The needs for reproducing in situ neutral pressure, and for having fully saturated specimens and pore pressure measuring system for consoildation testing were examined in respect to pore pressure development. undisturbed specimens of a sensitive development. undisturbed specimens of a sensitive marine soft clay were tested in the ANTEUS consolidometer with the application of four different magnitudes of back pressure(0,5, 40 and $70lb/in^2$) in order to investigate the effect of back pressure on pore pressure development during consolidation test. The effect of back pressure on pore pressure development during consolidation is striking for back pressure up to $40lb/in^2$) but, above this value, no measurable effects of back pressure variations on pore pressure development are evidenced.