Terms of assessment

1. The service

Attest English provides an assessment of everyday English language ability across speaking, listening, reading and writing, delivered online through your browser. Results are reported against the Common European Framework of Reference for Languages (CEFR), with published UK equivalences stated on each certificate.

Attest English is an assessment service. We do not provide training, and we are independent of any training you may book or attend.

2. Recording, proctoring and identity

Every assessment is recorded. Your camera and microphone are active throughout, periodic images are captured during the assessment, and a photograph of you and of your identity document are taken before it begins. This is stated on screen before you consent and is a condition of taking the assessment.

Recordings and images are used to score your assessment, to confirm your identity, to prevent and detect malpractice, and to allow human review of results. The photograph taken at assessment appears on your certificate.

3. How results are decided

Answers are scored by automated measures against CEFR descriptors, combined by a fixed published method. People stay in the loop: borderline results, results with quality or identity concerns, and appealed results are reviewed by a human assessor before they stand.

You can request a human review of your outcome at any time and a person will re-mark your recording. Requests can be made through the contact details in your result email or through the organisation that sent you your assessment link.

4. Certificates and verification

Certificates state the holder's name, photograph, the date of assessment, the overall CEFR level and the level demonstrated in each skill, and carry a unique certificate number. Anyone may verify a certificate with us free of charge.

A certificate confirms the ability demonstrated in the assessment on the stated date. Whether a certificate is accepted for a particular purpose is a matter for the accepting organisation, and we support accepting organisations with the evidence they need.

5. Retakes and fair use

One attempt may be taken per person per 48 hours. Impersonation, the use of another person's identity documents, prompting by another person, playback of recorded or generated audio, and any other attempt to misrepresent ability are malpractice. Suspected malpractice voids the result, is recorded, and may be reported to the organisation that requested the assessment.

6. Your data

We process your personal data, including recordings and biometric images, to deliver the assessment, decide and evidence results, verify certificates and meet our legal obligations, under UK GDPR. Evidence records are retained so that results and certificates can stand behind their verification. You may exercise your data protection rights, including access and the safeguards that apply to automated decision-making, by contacting us.

7. Service and liability

We aim to keep the service available and results prompt, but we do not guarantee uninterrupted availability. If a technical fault on our side prevents your assessment from being completed or scored, your attempt is restarted at no cost. Nothing in these terms limits liability that cannot be limited by law.