EnglishScore

What EnglishScore does

EnglishScore, operated by BC EnglishScore Limited (incorporated in England and Wales, headquartered at 1 Redman Place, Stratford, London), is a British Council-affiliated mobile English proficiency assessment platform launched in 2020. It delivers the world's only mobile, proctored four-skills English test — Core Skills (grammar, vocabulary, reading, listening), Speaking, and Writing — via iOS and Android applications, using adaptive item branching, AI-and-human hybrid scoring, photo-check identity verification, and CEFR-aligned output across A2–C1 with a granular 0–599 scale. Test results are issued as British Council EnglishScore Professional Certificates in digital ($24.99) or printed ($49.99) form.

Commercial monetisation operates across three B2B/B2G platform surfaces — EnglishScore for Business (employer recruitment and workforce benchmarking via dashboards), EnglishScore for Universities (placement, admissions, and co-branded certificates under the Approved Partner Programme), and EnglishScore for Governments (staff assessment, scholarship programmes, and national testing initiatives) — alongside direct-to-consumer certificate purchases. The platform has been deployed at named customers including Health Education England (NHS), Caterpillar, Piramal, Teleperformance, multiple Indonesian ministries (Education; Tourism and Creative Economy), KT Corporation, NASSCOM FutureSkills, FICCI, CONIF (Brazil), and dozens of universities across Taiwan, Thailand, Indonesia, India, and Brazil.

The company operates with a globally distributed team of approximately 55 staff across 17 countries and 4 continents, has reached over 10 million test-takers across 150+ countries, and reports 50,000+ active certificate holders. Its governance and product validity are anchored by a research partnership with CRELLA (Centre for Research in English Language Learning and Assessment) at the University of Bedfordshire. EnglishScore is geo-restricted from operating in Iran and Russia due to British Council designations.

Name

EnglishScore

Legal name

BC EnglishScore Limited

Website

https://englishscore.com

Company type

Private

Founded year

2019

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

51–100 employees

Short description

EnglishScore is the British Council-affiliated mobile English proficiency assessment platform delivering the world's only mobile four-skills CEFR-aligned test to employers, universities, governments, and individual job-seekers across 150+ countries.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

English Language Proficiency Assessment

NAICS

Exam Preparation and Tutoring (611691), Educational Support Services (611710)

SIC

Services-Educational Services (8200), Services-Prepackaged Software (7372)

akta.pro primary industry

Language Proficiency Exam Prep (CEFR, TOEFL, IELTS, Duolingo English Test, PTE) (EDANACAD)

akta.pro secondary industries

Secure Browser, Device Lockdown & Exam Security Tools (EDAFADAI), Language Assessment, Placement Testing & Proficiency Certification Tools (EDAFAOAH)

Keywords

• Mobile English testing
• Language proficiency assessment
• English certification platform
• CEFR aligned testing
• AI language evaluation

Headquarters

HQ city

London

HQ country

United Kingdom

HQ region

Europe

Offices1 record

Markets served

GTM type

B2B and B2C

Offering type

Software

Cost components

Technology or R&D, Personnel, Marketing or Sales, Operations

Revenue model

1. Professional Certificate Purchase: Individual test-takers purchase professional certificates to prove their English level to employers. Two tiers: digital certificate ($24.99) and printed couriered certificate ($49.99). Over 50,000 people already using EnglishScore certificate.
2. Organisation Test Licenses: Businesses purchase bulk test licenses to screen candidates' English proficiency for recruitment or measure staff English levels for training development. Quick purchase option allows buying test licenses upfront. Results shared to employer dashboard using unique code.
3. University Partnership Programme: Educational institutions join Approved Partner Programme to test students and issue co-branded certificates. Institutions pay for testing services while providing students with recognised credentials.
4. Government Testing Contracts: Government departments purchase EnglishScore testing for staff assessment, scholarship programmes, or national English proficiency testing initiatives. Suitable for testing thousands of employees/citizens simultaneously.

