- ASIA EDUCATION REVIEW - JULY 20259ERThe Philippine Association of Colleges and Universities Commission on Accreditation (PACUCOA) has now officially acknowledged the British Council's Aptis test as valid evidence of proficiency in English after it released updated requirements for programme accreditation in Higher Education Institutions (HEIs) beginning 2025."The new PACUCOA standards seek to address the gaps in the English communication abilities of graduates of our accredited institutions and enhance them; thereby, making graduates more employable", explained PACUCOA Executive Director Dr. Adlai C. Castigador.It requires students to be at least at B1 (Intermediate) level on the Common European Framework of Reference for Languages (CEFR), and teachers should be at least at the C1 (Advanced) level. CEFR is a widely accepted system that renders a sharp framework for measuring one's capacity to make successful use of a language.With the CEFR in mind, the British Council-created Aptis test can examine all four skills (speaking, reading, listening, and writing) plus a core element of grammar and vocabulary. Governments, universities, and organizations across more than 85 countries use it and it has versions that can be adapted to different educational and institutional requirements.In the 2022 Programme for International Student Assessment (PISA) tests on English reading, the Philippines had a reading literacy score of 347 compared to the Organisation for Economic Co-operation and Development (OECD) average of 476, remaining one of the lowest in 81 nations.PACUCOA also mentioned the Trends in International Math and Science Survey (TIMSS) and the Southeast Asia Primary Learning Metrics (SEA-PLM) where the country placed among the lowest in reading, writing, and English communication skills. These findings were reinforced by the Philippine Statistics Authority Functional Literacy Education and Mass Media Survey (FLEMMS) 2024 at a basic literacy rate of 93.1 percent and a functional literacy (comprehension skills at higher levels) of 70.8 percent."Incorporating English language proficiency tests such as Aptis enables universities to conform to global scholarly standards, boost international credibility, and prepare students for the language skills needed for internationalisation and job-market employability in a competitive global environment. We are proud of this endorsement and look forward to further strengthening our partnership with PACUCOA in the future", stated Lotus Postrado, Country Director of the British Council in the Philippines.The British Council has been a longtime ally in the promotion of English language learning in the Philippines, particularly in tertiary education. By providing capacity-building projects, research collaboration, and internationally accepted English assessment tools, the British Council assists institutions in raising the quality of teaching and student learning achievements."Thank you for this recognition and acceptance of Aptis in the Philippines. We will keep on supporting PACUCOA and its member colleges and universities with the CEFR and developing strategies to enhance their English communication competencies of their students and faculty", said Business Development Manager for English and Exams at the British Council Philippines Mike Cabigon. ERAPTIS ENGLISH TEST NOW PART OF PACUCOA ACCREDITATION DRIVENEWS
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