Proceedings of the 7th International Conference on Business, Management and Finance
Year: 2024
DOI:
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Cambridge Remote International Speaking Examiner Model for Competitive English Language Assessment
Matthew James
ABSTRACT:
Cambridge University Press & Assessment develops and administers the world’s most prestigious language exams to assess English-language competency at various levels according to the Common European Framework of Reference for Languages. As a Cambridge English Assessment Specialist, a Speaking Examiner is tasked with gauging and measuring an established set of competencies for each candidate. Whereas Speaking Examiners are traditionally localized geographically to their Authorized Cambridge Exam Centre, this paper presents the Remote International Speaking Examiner Model based on time-series data obtained from 1,034 Exam Centres in 117 countries across 6 continents to highlight the unique comparative advantage that a Remote International Speaking Examiner has with regards to English-language assessment. Moreover, through increased competition, the optimal decisionmaking of independent and competing Remote International Speaking Examiners within a strategic setting of the global network of Cambridge Exam Centres can lead to an efficient consolidation of how English-language assessment services can be provided to language consumers. By emphasizing the economic aspects such as the gains of trade that will improve the competitive nature and quality of services in a multicultural and multilingual context with respect to English-language assessment, the overall quality of English-language development that incorporates innovative methods with new technological advances will have a profound effect on the academic, cultural, economic, and social impact of English-language assessment. Analysis will also be given to the unique aspect of the demand-side of economies of scale of the Remote International Speaking Examiner regarding English-language certification.
keywords: comparative advantage, game theory, gravity model of trade, network effect, new trade theory