The Psychometrics Centre

University of Cambridge

A multi-disciplinary institute at the University of Cambridge dedicated to research, teaching and product development in both pure and applied psychological assessment. Active in Cambridge since 2005, first in Cambridge Assessment, then as a University Strategic Research Network, and now in the Judge Business School, it has seen significant growth in recent years as a consequence of the explosion of activity in on-line communication and social networks. 

At the forefront of teaching, research and development in modern psychometric methods, the Centre also runs training courses on the latest techniques in Computer Adaptive Testing (using its open source software ‘Concerto’), People Analytics, and AI assisted test development.

The Psychometrics Centre at Goldsmiths College, London 1990-2000

The Psychometrics Centre traces its origin to 1989, when John Rust, Director of the MSc in Psychological Assessment in Organizations at the University of London, gained the contract from the Psychological Corporation to carry out a standardization of the world famous Wechsler Intelligence Scale for Children (WISC) in the UK. As an established developer of psychometric tests across a broad spectrum of applications, he recognized the need to integrate the testing community that had at that time become disparate.

The Psychometrics Centre at City University, London 2000 – 2005

The Centre moved to City University, London, in 2003 and John became the UK’s only Professor of Psychometrics. At the time psychometric testing was becoming increasingly important in education, industry and the health sector throughout the world. It  was also experiencing significant new challenges as an academic and applied discipline.

The Psychometrics Centre at the University of Cambridge 2005 – now

The Centre’s relocation to Cambridge in November 2005 offered huge opportunities to develop our work through the international links, expertise and research capabilities of the University of Cambridge. Although 800 years old in 2009, Cambridge remains one of the leading universities in the world. It has an international reputation keeping it at the forefront of scientific development.

Cambridge Assessment 2005-2008

Initially the Centre was established within Cambridge Assessment, a subsidiary company owned by the University. Cambridge Assessment, formerly known as the University of Cambridge Local Examination Syndicate (UCLES), carries out school examination all over the world, and is also one of the examining  bodies in England and Wales for GCSE and A Level School Examinations. 

The Department of Social and Developmental Psychology, School of Humanities and Social Science, 2008-2012

However, although able to bridge both academic and business worlds, the Centre’s activities were primarily funded by academic research grants, hence this move into a University academic department. Between 2008 and 2012 The Psychometrics Centre was based in the Mond Building, part of the Old Cavendish Laboratory, itself the site of the World’s fist Psychometrics Laboratory in 1886-89. In 2010 it became a Strategic Research Network within the University of Cambridge.

Department of Psychology, School of Biological Sciences 2012 – 2016

In 2012 the Department of Social and Developmental Psychology, of which The Psychometrics Centre was part, merged with the Department of Experimental Psychology to form a new Department of Psychology. Hence the Centre’s move to another School, this time on the University of Cambridge Downing Site.

Cambridge Judge Business School 2016 – today

In March 2016 the Psychometrics Centre relocated to the Cambridge Judge Business School in Trumpington Street, Cambridge.