What it is
Voice-based assessment
An oral viva for real-world skills. AkoVoice checks capability and knowledge in context, on the job, on placement or on campus, online or offline.
AkoVoice uses a course rubric to have a conversation with a learner that validates knowledge or checks incomplete answers, producing a report with evidence quoted directly from the conversation. The tutor reviews the session and confirms the result.
Tested in English, Korean, and Mandarin across welding safety, automotive pre-delivery inspection, and aged care communication.
Why it matters
Learners demonstrate knowledge and competency through their voice by explaining what they did, why they did it, and what they'd do differently. AkoVoice lets them speak in their own words, and gives the tutor a structured, evidence-backed view of what each learner knows.
AkoVoice is available in two modes: an offline-capable mode for verification in low connectivity locations, or where data residency is important. The second mode is online, using global cloud services, with voice recordings stored encrypted in your preferred location, e.g. Aotearoa New Zealand.
Voice can surface the reasoning behind a learner's actions that written formats can miss. There is also a voice dialogue mode for real-time simulation and de-escalation scenarios.
The approach is free to use, adapt and build on, with attribution (CC BY 4.0). AkoVoice supports multi-level grading used across different qualification systems, so it adapts to your standards.
Designing AI-supported oral assessment in TVET
EdArXiv preprint
Adams, J. (2026)
https://doi.org/10.35542/osf.io/2meud_v1Describes the approach, the offline field kit and the online tier, and reports a learner survey from trades cohorts at a New Zealand ITP.