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Privacy and Security

ETS recognizes the importance of protecting your privacy. This Privacy Notice describes our practices related to personal information privacy and security.

ETS has a global privacy program to protect all "Personal Information." Personal Information is any information that we can use to identify you (such as your name, username or identification number) or contact you (such as your email address or telephone number). Personal Information includes other types of information (such as test scores or demographic data) when that information is associated with your Personal Information.

 

Privacy Notice

This Privacy Notice describes our practices with respect to Personal Information we collect via "Websites." The term "Website" includes all ETS websites, platforms and applications that collect Personal Information from you. It also describes our practices with respect to Personal Information collected in other ways, such as when you register for and take ETS tests, or when we receive information from a school or test center administrator. If you are a test taker, additional information about privacy and security is included in many of the ETS Test Bulletins.

By using an ETS Website or otherwise providing us with Personal Information, you agree to our privacy terms. You can contact us at any time with questions or concerns about privacy by sending an email to etsinfo@ets.org or by writing to us at the addresses in the Contact section below.

Within this Privacy Notice, you will find information about:

In most cases, we do not knowingly collect Personal Information directly from children under the age of 16 on our Websites. Parents and schools may use our Websites to create accounts for children, such as registering them for tests. We encourage parents and teachers to spend time online with children and to monitor their online activities. If you believe that a child has created an account on our Website, please contact us to have the account deactivated by sending us an email at etsinfo@ets.org or by calling us at 1-609-921-9000.

ETS does provide parents and teachers with the ability to download certain apps that they and their children or students can use for educational purposes, such as to improve reading fluency. Some of these apps are intended for use by children under 13.

When children use these apps, ETS may collect the child's first name or nickname, age or grade in school, audio recordings of the child's voice when the child reads passages (or a transcript of the recording), the child's responses to questions that test skills such as reading comprehension and other data relating to the child's use of the app, such as how long the child spends using the app. Our apps do not collect any other Personal Information and they do not use cookies or other data-collection technologies.

ETS anonymizes the information collected by its educational apps and uses the information for research purposes. ETS does not maintain identifiable data about children, and children cannot make their own data publicly available via the apps. ETS does not (and will not permit any third party to) associate identifying information with research data.

Parents and teachers can review and delete the child's information at any time in the app. Parents and teachers can restrict ETS's collection of additional information at any time by deleting the app. Parents or teachers who have questions about how ETS handles children's data may contact ETS by sending us an email at etsinfo@ets.org or by calling us at 1-609-921-9000.

The chart below describes the categories of personal information we collect, the sources of that information, the reasons we collect it, and the types of people to whom we may disclose the information.  Please note that we may use and disclose any personal information for our “Everyday Business Purposes”* as permitted by law.  We may disclose any personal information to our affiliates and to the service providers and contractors that need to use the information to provide services to us. We have contracts with these companies that require them to protect our information and to comply with law.  We may also use and disclose any information when required by law, such as to law enforcement agencies or in connection with litigation, or with your consent.

Contact Information
Representative Data Elements
  • You name, previous names and preferred names
  • Business or residential mailing address
  • Email address
  • Work, home or mobile telephone numbers 
Sources We collect this information from individuals, such as when they sign up for emails or register for tests.  We collect this information about professionals from  services that provide sales leads and publicly available sources, such as LinkedIn.  
Additional Purposes for Collecting We use contact information to identify you and communicate with you. Contact information is also used to personalize our communications, such as by using your preferred name.
Additional Categories of Recipients We disclose contact information to our service providers, contractors and others, such as couriers and telecommunications providers who delivery our communications.
Government-issued Identification Numbers
Representative Data Elements
  • Social security number in the US or national ID number outside the US
  • Tax ID number
Sources We collect this information from you.
Purposes for Collecting We use this type of information for identity verification and legal compliance, such as reporting payments made to suppliers as required by law.
Categories of Recipients We disclose this information to service providers and contractors and others, such as payment processors, auditors and government agencies.
Other Unique Identifiers
Representative Data Elements
  • System identifiers (e.g., usernames or online credentials)
  • Device identifiers
  • Advertising identifiers 
Sources We may assign a unique identification number to you when you become a customer or a supplier.  We collect device identifiers and other unique identifiers from your devices and from our websites, apps and platforms, which use cookies and other data collection technologies.
Purposes for Collecting We use unique identifiers to identify you or your device, including to associate you with different devices that you may use, for internal record-keeping and reporting, including for data matching and analytics, and to track your interactions with us, including for ad delivery and personalization.
Categories of Recipients We disclose these identifiers to our service providers, contractors and others, such as entities that assist with our information technology programs (such as website hosting companies) or administer promotions.  We may also disclose these identifiers to auditors and companies that assist with security and fraud prevention.  Advertising identifiers are shared with third parties as part of our online advertising programs.
Biometric Identifiers  
Representative Data Elements
  • Fingerprint, voice print, or physical or behavioral characteristics used for identity verification or authentication
  • Mathematical representation of your biometric identifier, such as the template maintained for comparison
Sources We collect this information from you when you take an ETS test.  
Purposes for Collecting

