ETS, a US-based testing service responsible for administering the Test of English as a Foreign Language (TOEFL) and Graduate Record Examinations (GRE), has assigned Wallace Dalrymple as the new global chief security officer. This marks the first time the company, renowned for its English language testing, has appointed a global chief security officer.
Dalrymple discussed his job, the obstacles to obtaining tests like TOEFL, hindering fraudulence and why India is his top priority. As a background, a huge number of Indians take the TOEFL every year to show their English skills for studying or working in countries where English is the primary language. Edited parts of the conversation are included below.
Q. What necessitated the creation of your role as the first global chief security officer?
A. I was appointed as the inaugural Chief Security Officer for this company to demonstrate our dedication to testing security and maintaining the trustworthiness of our test results. As my first assignment, I am traveling to India to evaluate the elements that could potentially have an influence on our evaluation of the tests. This assignment highlights the significance we place on coming to India, which is my top priority. In this way, the organisation has made the commitment to security and I have committed to conversing with the local teams on the ground to gain insight.
Q. Why is India a priority?
A. India has a large population of test-takers and takes assessment seriously, making it a top priority for ETS. Thus, I have come here to explore the test taking environment and to gain insight by talking to people and understanding any potential worries they may have.
When I reviewed my 100-day plan, I planned to examine the Indian market with respect to TOEFL and GRE.
Q. Is there anything that is of immediate priority or concern?
A. I have not identified any specific issues. Rather, I am focused on ensuring that our services are provided. Our company is mission-oriented and our main goal is to provide equitable and unbiased tests. My primary focus is preserving the accuracy of the scores. Therefore, it is essential to provide a fair opportunity for all test takers. All of our security protocols are designed to take into account the Indian population and the importance of TOEFL and GRE.
Q. Is ETS bringing anything new or reinforcing what is already there?
A. We are here to evaluate the test-taking atmosphere in India, which is a high-growth area from a business standpoint. Not only that, but the TOEFL and GRE tests have a large number of test-takers. Additionally, we are providing more resources and personnel to ensure the security of businesses in India. This will help to handle the rapid growth in the country.
Q. When you say additional resources do you also mean technological resources in addition to personnel?
A. Definitely. We invest a substantial amount of money into security. Oftentimes the security measures are built into the test in a way that the test-taker does not have to be aware of it. This way, they do not have a negative experience. Therefore, it is a technological investment which unites people, processes and technology to create the best testing environment.
Q. What technologies are you focussing on?
A. I am lucky to be part of ETS, which is very passionate about what they do. I have the backing of both finance and administration. We have incorporated novel technologies such as biometrics, AI and ML, and are constantly ahead of the curve when it comes to those fields.
Q. Could you give an example of how something like machine learning is helping assessment?
A. We have created a test-security system based on preventive practices that pays special attention to identity. We use technologies such as facial recognition and voice recognition to ensure the security of the test-takers and to make the identification process easier. Our main focus is to provide a smooth customer experience while also maintaining security, and these goals have been integrated into our solutions.
Q. Cheating, understandably, is a concern. What are the common cheating techniques that you are working against?
A. Security is a worldwide issue, not just limited to India. The biggest risk is when somebody takes the test for someone else, known as impersonation. This is not only happening in India, but across the globe. Every time security measures are taken to address a threat, a new one is created.
Q. What happens when the testing centres themselves aid in cheating like the scandal in Gujarat?
A. We regularly audit our test centres to ensure that the test scores are accurate and that the process is conducted in a fair and open manner. We sometimes let them know in advance that we are coming, and other times we don’t. We provide them with best practices and share our knowledge with them so that we are working in collaboration to ensure score integrity.
Q. How does this audit go about?
A. We carry out audits of test centres regularly to check the various aspects of their security, such as surveillance cameras, biometrics and more. We provide feedback on any areas that could use improvement and give them solutions to make it better. Ultimately, the success of the tests relies on the test-takers, so it is important to make sure they are secure.
Q. It is being reported that ETS will be bidding for providing consultancy services to NCERT’s Parakh? Is this true?
A. We are interested in these projects, but there is limited information available currently. We have a wealth of knowledge from our 75 years of testing and technology experience. Therefore, we strive to build strong, long-term partnerships with governments.
