The shift to online assessment in the wake of the COVID-19 pandemic has achieved many efficiencies, enabling institutions to test students’ English proficiency cost-effectively and at scale, wherever they are in the world.
But it’s also brought with it concerns about identity fraud, with research showing that 1 in 7 students globally have attempted to cheat on online assessments (International Center for Academic Integrity, 2022). For high-stakes tests, airtight ID verification is essential to protecting both the integrity of the test and the reputation of the institution. That’s why we’ve partnered with TrustID to add an extra layer of security to our renowned Oxford ELLT for visa and university admission. Let’s take a look at how this will benefit your institution.
Why TrustID?
As a UK-based, certified Digital Verification Service (DVS) with ten years in the game, TrustID is trusted across public and private sectors. As partners, we’re in good company – they’re also used by over 120 NHS Trusts, nearly 100 universities, 900 recruitment agents and numerous big brands. “We process 250,000 documents a month,” say TrustID. “The breadth of documents and scale gives us a huge base to support our ongoing learning and continue to build our knowledge of trends and emerging risks.”
More importantly, we were looking for a partner who could provide a robust, scalable ID checking solution using both technology and human intervention. TrustID could deliver on that, automatically validating documents to the highest standards – quickly detecting forgeries, checking security features under various light spectrums and comparing data against databases – while also employing a human team to provide an added layer of defence and to step in when a candidate fails a check, always returning a definitive answer.
As TrustID explain: “We offer a unique combination of leading technology and human experts. Adding in a human eye also adds another dimension on checks, adapting to fraud tactics and applying judgement.”
How it works
With TrustID on board, there’s a simple step-by-step process to the layered defences now bringing added confidence to our Oxford ELLT results. Here’s how that process unfolds.
1. Student uploads their documents
The student registers for Oxford ELLT as part of this, their ID and images are checked with Trust ID. The process is simple: students upload a copy of their passport and a photo of themselves, following clear, easy-to-understand instructions designed for international learners of all English levels.
This process is quick and seamless for students. Once they’ve uploaded a photo and taken a selfie the verification happens automatically in the background while they continue with their test. The Oxford ELLT portal operates around the clock, ensuring that students can complete their test whenever it suits them.
2. Passport and face-likeness checks
The TrustID verification system uses a multi-layered protection approach that combines advanced AI and biometric technology with expert human judgment. This sophisticated process detects and prevents impersonation and deepfakes, providing confidence that each student is exactly who they claim to be.
Behind the scenes, TrustID then uses Optical Character Recognition (OCR) technology to automatically extract information from the Machine Readable Zone (MRZ) of the document, rapidly reading names, dates of birth, document numbers and other key details to aid in validation. Technology scans formatting and security features for anomalies, as well as checking to see whether the document is present on watchlists.
From there, TrustID carries out all secure verification checks automatically in the background. The student doesn’t need to take any further action as the system confirms their identity and securely sends the results straight to the Oxford ELLT portal for review.
3. Document review by experts (if needed)
If the system has flagged anything unusual or can’t confidently verify a document, an expert human team steps in to review the document manually. They’ll escalate it to senior analysts if they suspect fraud, and it will be cross-checked by multiple reviewers to ensure nothing gets missed. This human intervention ensures both efficiency and accuracy.
4. Confirmation
Once verification is complete, TrustID sends results directly to the Oxford ELLT portal, where administrators can securely review outcomes. This all happens while we carry out the final verification and moderation of results, ensuring a robust and trustworthy end-to-end process for both institutions and test takers.
What this means for your institution
Our TrustID partnership is great news for our institution partners, as it means faster turnaround times for you, with most ELLT checks completed within 1 hour. Not only that, but its multiple fraud prevention layers mean you can be even more confident in the results. Indeed, studies show that remote ID verification can cut enrolment fraud by up to 70% (UK National Fraud Intelligence Bureau, 2023).
Auditing adds further reassurance. “Completed checks are continuously audited to check the results are up to standard,” say TrustID. “If a document is suspected to be fraudulent, it is checked by two or more senior analysts.” Risk is further reduced by continuous fraud trend monitoring and watchlists.
Built-in trust
With TrustID on board, our Oxford ELLT is now more than just secure: it’s securely built for scale, trust and global confidence. And it’s just the latest step in our commitment to safeguarding academic integrity to protect learners, institutions and the reputation of UK higher education. Contact us to find out more about partnering with us and the reassurance this offers your institution.
