New Directions in English Language Assessment is the British Council’s flagship language testing and assessment conference. The conference provides perspectives and insight on trends and approaches in English language assessment at a local, regional, and international level. Since being established in 2013, the conference has celebrated ten editions, with the latest being held in Denpasar, Indonesia in December 2022.

New Directions aims to:  

  • Establish a unique platform for sharing both cutting-edge developments and best practice in English language assessment in education systems. 
  • Provide a dynamic space in which regional and international policy makers, educational professionals, academics, teachers and assessment practitioners can interact, exchange information and keep abreast of the leading developments in the field. 
  • Facilitate an ongoing dialogue amongst a range of regional and international professionals to explore assessment solutions that meet local needs and achieve global standards.

With a focus on language assessment, New Directions is aimed at education and testing practitioners, policy makers and implementers, and other stakeholders with an interest in the role of language assessment in education systems. It will also appeal to language testing academics wishing to gain insight into current research in the field as well as emerging trends in testing and assessment.

Past conferences

New Directions East Asia 2022 - Denpasar, Indonesia

Theme: Bridging divides: Towards a comprehensive approach to language teaching, learning and assessment

Date: 9-10 December 2022

New Directions East Asia 2021 - Online

Theme: Fairer, Greener, Stronger: The Future of Language Assessment

Date: 9-11 December 2021

New Directions East Asia 2020 - Online

Theme: Connecting Contexts: Linking Assessment, Learning and Language Use

Date: 29-31 October 2020

New Directions East Asia 2019 - Yokohama, Japan

Theme: Realising Potential: Policy, Engagement, and Impact

Date: 7-9 December 2019

New Directions East Asia 2018 - Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia

Theme: Standards in Learning Systems

Date: 22-23 October 2018

New Directions East Asia 2017 - Shanghai, China

Theme: Connecting Assessment with Teaching and Learning

Date: 2-3 December 2017

New Directions East Asia 2016 - Hanoi, Viet Nam

Theme: Standardised Testing and the Development and Use of Proficiency scales: Addressing Local challenges, Meeting Global Standards

Date: 13-14 October 2016

New Directions East Asia 2015 - Seoul, Korea

Theme: Quality and Consequence

Date: 15-16 October 2015

New Directions East Asia 2014 - Tokyo, Japan

Theme: Role of English Assessment in Internationalisation

Date: 29-30 September 2014

New Directions East Asia 2013 - Beijing, China

Theme: Assessment for Learning

Date: 6-7 November 2013