20 Years of OeAD International Testing Services: Where Exams Become Opportunities
On 28 April 2006, a candidate sat down in front of a screen at the OeAD Test Centre in Vienna and took the first digital TOEFL iBT in Austria. What was pioneering work back then is now the start of a new chapter in life for thousands of people. For many, this involves securing a place at a university abroad, obtaining professional accreditation, gaining further qualifications or taking the next step in their career. With over 30,000 exam sittings, the Test Centre looks back on 20 years of international examination experience.
The OeAD, Austria’s Agency for Education and Internationalisation, offers internationally recognised exams at its test centre. These include university-related entrance exams such as TOEFL iBT, GMAT, GRE or PTE Academic, as well as professional exams and certifications such as CIA, CISSP, CFA or PMP. The test centre sees itself not only as an exam venue, but also as a guide. Learners receive support in choosing the right exam, as do higher education institutions and authorities that use standardised qualifications in admission or recognition procedures. Many of the exams offered are high-stakes exams, where a great deal is at stake. The requirements for quality, security and reliability are correspondingly high.
“For 20 years, OeAD International Testing Services has been an established part of the Austrian education system. The demand for internationally comparable exams is constantly growing. In future, too, it will be crucial to offer people in Austria a professional range of exams that enable them to obtain internationally recognised qualifications,” emphasises OeAD managing director Jakob Calice.
The example of Maximilian Eggeling from Vienna, who currently lives in Munich, illustrates what this means in practice. He has taken a total of seven exams at the OeAD Test Centre, travelling specifically from Munich to Vienna each time. “A place of reliability that shines through its professionalism and courtesy, even during the serious moments faced by the candidates,” he says. For him, there was never any question as to where he would sit his exams. He is by no means an isolated case. The consistently high satisfaction ratings from participants confirm the test centre’s commitment to quality. In 2025, more than 2,300 people sat an exam at the OeAD Test Centre.
The trust placed in the OeAD Test Centre is the result of work that goes unseen. This includes physically secure examination rooms, modern identity verification procedures, regular audits and test visits by mystery shoppers, as well as a team that undergoes continuous professional development and completes annual recertification. “Anyone taking an international exam invests a great deal of time, preparation and personal effort. Our aim is to create a secure and professional examination environment that does justice to this commitment,” explains Christian Jahn, Head of the OeAD Test Centre.
