
The British Council (India): An examination of the impact of a blended language learning initiative on learners’ speaking performance
Liulishuo: Language learning gains among users of English Liulishuo
Pearson Research Programme: An investigation of the features of effective summary writing elicited by reading-writing and listening-writing tasks
PeopleCert Qualifications: LanguageCert International ESOL examinations and the Common European Framework of Reference

IELTS Joint-funded Research Programme: A critical review of the research literature pertaining to the IELTS Reading, Writing, Listening and Speaking tests 1990-2015
IELTS Joint-funded Research Programme: Towards new avenues for the IELTS Speaking Test: Insights from examiners’ voices.
TOEFL Committee of Examiners: The effects of extended planning time on candidates’ performance and cognitive processes in the TOEFL iBT integrated speaking (lecture listening-into-speaking) tasks.
Cambridge English Funded Research Programme: Enhancing learning-oriented feedback for Cambridge English: First paired interactions.
The British Council (China) and SRT Education: Developing and validating an online and mobile learning-oriented assessment platform for Chinese learners of English.
The British Council (Uruguay): Validation of the Primary English Adaptive Test in Uruguay and its results: Vocabulary, Grammar, Reading & Listening
The British Council (Japan): Linking the IELTS test to the Course of Study for high schools in Japan
Benesse Corporation, Japan Review of the Speaking and Writing Components of the Global Test of English Communication Computer-based Testing (GTEC CBT) for Japanese University Entrants
The Cambridge Malaysian Education and Development Trust (CMEDT): Review of CATs and development of a comparative product framework
Waseda University, Japan: Relating a speaking teaching programme to the CEFR

Cambridge English Funded Research Programme: Learning-oriented feedback in the development and assessment of interactional competence.
The British Council (ARAG Assessment Research Grant): Scoring Validity of the Aptis Speaking test: Investigating Fluency across Tasks and Levels of Proficiency
Teachers' Assessment Literacy Enhancement (TALE): Developing open access online courses on language assessment for language teachers. Download handbook here
The Language Training and Testing Center (Taiwan): GEPT Speaking-CEFR Benchmarking project.
Trinity College London: Examining the cognitive validity of the new ISE Reading/Writing paper

The British Council: Researching the cognitive processes of candidates taking IELTS Academic Writing Task 2 (AWT2) in paper mode and in computer mode, in terms of cognitive validity and cognitive equivalence
The British Council: An investigation into double-marking methods: comparing live, video and audio rating of performance on the IELTS Speaking Test
The Language Training and Testing Center (Taiwan): Examining the cognitive validity of the GEPT High-Intermediate and Advanced Reading: An eye tracking study
EIKEN Foundation of Japan: Revision of The EIKEN Test in Practical English Proficiency
Ural Federal University: Impact study project at Ural Federal University in Ekaterinburg

The British Council: The impact of single and double play listening on candidate behaviour in tests of L2 listening
The British Council: Exploring performance across two delivery modes for the same L2 speaking test: Face-to-face and video-conferencing delivery
CAA (Civil Aviation Authority): Safely Assessment of Foreign Aircraft (SAFA) Language Assessment (Phases 1-2)
Cambridge English Funded Research Programme: Computer-based analysis of metadiscourse in candidates' writing at Cambridge FCE, CAE, CPE levels
Cambridge English Language Assessment: Introducing opportunities for learning-oriented assessment to large-scale speaking tests
EIKEN Foundation of Japan: Developing and validating the Test of English for Academic Purposes (TEAP)
English Language Testing Ltd: Password Reading, Speaking and Listening
English Language Testing Ltd: Password Maintenance
GMC (General Medical Council): Establishing equivalence of English language tests for medical registration and licensing
Trinity College London: Integrated Skills in English (ISE): Test development/validation project
The Language Training and Testing Center (Taiwan): Examining the contextual and cognitive validity of the GEPT advanced writing test

The British Council: Comparing impact of modifying long-turn speaking task in Aptis for teenagers
EIKEN Foundation of Japan: Eiken test review project
EIKEN Foundation of Japan: TEAP Washback Project - A review of the washback concept in language education with particular implications for Japan and the EIKEN foundation of Japan organisation
English Language Testing Ltd: Password - Testing the English Language Skills of international Students at the Foundation level
The Language Training and Testing Center (Taiwan): Examining the criterion-related validity of the GEPT advanced reading and writing tests: Comparing GEPT with IELTS and real-life academic performance
Pearson Knowledge Technologies: Project to relate the Versant placement test to the CEFR
TEMPUS - European Commission Tempus Programme: TEMPUS IV Promoting sustainable excellence in testing and assessment of English
Trinity College London: Consultancy for Trinity English Test