Where permitted by law, ETS uses biometric identifiers to identify and authenticate test takers and test center administrators. ETS collects digital photographs and digital voice recordings, and coverts these samples into mathematical representations called templates, which can be compared to the templates previously collected by ETS and to templates created from your government-issued identification documents.

ETS also collects behavioral biometrics for test security in connection with online tests. For example, when you complete written portions of an online test, we may analyze keystroke patterns and other behavioral characteristics to help verify your identity and authenticate you based on these patterns. 

ETS uses biometric identifiers solely to support test security and integrity and for related purposes (such prosecution of fraud or intellectual property theft).
Categories of Recipients We [may]disclose biometric identifiers to our service providers, contractors and others, such as cybersecurity firms, law firms or government agencies, if we detect misconduct.
Additional Information Our Biometric Information Privacy Policy provides additional information about our use of biometric identifiers.
Relationship Information
Representative Data Elements

We collect relationship information to help us do business with you and to support ETS Research. For example:

  • For test takers, we collect the types of tests that you want to take, your school affiliation, expected degree and graduation date, and similar information to help us offer you personalized content as well as demographic data, such as language(s) spoken, which helps support ETS Research.
  • For professionals, we collect your credentials and affiliations and the products and services that may interest you or your school.
  • For test center administrators, this may include information about your relationship with your test center and the tests you administer.

Platforms such as GradSchoolMatch or GRE Search Service, may collect additional relationship information to help match students with educational programs, fellowships, scholarships and similar offerings.
Sources We collect this type of information from you and from other sources, such as publicly available information about you from social media platforms. We may collect additional information from partners or by inferring information about you based on your past interactions with us or our partners.
Purposes for Collecting We use this type of information to better understand you and to understand our customers generally, to design products, services and programs that appeal to our customers, to identify prospective customers and for internal business purposes, such as marketing, quality control, training and analytics.
Categories of Recipients

We disclose this information to our service providers and contractors.  We disclose this information to other entities with your consent, such as when you direct us to send score reports or if you enroll in a Search Service.

While we do not sell consumer information for monetary consideration, your information may be also be shared as permitted by law, such as with third parties as part of our online advertising programs.
Transaction Information
Representative Data Elements Transaction information includes all customer and supplier account information, qualification data, purchase history and related records, such as:
  • Test registration records, test administration records, order information about your use of our content (such as if you access your scores online, use test prep material or complete surveys), customer or test center administrator account information (such as if you email us for support) and payment card information as needed to process your payments
  • Records related to downloads and use of our websites and apps
  • Records related to financial, health or religious accommodation requests 
  • Customer service records
  • Logs, such as visitor logs, server logs, and similar records
Sources

We collect this type of information from you and from our service providers and contractors and from other companies, such as our payment processors, test center administrators, resellers or agents. 

