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ASTANA, KAZAKHSTAN and PRINCETON, NJ, USA (November 6, 2025) – The Ministry of Science and Higher Education of the Republic of Kazakhstan, and ETS, a global education and talent solutions organization, announced today a landmark partnership to transform the country’s Unified National Test (UNT)—the nation’s gateway to higher education.

“This partnership marks a defining moment for Kazakhstan’s future,” said Sayasat Nurbek, Minister of Science and Higher Education, Republic of Kazakhstan. “By transforming our Unified National Test with the world-class expertise of ETS, we are opening new doors for our youth and setting a powerful example for nations everywhere. Working collaboratively with universities and schools, we are building a globally competitive pathway to higher education: one that will empower our students, strengthen our society, and inspire progress far beyond our borders.”

For more than twenty years, the Unified National Test has played a central role in university admissions across Kazakhstan, supporting access for students from every region and background. Now, leveraging the global expertise of ETS in the science of measurement, the UNT is being transformed to evaluate not only academic achievement, but the essential skills needed for success in work and life.

What This Means for Kazakhstan:

• Empowering the Next Generation: The development of new skills-based tests will equip Kazakh students with the competencies demanded by the global economy.
• Strengthening National Competitiveness: By aligning admissions with international human capital, skill and training needs in growing industries, Kazakhstan is positioning itself as a leader in education and innovation, attracting investment, talent, and global recognition.
• Promoting Fairness: The redesigned UNT will offer flexible test combinations, a unified score report, and equal opportunities for all applicants—regardless of school, region, or language.

“ETS is proud to bring our expertise in assessment as well as global vision to Kazakhstan,” said Amit Sevak, CEO of ETS. “This collaboration demonstrates the power of working together across borders to advance educational opportunity and excellence while serving as a model for countries everywhere.”

ETS Innovations at Work:

• AI-Powered Assessment: ETS will leverage its innovations in adaptive testing, automated scoring, and intelligent analytics to promote greater fairness, reliability, and transparency throughout the assessment process.
• Evidence-Based Design: All assessments will be built on the latest psychometric science, ensuring validity and trust for students, universities, and employers worldwide.
• Global Knowledge Exchange: Kazakh specialists will participate in research internships at ETS, fostering international collaboration and joint innovation in educational measurement and AI.

The Ministry of Science and Higher Education of the Republic of Kazakhstan and ETS are committed to working together to ensure that the transformation of the UNT reflects the needs and aspirations of students, educators, and universities throughout Kazakhstan and beyond. Throughout this process, both organizations will prioritize openness and transparency, providing clear communication and ample time for all stakeholders to understand and prepare for upcoming changes.

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About ETS

ETS is a global education and talent solutions organization enabling lifelong learners to be future ready. Our mission – advancing the science of measurement to power human progress – ensures our focus to enable everyone, everywhere, to demonstrate their skills and chart their path to future readiness for life. We are committed to readying 100M+ people for the next generation of jobs by 2035. We deliver on this commitment through trusted assessments and skills solutions – including TOEFL, TOEIC, GRE, Praxis and Futurenav – and groundbreaking initiatives powered by our Research Institute. With a robust global footprint, including subsidiaries (PSI), offices and operations in more than 200 countries and territories, we help over 50 million individuals each year measure their proficiency and unlock new opportunities. Discover how we expand our worldwide impact: www.ets.org