The British Council / IELTS: New Insights into cognitive processes: researching IELTS reading tasks though eye-tracking technology (Year 2)
The British Council / ELTRPA: Researching cognitive processes during computer-based reading tests (Year 2)
The British Council (Singapore): Developing assessment literacies and practice in Singapore schools
The British Council (Vietnam): Researching capacity of Thai Nguyen University and Hai Phong University, Vietnam, in terms of its readiness for internationalisation
The British Council (Taiwan) and NCK University Taiwan: Researching capacity of NCK University, Taiwan, in terms of its readiness for internationalisation
Cambridge English Language Assessment: Introducing opportunities for learning-oriented assessment to large-scale speaking tests (Year 1)
Cambridge English Language Assessment: Researching Cambridge language test in terms of their metadiscourse features at difference levels (Year 1)
Cambridge English Language Assessment:Textual features of CAE reading texts: CAE texts compared with reading texts from FCE, CPE and IELTS and with essential undergraduate textbooks (Year 2)
EIKEN Foundation of Japan: TEAP Speaking Project - Developing and validating a speaking component of a new admission test for Japanese colleges and universities (Year 2)
EIKEN Foundation of Japan: TEAP Writing Project - Developing and validating a writing component of a new admission test for Japanese colleges and universities (Year 2)
EIKEN Foundation of Japan: TEAP Reading and Listening Project – Reviewing a reading and listening components of a new admission test for Japanese colleges and universities
EIKEN Foundation of Japan: TEAP Washback Project - A review of the washback concept in language education with particular implications for Japan and the EIKEN foundation of Japan organisation (Year 2)
English Language Testing Ltd: Password - Testing the English Language Skills of international Students at the Foundation level (Year 5)
Kaplan International Colleges: Pathways Al Rowdah Academy General English Project
The Language Training and Testing Center (Taiwan): GEPT Writing project-cognitive processing: Examining the contextual and cognitive validity of the GEPT Advanced Level writing task (Year 1)
The Language Training and Testing Center (Taiwan): Examining the criterion-related validity of the GEPT advanced reading and writing tests: Comparing GEPT with IELTS and real-life academic performance (Year 2)
Ministry of Education (Japan):CEFR-J development project
Pearson Knowledge Technologies: Project to relate the Versant placement test to the CEFR (Year 1)
TEMPUS - European Commission Tempus Programme: TEMPUS IV Promoting sustainable excellence in testing and assessment of English (Year 2)
Trinity College London: Consultancy for Trinity English Test (Year 1)

The British Council / IELTS: New Insights into cognitive processes: researching IELTS reading tasks though eye-tracking technology (Year 1)
The British Council / ELTRPA: Researching cognitive processes during computer-based reading tests (Year 1)
The British Council/IELTS: The relationship between test-takers' listening proficiency and their performance on the IELTS Speaking test (Year 2)
The British Council (Malaysia): Advising the ministry of Education, Malaysia on Classroom-based assessment
Cambridge English Language Assessment: Investigating learner' cognitive processes during computer-based CAE reading tests (Year 2)
Cambridge English Language Assessment: Textual features of CAE reading texts: CAE texts compared with reading texts from FCE, CPE and IELTS and with essential undergraduate textbooks (Year 1)
EIKEN Foundation of Japan: TEAP Speaking Project -Developing and validating a speaking component of a new admission test for Japanese colleges and universities (Year 1)
EIKEN Foundation of Japan: TEAP Writing Project - Developing and validating a writing component of a new admission test for Japanese colleges and universities (Year 1)
EIKEN Foundation of Japan:TEAP Washback Project - A review of the washback concept in language education with particular implications for Japan and the EIKEN foundation of Japan organisation (Year 1)
English Language Testing Ltd: Password Listening - Proposal for a listening component to supplement the Password test
English Language Testing Ltd: Password Introduction and Password Levels
English Language Testing Ltd: Password - Testing the English Language Skills of international Students at the Foundation level (Year 4)
English Profile: Discourse level functional progression in English language learning in the CEFR C1 and C2 proficiency band (Year 6)
The Language Training and Testing Center (Taiwan): Examining the criterion-related validity of the GEPT advanced reading and writing tests: Comparing GEPT with IELTS and real-life academic performance (Year 1)
Ministry of Education (Japan): Investigating effects of pre-task planning on paired speaking tests (Year 3)
TEMPUS - European Commission Tempus Programme: TEMPUS IV Promoting sustainable excellence in testing and assessment of English (Year 1)
TEMPUS - European Commission Tempus Programme:Macedonian as a Foreign Language Curriculum Upgrade: TEMAK (Year 2)
Trinity College London: Examining examiner interventions in relation to the listening demands they make on candidates in the GESE Exams
UCLEB: Consultancy for the University of Central Lancashire Examination Boards on improvements to their suite of EFL tests

The British Council / IELTS: The relationship between test-takers' listening proficiency and their performance on the IELTS Speaking test (Year 1)
Cambridge English Language Assessment: Investigating learner' cognitive processes during computer-based CAE reading tests (Year 1)
English Language Testing Ltd:Password - Testing the English Language Skills of international Students at the Foundation level (Year 3)
English Profile: Discourse level functional progression in English language learning in the CEFR C1 and C2 proficiency band (Year 5)
Ministry of Education (Japan): Investigating effects of pre-task planning on paired speaking tests (Year 2)
TEMPUS - European Commission Tempus Programme:Macedonian as a Foreign Language Curriculum Upgrade: TEMAK (Year 1)

CRELLA research projects

Research Excellence Framework (REF) 2021 Case Studies

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