TOEFL® Program Unveils State-of-the-Art Biometric Voice Identification Software to Increase Test Security Globally

PRINCETON, New Jersey, May 29, 2012 /PRNewswire/ -- ETS, the creator of the TOEFL® test, announced the introduction of biometric voice identification to maintain fair and reliable TOEFL testing. The newly announced security measure provides an additional proven technique to add to the TOEFL program's comprehensive security system in authenticating TOEFL test takers globally.

(Logo: http://photos.prnewswire.com/prnh/20120110/DC33419LOGO)

Similar to the highly advanced speaker identification platforms used by government and law enforcement agencies, the software uses statistical pattern matching techniques, advanced voice classification methods, and inputs from multiple systems to compare speech samples from TOEFL test takers. Launched earlier this month, the speaker identification system offers the ability to create voice prints for detailed analysis to validate TOEFL test takers. The new technology will be used as part of test security investigations in 2012 and beginning in 2013 will gradually be used on a larger scale.

"The inclusion of biometric voice identification technology is yet another tool in the TOEFL test security portfolio to ensure test integrity worldwide," explains David Hunt, Vice President and Chief Operating Officer of ETS's Global Division. "Including a state-of-the art speaker identification component to the TOEFL's security system further strengthens our ability to detect attempts to gain an unfair advantage, a common concern in academia today. ETS is committed to identifying and implementing those protocols deemed most effective by leaders in the security industry in safeguarding against fraudulent behavior."

More information regarding the TOEFL program's prevention and detection security processes is available at www.ets.org/toefl/institutions/about/security.

About the TOEFL Test

The TOEFL test is the most widely accepted English-language assessment in the world, recognized by more than 8,500 college, universities, and agencies in more than 130 countries. Globally, the TOEFL test is available at more than 4,500 testing sites in more than 165 countries. To date, more than 27 million students around the world have taken the TOEFL test.

About ETS

At ETS, we advance quality and equity in education for people worldwide by creating assessments based on rigorous research. ETS serves individuals, educational institutions and government agencies by providing customized solutions for teacher certification, English language learning, and elementary, secondary and post-secondary education, as well as conducting education research, analysis and policy studies. Founded as a nonprofit in 1947, ETS develops, administers and scores more than 50 million tests annually — including the TOEFL® and TOEIC® tests, the GRE® tests and The Praxis Series™ assessments — in more than 180 countries, at over 9,000 locations worldwide. www.ets.org