Breaking: Home Office explores ‘digital by default’ HOELT

Through the UK Visas and Immigration (UKVI) office, the Home Office is currently reviewing options for the future procurement of a Home Office English Language Test (HOELT) to be delivered in the UK and internationally.

The proposed HOELT will assess speaking, listening, and, where applicable, reading and writing skills between CEFR levels A1 and C1.

Now in the fifth round of market consultation, the latest call for market engagement to gather supplier feedback on the draft requirements for HOELT, states: “The Home Office is exploring a ‘digital by default’ service, with remote proctoring as the primary mode of delivery and physical test centres available where remote solutions are not feasible.”

The Home Office is exploring a ‘digital by default’ service, with remote proctoring as the primary mode of delivery
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The previous iteration explored market capability and the maturity of remote testing solutions, and it would appear that building on this feedback the government is now focusing on a digital-first strategy.

The news marks a dramatic reversal of current policy which currently excludes all digital tests from the government approved secure English language tests both in the UK and internationally.

However, it is still unclear how the HOELT test will be used for university admissions and study visa applications, with previous communications indicating the test will primarily be used for for work and migration visas. 

Initial reaction to the proposed HOELT test included scepticism about capacity to deliver the test around the world in physical centres. Similarly, there remains widespread concerns about the security and validity of digital tests and limited human proctoring.

To express an interest in participating in the consultation, participants must first be registered on the Home Office’s eSourcing Portal.

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