Isn’t this just a shortcut into the EWA?

No, the test is pitched at Level 3 and provides a broad assessment of knowledge across the range of areas required for EWA entry. Various checks are carried out and only selected centres are able to offer the test. Background experience and information on each candidate is verified and then approved on an individual basis by TESP, and there are controls on when the test is available, with additional EQA checks carried out by EAL. Registrations onto EWA using the test result as evidence will be checked by EAL against the list of approved learners. This will be checked again at AM2E gateway.