We may collect this information automatically when you visit our facilities our use our websites or apps.  For example, our apps automatically log access requests, downloads and other transactions.
Purposes for Collecting We use this type of information to fulfill our business relationship with you and/or your company, including administering tests, for customer service, recordkeeping, compliance, and dispute resolution. We also use this information for our internal business purposes, such as research, finance, quality control, training, reporting and analytics, and for risk management, fraud prevention and similar purposes.
Additional Categories of Recipients We disclose transaction information to our service providers, contractors and others, such as to other entities as needed to complete the transaction, including unaffiliated test center administrators, and to our auditors, financial institutions, and government agencies.  If you are a professional, we may disclose this information to the institution that employs you. We disclose this information to other entities with your consent, such as when you direct us to send score reports or if you enroll in a Search Service.
Financial information
Representative Data Elements
  • Bank account number and details
  • Payment card information

If you request a fee waiver, fee reduction or scholarship, we may collect additional about your financial situation.
Sources We collect this type of information from you and from our service providers, financial institutions and payment processors.
Purposes for Collecting We use financial information to fulfill our business relationship with you, such as processing payments, issuing refunds and collections, and for internal business purposes, such as finance functions, audits, fraud prevention and compliance.
Categories of Recipients We disclose financial information to our service providers, contractors and others, such as payment processors, financial institutions, auditors and government agencies.
Health Information
Representative Data Elements
  • Information needed to accommodate disabilities
  • Information about workplace accidents and occupational safety
Sources We collect health information from you if you need assistance testing or accessing our products, services or facilities. We may collect this heath information from you and from others in connection with a workplace accident.
Purposes for Collecting We use health data to accommodate disabilities and enable accessibility of our products, services and facilities, and for occupational health and safety programs and other internal business purposes, such as risk management and compliance.
Categories of Recipients We disclose health information to our service providers, contractors and others, such as healthcare providers, insurers, first responders (in the event of an emergency), or government agencies.  We may also disclose health information to others if needed to provide you with an accommodation.
Additional Information Please read the ETS Consumer Health Data Privacy Policy for information about how we handle “consumer health data” subject to the Washington My Health My Data Act.
Online & Technical Information
Please read our statement about Cookies & Other Data Collection Technologies for additional information.
Representative Data Elements
  • IP address
  • Device information and identifiers
  • System and server logs, including access logs 
  • Data from cookies, pixel tags or other online tools  
Sources We collect this type of information from your computer or devices when you interact with our platforms, websites and applications.  For example, when you visit our websites, our server logs record your IP address and other information.  We may also receive this information from third parties, including computer security services and advertising partners.
Additional Purposes for Collecting

We use technical information for system administration, technology management, including optimizing our websites and applications, and for information security and cybersecurity purposes, including detecting threats to our networks and systems. 

If you take online tests, we use the information for test integrity purposes, including to detect cheating or other misconduct.

We also use online and technical information for personalization, to better understand our customers and prospective customers and to enhance our relationship information, including by associating you with different devices and browsers, and for online targeting and advertising purposes.
Additional Categories of Recipients We may disclose this type of information to our service providers and contractors, and others such as companies that support our information technology and cybersecurity programs.  Online and Technical Information may be shared with third parties as part of our online advertising programs.
Audio Visual Information
Representative Data Elements
  • Photograph
  • Audio and video records captured during testing
  • Videoconference records, CCTV recordings
  • Call center recordings and call monitoring records
  • Voicemails  
Sources We collect this type of information from you.  We may also collect this information automatically, such as when we record calls to our call center and use CCTV cameras in our facilities.
Additional Purposes for Collecting We use this type of information as needed to provide our tests and for other internal business purposes, such as call recordings used for training, quality control, and compliance and for research.  We also use these data for security purposes and loss prevention.
Categories of Recipients We may disclose this type of information to our service providers and contractors that support our information technology, security, and loss prevention programs.
Inferred and Derived Information
Representative Data Elements
  • Propensities and attributes generated by internal analytics programs
Sources We create inferred and derived data elements by analyzing other data, such as our relationship and transactional information.
Additional Purposes for Collecting We combine inferred data with other relationship information and use this type of information to better understand you and to understand our customers generally, to identify prospective customers and for internal business purposes, such as research, test security, quality control, training and analytics.
Categories of Recipients We disclose derived information to our service providers, contractors and others, such as management consulting firms and security firms.
Compliance Data
Representative Data Elements
  • “Know your customer” records
  • Occupational and environmental safety records
  • Intellectual property protection program records
  • Records relating to complaints and internal investigations
  • Records related to the exercise of privacy rights
  • Records related to security incidents, including notifications
Sources We collect compliance data from you and from our providers, contractors, and others, such as screening companies service, investigators, legal advisors and government agencies. We may generate compliance records internally, such as when we document a workplace event.
Purposes for Collecting We use compliance data for internal governance, corporate ethics programs, institutional risk management, reporting, demonstrating compliance and accountability externally, and as needed for litigation and defense of claims.
Categories of Recipients We disclose compliance to our service providers, contractors and others, such as auditors, investigators, lawyers, advisors, government agencies and others as required by law.

