ABSTRACT
Language assessment involves collecting evidence that helps us to understand a person’s language-related knowledge, skills or abilities. It embraces tests and examinations, but also includes many other options open to teachers and assessment designers. A wide variety of assessment purposes and techniques can be described, each suited to different needs for information and each influencing the behaviour of learners and other stakeholders in different ways. Whatever techniques are used, it is important to invest time and effort to make sure that language assessments are of good quality. Only good quality assessments can provide worthwhile information and have a positive effect on the lives of the people who use them.
