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Photo courtesy of the Ministry of Public Education (MEP).

New AI English Test Launched In Costa Rica Schools



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Published on Wednesday, August 6, 2025
By the A.M. Costa Rica staff

The Ministry of Public Education (MEP) has introduced a new standardized exam to assess the English proficiency of students in the country’s public Experimental Bilingual High Schools. The test targets 10th and 11th graders and marks a significant step toward improving language education nationwide.


The new exam, known as the Automated Writing Assessment (AWA-UCR), is the first of its kind in Costa Rica. It was developed by the Foreign Language Assessment Program at the University of Costa Rica’s School of Modern Languages (UCR).


What sets this assessment apart is its use of artificial intelligence to evaluate students' written responses. The AI system analyzes grammar, vocabulary, punctuation, and overall coherence, drawing on a database of thousands of sample essays for reference.





“This is the only program of its kind developed by a university in Latin America,” said Carlos Araya-Leandro, rector of UCR. "The software will be provided free of charge to the Ministry of Education." UCR will donate 1,000 licenses for use in selected schools, with each one valued at approximately $30.


The assessment will be administered from August 4 to 14 across 24 public high schools. Each school will select an average of 50 students, totaling around 1,000 participants. Only students in 10th and 11th grade will take the test.


Test results will be evaluated using the Common European Framework of Reference for Languages (CEFR), a widely recognized international standard that categorizes English proficiency levels from A1 (beginner) to C1 (advanced fluency).


Education officials emphasize that strong English skills are increasingly important for young people seeking academic and professional opportunities in a global economy.


MEP is the government agency in charge of overseeing the public education system, implementing plans, programs, and other actions to provide basic, public, and free general education.

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Are students in your community getting the support they need to learn English? We would like to know your thoughts on this story. Send your comments to news@amcostarica.com


 








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