 

* Everyday Business Purposes encompasses the business purposes for which any personal information may processed:
  • To provide the information, product or service requested by the individual or as reasonably expected given the context in which with the personal information was collected (such as providing customer service and preference management, providing product updates and dispute resolution)
  • For identity and credential management, including identity verification and authentication, system and technology administration
  • To protect the security and integrity of ETS’ tests, systems, networks, applications and data, including detecting, analyzing and resolving security threats, and collaborating with cybersecurity centers, consortia and law enforcement about imminent threats
  • For fraud detection and prevention,
  • For legal and regulatory compliance, including all uses and disclosures of personal information that are required by law or for reasonably needed for compliance with company policies and procedures, such as: anti-money laundering programs, security and incident response programs, intellectual property protection and anti-piracy programs, and our ethics and compliance hotlines,
  • For corporate audit, analysis and reporting,
  • To enforce our contracts and to protect against injury, theft, legal liability, fraud or abuse, to protect people or property, including physical security programs
  • To de-identify the data or create aggregated datasets, such as for consolidating reporting, research or analytics,
  • To make back-up copies for business continuity and disaster recovery purposes, and
  • For corporate governance, including mergers, acquisitions and divestitures.

We may use your Personal Information to:

  • Provide you with the products, content or services selected by you, such as to register you for and deliver tests, and send you service-related communications, such as identity verification, score delivery, customer service and account management.
  • Subject to your choices, provide you with marketing communications, surveys and offers for products and services from ETS and our partners, including personalized offers based on your interests and educational goals and to manage your communications preferences.
  • Understand how you and others use our products and platforms, for analytics and modeling and to create recommendations and insights and to understand educational trends.
  • Deliver messages and sponsored content to you from educational institutions and other partners via platforms, such as GradConnect.
  • Improve our products and services (including for test usability and design, security and research), and to identify, develop and offer new or expanded products and services.
  • Understand how you use our products, content and services, including associating you with different devices that you may use to access our content, to help personalize your experience on the Website and customize the content and/or format of the pages you visit.
  • Manage our everyday business needs, such as payment processing and financial account management, test center management, contract management, Website administration, business continuity and disaster recovery, security and fraud prevention, corporate governance, reporting and legal compliance.
  • Generate aggregate statistical studies and conduct research ourselves or jointly with others related to our products and services and the use of our Website.

We may also use your Personal Information in other ways, if you consent to those uses.

Where permitted by law, ETS collects and uses biometric identifiers to identify and authenticate test takers and test center administrators. ETS collects digital photographs and digital voice recordings, and coverts these samples into mathematical representations called templates, which can be compared to the templates previously collected by ETS and to templates created from your government-issued identification documents.

ETS also collects and uses behavioral biometrics for test security in connection with online tests. For example, when you complete written portions of an online test, we may analyze keystroke patterns and other behavioral characteristics to help verify your identity and authenticate you based on these patterns.

ETS uses these templates solely to support test security and integrity and for related purposes (such prosecution of fraud or intellectual property theft). Biometric templates are securely stored and only accessible to those individuals and entities who reasonably need access to the data in connection with investigations, compliance and security or who provide support for the biometric program. Biometric identifiers are retained for the duration of your score report (generally three years), unless a shorter period is required by law. Please see the ETS Biometric Information Privacy Policy for more information about ETS’s processing of biometric data.

