We believe that through learning, people have the opportunity to make a difference in their lives and in the world — and that research, assessment, and measurement have valuable roles in helping everyone chart their unique paths to new possibilities.

It was this very notion that brought members of the American Council on Education, the Carnegie Foundation for the Advancement of Teaching, and the College Entrance Examination Board together to form ETS in 1947. They felt that an independent, nonprofit organization devoted to educational research and assessment could expand opportunities for learners of all income and social status levels through more informed, objective methods for evaluation.

The commitment to fairness inspired our creation lives on today through our mission to advance quality and equity in education worldwide. Our mission informs the core values of equity and opportunity, quality, integrity, and social responsibility that are the basis of our decisions and behavior — and it is brought to life every day by the dedicated work of our employees.

By the research scientists who ensure our tests are fair, valid, and reliable, and never stop pursuing better ways to help individuals learn, develop and measure skills to be successful in education and beyond.