Pricing tiers

Go-to-market motion3 records

Distribution channels5 records

Marketing channels9 records

Core offering

EnglishScore is a mobile-delivered English proficiency testing and certification platform that assesses grammar, vocabulary, reading, listening, speaking and writing via AI-powered adaptive tests with mobile proctoring. It awards CEFR-aligned British Council certificates to individual test-takers and provides bulk testing, dashboards, and co-branded certificates to employers, universities, and governments.

Product overview

EnglishScore is a unified mobile English testing and certification platform built by the British Council. The core portfolio consists of three distinct test products—the Core Skills Test (grammar, vocabulary, reading, listening), Speaking Test, and Writing Test—delivered via mobile app and collectively forming the world's only recognised four-skills mobile English assessment. These tests feed into the Professional Certificate offering, which provides verifiable proof of English proficiency. The platform serves three distinct market segments through dedicated interfaces: EnglishScore for Business (employer recruitment and staff development), EnglishScore for Universities (student admissions and certification), and EnglishScore for Governments (workforce assessment and scholarship programmes). Institutions can join the Approved Partner Programme to issue co-branded certificates at scale.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Brands

• EnglishScore for Business: B2B platform for employers to screen and assess employee English proficiency
• EnglishScore for Universities
• EnglishScore for Governments
• Approved Partner Programme
• EnglishScore Tutors

Products and services

• EnglishScore Core Skills Test A secure mobile English proficiency test measuring grammar, vocabulary, reading comprehension, and listening comprehension using adaptive technology and automated marking, providing CEFR levels from A2 to C1 with granular scores from 0-599.
• EnglishScore Speaking Test The world's only mobile English Speaking Test that measures global workplace communication skills using a combination of AI and human marking, with results available within 24 hours.
• EnglishScore Writing Test The world's only mobile English Writing Test for the digital workplace that assesses writing skills including language, text organisation, and communication appropriateness using AI and human scoring.
• EnglishScore Professional Certificate A globally recognised British Council certificate available in digital format ($24.99) or printed format ($49.99), featuring photo verification, employer verification ID, password protection, and watermarking.
• EnglishScore for Business (Employer Dashboard) B2B platform enabling employers to remotely screen candidates' English proficiency, view verified scores with in-test photos, and manage employee assessments through an employer dashboard.
• EnglishScore for Universities Platform for higher education institutions to issue co-branded English certificates to graduating students, with integrated testing and certification for admissions and exit exams.
• EnglishScore for Governments Government-focused solution enabling affordable and accessible mobile English testing for staff assessment, scholarship programmes, and hiring requirements with secure dashboard results management.
• EnglishScore Approved Partner Programme Partnership programme granting universities and institutions authority to test students and issue co-branded British Council EnglishScore certificates.

Quantifiable outcome

• Over 10 million people have taken EnglishScore tests worldwide
• +4 more outcomes

Named customers17 records

Segments4 records

Ideal customer profiles4 records

Technology focussed Yes

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Integration1 record

AI capability8 records

Feature9 records

Partnerships

Twelve partnerships are on record, tiered flagship and core.

• Indonesian Ministry of Education, Culture, Research and TechnologyflagshipStrategic or Co-development Partner · 17 July 2022Ministry partnership to test over 2000 teachers. Ministry recognises EnglishScore as suitable proof for scholarship programmes and hiring requirements. Partnership for national education improvement.
• NASSCOM (FutureSkills)flagshipStrategic or Co-development Partner · 19 April 2022British Council partnership with FutureSkills, a NASSCOM reskilling initiative in India. Partnership announced November 20, 2019 to support English proficiency assessment for Indian workforce.
• Universitas 17 Agustus 1945 JakartacoreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 April 2022MoU signing to assess students' English level and improve employability. Partnership to integrate EnglishScore testing into university programmes.
• Universitas Mahakarya AsiacoreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 April 2022Joint MoU signing for English proficiency assessment partnership with Indonesian university.
• Universitas Bandar LampungcoreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 April 2022MoU signing to assess students' English level and improve employability outcomes.
• Universitas Pembangunan Jaya (UPJ)coreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 April 2022Forward-thinking private university in Indonesia partnering for student English assessment and workforce preparation.
• KT CorporationflagshipStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 April 2022Tech-first partnership for English language testing in Korea. Partnership brings innovative mobile English testing solution to Korean market.
• FICCIflagshipGTM or Marketing Partner · 1 January 2022Collaboration with Federation of Indian Chambers of Commerce and Industry (FICCI) to help students certify English proficiency. Part of initiatives to enhance employability of Indian graduates.
• CONIF (Brazil)flagshipStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 January 2022National Council for Federal Network of Vocational, Scientific, and Technological Education in Brazil joined Approved Partner Programme. Rolling out EnglishScore to Institutos Federais network including IFRJ and IFRO for internationalisation and employment support.
• Indonesian Ministry of Tourism and Creative EconomyflagshipStrategic or Co-development Partner · 17 July 2021Collaboration with Ministry for online workshop addressing Indonesia's aspiring graduates on future hospitality and tourism careers. Minister Sandiaga Uno participated in event.
• Health Education EnglandflagshipStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 July 2020Partnership for pre-employment English testing for NHS recruitment. EnglishScore used to screen candidates' English proficiency as part of healthcare hiring process in England.
• CRELLA (Centre for Research in English Language Learning and Assessment)coreStrategic or Co-development PartnerEnglishScore works with CRELLA at University of Bedfordshire, the leading centre for language test research and development, to develop and monitor test performance. CRELLA conducts ongoing research to ensure test validity and accuracy.