To receive a copy of our Biometric Information Privacy Policy, please contact us via email at etsinfo@ets.org or write to us at the address in the “How to Contact ETS” section below.

ETS uses anonymized and pseudonymized information for various research initiatives. For example, ETS may consider how certain types of test takers (such as nonnative English speakers) respond to specific test questions. Similarly, educational apps, such as Relay Reader™, collect data to help ETS understand and improve reading skills. ETS's research initiatives reflect our commitment to fairness and equity in testing, helping to ensure that our tests are accessible and free from bias. They also seek to improve teaching, learning and assessment.

ETS may process Personal Information as needed to create de-identified datasets for research. ETS will not (and will not permit any third party to) associate identifying information with research data. Our research results do not contain any identifiable data, and research data are not used to target or profile individuals.

Learn more about ETS Research.

We will only disclose your Personal Information as follows:

  • We may disclose your Personal Information to our affiliates, who will only use your Personal Information for the purposes listed above.
  • We may disclose your Personal Information to third parties that provide services to us. For example, when you register for a test, we will provide certain registration information to third parties that administer the tests in your area. We use service providers for other functions as well, including data hosting and other business activities such as printing, mailing and/or payment processing. We require such third-party processors to use your Personal Information in accordance with our instructions, and they may not use your Personal Information for their own purposes.
  • We may disclose your Personal Information as needed to provide services to you. For example, you may instruct us to disclose your test scores to schools and others. We may also share your Personal Information with our partners, but only to the extent that you have a relationship with such partner, or you authorize the sharing. For example, we may share information with test prep providers, if you elect to use the materials or as needed to validate referrals and operate the platforms.
  • We may disclose your Personal Information with your consent. For example, if you choose to participate in our Search Services or similar programs, we will share your information with participating schools and organizations so they can communicate with you about their programs.
  • We may also disclose Personal Information in accordance with applicable law, in connection with any sale or transfer of our business or assets, to assert or defend our rights and property, or to prevent harm to others. For example, we may disclose Personal Information to third parties when we investigate claims of misconduct or other incidents that may occur in our test centers. We will also always disclose Personal Information when required to do so by law, such as in response to a subpoena, including to law enforcement agencies and courts in the United States and other countries where we operate.

Please note that we may also use and disclose information about you that is not personally identifiable. For example, we may publish reports that contain aggregated and statistical data. These reports do not contain any Personal Information.

When you register for a test online or create an account, we ask you to provide your contact details, including email address, telephone and mobile phone details. We use this information so that we can quickly provide you with information regarding the products and services you have requested.

If we have your consent (or if you have not objected), we may send other communications to you, such as surveys and information about other testing products and services. You can limit these communications at any time. To opt out of emails, simply click the link labeled "Unsubscribe" at the bottom of any email we send you. To revoke permissions that you may have given to send text messages, text STOP in response to any message. Remember, however, that we may still send emails or call you in order to provide the testing services you have purchased or otherwise requested from us.

If you have signed up for Search Service or otherwise given us permission to share your Personal Information with schools and other organizations, you can opt out at any time by contacting us via email at etsinfo@ets.org.

We also respect your right to reasonably access and correct your Personal Information, and ETS complies with all laws regarding access, correction and deletion. If you have an online account, you can log into your account at any time to access and update the information you have provided to us (with the exception of your name, gender, birthdate or Social Security number, if provided). If you need assistance updating your Personal Information or if you would like to request that we delete your information, please contact us via email at etsinfo@ets.org. Please understand that we will have to verify your identity prior to fulfilling these requests. Additionally, to help ensure the accuracy of our data, we may require appropriate evidence prior to making a change. (For example, if you wish to change your name, we will require proof that your name has been changed legally, such as a marriage certificate or court decree.)

This Website may contain links to other third-party websites. In particular, the Website may contain links to third parties that provide test preparation materials (such as Amazon® and EdX®) as well as to social media platforms, such as Facebook®, Instagram®, LinkedIn® and Twitter®. ETS does not control the privacy policies or practices of these third-party sites. You should review those policies before providing any information, including on a social media page for ETS. ETS is not responsible for the content or practices of any third-party sites, and we provide these links solely for the convenience and information of our visitors.

