The British Council and the BRAZ-TESOL Assessment SIG are pleased to invite you to learn more about classroom assessment for young learners and teens! Please register for the webinar: Assessment and Testing: The emotional variable
Talk 1: Assessment and Emotion: what do or don’t we know about it?
Talk 2: From Stress to Success: Minimising Test Anxiety through Thoughtful Design
Talk 1: Assessment and Emotion: what do or don’t we know about it?
“I’m in the second year now, and I’m very nervous”, said a seven-year-old girl. “From this year on”, she continued, “I have tests at school and I’m not good at math. Can you imagine what it will be like if I get one or two in the test? That will destroy my life”. This short passage tells us there is more to be investigated in the area of assessment than what has already been studied. Research reported in the literature has helped teachers and students in many ways. Teachers have learned a lot about the role of assessment in the process of teaching and learning and this has reflected positively on students’ performance. However, the emotional variable that influences assessment tasks and performance does not seem to receive the attention it desserves. Although many researchers have focused on the study of emotions recently, the relationship between emotions and assessment still needs careful attention. I invite the audience to reflect on this subject with me.
Talk 2: From Stress to Success: Minimising Test Anxiety through Thoughtful Design
This session explores the critical role of affect, particularly anxiety, in language assessment and how thoughtful test design can reduce stress for learners. Using the socio-cognitive model for test development, we’ll examine how various factors can either contribute to or alleviate test anxiety. Factors like unclear instructions, time pressure, and inaccessible formats can heighten anxiety, especially for learners with specific needs. Through practical examples, we’ll discuss how design choices—such as accessible formats, clear guidelines, and level-appropriate cognitive demands—create a fairer testing experience. By recognising these elements, educators and test developers can make impactful choices that reduce anxiety, enhance accessibility, and provide more accurate and positive assessments, ultimately supporting learners’ success and well-being.
Speakers 1: Sandra Gattolin - Professor - English and Applied Linguistics UFSCar - Universidade Federal de São Carlos
Sandra Regina Buttros Gattolin: She is an English and Applied Linguistics senior professor in the Modern Languages and Literature Department of the Federal University of São Carlos, in São Paulo, Brazil, and has over 30 years of experience in teaching English in language schools, high schools and university, including distance-learning courses. She has a degree in Portuguese and English Language and Literature and holds a PhD and a Master’s in Applied Linguistics from the State University of Campinas, Brazil. Her current interests in research are foreign languages teaching and learning, teacher education, language assessment, multiliteracies and critical literacy.
Speaker 2: Aidan Holland - Global Assessment Solutions Manager, Wider Europe British Council
With extensive experience in English language assessment, Aidan Holland specialises in developing innovative approaches to testing that consider the diverse needs of students. Currently serving as a Global Assessment Solutions Manager, he is passionate about supporting teachers and institutions in designing assessments that are both effective and accessible. In his work, Aidan focuses on integrating digital tools and evidence-based methodologies to enhance language assessments across contexts.
In recent training sessions, Aidan has explored how socio-cognitive factors like affect and anxiety impact learners' test performance and has presented methods to minimise stress, ensuring fairness in assessments. He also guides educators in harnessing technology, such as readability tools and chatbots, to develop level-appropriate tasks aligned with the CEFR, making assessments more dynamic and tailored to students' needs. From young learners to adults, Aidan is dedicated to helping educators foster supportive, clear assessment practices that drive language proficiency forward.