Azerbaijan, Kazakhstan, Kyrgyzstan, Turkiye and Uzbekistan have agreed to establish a unified English-language proficiency test called ETOTS (English Test for Turkic States).

Axar.az reports, citing Minval, that a memorandum of understanding was signed by the national testing centres of the five countries at the international conference “Admission Examinations in a Rapidly Changing World” in Astana.

The initiative envisages common approaches to developing exam questions, conducting tests, assessing language proficiency and recognising results across participating countries.

Plans also include secure computer-based testing, psychometric quality checks of exam questions and mechanisms for mutual recognition of results.

Kazakhstan’s National Testing Centre Director Nursеit Baizhanov said ETOTS would help strengthen trust between the education systems of Turkic states and expand opportunities for academic mobility.

The new exam will not replace existing international English-language tests but will serve as an additional regional assessment tool.

The memorandum is also open to national assessment organisations from other Turkic states.