ETS has established safeguards to help prevent unauthorized access to or misuse of your Personal Information. These safeguards include physical, technical, organizational and administrative controls.

If you register for a Website account, you will be asked to select a password to help protect your information. These passwords help us verify your identity before granting access or making corrections to any of your Personal Information. You should never disclose your password to anyone. ETS will never ask you for your password in an unsolicited phone call or email. If you believe that your password or your account has been compromised, please contact us as soon as possible.

ETS also has an established records retention program. We retain Personal Information as needed for the purposes listed above and for any additional period of time that may be required by law. Unless the data are being retained in connection with a specific investigation, biometric templates are retained for a maximum of three years.

ETS reserves the right to update this Privacy Notice, including to respond to new laws, regulations, or technology, or for other business reasons. Please check this Website from time to time to review any such changes. Changes will become effective when posted on the Website for all Personal Information collected after the date of the change. If the changes will materially affect the way we use or disclose previously collected Personal Information, we will notify you about the change by sending a notice to the primary email address associated with your account.

ETS, its Website and its servers are located in the United States. Therefore, your information, including Personal Information, will be transferred from your location to the United States. It may also be transferred to other countries that provide processing services to ETS at the direction of ETS. However, regardless of where your Personal Information is transferred, we will protect it in accordance with this Privacy Notice.

If you have any questions or concerns about this Privacy Notice or our privacy or security practices, you may contact us by:

Email: etsinfo@ets.org
Mail: ETS; Rosedale Road; P.O. Box 6666; Princeton, NJ 08541-6666;
USA

When you visit our Website, we collect certain information by automated means, using technologies such as cookies, pixel tags, browser analysis tools, server logs and web beacons.

In many cases, the information we collect using cookies and other tools is only used in a non-identifiable way, without any reference to Personal Information. For example, we use information we collect about all website users to optimize our Websites and to understand website traffic patterns.

In some cases, we do associate the information we collect using cookies and other technology with your Personal Information. This Privacy Notice governs how we use that information when we associate it with your Personal Information.

Cookies

When you visit our Website, we place cookies on your computer. Cookies are small text files that websites send to your computer or other internet-connected devices to uniquely identify your browser or to store information or settings in your browser. We use both temporary (session) cookies and persistent cookies, which allow us to recognize you when you return. Cookies help us provide a customized experience and enable us to detect certain kinds of fraud. In many cases, you can manage cookie preferences and opt out of having cookies and other data collection technologies used by adjusting the settings on your browser. All browsers are different, so visit the "Help" section of your browser to learn about cookie preferences and other privacy settings that may be available.

Flash Cookies

We may use Flash cookies (also known as Local Stored Objects) and similar technologies to personalize and enhance your online experience. A Flash cookie is a small data file placed on a computer using Adobe® Flash technology. The Adobe Flash Player is an application that allows rapid development of dynamic content, such as video clips and animation.

We use Flash cookies to personalize and enhance your online experience and to deliver content for Flash players. We may also use Flash cookies for security purposes, to gather certain website metrics and to help remember settings and preferences. Flash cookies are managed through a different interface than the one provided by your web browser. To manage Flash cookies, please visit Adobe's website. If you disable Flash cookies or other similar technologies, please be aware that you may not have access to certain content and product features.

Pixel Tags and Web Beacons

Pixel tags and web beacons are tiny graphic images placed on our Website(s) or in our emails that allow us to determine whether you have performed a specific action. When you access these pages or open or click an email, the pixel tags and web beacons generate a notice of that action. These tools allow us to measure response to our communications and improve our web pages and promotions.

Server Logs and Other Technologies

We collect many different types of information from server logs and other technologies. For example, we may collect information from the device you use to access our Website, your operating system type, browser type, domain and other system settings, as well as the language your system uses and the country and time zone where your device is located. Our server logs also record the IP address of the device you use to connect to the internet. An IP address is a unique identifier that devices use to identify and communicate with each other on the internet. We may also collect information about the website you were visiting before you came to ETS and the website you visit after you leave our site. 

