英国文化教育协会中国考试业务总监游卓然在研讨会上发言 ©

British Council

Overview

The 2024 English Language Assessment Symposium, hosted by the British Council, took place on 30 November in Beijing. Experts from China’s Ministry of Education’s National Education Examinations Authority (NEEA), as well as specialists from both China and the UK, gathered to share the latest academic research in the field of English language teaching and assessment. This collaboration demonstrates the power of research in advancing the development of English education and testing. The first batch of "English Testing Research Projects," jointly established by NEEA and the British Council, has successfully concluded. The research findings highlight the positive impact of the China's Standards of English Language Ability (CSE) in advancing assessment development, optimising classroom teaching, and enhancing teacher assessment literacy. The British Council and NEEA are also preparing new funding opportunities for future research projects.

Additionally, the 2023-2024 IELTS Test Taker Performance Big Data Report for Mainland China was officially released during the seminar. The report provides an objective analysis of IELTS test takers' performance in listening, speaking, reading, and writing skills, revealing trends and insights to support the development of high-level international talent.

Location of Symposium: China World Hotel Convention Centre
Date: 30 November 2024

Agenda

Time Topic Speaker
9:30-9:45 Overseas Study Trends and How Language Assessment Enables  International Talent Development Wang Daquan, Director of the Overseas Study Service Center, Ministry of Education
9:45-10:20 The Comprehensive Learning System: British Council Perspective on English Language Policy and Education Prof Barry O’Sullivan,  Director English Language Research, British Council
10:35-11:10 New Development of China’s Standards of English Language Ability Wu Sha, Director of Foreign Language Assessment Department, National Education Examinations Authority
11:10-11:45 China's national English language assessment needs Prof Han Baocheng,Executive Vice Dean of the Graduate School, Deputy Director of the Foreign Languages Research Institute
11:45-12:00 Review of the British Council-NEEA English Assessment Research Grants Scheme   
13:30-13:50 Administration of IELTS over the last 20 years in China: Changes and improvements through collaboration Li Tong, Director of Overseas Examinations Department, National Education Examinations Authority  
13:50-14:20 Insights sharing of IELTS and overseas study Tiffany You, Director Examinations for British Council China
14:20- 14:50  British Council & Cambridge research: A compendium of recent IELTS research
  • Dr Emma Bruce, Assessment Researcher, British Council
  • Dr Tony Clark, Head of Assessment Research, Cambridge University Press and Assessment
15:10-15:50 Investigating common perceptions and claims from test providers and exploring the evidence
  • Dr Emma Bruce, Assessment Researcher, British Council
  • Dr Tony Clark, Head of Assessment Research, Cambridge University Press and Assessment
15:50-16:50

Panel discussion: Artificial Intelligence and Ethics in Language Assessment

Moderated by Mark Walker, Director of English & Exams, British Council

  • Prof Barry O’Sullivan, Director English Language Research, British Council
  • Prof Jin Yan, Professor at the School of Foreign Languages, Shanghai Jiao Tong University
  • Xu Wen, Deputy Director of the Test Development Department, Shanghai Municipal Educational Examinations Authority (SMEEA)
  • Ren Pingping, Deputy Secretary, Vice President, iFLYTEK

IELTS Test Taker Performance Report

During the symposium, the 2023-2024 IELTS Test Taker Performance Big Data Report for Mainland China was released, presenting a multi-dimensional analysis of test taker performance in English communication skills. The report helps educational institutions, teachers, test takers, and parents better understand the strengths and weaknesses of students' English proficiency, enabling targeted efforts to enhance their abilities.

The report revealed that in the 2023-2024 academic year, nearly 60% of test takers in Mainland China scored 6.0 or higher in the academic IELTS exam. This upward trend in scores was evident across various regions, cities, and universities, reflecting a continued improvement in the overall English proficiency of test takers. Notably, the progress in output skills, such as writing and speaking, was particularly significant, with average scores for writing and speaking increasing by 0.4 and 0.2, respectively, compared to 2018-2019.

The reasons for taking the IELTS exam have also become more diverse, with an increasing number of test takers taking the exam for purposes such as assessing English proficiency, applying for domestic universities, or seeking employment, in addition to studying abroad. This shift indicates the growing recognition of IELTS as a reliable tool for assessing English ability both domestically and internationally, as well as the younger generation's focus on developing their English communication and cross-cultural skills.

Since 2004, the British Council and the NEEA have collaborated to administer the IELTS exam in Mainland China, empowering English language teaching and international education. With strong support from NEEA, the number and coverage of IELTS testing centres in China have steadily increased. As services improve, the number of testing centre partners has risen to 169, covering 44 cities across the country and forming a robust "computer-based + paper-based" testing network.

Please scan the QR code on this page to download the full report.