English Language Testing Ltd’s privacy policy

This privacy policy sets out how English Language Testing Ltd (ELT) uses and protects any data that you give us.

The term ELT or ‘us’, ‘we’ or ‘our’ refers to English Language Testing Ltd, the owner of this website and others, whose registered office is Great West House, Great West Road, Brentford TW8 9DF, UK. Our company registration number is 6287003, registered and incorporated in England and Wales. The term ‘you’ refers to the you, the person that supplies ELT with their personal data user and/ or viewer or user of our websites.

The following is a broad description of the way ELT collects and process personal data. To understand how your own personal data is processed you may need to refer to any personal communications you have received, check any privacy notices that ELT has provided or contact ELT to ask about your personal circumstances.

ELT processes personal data where we have a legitimate interest in it to enable us to provide assessment services, to report assessment results to those with a legitimate interest in them, to conduct assessment analysis and research, and to maintain our accounts and records.

ELT is committed to making all reasonable efforts to ensure that your privacy is protected. Should we ask you to provide certain personal data by which you can be identified when using our websites, then you can be assured that it will only be used in accordance with this privacy policy.

ELT may change this policy from time to time by updating this page. You should check this page from time to time to ensure that you are agree with any changes.

Description of Processing 

The following is a broad description of the way ELT collects and process personal data. To understand how your own personal data is processed you may need to refer to any personal communications you have received, check any privacy notices that ELT has provided or contact ELT to ask about your personal circumstances.

ELT processes personal data where we have a legitimate interest in it to enable us to provide assessment services, to report assessment results to those with a legitimate interest in them, to conduct assessment analysis and research, to maintain our accounts and records and to support and manage our employees, contractors, suppliers, distributors, agents and clients.

Personal data and other information we collect and process

We process personal data and other information relevant to the above purposes. This may include the following (usually the first four listed for those taking an assessment):

• Name
• Date of birth.
• Proof of identity document type and details such as its number.
• Native language.
• Photographs and other biometric characteristics.
• Video recordings of testing sessions.
• Qualifications
• Gender
• Postal and email addresses and other contact details.
• Nationality and/ or citizenship.
• Country of residency.
• Occupation and job title.
• Employment and education details and history.
• Information required for visa and other applications.
• Demographic information such as postcode, preferences and interests and other information relevant to customer surveys and/or offers.

We may also process sensitive personal data:

• Medical information supplied those applying to take an assessment in order to obtain special assessment conditions.
• Medical information supplied by employees or contractors relevant to their work.

This personal and sensitive personal data is that of persons:

• Who apply to take, or have taken, an assessment provided by, or through, ELT.
• Who are current, past or potential employees, contractors, suppliers or customers.

In the case of persons who have completed an assessment provided by, or through, ELT, the assessment results achieved by the persons will also be held.

ELT processing of personal data:

• Administer assessments and score to give assessment results.
• Review applications, assessments and results for fraud detection purposes.
• Share the relevant personal data from applications, assessments, results and fraud reviews with those with a legitimate interest including the purchaser or user of the assessment, the person and representatives of the person whose personal data we are processing, our contractors, law enforcement agencies, when required to by law, and with those that that use or recognise ELT’s assessment results including educational institutions, commercial and other organisations, ELT’s test centres, government (including visa processing authorities) and professional bodies. Please be aware that this sharing may involve a transfer (usually by the purchaser or user of the assessment accessing test results) of personal data (including sensitive personal data) outside the United Kingdom and persons taking an assessment give their consent to this personal data sharing and (possible) transfer. ELT and their contractors process personal data within the United Kingdom with the exception of some processes related to test marking and online invigilation.
• Use applications, assessments, results and fraud reviews for research, statistical and training purposes and for the development of our assessments, services and systems.
• Manage ELT’s internal business operations.
• Share the relevant personal data of ELT’s employees and contractors (current, past and potential) with ELT’s contractors providing business services such as server hosting, training, payroll and pensions. ELT and their contractors generally process personal data within the United Kingdom, though at times some processes may take place in the European Economic Area.
• Inform and give information on the services ELT provides, on events and on opportunities to work with ELT and to conduct market research.
• Improve our products and services and to customise our websites according to interests.

ELT consider un-anonymised personal data from applications, assessments and results confidential and in only in exceptional circumstances (such as when fraud is suspected) will make this available to any party except the purchaser, user or recogniser of the assessment or as directed by them, and our contractors when necessary.

Note that for an assessment invigilated online by ELT’s contractor, the contractor will also collect personal data and share this with ELT and other parties as allowed by their privacy policy.

ELT and their contractors will retain personal data for as long as ELT and/ or others parties (such as the purchaser of assessments) have a reasonable legitimate interest in that data.

Security

We are committed to ensuring that your personal data is secure and protected by design and default. In order to prevent unauthorised access, alteration, deletion or disclosure, we have put in place suitable physical, electronic and managerial procedures to safeguard and secure your personal data.

We will not sell or lease your personal data or other information to third parties.

Purchasers and other users of assessments should be aware that your personal data may be shared with other with a legitimate interest as described above.

ELT initially process personal data within the United Kingdom although as described above at times a it may be transferred outside of the United Kingdom.

When processing or sharing personal data ELT comply with the United Kingdom’s UK GDPR (General Data Protection Regulation) and DPA (Data Protection Act) 2018 as applicable.

Cookies

A cookie is a small file stored by a website on a computer’s hard drive. ELT’s websites do not use cookies except those necessary to enable taking a Password online test, and those of Google Analytics which store non-personally identifiable information.

Links to other websites

Our websites may contain links to other websites of interest. However, once you have used these links to leave our sites, you should note that we do not have any control over that other website. Therefore, we cannot be responsible for the protection and privacy of any personal data which you provide whilst visiting such sites and such sites are not governed by this privacy statement. You should exercise caution and look at the privacy statement applicable to the website in question.

Contact us

If you wish to contact us please write to us at English Language Testing Ltd, Great West House, Great West Road, Brentford TW8 9DF UK.

You may request details of personal data which we hold about you. If you would like a copy of your personal data held by ELT please write to us at the above address. You will need to prove your identity and a charge may be made.

If you believe that any personal data we hold on you is incorrect or incomplete, please write to us as soon as possible at the above address, giving details of what you believe needs correcting. You will need to prove your identity. We will correct anything found to be incorrect.