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English Language: Assessments

Asked by Blake StephensonConservativeHome OfficeTabled Answered 16 April 2026UIN 126834

The question

To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, what comparative assessment she has made of the (a) security of in-person supervision and (b) best-in-class digital security measures in the Home Office English Language Test.

Answered by Mike Tapp

The Home Office has considered the relative strengths of in-person supervision and digital security measures as part of its work to develop the HOELT. The Department acknowledges that both delivery models have strengths and limitations. In-person supervision at secure test centres provides a controlled environment that limits certain categories of risk. Digital security measures, when applied rigorously, can provide robust identity verification, real-time monitoring, and audit trails. The procurement specification requires any proposed solution to demonstrate that its security measures are fit for purpose for a high-stakes immigration test, and the evaluation will assess how bidders address these considerations.

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