We have relationships with third-party advertising companies to place advertisements on this Website and other websites, and to perform tracking and reporting functions for this Website and other websites. These third-party advertising companies may place cookies on your computer when you visit our Website or other websites so that they can display targeted advertisements to you.

These third-party advertising companies do not collect Personal Information in this process, and we do not give any Personal Information to them as part of this process. However, this Privacy Notice does not cover the collection methods or use of the information collected by these companies. For more information about third-party advertising, please visit the Network Advertising Initiative (NAI) website. You can opt out of being targeted by many third-party advertising companies by visiting NAI's Opt-Out page or the TrustArc® website.

Additional information from the third-party advertising companies that we work with:

Although our Websites currently do not have a mechanism to recognize the various web browser Do Not Track signals, we do offer our customers choices to manage their cookie preferences as described in the previous section. To learn more about browser tracking signals and the Do Not Track browser setting, please visit All About Do Not Track.

Our Websites may enable you to interact with us and others via social media platforms, such as Facebook®, LinkedIn®, Twitter®, Pinterest® and Instagram®. While we respect each social media platform's privacy policies, we may collect Personal Information about you and your friends/connections if you choose to use these tools.

For example, we may allow you to sign into ETS Websites and applications using Facebook Connect. If you choose to do this, we may collect information necessary to facilitate social interactions such as friend lists, birthdays, check-ins, basic profile information and your profile picture but only if the privacy settings you and your friends set within Facebook allow it. We will use the information to facilitate an interactive social experience.

We may display interest-based ads to you when you are using platforms such as Facebook and Google®. These platforms allow us to personalize the ads that we display to you. We do not share any of your Personal Information with these platforms, although we may convert your email address into a unique number which can be matched by the platform with its user to allow delivery of the advertising. Although we do not provide any Personal Information to these platforms, they may gain insights about individuals who respond to the ads we serve.

The California Consumer Privacy Act (or "CCPA") provides California residents with specific privacy rights, including the right to receive a privacy notice and to tell companies not to sell your Personal Information.

As a nonprofit, ETS is not directly subject to the CCPA. However, we are deeply committed to protecting the privacy and security of all the Personal Information that is entrusted to us. We do not sell Personal Information.

We have a global privacy program that protects your Personal Information no matter how or where it is collected, used or stored. We also comply with the privacy and security laws that are applicable to us. Our Privacy and Security Statement describes our privacy and security practices in detail.

If you have any questions or concerns about your privacy, please email us at etsinfo@ets.org.

ETS is providing this supplemental privacy notice to give individuals in the European Economic Area (EEA) the additional information required by the EU General Data Protection Regulation. These provisions, together with the statements in the ETS Privacy Notice, explain our practices with regard to EEA personal data. These statements also apply to personal data collected in Switzerland and the United Kingdom (post-Brexit).

 

Information About ETS

This notice is being given by ETS in the United States, for itself, its EU Representative (ETS Global B.V.) and its other EEA affiliates.

U.S. Mail: ETS; 660 Rosedale Road; Princeton, NJ 08541; USA
EU Mail: ETS Global B.V.; Academic & Business Assessments; Strawinskylaan 929; 1077 XX Amsterdam – The Netherlands
Email: etsinfo@ets.org

 

The Purposes and Legal Basis for Processing, Including Legitimate Interests

The Privacy Notice explains the reasons why we process your Personal Information. We only process Personal Information when we have a legal basis for the processing, such as:

  • To fulfill a contract with you, such as to provide you with an ETS test or a test offered by another company through ETS.
  • For closely related purposes, such as payment processing and financial account management, contract management, website administration, business continuity and disaster recovery, security and fraud prevention, corporate governance, reporting and legal compliance.
  • With your consent (or provided you have not objected, as may be applicable), such as to provide you with marketing communications or to send your scores to your designated recipients.

