Across most universities, there’s a noticeable divide between international recruitment teams and academic departments. One brings students in; the other supports them once they arrive. This sometimes siloed approach can often leave a critical gap, especially when it comes to English language proficiency.
All too often, students meet the minimum language requirement by cramming for a test, only to find themselves underprepared for the rigours of academic life when they arrive at university. The result – frustration, disengagement, and in more extreme cases, dropout.
In the world of international higher education, English language assessments have long been viewed as a box to tick – a necessary step to take in order to meet compliance standards and secure an unconditional offer. But that’s not the whole story. All university staff need to start seeing English language testing for what it truly is: a powerful strategic tool for enhancing student success, strengthening institutional branding, and improving long-term retention.
Using English language tests strategically
What if institutions treated English assessments as more than just an entry requirement?
Imagine using language assessment data to:
- Identify strengths and weaknesses early, enabling targeted support like pre-arrival courses.
- Showcase your commitment to student success, strengthening your brand and increasing conversion rates. Creating a sense of belonging from the outset instead of sending your applicants away to take an English test offered by a third party provider. Providing fast results keeps students engaged and prevents loss of momentum.
- Boost student confidence and academic performance, leading to improved retention and graduation outcomes.
This proactive engagement signals to students and their families: “We care about your entire journey, not just your enrolment.”
Make a real-world impact
Some universities are leading the way. They integrate language assessments into the broader student experience, using test results to inform support plans and shape academic preparation. The outcomes? Higher satisfaction, better engagement, and stronger academic results.
At Password, our tests are designed not to be ‘passed’ with shortcuts or memorised tricks, but to reflect a student’s true language proficiency. Whilst we offer familiarisation resources, free sample questions, and a low-cost online preparation course, we discourage teaching to the test. Instead we advocate real learning, so that when students get the Password score required for their course, they can be confident that their English will not let them down on arrival.
Password tests, including the Password Skills Plus test specifically designed for high stakes admissions testing, can now be fully integrated into universities’ admissions processes and run under their own brand and control. Test results are delivered exclusively (never shared with other institutions) within a few days enabling timely and accurate insights into a student’s English language proficiency, helping universities make informed decisions and speeding up offer making.
A Call to Action
If you’re working in international education, maybe it’s time to rethink your approach.
Ask yourself:
- Are we using language assessments just to meet compliance requirements, or to genuinely support student success?
- How can we better align our recruitment and academic teams to use these tools more effectively?
- What message are we sending to students about why English proficiency matters?
Language proficiency isn’t just a hurdle, it’s the foundation of academic achievement. Let’s stop treating admissions language assessments as gatekeepers. Let’s use them as gateways – to opportunity, to support, and to success.
For more information about Password tests, or to learn how to integrate Password Skills Plus under your university’s brand, contact simi.kohli@englishlanguagetesting.co.uk .
Written by Simi Kohli, head of global partnerships at Password
Simi is an accomplished leader in the international higher education sector, with extensive experience across admissions, student recruitment, and compliance. As head of global partnerships at Password, Simi leads the partnerships and communications team, fostering strategic collaborations and driving initiatives that support institutions in delivering accurate, reliable, and accessible English language and Maths assessments.
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