Pearson Test of English Academic Recognized by Bentley University's McCallum Graduate School of Business

National Leader in Business Education Joins Growing List of Institutions Choosing New State-of-the-Art Measure of English Language Ability

Waltham, Mass. and New York (PRWEB) May 20, 2009 -- The McCallum Graduate School of Business at Bentley University announced today that it will recognize Pearson Test of English Academic (PTE Academic) (http://www.pearsonpte.com) , the company's computer-based English language test that measures the English language proficiency of candidates for admission who are non-native English speakers. At the McCallum Graduate School of Business, international students represent 18 percent of masters degree candidates and half of the Ph.D. program enrollment.

"At the McCallum Graduate School of Business, many of our students come from outside the United States," said Sharon Hill, Assistant Dean and Director of Graduate Admissions. "The Bentley University community provides them a welcoming and supportive place to pursue their business studies. PTE Academic offers us an accurate way to measure their English language ability to ensure they will be successful in our programs."

The McCallum Graduate School offers a broad array of degrees, including two Ph.D. programs in business and accountancy, a master of business administration, the MS+MBA program, seven master of science programs and a custom executive education program. U.S. News & World Report's "America's Best Graduate Schools 2009" ranked McCallum as one of the top business schools in the nation.

PTE Academic (http://www.pearsonpte.com) is endorsed by the prestigious Graduate Management Admission Council® (GMAC®), owner of the Graduate Management Admission Test® (GMAT®). The test will be launched internationally in October 2009.

As the worldwide global leader in publishing and assessment for education, Pearson combined the power of international test development, in-depth research and proven, proprietary automated scoring technologies to develop PTE Academic. The test will fill a critical need by providing a state-of-the-art test that accurately measures the English language Listening, Reading, Speaking and Writing abilities of non-native speakers.

PTE Academic will deliver real-life measures of test takers' language proficiency to universities, higher education institutions, government departments and other organizations requiring academic-level English. The test is designed to predict more efficiently the ability of test takers to function in an English-oriented academic environment.

"Bentley University's McCallum Graduate School of Business demonstrates a deep commitment to ensuring that its international students are successful as they pursue their degrees," said Mark Anderson, President, Pearson Language Tests. "It is exciting to have this national leader in business education recognize our new test of academic English language ability."

For more information, visit www.pearsonpte.com

About Pearson Language Tests

Pearson Language Tests (PLT) is part of Pearson plc. PLT is developing PTE Academic in collaboration with the Graduate Management Admission Council (GMAC).

About Pearson

Pearson (NYSE:PSO), the global leader in education and education technology, reaches and engages today's digital natives with effective and personalized learning, as well as dedicated professional development for their teachers. This commitment is demonstrated in the company's investment in innovative print and digital education materials for preK through college, student information systems and learning management systems, teacher professional development, career certification programs, and testing and assessment products that set the standard for the industry. The company's respected brands include Scott Foresman, Prentice Hall, Addison Wesley, Benjamin Cummings, PEMSolutions, Stanford 10, SuccessNet, MyLabs, PowerSchool, SuccessMaker and many others. Pearson's comprehensive offerings help inform targeted instruction and intervention so that success is within reach of every student at every level of education. Pearson's commitment to education for all is supported by the global philanthropic initiatives of the Pearson Foundation. Pearson's other primary businesses include the Financial Times Group and the Penguin Group. For more information, visit www.pearson.com

About Bentley

Bentley University is a leader in business education. Centered on teaching and research in business and related professions, Bentley blends the breadth and technological strength of a university with the core values and student focus of a close-knit campus. The undergraduate curriculum combines business study with a strong foundation in the arts and sciences. The McCallum Graduate School emphasizes the impact of technology on business practice, in offerings that include MBA and master of science programs, Ph.D. programs in accountancy and in business, and custom executive education programs. Located minutes from Boston in Waltham, Mass., the school enrolls approximately 4,000 full-time undergraduate, 250 adult part-time undergraduate, 1,400 graduate and 30 doctoral students. Bentley is accredited by the New England Association of Schools and Colleges; AACSB International - The Association to Advance Collegiate Schools of Business; and the European Quality Improvement System (EQUIS), which benchmarks quality in management and business education.

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