Scale indicators7 records

Recent moves6 records

Expansion highlights6 records

Direct peers

• LanguageCert: LanguageCert (PeopleCert group) issues CEFR-aligned English qualifications for academic, professional and migration use, with computer-based and online delivery. It competes with EnglishScore in the international certification and institutional testing segment.
• Cambridge Linguaskill: Cambridge's Linguaskill is a modular, AI-driven online English test targeting businesses and higher education institutions for recruitment, placement and exit testing — directly competing with EnglishScore for Business and Universities.
• EF Standard English Test (EF SET): EF SET is a free, online CEFR-aligned English proficiency test offered by EF Education First. It directly competes with EnglishScore's free Core Skills test and certificate in the same mass-market test-taker audience.
• Duolingo English Test: Duolingo's online English proficiency test is the most direct competitor: AI-powered, on-demand, taken on a personal device (computer/phone), and accepted by thousands of institutions globally. Closely overlaps with EnglishScore's mobile-first, AI-scored positioning.
• Pearson PTE Academic: Pearson's PTE Academic is a fully AI-scored four-skills English proficiency test accepted for university admissions, work visas and professional registration. Direct competitor in the AI-scored English assessment category targeting similar test-taker and institutional segments.

Broad incumbents

• Kaplan International: Kaplan is a large incumbent in English language training and test preparation, offering IELTS/TOEFL prep courses and pathway programmes. Overlaps with EnglishScore's higher education customer base and English learning demand.
• ETS TOEFL iBT: TOEFL is the dominant English proficiency test globally, administered by ETS. It is the gold standard for university admissions and US immigration, competing head-to-head with EnglishScore in any institution deciding which English test to accept.
• IELTS: IELTS is jointly owned by the British Council, IDP and Cambridge Assessment, and is the most widely accepted English proficiency test worldwide. Notably, EnglishScore's parent brand (British Council) is also a co-owner of IELTS, creating an unusual competitive relationship.

Others

• Pearson VUE (OnVUE): Pearson VUE operates the world's largest network of test centres and offers online proctoring (OnVUE) for high-stakes exams. Adjacent peer as the dominant third-party proctoring infrastructure provider that EnglishScore's mobile-proctored model competes against.
• Prometric: Prometric is a global test delivery and proctoring infrastructure provider that powers many high-stakes exams including TOEFL and GRE. Relevant as an enabler/competitor in the assessment infrastructure layer that EnglishScore also operates in (mobile proctoring).

Market position

Strengths5 records

Weaknesses5 records

Competitive moat5 records

Key risks7 records

Key highlights7 records

Customer concentration

• YouTubeyoutube.com/@BritishCouncilEnglishScore
• LinkedInlinkedin.com/jobs/englishscore-jobs-worldwide

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles4 records

Funding overview

Funding rounds

Investors

Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

M&A

Investments

M&A and investment is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

Frequently asked questions about EnglishScore