We may also process your Personal Information for the purposes of our legitimate interests, provided that such processing shall not outweigh your rights and freedoms. In particular, we may process your Personal Information as needed to:

  • Protect you, us or others from threats (such as security threats or test fraud)
  • Improve ETS's tests and support ETS Research Initiatives
  • Comply with the laws that are applicable to us around the world
  • Enable or administer our business, such as for quality control, consolidated reporting and customer service
  • Manage corporate transactions, such as mergers or acquisitions
  • Understand and improve our business, improve test integrity and for research purposes

Automated Decision Making and Profiling

ETS may use automated processes in connection with scoring tests and for similar purposes as needed to provide the test services that you have requested. All such decisions are subject to human review. We will not make automated decisions about you that may significantly affect you, unless (1) the decision is necessary as part of a contract that we have with you, (2) we have your explicit consent, or (3) we are required by law to use the technology. You can learn more about test scoring by reading the information posted on our Website about each of our tests.

In some cases, we use certain elements of personal data for ETS Research. For example, we may consider how certain types of test takers (such as nonnative English speakers) respond to specific test questions. Our research initiatives reflect our commitment to fairness and equity in testing, helping to ensure that our tests are accessible and free from bias. They also seek to improve teaching, learning and assessment. Our research results do not contain any identifiable data and are not used to target or profile individuals. Learn more about ETS Research.

When You Are Required to Provide Personal Information to ETS

In most cases, you are not required by law to provide any Personal Information to ETS. You are required to provide certain Personal Information to enable us to enter into a contract with you so that you can use our products and services. Our registration forms indicate which data elements are required for our contracts. If you do not provide these data elements, we cannot do business with you.

If you request an accommodation from ETS, such as special testing conditions needed because of a health condition or disability, you may be required to submit additional Personal Information (including special categories of data) as needed for us to evaluate and respond to your request.

Your Rights

As stated in the Privacy Notice, you always have the right to object to our marketing communications. To opt out of emails, simply click the link labeled "Unsubscribe" at the bottom of any email we send you. To revoke permissions that you may have given to send text messages, text STOP in response to any message.

ETS also respects the rights of EEA, Swiss and U.K. residents to access, correct and request erasure or restriction of their personal information as required by law. This means:

  • You generally have a right to know whether or not ETS maintains your Personal Information. If we do have your Personal Information, we will provide you with a copy (subject to the rights of others). If your information is incorrect or incomplete, you have the right to ask us to update it.
  • You have the right to object to our processing of your Personal Information.
  • You may also ask us to delete or restrict your Personal Information.

To exercise these rights, please contact us via email at etsinfo@ets.org or write us at the U.S. address above, and a member of our Privacy Team will assist you. Please understand that we may need to verify your identify before we can process your request. Additionally, our ability to delete Personal Information will be limited in those cases where we are required to retain records, such as in connection with score reports and test security processes.

If you believe that we have processed your Personal Information in violation of applicable law, you may file a complaint with the ETS Office of the General Counsel or with a supervisory authority.

International Transfers

As stated in the Privacy Notice, your Personal Information may be transferred to, stored at or processed in the United States and other countries which may not have equivalent privacy or data protection laws.

We generally use approved Standard Contractual Clauses to assure that Personal Information is adequately protected when it is transferred out of the EEA, U.K. or Switzerland, but we may also make transfers to recipients in places that have been declared adequate, with approved Binding Corporate Rules or pursuant to another derogation.

Please contact us via email at etsinfo@ets.org if you would like more information about cross-border transfers or to obtain a copy of the Standard Contractual Clauses.

Data Retention

We will retain your Personal Information for as long as the information is needed for the purposes set forth above and for any additional period that may be required or permitted by law. You may request that we delete your Personal Information by contacting us via email at etsinfo@ets.org. Unless we are required by law or have a legitimate interest to retain your information, we will delete it within 30 days of your request.

How to Contact Us

Please contact us if you have any questions or comments about our privacy practices or this Privacy Notice. You can always reach us via email at etsinfo@ets.org. You can also reach us via mail at the addresses given above.

Updated to clarify that U.K. data will be handled in accordance with this statement post-Brexit.

 

See also:

Last Updated on January 19, 2024.