ABSTRACT
Since language assessment emerged as a branch of applied linguistics in the 1960s, ideas about the nature of language abilities and how best to assess them have been debated and researched with increasing intensity. This chapter traces developments in the history of the field and gives examples of assessment material based on different conceptions of language abilities. Issues of ethicality and equity raised by assessment practices are considered together with the challenges of addressing the complexities of multi-modal and multilingual competences. Current trends in assessment are outlined, including the impact of new technology, with predictions about their likely impact on the future for language assessment.
